Ruling on Toothed Tentacle

[shadowgriffen]

Most spells that deal the 5 basic types of energy spell it out. light , darkness.
Even the spells Sun bolt , Moon blade , prismatic eye and ray say evocation but don't say what type of energy they deal . They just deal the damage and have some effect that follows it .

 

[shadowgriffen]

Here is the 4th lvl version

SPELL FANGS Level: Sor / Wiz 4th EVOCATION:
comp: V,S,M
casting time:1 standard action
range: Personal
effect:30' long tentacle extending from your hand
duration:concentration to a max of 1rd / level
<a spectral tentacle ending in multiple fanged maws springs forth from your hand>

a more powerful version of the toothed tentacle. This spell creates a shadowy tentacle of energy that extends 30' from your hand, splitting off into 1d6+2 smaller tentacles about 10' from it's end. Each of these smaller tentacles ends in a fanged, slavering maw. All of these mouths can be directed to attack as a full-round action, 0r one of them can attack as a standard action. You can direct the mouths to attack separate targets as long as all targets are within 10' of each other. Each mouth strikes with an attack bonus equal to your caster LEVEL PLUS THE MODIFIER FOR THE ABILITY SCORE THAT CONTROLS YOUR SPELLCASTING AND EACH DEALS 2D6 POINTS OF DAMAGE ON A SUCCESSFUL HIT. DAMAGE DONE BY THE
TENTACLES IS GAINED BY YOU AS TEMPORARY HIT POINTS THAT LAST FOR 1 ROUND.

 

[Pergentile]

Its Conjuration. End of story.

 

[the Jester]

Its Conjuration. End of story.

While that's a nice assertion and the spell probably ought to be Conjuration, the "Evocation" in the spell block kind of overrides your "end of story" comment. Unless it has been errata'd or the OP's dm decides to house rule it, it's evocation, silly as that looks. (It reminds me of most of the energy orbs, which ought to be evocations.)

Still, spell descriptions without SR or saves listed don't offer them; that should be pretty much the end of it, again unless the DM house rules it.

 

[Greenfield]

One of the most important skill tricks for casters is having 12 ranks in Concentration which allows you to concentrate on a spell as a free action (allowing you to cast other spells etc. while maintaining focus).

I'm curious about this point. I looked at the Concentration skill in the SRD and didn't see any mention of it.

Where is this from?

 

[shadowgriffen]

2nd lvl Toothed tentacle is from Lost Empires of Faerun.
4th lvl Spell Fangs is from Anrouch also a Forgotten realms adventure campaign.


I guess what I,m looking at in both spells . Is the concentration needed to maintain both spells , as well as direct said mouths to attack each round. While both spells have tentacles of shadowy energy, where as the tentacle part can not be attacked only the mouths. oh and the Evocation aspect of them putting in the shadowy energy.

 

[Pergentile]

Googled "Concentration skill trick"
This was first result: "http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20070105a&page=5"

My bad, its maintain concentration as a swift action. D= I have failed you Greenfield.

 

[Empirate]

The Swift Concentration skill trick can be situationally good, but I feel it's often highly overrated. Once per encounter, instead of spendind a standard action to maintain concentration, you can spend a swift action to do so. Now your standard action is free to do other stuff with, which cannot be casting another spell. If you want to do anything that entails 'vigorous' or 'violent motion', like combat, you must make a concentration check to maintain concentration. So what do you do with your 1/encounter freed up standard action? Activate a Wand, maybe, but that's the outside of what this skill trick is capable of.

And I still hold the Toothed Tentacle spell is poorly written. It really shouldn't require a skill trick available at 9th level to use a spell available at 3rd level... once/encounter!

 

[Greenfield]

Well, for a character of mixed focus, the ability to make a melee attack or use a skill while maintaining a concentration spell could be useful. Once per encounter though? That's a real thin advantage.

 

[Empirate]

Also, Sonorous Hum is a 2nd level spell. Familiar Concentration takes up a feat slot instead. And what's your gish doing casting a duration: concentration spell, anyway?!