Scintillating Pattern question

[carborundum]

Up against a Shining Child (PF monster) the party were hit with a scintillating pattern. The spell should affect 12HD of creatures, meaning that only one PC was affected. He promptly used a Third Eye from MIC to negate the effect. The Scintillating Pattern has a few more rounds of duration left though only one level of HD.

Next round, does it (potentially) affect 12 HD of creatures again or only work if a 1HD creature suddenly stumbles into it?

 

[Sekhmet]

The latter. It affects a maximum of 12 HD (in this scenario), and if it uses 11 HD in the first round, it can only affect 1 HD in subsequent rounds until discharged or the spell's duration ends.

 

[carborundum]

Thanks, I had kind of expected that.
Not exactly overwhelming for an 8th level spell

 

[Sekhmet]

I'm not sure how you came up with 12HD, the lowest level you could cast it would be 15 (and therefor 15HD), but the spell itself is at least decent for an 8th level spell. The Confused, Stunned, and Unconscious statuses are powerful, and with no Saving Throw...

 

[carborundum]

Oh, this particular critter has CL12, that's all. The status effects without saves are good, but a 15th level wizard against an equivalent party would end up using a whole std action and his best level spell to potentially confuse one PC for 1d4 rounds. The no save is very nice tho.

 

[Sekhmet]

It is a spell best used against a Controller and his Minions, so to speak. Clearing out a cluster of low HD creatures so that your party can focus on the main BBEG is critical in some encounters.