spell: Feathers--unbalancing??

[noretoc]

Just curious to get some other opinions on this. This druid spell turns people into ordinary birds, up to one per level. it is a fourth level spell. It dosen't last long, 1 min per level I believe (I don't have my book handy). At first I didn't think it was that bad. Than my group's mage got teleport. Now a feathers spell and teleport gets the whole party any where they want. Also is make is real easy to get into places. Who notices a small flock of pigeons flying over the castle wall. Or humming birds flying in the garden. Opinions?

 

[hong]

Since fly is a 3rd level wiz/sor spell, and polymorph other is 4th, this spell looks fine by comparison.

 

[Agamon]

This is in the wrong forum, I think, but I'll still answer your question.

I don't what source this spell comes from, I don't remember seeing it. But from what you describe, it seems a decent spell for 4th level. The situations you describe (apart from the teleport thing) are what the spell is used for. I'll even add it could be good for getting out of a fight that's going badly, but that might be a bit dangerous if a "bird" is attacked before it can fly away.

Does your party's druid tend to take it all the time, no matter the situation? That's a good clue that it might be overpowered for its level. If so, maybe it should be 5th. I dunno, I haven't had a chance to use it in a game.

 

[Oni]

Does your party's druid tend to take it all the time, no matter the situation? That's a good clue that it might be overpowered for its level. If so, maybe it should be 5th. I dunno, I haven't had a chance to use it in a game.

I'm really not fond of this particular test for brokeness. People have spells they prefer and choose the over others, that doesn't mean it's broken. Using this definition Dispel Magic broken. If wizard keeps invisibility memorized everyday incase he needs to escape from danger does that make it broken?

 

[Agamon]

I'm really not fond of this particular test for brokeness. People have spells they prefer and choose the over others, that doesn't mean it's broken. Using this definition Dispel Magic broken. If wizard keeps invisibility memorized everyday incase he needs to escape from danger does that make it broken?

I have no problem with core spells that work this way, but spells from other sources is another story. And note, I said it was a clue that might show it's overpowered, not the determining factor.

 

[noretoc]

Too me it seems a bit powerful for a fourth level spell. Mostly because of the number it can effect.

 

[Crothian]

This spell is perfectly fine. It's handy but not overbalancing at all. It was used in my campaign last year and we never had any broblem with it.

 

[vox]

Time allowance

I'm pretty sure that it takes a standard action or full round to transform back into yourself. So you need to find a fairly safe place to land or your enemies will get some free shots at you. I agree that considering "Fly", "Polymorph" and "Teleport", this doesn't seem too powerful. And the whole Feathers/T-port thing is just good synergy--I don't think it means Feathers is overpowered.

Plus, being attacked while you are a pigeon sucks.

 

[Janos Antero]

Our party used to have a wand of reduction at max effect that we used to party teleport with one regular teleport anyway, so the spell isn't really broken because of that aspect either.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Useful =/= broken. People need to keep that in mind.

What makes something broken IMO is if it is vastly better than all other effects of similar level or if it enables a character to do something that will ruin a campaign world. Simply being useful enough to be a default spell on a caster's list of prepared spells doesn't make a spell broken. 2e psionic ESP--unlimited range, no defense against it other than being psionic was broken. Feathers is not.

Compare Feathers to Dimension Door. Dimension door transports one person instantaneously through any barriers and doesn't make them vulnerable. Feathers is slightly more flexible. It effects multiple targets and can be used as a disguise as well. However, it doesn't transport instantaneously, doesn't work under all conditions (high winds or vision obscuring fog would make it ineffective), and makes characters vulnerable while they're transported.

It does have synergy with teleport. So does reduce. The wizard could have a Chained Reduce spell at 4th level as well. And I don't think that Feathers makes Teleport significantly more game altering than it already was. Scry-Feathers-Mass Haste-Teleport-Attack for instance seems less effective than doing the same thing without Feathers (as many parties manage to do).