Spell: Leaf Bombardment

[Eternalknight]

Leaf Bombardment

Evocation

Level: Drd 4

Components: V, S, M

Casting time: 1 action

Range: Close (25ft + 5 ft/2 levels)

Target: One creature

Duration: Instantaneous

Saving Throw: Reflex half

Spell resistance: Yes

There must be leaves around in order for this spell to be cast. Once cast, the leaves develop razor-sharp edges. The druid is able to mentally direct these leaves towards a target creature. The leaves fly quickly towards the target, causing painful cuts and abrasions. The target suffers 1d6 damage per caster level (half on a successful save). The leaves then fall harmlessly to the ground.

 

[Crothian]

This is a good spell, but might work better as a 3rd level spell unless you want a high maximium number oif d6's. It is short range and only effects one person. That does make it a little week. Perhaps it can have different effects depending on the type of trees (pine needles would be different then maple leafs for instance). Or you can have a minus to the tagets save depending on the amount of leaves in the area making the spell more powerful in the spring/summer as oppossed to autumn/winter.

I really like the effect of the spell though. Good job.

 

[fba827]

I like the spell. I had made one similar to it but yours is more nicely worded / done

Few thoughts:

School Choice:

Evocation is fine for a school, just thought one possible change to that though... perhaps Transmutation.

Why?

a) You're changing the properties of the leaves' surface area - making them sharp-edged
b)The movement effect, rather than an evoced force could be thought of as a telekinesis effect: mage hand and telekinesis are both also transmutations.

(again, not that evocation couldn't work, just transmutation might be the better fit since you are also changing the leaves' surface area).

Damage Cap:

You should have in parentheses the d6 max

Level:

Given the range and target only being one, I really would say to push it down a level - perhaps opening up the possibility for a higher level spell that can affect all those within an area

SR:

Would SR really apply? Spells that affect a target directly are the ones that have applicable SR. In this case, it is the leaves that you are enchanting and basically turning them into projectiles. The magic just gets them changed and hurls them. It would be their momentum that just impacts them upon the target.

Can of worms:
I know this may be a can of worms so you may not even want to go here ... perhaps different amounts of potential damage based on size? for instance, fewer sharpened leaves could hit a smaller creature than a creature of size huge. -- again, this is a random thought and it is a can of worms. This may not even be worth the effort to explore ....

Components:
You list "M" in the components, you should add the "Material Component:" info to the bottom of the spell's description ...

(Umm.. again, don't take my comments as a bad thing. I really do like it. It is a MUCH cleaner write-up of a similar home-brew spell I had)

 

[Eternalknight]

Transmutation is a better choice; thanks!

I hadn't intended a damage cap; however, dropping it to 3rd level and having a cap of 10d6?

I actually had the PH open and was looking at Ice Storm; SR applies. But I can see your point. Which would be better?

As for size and different types of trees... That was an idea I was tossing up, but decided to leave for now. I just wanted to get a feel for the spell and what you guys thought. If people think it is a good idea though, I will certainly add it in.

 

[fba827]

I hadn't intended a damage cap; however, dropping it to 3rd level and having a cap of 10d6?

(i'm not one to quote stuff from rules often, but just so you don't think I'm pulling this out of thin air...)
DMG, Table 3-23 (chapter 3, page 96 in my book...)
Max Damage dice for divine spells, 3rd level, single creature: 10HD

So, yeah, 10d6.

I actually had the PH open and was looking at Ice Storm; SR applies. But I can see your point. Which would be better?

Ah, my personal opinion is that SR still wouldn't apply.

For an evocation (like ice storm) I would think that the magic needs to remain 'cause, if it didn't, the ice wouldn't be there (as it is an evocation), thus SR would apply.

For a transmutation (like entangle) it is the item/object you are enchanting (the object not being created by magic itself).. and it is the item that has the effect on the target.

Now, as a counter example, if the leaves (or other projectiles) were being created out of thin air (an evocation effect), then, yeah, I would say that SR would apply since upon hitting the target if the magic was negated then the leaves would subsequently dissapear.

(again, this is just my own opinion - I am FAR from an sort of expert on the matter nor do I claim to be )

As for size and different types of trees... That was an idea I was tossing up, but decided to leave for now. I just wanted to get a feel for the spell and what you guys thought. If people think it is a good idea though, I will certainly add it in.

Either of those would be a can of worms. Not that they wouldn't add a tinge of realism. I remember a druid in one (2 ed) game I ran always wanted to know what sorts of plants were in the area and if they had pricklers/thorns - why? because she wanted to be able to have entangle also cause damage. I relate this anecdote only because it may end up coming up eventually. Of course, you could just do it the way that the 3e version of entangle covers it... it basically just has a clause at the end stating that the DM may slightly alter the effects depending on the nature of the plants. Thus, you could leave it on a case by case basis rather than trying to figure out a whole slew of flora for your game world (unless of course, you already have tree types and other flora determined for the world).

Edit: (adding the statements below ...)

I looked at Magic Stone for reference (on the SR thing) since that is transmuting an item as well. That spell does have SR apply. However, that reference is just to SR applying to the stone (object) being transmuted, not for the effect against the target. So, yeah, I see that as another spell, like entangle, in favor of no SR on your spell.

 

[Xarlen]

Something to consider.

If SR does Not apply, then DR does.

This shows up in Blade Barrier. It creates magical blades of force that swirl around and cut stuff up. It applies to SR. It's Evocation (Blades created).

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Heh... This spell reminds me of one of Megaman's weapons from the old Megaman 2 Nintendo game.

 

[Eternalknight]

So SR is gone. 10d6 damage cap and 3rd level.

 

[Forsaken One]

I see this spell being more like a wall of leaves herding towards the target's in front of the caster all targets.
But in the long run you could also make this a Arcane spell to.
What do you think?

 

[Eternalknight]

I see this spell being more like a wall of leaves herding towards the target's in front of the caster all targets.
But in the long run you could also make this a Arcane spell to.
What do you think?

I would personally make it a new spell, called, well... wall of leaves? That isn't the effect I was looking for.