Spell Research - Let There Be Light!

[Cedric]

Little background first...

My character is an Elven Mystic Theurge (started out in 1st edition as a Cleric/Magic-User, but we converted to 3.0 and the DM let me play an MT).

I am sick and tired of darkness spells. They are seriously driving me nuts. I am the only one in the group who can see through them (via True Sight).

So I want to research a 5th level version of Light/Daylight that will purge out other darkness and be worthy of a 5th level spell slot.

Thoughts?

Cedric

p.s. Considered putting this in "house rules" but spell research is part of the main rules...so *shrugs*

 

[MerakSpielman]

How about Dispel Darkness? Within a 100' radius, all Darkness effects are automatically destroyed - not supressed.

 

[Cedric]

Hmm...if I were aiming to make this a 5th level spell it seems a bit underpowered to me. But that may just be my perception. I like the general idea though. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Some ideas for adding flavor to the spell that might also add a bit of functionality?

 

[MerakSpielman]

Perhaps the radius is a bit large, but Dispel Magic is a 5th level spell, and can dispel darkness effects. There has to be something special about Dispel Darkness if you want people to prepare it instead of Dispel Magic. Like affecting multiple targets, no chance of failure, etc...

 

[youspoonybard]

A weaker version of Sunburst, perhaps?

 

[Cedric]

That's just it...Dispel Magic is actually 3rd level.

How about this...call it something like "Wake the Moon" make it 5th level no spell resistance, no save.

For 10 minutes per level it completely banishes all darkness affects in a 120' radius centered on the caster and fills that area with bright but soft moonlight as if it were a Full Moon during clear skies.

I don't "think" that's too powerful, what do other people think?

 

[daTim]

Still sounds weak actually for a 5th lvl spell. Maybe something more like...

Here comes the Sun!
Evocation [Light]
Level: Cleric 5, Drd 6
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Area: 60 ft. radius emenation; see text
Duration: 1 minutes/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

A tiny glowing point of blinding light appears over your head shedding light as bright as full daylight in a 60-foot radius, and dim light for an additional 60 feet beyond that. Creatures that take penalties in bright light also take them while within the radius of this magical light.

Additionally, once per round you may, as a standard action, cause the glowing point of light to emit a beam of light exactly as if you had cast Searing Light. You need not use the beams immediately; other actions, even spellcasting, can be performed. Each time you fire a beam, it reduces the duration of the spell by one minute.

Unlike the spell Daylight this spell is the equivalent of actual daylight for the purposes of creatures that are damaged or destroyed by bright light.

Here Comes the Sun! counters or dispels any darkness spell of equal or lower level, such as darkness.



It may seem a little more powerful than Call Lightning Storm that Druids have, but I think the shortening of durations might make up for it. Also it works weaker on Constructs, but better on undead. Lastly Call Lightning Storm is really nasty when you are getting the d10's. Oh yea, the spell also kind of gives your location away what with the glowing ball of light and all. No tiny sparrows will be throwing this around hidden.

 

[dcollins]

p.s. Considered putting this in "house rules" but spell research is part of the main rules...so *shrugs*

If it's totally up to DM adjudication (like new spells, classes, feats, or items) then it's definitely House Rules.

 

[Altalazar]

You could get REALLY clever - I researched a bunch of spells related to dealing with darkness back in 1E - the core being Altalazar's Private Light - it provided a "magical" illumination that actually wasn't light at all - so it was still pitch dark (assuming you were in an area of darkness) and the "light" from it was only visible to designated people (certain number / level) when the spell was cast. This allowed groups to move in areas of darkness without the light giving them away.

It also was set up such that magical darkness was irrelevant, because magical darkness was not set up to block this magical form of "illumination".

It was a handy, useful spell (actually, series of spells) and it got around the problems of darkness. I haven't made a 3E equivalent. As a DM, I've made some rather effective use of darkness on the part of NPCs attacking PCs.

 

[Hypersmurf]

p.s. Considered putting this in "house rules" but spell research is part of the main rules...so *shrugs*

If you were asking "Is spell research part of the rules?", then yes, it's a Rules question.

But you know that bit... everything after that is House Rules.

Whoosh!

-Hyp.
(Moderator)