Sucking Touch ooh lalala

[Nvvyn]

Ok, questions on this spell Sucking Touch.

Its a 3rd level spell, lasts 1 minute per level, and allows you do perform a touch attack effectively dealing 1d4+1/2 caster levels (max+6) of STR damage. Save Fortitude for half str damage.

If the Subject's str is reduced to 0 or less, it dies and is transformed into a shadow permanently under the control of the caster. The caster can control 2 HD of shadows per level. (10 level caster = 20HD of shadows)

My question is...... Does the shadowed creature retain all abilites, hp, form, etc.. of its former self. Or is it now a shadow creature form the Monster Manual. Cuz I'd love to do this to a dragon...

 

[Nvvyn]

And another quick point. If it IS transformed into a shadow creature, would I be wrong in assuming I could just Sucking Touch a squirrel or dog and generate a Shadow army???


( My character can control 24HD of shadows at his level)

 

[Pielorinho]

Is this a house-spell, or is it in some publication?

If it's a house-spell, your question should be discussed between yourself and your DM: there's no correct answer to your question.

If it's a published spell, could you quote the spell's exact text?

As an aside, this spell looks to me to be in every way superior to the 5th-level spell animate dead. I would make it at least 6th or 7th level, and even then reduce its duration to 1 round/3 levels or something.

(I may be misreading what you're saying: if it only allows one touch attack total, it's a bit better, and could probably be used as a 5th level spell, as long as you reduce the number of shadows controlled to 1 HD/level).

Daniel

 

[Nvvyn]

This is in fact a REAL spell, it is in the Pocket Grimoire: Arcana, which is a new spell compendium basically. The books includes all spells from the Book of Eldritch Might, Traps and Treachery, Codex Arcanis, The Tide of Years, and Freeport: The City of Adventures.

The spell:
Sucking Touch
Necromancy[Evil]
Level: cleric 3, shadow 3, sor/wiz3
Component:S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: One Creature
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude Halves
Spell Resistance: Yes
The spell gives the caster a Strength-draining touch similar to a shadow's(see MM). If the caster makes a succesful touch attack, the subject suffers 1d6+1 per two levels of the caster (maximum +6) temporary Strength ability drain. A succesful Fortitude save halves the ability damage.

If the subject's Strength is reduced to 0 or less, he dies and is transformed 1d4+1 rounds later into a shadow permenently under the control of the caster. A caster may control up to 2HD of shadow creatures per caster level at any one time. If the caster also controls animated dead(per animate dead spell), the total HD of undead plus shadow creatures cannot exceed the 2HD per level maximum.


That is the entire spell description word for word. As I understand it, you can make as many touch atacks as you want during the spell duration.

 

[AGGEMAM]

That is the entire spell description word for word. As I understand it, you can make as many touch atacks as you want during the spell duration.

No, how did you come to that conclusion ?

A touch attack spell is discharged as soon as you touch a valid target, unless it specifically states that it can be used contineously or for a number of times, I cannot recall any that does state that.

 

[Bonedagger]

"Sucking Touch"

Hmm...

Thought this was about something else.

 

[Nvvyn]

Your correct again aggemam, thanks. Check chill touch though, it allows you to make several touch attacks for the duration of the spell..

 

[AGGEMAM]

Your correct again aggemam, thanks. Check chill touch though, it allows you to make several touch attacks for the duration of the spell..

Thanks for the tip, obviously time for 110th re-read of the PHB, I guess, either that or stop smoking the weed .. hmm .. re-read, yes ..

 

[Pielorinho]

Given the spell's description, I'd say it transforms them into a shadow per the Monster Manual.

I also would say that it grants as many touch attacks as the caster can make during the spell's duration. With the right character, you could be talking five (maybe more!) touch attacks/round!

With haste on, a level-12 caster should be able to get off three touch attacks/round; given that these are very likely to be successful against most foes, even a high-fort-save foe is gonna suffer an average of 12 points of STR-damage per round. Two rounds of this is an autokill against most creatures.

There's no way I'd allow this spell in its current form in my campaign. I'd allow it with changes; any changes would need to balance it against, say, vampiric touch, or else bump up its level. Here's one possible change:

The spell:
Sucking Touch
Necromancy[Evil]
Level: cleric 3, shadow 3, sor/wiz3
Component:V,S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: One Creature (remove this line -- touch spells do not have targets)
Duration: 1 minute/level (make this instantaneous -- otherwise it's grotesquely powerful)
Saving Throw: Fortitude Halves (make this Fortitude Negates)
Spell Resistance: Yes
The spell gives the caster a Strength-draining touch similar to a shadow's(see MM). If the caster makes a succesful touch attack, the subject suffers 1d6+1 per two levels of the caster (maximum +6) temporary Strength ability drain. A succesful Fortitude save halves the ability damage.

If the subject's Strength is reduced to 0 or less, he dies and is transformed 1d4+1 rounds later into a shadow permenently (permanently -- typo) under the control of the caster. A caster may control up to 2HD of shadow creatures per caster level at any one time. If the caster also controls animated dead(per animate dead spell), the total HD of undead plus shadow creatures cannot exceed the 2HD per level maximum. (Change this to, "A caster may only control one shadow creature created through this spell at any time. If the caster creates an additional shadow creature through the use of this spell, it immediately attacks the caster upon its creation". This prevents the spell from being used on captives or on mice and being a wholly superior version of the spell Animate Dead).

I THINK I'd allow the spell in that form. It allows a 5th-level wizard to get a shadow under her control, impossible under core rules. However, this is balanced by the danger of using the spell when there's already an existing shadow.

Of course, if you're a player and enjoy the spell, have at it -- I don't want to ruin your fun!

Daniel

 

[Numion]

This is in fact a REAL spell, it is in the Pocket Grimoire: Arcana

At last, REAL spells! I better get that book