Tasha's Hideous Laughter --- Broken?

[Sunderstone]

Is it me or is this spell a little too powerful for a first level spell?

A 6th level Bard player in my group (5 PCs) uses this alot, and today he completely disabled a major 10 HD foe with it for 6 rounds. The save DC was 15, and the 10 HD Fighter had only a +3 on Will saves.
So for 6 rounds he was pretty much prone and unable to fight back as the party demolished the helpless fighter in less than 3 rounds of unanswered attacks.

It seems a tad powerful that a 1st level spell can "potentially" disable any high level (spell has no HD limit as to what it can affect) opponent for a long amount of time.

Im thinking of applying a house rule of either.....
1) imposing a HD limit that this 1st level can affect (like the Sleep spell).
2) each round if the prone target is attacked it may reroll the saving throw.


Any opinions?

 

[Heckler]

Is it me or is this spell a little too powerful for a first level spell?

Yup.

That's why its second level.

 

[nittanytbone]

This also neatly illustrates how smart spell slinging can be quite effective; throw will saves at your beefy fighter types and fort saves at the scrawny wizards.

It also shows why any fighter type meant to be a serious threat needs to have Iron Will, a multiclass with something that has strong Will saves, good wisdom, or some other way of boosting Will saves!

 

[Sunderstone]

The spell is Bard 1 as was the case here. Its 2nd level for Sor/Wiz.

 

[Heckler]

The spell is Bard 1 as was the case here. Its 2nd level for Sor/Wiz.

Ahh, I missed that.

So it makes the bard useful. Seems fine to me.

 

[Sunderstone]

Ahh, I missed that.

So it makes the bard useful. Seems fine to me.

I also should add that the Bard player played masterfully as he was under a previous Tongues spell and was able to cast it in the language of the opponent which negated the +4 language barrier save.

In any event Im starting to agree. The Bard doesnt get enough credit or respect as a class in general. Just seems kind of powerful.

 

[Heckler]

I also should add that the Bard player played masterfully as he was under a previous Tongues spell and was able to cast it in the language of the opponent which negated the +4 language barrier save.

In any event Im starting to agree. The Bard doesnt get enough credit or respect as a class in general. Just seems kind of powerful.

Remember, being a first level Bard spell he doesn't get access to it until Bard level 2, which is only one level faster than the wizard. He's not really that far ahead of the curve.

 

[Nifft]

It's a strong spell. Yay Bard!

Wait until you see what a high-level Wizard can do, though...

Cheers, -- N

 

[Vegepygmy]

I also should add that the Bard player played masterfully as he was under a previous Tongues spell and was able to cast it in the language of the opponent which negated the +4 language barrier save.

There is no "+4 language barrier." (You're probably thinking of the +4 you get for being a different type of creature than the caster.) Tasha's hideous laughter is not a language-dependent spell (though it probably should be), and tongues does absolutely nothing to assist it.

 

[wildstarsreach]

Is it me or is this spell a little too powerful for a first level spell?

A 6th level Bard player in my group (5 PCs) uses this alot, and today he completely disabled a major 10 HD foe with it for 6 rounds. The save DC was 15, and the 10 HD Fighter had only a +3 on Will saves.
So for 6 rounds he was pretty much prone and unable to fight back as the party demolished the helpless fighter in less than 3 rounds of unanswered attacks.

It seems a tad powerful that a 1st level spell can "potentially" disable any high level (spell has no HD limit as to what it can affect) opponent for a long amount of time.

Im thinking of applying a house rule of either.....
1) imposing a HD limit that this 1st level can affect (like the Sleep spell).
2) each round if the prone target is attacked it may reroll the saving throw.


Any opinions?

I think it's you, a 10th level fighter with only a +3 will. It happens, our bard at 6th level uses it as it is his only real offensive spell. With tasha' you are prone, not helpless like in sleep. You can be coup de gra'd with sleep, not with tasha's.

Veg and I play in that game and most of our opponents get that +4 for being different races.