The Heal/Harm revision?

[Alzrius]

We all are pretty sure that Heal/Harm will be among the stuff that revised this July, but in the meantime, WotC has given us a revision that might or might not (probably not) appease the people who want a revision to these spells, and other "broken" spells, here: http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/ei/ei20030105a

 

[Plane Sailing]

That is some very interesting ideas.

Personally I dislike "save or die" things, and I may just use those versions of implode/disintegrate/destruction etc. I'll give them a bit more of a think through, but I really like the idea that they do damage with a "special effect" if it removes all the target hp.

Thanks for the link.

 

[DDK]

You know, WotC is copping a lot of flak over this revision to the rules set. However, for once, I'm not one of the people criticizing them.

They have to make money which means needing a constant source of income. A means to do that is to update products. They're listening to fans and incorporating changes we've howled for. To me, it's a win/win situation.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Zappo]

Along the same lines, the heal mount spell would cure 10 hit points per caster level, to a maximum of 100 hit points at 10th level (since it's a lower-level spell than heal).

A paladin's caster level is half his characer level, so this should deal 100 hit points at 20th, not at 10th. Or do they mean 10th caster level?

 

[Wee Jas]

I think its a good idea too. Maybe finally we can get rid of the 13 variants of the house-ruled Harm! (Sounds like a marvel comic huh? I got the chrome holographic house-ruled Harm!)

Sice I killed 3 big baddies in 2 rounds at the last session with destruction I can see a need to tone that down as well.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Epic Variant: Limited Harm and Heal Effects

Few spells in the game see as much heated discussion as these two. Much like the save or die effects listed above, these spells continue to get more and more powerful as their targets gain levels (and hit points).

If your group isn't satisfied with the ever-escalating power of these spells, consider changing them to deal (or cure) 10 hit points per caster level, to a maximum of 150 points at 15th level. (In the case of harm, the spell can't reduce the target below 1 hit point.) This allows the spells to retain their role as extraordinarily potent damage-dealing (or damage-curing) effects, while limiting them from wiping out or restoring several hundred hit points in a single touch.

I was wondering when WotC would cave in. They've driven an iron spike through the heart of Gary Gygax with this travesty.

I am super unsatisfied. Super unsatisfied!

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Poor baby, cry me a river.

Keeping these spells the same as they were in 1E purely for sentimental reasons or tradition is just moronic. Play becomes unbalanced and players stop having reasons to cast any other spell.

Besides, I doubt poor Gary woke up in the middle of the night last week with a sharp pain through his chest as the "final" bit of DnD that remains the way he created it was changed.

I was wondering when WotC would cave in. They've driven an iron spike through the heart of Gary Gygax with this travesty.

I am super unsatisfied. Super unsatisfied!

 

[Tom Cashel]

Keeping these spells the same as they were in 1E purely for sentimental reasons or tradition is just moronic. Play becomes unbalanced and players stop having reasons to cast any other spell.

Besides, I doubt poor Gary woke up in the middle of the night last week with a sharp pain through his chest as the "final" bit of DnD that remains the way he created it was changed.

First of all, any DM worth his salt can keep these spells balanced. No need to air out your personal shortcomings and insecurities here, my friend.

Second, how do you know what pain resides in the heart of Gary Gygax?

 

[haiiro]

You know, WotC is copping a lot of flak over this revision to the rules set. However, for once, I'm not one of the people criticizing them.

They have to make money which means needing a constant source of income. A means to do that is to update products. They're listening to fans and incorporating changes we've howled for. To me, it's a win/win situation.

I find this interesting as well.

FASA used to revise both Battletech and Shadowrun pretty regularly, and although I stopped picked up new Shadowrun rules the BT revisions were always good, IMO. Chaosium also likes to bring out a slightly different version of the core Call of Cthulhu rulebook every few years, but the actual rules changes are usually pretty minor (they mostly update the supplemental stuff, add Mythos tomes, etc.).

I understand that there is a major difference when the rules in question are the current cornerstone of the industry - and are used via the OGL by many, many other companies - but I'm still somewhat surprised that so many people have an automatic negative response.

I know this is kind of tangential to the heal/harm discussion, but it seemed relevant. Hope that's OK.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

You sure have a large post count for being such an tactless troll.

If all it takes to keep these spells balanced is a DM worth his salt then obviously you should be #1 in line to have them changed TOM.

Go try boinking someone else, then maybe Gary won't have any pains in his heart or anywhere else. Till then don't waste my time unless you have something intelligent to post. Since that appears though to be pretty impossible you could always just cut and paste some intelligent postings from someone else. It would be a welcome change to read something intelligent with your name stamped on it.

First of all, any DM worth his salt can keep these spells balanced. No need to air out your personal shortcomings and insecurities here, my friend.

Second, how do you know what pain resides in the heart of Gary Gygax?