Touch attack for Evard's Black Tentacles?

[fujaiwei]

Do Evard's Tentacles need a melee touch attack first? Or, do they skip that step and move directly to the opposed check.

My DM think's Evard's is extremely overpowered. What do you all think?

Sorry if this has been asked before, I don't have a search function. Thanks.

 

[Thanee]

No touch attack.

Yes, it's a very powerful spell, I wouldn't go as far to call it overpowered, but it definitely is in the top range for its level.

Bye
Thanee

 

[fujaiwei]

No touch attack.

Yes, it's a very powerful spell, I wouldn't go as far to call it overpowered, but it definitely is in the top range for its level.

Bye
Thanee

How do you justify it not being overpowered? I feel more than a bit biased, as it's my favorite spell. I keep ruining my DM's day in Return to the Temple of E. Evil. It almost seems overpowered because (as we were doing) there's no touch attack, no SR, no save. It kills clerics (no dimension door), rogues (too weak) and just about everything medium sized. I'm almost agreeing with him.

 

[Nail]

IMO, it is over-powered......for EL (and PC level) 7 through 10. After that, it's no big deal.

 

[fujaiwei]

IMO, it is over-powered......for EL (and PC level) 7 through 10. After that, it's no big deal.

Why does it become not overpowered at high levels? The creatures are stronger?

 

[Thanee]

Not really different to a fighter grappling them.

Some creatures/characters are simply not very well-suited for grappling.

But you can still cast some spells (few enough, of course, unless you prepared them with Still Spell), or escape with a good roll, it's not like the grapple check was virtually unbeatable, as it is with some monsters. Clerics, for example, have Freedom of Movement to completely negate the spell, or could be buffed with Divine Power and stand more than a good chance to make the grapple check. Rogues could escape with Escape Artist.

And the damage the spell does is pathetic. It takes ages to kill something with it alone.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Nail]

Yep. And they are usually size large or bigger. ....and the higher level wizards and clerics have extra-dimensional travel options.

Rogues are still screwed. ...but ain't that always the case?

Right now (level 7?), you've got that +8 "kicker" added to your caster level (for grapple checks). That's what makes the spell nasty. In a few levels, that +8 won't seem quite as large.

 

[fujaiwei]

Not really different to a fighter grappling them.

Some creatures/characters are simply not very well-suited for grappling.

But you can still cast some spells (few enough, of course, unless you prepared them with Still Spell), or escape with a good roll, it's not like the grapple check was virtually unbeatable, as it is with some monsters. Clerics, for example, have Freedom of Movement to completely negate the spell, or could be buffed with Divine Power and stand more than a good chance to make the grapple check. Rogues could escape with Escape Artist.

And the damage the spell does is pathetic. It takes ages to kill something with it alone.

Bye
Thanee

Thanks a bunch. I'll pass this on to my DM. He'll be happy to have a way to defeat Evard's Godlike Tentacles, as he calls them.

 

[Nail]

Some creatures/characters are simply not very well-suited for grappling.

Oh, come on, Thanee.

This spell doesn't just grapple one creature. It grapples groups, and even a Ftr 8 will be challenged by a +16 opposed grapple check.

 

[Nail]

Thanks a bunch. I'll pass this on to my DM. He'll be happy to have a way to defeat Evard's Godlike Tentacles, as he calls them.

Freedom of Movement is not a very practical way of dealing with EBT.

Try again.