Touch of Idiocy.. Typo?

[Old Gumphrey]

A 2nd level spell that deals 1d6 damage to Int, Wis, and Cha with no save and lasts 10 min/level. Tell me my book is wrong.

 

[Vecna]

Especially if you use "3.25" and allow Empower spell to stack...

 

[Grazzt]

A 2nd level spell that deals 1d6 damage to Int, Wis, and Cha with no save and lasts 10 min/level. Tell me my book is wrong.

Actually in the spell lists it says that. In the description (page 294, PH 3.5) it says the spell "applies a 1d6 penalty to the target's Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. The penalty cannot reduce any of these below 1."


So- one is wrong. Applying a penalty is quite a bit different than doing ability damage.

 

[Darklone]

Boah. Nice way to waste the PC wizards.

 

[Vecna]

Boah. Nice way to waste the PC wizards.

...and clerics and sorcerers...

 

[The Souljourner]

Um... who cares? Even if it did 1d6 to each, only one stat is likely to matter to any one target, and 1d6 isn't deadly. Feeblemind is FAR more deadly, and is only a couple levels higher. I think it's fine if it hits all of them, and not much less powerful if it only hits one.

-The Souljourner

 

[Skinwalker]

Um... who cares? Even if it did 1d6 to each, only one stat is likely to matter to any one target, and 1d6 isn't deadly. Feeblemind is FAR more deadly, and is only a couple levels higher. I think it's fine if it hits all of them, and not much less powerful if it only hits one.

1d6 could be enough to render a spellcaster impotent.
Take the example of a sorcerer with 16 Cha. He gets hit with this spell and takes 5 points to Cha. Suddenly he has an 11 Cha, and can only cast cantrips and level 1 spells!
At least the sorcerer could still use his higher level slots to cast levels 0 and 1 spells, though. A caster who prepares spells would be even more screwed.

 

[Macbrea]

Um... who cares? Even if it did 1d6 to each, only one stat is likely to matter to any one target, and 1d6 isn't deadly.

Ok, don't know what game your playing but a 1d6 reduction in stats on any spell casters primary stat is pretty deadly.

Lets see...

14th level wizard
Int 20
Able to cast 7th level spells at upto DC 23

-6 INT

14th level wizard
Int 14
Ability to cast 4th level spells upto DC 16

I think its a pretty powerful spell overall.

 

[Vecna]

Another way, this time more subtle, to nerf spellcaster (particularly arcane ones, given their lack of melee skills)

 

[Brekki]

Ok, don't know what game your playing but a 1d6 reduction in stats on any spell casters primary stat is pretty deadly.

Lets see...

14th level wizard
Int 20
Able to cast 7th level spells at upto DC 23

-6 INT

14th level wizard
Int 14
Ability to cast 4th level spells upto DC 16

I think its a pretty powerful spell overall.

But thats only the case for very lame NPC's ... any decent caster has an Int of 19 with a +4 Int item by then ...

Wiz14 with Int 23 leads to:
Able to cast up to 7th lvl spells up to DC 23

very unlucky Wiz 14 with Int 17:
Able to cast up to 7th lvl spells up to DC 20

When he is very unlucky he loses access to his highest spell-level, otherwise he just loses some spells across the levels.