Touch of Idiocy.. Typo?

[Taren Seeker]

Reach Spell...that isn't core last I checked.

But Spectral Hand is.

And I'm guessing that the aforementioned Monk/Sorc or an Eldritch Knight won't be too upset about using a touch spell.

Or a Rogue with a wand...or an Arcane Trickster, or....

You get the idea.

 

[sithramir]

LOL!!!! I just realized that that is really the name of the spell. I always for some reason was assuming that was some pet name adopted by people who thought the spell overly powerful or stupid. HAHA. Man someone must have hit me with that spell today.

 

[Tiberius]

It'll also be great for messing with paladins' healing and save boosts, or the monk's AC. A lovely spell overall. I just hope my PCs don't notice it.

-Tiberius

 

[Skinwalker]

...and clerics and sorcerers...

Since it affects 3 attributes simultaneously (at least, according to the posts I've seen above), it is even *more* deadly to those who have more than 1 spellcasting class.

Wanna see a Mystic Theurge cry? Take away his high level spells (and some bonus spells) from both classes, and reduce the DC of anything he is able to muster in response, and reduce his Will saves against your next onslaught...and all it'll cost you is 1 second-level spell. Ouch!

"No save" on a spell with this much potential is what makes me cringe.

 

[Al]

Actually, the major victims of Touch of Idiocy are those who have a lower Int to begin with, particularly rogues and clerics.

Take Bill the Cleric, with 10 Int. Two ToIs with good rolls take him down to 2, sub-sentience. Bang goes his spellcasting (too stupid), strategy (too stupid), wand usage (too stupid) etc.

Or Joe the Rogue, with 12 Int. Two ToIs with lucky rolls take him down to 2, again, sub-sentient. Out flies his hit-and-run strategy, his sneak attack, intelligent usage of skills, etc.

Sure, it will hit Bob the Mage as well, but the major strategic usage I would argue is to reduction below sub-sentience, not just an erosion of DCs. I guess the lucky one is the barbarian, who didn't really use much other than hit-the-enemy-hard-with-a-big-stick tactics anyway

 

[Staffan]

Two ToIs with good rolls take him down to 2, sub-sentience.

Touch of Idiocy inflicts a penalty to the stat, not ability damage. Like any other non-instant spell, it would not stack with itself.

 

[James McMurray]

I would think its major target would be the power gamer who used Cha as his dump stat for his roll of a 4-6. Maximsed Touch of Idiocy is pretty much guaranteed to wipe him out.

 

[drnuncheon]

I would think its major target would be the power gamer who used Cha as his dump stat for his roll of a 4-6. Maximsed Touch of Idiocy is pretty much guaranteed to wipe him out.

...except that it can't take him below a 1, so he's not going to go catatonic. (And it won't really hose him in any other way - if he's using Cha as a dump stat I'm guessing he doesn't have many skills.)

J

 

[James McMurray]

Ah. didn't notice that part. Move along, move along. Nothing to see here.

 

[Al]

Touch of Idiocy inflicts a penalty to the stat, not ability damage. Like any other non-instant spell, it would not stack with itself.

Don't have 3.5e, so I'm just going on the quotations, but isn't the penalty type unnamed? In which case, should it not stack with itself? Or is it an 'enhancement penalty' (as per RoE currently is).