Turn Undead variants from CD and UA: have you used them?

[Klaus]

Has anyone used the Turn Undead variants from Complete Divine or Unearthed Arcana? How do they play out, specially compared to regular turning?

Quick Reminder:

CD variant -> Turn Undead does 1d6/level damage to all undead within 30'.

UA variant -> TU paralyzes undead while cleric concentrates. He can later attempt to make them flee.

 

[Yig]

We use the one from CD to great effect.

Because of item and feats selection, our 6th level cleric do 10d6*1.5 (DC 24 Will save for half) to all undead within 30'. As a free action

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Before CD came out, I came up with a system nearly identical to that version...weird how that happens...and it works pretty well for us. If I get CD, I'll probably switch to it, just to keep things semi-official.

 

[Psion]

No, but I use my own variant. Turn damage does not grow with level, which can really hinder you at higher level. I replace the second d6 of turning damage with character level.

 

[Tav_Behemoth]

Jonathan Tweet endorses using the CD variant on his website - he says the problem with the PHB version is that it's either-or and that it doesn't sum with the efforts of the rest of the party, both of which he feels are bad design. The CD variant is cool because it lets the fighter and the cleric both work together to defeat undead through the same mechanism (damage), and because unlike being turned, you can have varying degrees of undead being damaged.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I plan to use the CD variant in future games, but I don't really want to change how Turn Undead works in games that are already going.

 

[Saeviomagy]

No, but I use my own variant. Turn damage does not grow with level, which can really hinder you at higher level. I replace the second d6 of turning damage with character level.

Maybe you missed this, but turn damage is equal to
2d6 + CLERIC LEVEL + charisma bonus.

Or are you suggesting adding in cleric level twice??