What Spell Levels?

billking

First Post
Shadowsplit
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Sor/Wiz ???
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Short (see text)
Target: The character
Duration: 1 minute/level (see text)

The character converts his physical form into shadowstuff, splits in two, and reinforces each form with illusions to give each the appearance of being fully real, when in fact each is 50% real. Upon interacting with either form, a creature makes a Will save to determine whether it perceives the forms as shadows.

(Edited information in italics.) Any gear worn by the character may either be split into two 50% real shadowforms or kept fully intact. Weapons split in this way deal 50% damage if the victim disbelieves the illusion; activated items such as wands or scrolls have a 50% chance of failure if split, although the spell is at full strength (regardless of whether believed or not). Gear that is not split, whether weapon or spell activation item, funtions normally. The character splits his or her current hit points as evenly as possible between the shadows. Each form has only a 50% chance of successfully casting a spell, although a failed attempt does not discharge the spell from memory or count as a spell cast per day; spells cast this way are at full strength. A shadow may opt to cast a spell which could target itself on both shadows, although any numerical bonuses would be halved (thus mage armor would give +2 armor to each). Otherwise, the two shadows function as described in shadow conjuration, except they are 50% real instead of 20%.

The two forms must be within Short range (25 ft + 5 ft/level) or the one with the least hit points immediately dissipates, causing the character to become fully real wherever the other shadow is with only that shadow's hit points (in cases of a hit point tie the character chooses). If one shadow is ever reduced to zero hit points, the other shadow becomes fully real. If the spell ends normally, the character assumes a fully real form where either shadow is located, with the sum of the two shadows' hit points.

Greater Shadowsplit
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Sor/Wiz ???

As shadowsplit, except the character splits itself into 4 shadows each 25% real. Gear may be split four ways (25% real) or no ways at all.

Each shadow must be in Short range of every other shadow; when two are separated by a greater distance, the one with the least hit points immediately dissipates, with the remaining shadows uneffected.
 
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Re: One question

Lily Inverse said:
What happens to the hit points of a shadow that is dissipated by being separated?
Gone until healed. For example, if Hennet has 40 hp (his max hp) and casts shadowsplit, he has two shadows with 20 hp each. One takes 5 damage, then the other takes 10 and is bull rushed off a cliff. The bull-rushed shadow dissipates, and Hennet full materializes where the other was, left with 15 hp out of 40.
 
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I think that the basic shadowsplit is less useful than haste (which guarantees the ability to cast two spells per round and gives a +4 AC bonus, so it certainly shouldn't be higher than 3rd level.

As a defensive spell it actually isn't as good as Mirror Image (since attacks on either shadow hurt you), but it does have the potential for offensive kick (only 25% that both copies manage to activate a shadow wand, but that could still end up being nasty.

If it wasn't for the possibility of multiple wands or staffs being fired off, I'd put it at 2nd level. Mind you, it is still less certain than haste would be, even if it has a slightly longer duration.

So I'd go for 2nd level for this spell. I'd go for 4th level for the "Greater" version of the spell since it gives the (slim) possibility of being able to activate 4 wands or 4 spells in a turn. Roll well, and this would be devastating.

Cheers
 

Plane Sailing said:
I think that the basic shadowsplit is less useful than haste (which guarantees the ability to cast two spells per round and gives a +4 AC bonus, so it certainly shouldn't be higher than 3rd level.

If should be higher if you can flank a target "by yourself", meaning your two halves. The thought of a rogue/wizard getting their hands on this sends shivers up my spine, both good and bad.
 
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I initially wrote the spell thinking of a fighter/wizard, but I guess a rogue/wizard could use it very effectively too.

I was thinking it'd be much higher in spell level. So, how about this: you still only have a 50% of casting a spell successfully from memory, but you have a 100% chance of casting a spell from a 100% real wand. (A 50% real "split" piece of gear is still has a 50% miss rate.) The same rule would apply to weapons; i.e. if you had two +2 daggers you could give each shadow one. Thus this spell could double your cast rate, but only if you have a wand or scroll of the appropriate type.

I'm going to edit the original post to match this.
 

Have a look at the Psionic power Fission, and the OA Wu Jen spell Body Outside Body. They are both similar to what you want, and are both 7th level.

Geoff.
 


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