What was WoTC thinking!?!?!?! Power Word Pain

[Drowbane]

This may have been discussed before, and if so, I apologize. One of my friends was telling me about the penultimate spell for Sorcerers and Wizards, Power Word: Pain from Races of the Dragon. This spell is ridiculous! If I were to throw this at my players, they would not stand a chance.

It is a 1st level spell with no save. If you have less than 100 HP then you are affected. It does 1d6 points per round for a number of rounds depending on your max hit points. At 50 hit points and less, the effect lasts for 4d4 rounds. Thats 4d4 rounds at 1d6 points of damage each round without a save!!

Has anyone seen an errata on this, please tell me there is one. If not, it is definitely getting house ruled in my game.

favored spell of (DM run) Kobold Sorcerers everywhere!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well, what do you know. Second from the last.

I learned something today.

Then 'antepenultimate' should blow your mind, man!

-Hyp.

 

[Venator]

The thing about it is that its a terrible spell in combat.

Damage / round spells are pretty terrible in D&D. PC's would almost never slot this, and would be wasting an action to cast it in almost every case.

Its a decent mook spell when you are specifically trying to drain party resources, but its far from over powered or broken.

 

[KarinsDad]

Then 'antepenultimate' should blow your mind, man!

Especially in a two man race.

 

[el-remmen]

Here is a version we came up with over on the Aquerra wiki: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spell+-+Power+Word+Torment

Special thanks to Ciaran.

 

[Nail]

deleted

 

[Plane Sailing]

I remember a huge debate debunking this spell... which must have been lost in the Great Board Meltdown of '06...

I remember what the consensus was at the time, but I can't prove it

 

[Infiniti2000]

I remember a huge debate debunking this spell... which must have been lost in the Great Board Meltdown of '06...

That's probably why I couldn't find it.

I remember what the consensus was at the time, but I can't prove it

Post it and I'll concur.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

yeah, this spell had bugged me and mad my opinion of wotc drop pritty low. Glad they fixed it. Now i dont know what to think of them.

 

[Thanee]

I learned something today.

Don't you know Monty Python? The penultimate supper!

(it's from a sketch about Michelangelo commissioned to paint the last supper, from Live at the Hollywood Bowl (great show, BTW, MP at their best ) and Flying Circus, supposedly).

That's where I learned about that word, anyways...

Bye
Thanee