What's wrong with... Divine Power?

[Ravellion]

I don't like the flat 18 either. It just doesn't make any sense that, say, a half orc cleric with 20 Str doesn't get a large part of the spell because he himself is already quite strong.

Of course, Yondalla quite easily grants +17 strenth to her 1 str halfling cleric.

A silly artifact of 2nd edition.

Rav

 

[Crothian]

If you don't like the strength 18 part, I'd replace it with a simple 1d4+1 bonus to strength. The spells only 2 levels higher then Bull strength, but it does improve your BAB and give temp HPs.

 

[EOL]

I agree that there might be a couple of small problems with this spell, but with this spell you've reached the point where messing with the spell costs more than it's worth. Every house rule costs time and causes confusion, and this spell, while containing some minor flaws, it is not flawed enough to warrent the addition time and confusion of it's own house rule.

 

[Number47]

After reading this thread, I flipped a little through the Cleric's spell list. Unless I'm mistaken, for two spells (Divine Power and Righteous Might) my 3 Str cleric can be Large-sized, have fighter's BAB, gain extra hit points and have a 22 strength? Although these spells last only rounds, it still seems like it's detracting from the true fighter. I think there needs to be a cap on the amount of strength gained, like maybe no more than 8?

 

[Hypersmurf]

I doubt Tenser's transformation and divine power stack

Reasoning?

DP "sets your BAB" to a higher number. With TT you "gain a bonus".

If an 8 Str halfling was polymorphed into a 10 Str elf, would you allow a Bull's Strength to affect him?

-Hyp.

 

[Darkness]

I don't like how divine power works. Were it not for the fact that it's the 4th-level spell of the War Domain, I'd axe it without a second thought.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

The spell lasts 1 round per level. ONE ROUND!!! Of course it is going to be powerful.

What is broken is persistant spell. Why even make a high level figher when you can just make a high level cleric who casts a persistant Divine Power every morning.

And I have a funny feeling they are going to address the "more then 4 (or 5 for monks) attacks per round issue, putting the cap where it is now.

--Speculative Spikey

 

[StealthyMark]

Despite the lack of any random element, Divine Power is very random. You may sometimes get an extra attack, and sometimes a great boost to Strength. I did not notice any similar If-you-are-the-right-class-combination-and-if-you-have-the-right-strength-then-this-is-great-otherwise-you-are-out spell or effect.

Really, the half-orc Clr15 (Str 16, BAB +11) should have a similar benefit as a kobold Clr1/Sor14 (Str 6, BAB +7) using a scroll!

After reviewing the topic, I decided for all my campaigns:
- Ban Tenser's Transformation - not that problematic, though not worth the needed work.
- Ban Persistent Spell - similar problems: a fixed amount (24 h) instead of a bonus (double standard duration as Extend Spell). Some spells become really great, other are pathetic.
- Greater Magic Weapon is the 4th level spell of the War domain. Shout is the 4th level spell of the Orc domain.
- Finally, ban Divine Power. IMO, the spell as written doesn't belongs to 3rd edition. Even if I'd change the spell, it would end up as some kind of Aid-Bull's-Strength-Divine-Favor-Haste.

 

[Fast Learner]

StealthyMark, I'm curious: have you had this spell break anything in your game? Have you had a cleric use it in a way that caused a problem?

 

[StealthyMark]

StealthyMark, I'm curious: have you had this spell break anything in your game? Have you had a cleric use it in a way that caused a problem?

No, I hadn't yet. Only one of my players is able to cast it, he used it once (human Clr8, Str 14). But while designing some NPCs, I wondered about this spell and it's companion Persistent Spell.