Why is Polar Ray an 8th level spell?

[Nifft]

I failed my save vs. mentioning Psionics.

It's basically already a perfectly balanced 1st level Power... except the Power is better. :\

Cheers, -- N

 

[evilbob]

It certainly has uses, but I'd hardly call it balanced with other 8th level spells.

Well, I still would, for all the reasons I listed above.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Disintegrate gets its own wonkyness because it essentially deals double damage. Hence the need for the save.

It deals 4 x the damage compared to a failed save.
5d6 x4=20d6.

 

[Nifft]

It deals 4 x the damage compared to a failed save.
5d6 x4=20d6.

I think by "double damage" he means 2d6/level.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kerrick]

Disintegrate is also untyped damage - nothing resists it, unlike polar ray. AND, if you're reduced to -10 hit points (or 0 for undead/objects), guess what - you're turned to powder! No other spell does anything even remotely similar. Having a save in addition to the ranged touch attack is definitely justified in this case, IMO.

 

[Folly]

Limiting to base material.

2nd - Scorching Ray
6th - Quicken Scorching Ray

24d6 Damage for 8 spell levels. Like Polar Ray it has no save, but instead has an attack roll. The benefit here is that you can split up the damage between multiple targets. And while some might say having 6 attack rolls if you are attacking 1 target is a downside, I see this as an additional benefits. Since rolling a 1 on a attack roll doesn't completely blow the spell. Thus this provides a better average of damage.

Polar ray compared to this seems to be rather under-powered for an 8th level spell.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Disintegrate gets its own wonkyness because it essentially deals double damage. Hence the need for the save.

Exactly right-- and 1/4 damage on a successful save.

It's basically a spell that lets you double down.

 

[Will]

Well, quicken is cheating slightly; it's 2 spells. Though when you're casting 6th level spells, I suppose 2nd level is no biggie.

For more fun, consider Twin Spell - scorching ray (6th) + Quicken spell - Scorching ray (6th).

36d6 damage.

 

[jaelis]

2nd - Scorching Ray
6th - Quicken Scorching Ray

Your scorching ray trick would be hurt a LOT more by fire resistance than the polar ray would by cold resistance. And it uses up your swift action and takes a feat.

Not that I fundamentally disagree, I'm just saying. A better comparison might be a maximized scorching ray, which is only level 5 but does 72 hp, same as an average roll from a CL 20 polar ray. Still takes a feat and doesn't do so well vs fire resistance, but the option to spread the damage out is nice too. And it is THREE levels lower a slot.

Of course, one could plausibly claim here that scorching ray is overpowered, rather than polar ray underpowered.

 

[Folly]

Of course, one could plausibly claim here that scorching ray is overpowered, rather than polar ray underpowered.

LOL, so true.