06-25-2019, 01:48 AM | #31 | |
Join Date: May 2019
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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The disposable staff is a terrible idea for several reasons. First you pretty much have to have a no mana or empty staff. Secondly, you are also very frequently turning staff-to snake into a 6 ST spell (since you're going to need a new staff a lot of the time) and especially for a beginning wizard you're removing the most useful item they can carry. I cannot think of anything more practical for a wizard, especially a newbie, than a staff. It is the only thing you can hold which doesn't interfere with spell casting, you can use it to defend which is often your best combat option, and if you swing it as a two handed club it requires no talent, does more damage than a staff zap and costs no strength*! It's a no brainer. And this spell makes it disappear! :( * the club attack can also get facing bonuses, which it's not clear the occult zap gets... Last edited by MikMod; 06-25-2019 at 01:52 AM. Reason: Club bonuses add |
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06-25-2019, 02:29 AM | #32 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
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Re: Least Useful Spells
Why not just change the wording to....
When the spell ends or the snake is killed, the staff immediately returns, undamaged, to the Wizard's hand." |
06-25-2019, 04:51 AM | #33 | |
Join Date: May 2019
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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(2) I thought this was Least Useful Spells - not How To Modify Spells To Make Them More Useful ;) |
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06-25-2019, 05:12 AM | #34 | |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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The main problem, as I see it, is the risk to the Wizard's Staff. This is especially so now that Wizards can have powerful Mana Staffs. So my solution is specifically to address that problem. None of my Wizards ever used the spell, but with the risk to the staff addressed, I can see it might get some use. |
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06-25-2019, 10:03 AM | #35 |
Join Date: Mar 2019
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Re: Least Useful Spells
I was in a game just last month where the cleric used Purify Food & Water to neutralize a poison gas trap preventing a TPK.
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06-25-2019, 10:20 AM | #36 |
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Least Useful Spells
Staff to Snake is not obviously powerful and even looks to many like a bad idea, and I think that's actually a good thing, because otherwise all wizards would be staff-to-snaking all the time, which I wouldn't like much (but if someone does, modding the spell could arrange that).
I think it is true that it's not a great spell to use in the most obvious way - you can't go "Muahaha! now my staff is a SNAKE and you will die!" - but it's just a 1 ST spell so I think that shouldn't work that way. Apart from clever tricks, though, I think it actually could work out well in low-level arena combat and/or for low-level adventurers. 1 ST is a bargain, letting you cast other spells, and it gives you a real combatant - I'd much rather have a ST 6 -3 DX-to-hit snake than have my wizard himself get engaged and try to fight with a staff rather than being able to avoid that happening and have time to cast other spells etc. |
06-25-2019, 11:52 AM | #37 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
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Re: Least Useful Spells
IQ 12
Staff to Venomous Snake. Turns the wizard's staff into a serpent, as per Staff to Snake, except that anyone taking any damage from its bite must make a 4-die saving roll against ST or suffer 1d venom damage. Costs 3 to cast. Prerequisites: Staff, Staff to Snake. |
06-25-2019, 11:40 PM | #38 | |
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Durham, NC
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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The downside is the cost is not just 1 ST. It is also the loss of use of the staff. Even if it is not broken, you are now empty handed. If you are just going to be defending, then your silver dagger will be enough. Or maybe carry a club in addition to your staff and silver dagger. --- This is a great conversation as it is uncovering better ways of using spells. So, anyone else have a spell they hate? |
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06-26-2019, 10:25 AM | #39 | |
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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06-26-2019, 10:36 AM | #40 | |
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Least Useful Spells
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