|
I have created two new spells and would like some input. Please tell me what you think of them. Also, what do you think of allowing magic items that grant skill points (such as 5 skill points in Ride from a wizard who has ranks in that skill).
Competence
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes
The subject gets a competence bonus on any one skill check, with the bonus equal to 3/2 caster level, to a maximum of +30 at Caster Level 20.
Gate, lesser
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Clr 7, Sor/Wiz 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: See text
Duration: Concentration (up to 1 round/level)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Casting a lesser gate spell creates an interdimensional connection between your plane of existence and a plane you specify, limited to one of the elemental planes.
The gate itself is a square, up to 5' per 2 caster levels(caster’s choice), oriented in the direction you desire when it comes into existence. This spell does not allow creatures to pass through the gate, but it does allow the element itself to pass through. Thus, you could create a stream of air underwater (or a stream of water in midair), but you could not get an elemental creature to produce these effects.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
|
At first glance, the Competence one seems a bit awkward. 3/2 caster level? There's no precedent for that. I don't think it's necessarily unbalanced, I just think the verbage could be cleaned up. Maybe say it grants a +3 bonus per 2 caster levels? Then, at 5th level, it would be worth a +6 bonus when the character is first able to cast it and it will grow to a +30 bonus at 20th level, effectively the same as what you were saying. When you say 3/2, though, what about a 7th level caster? Do you round up or down? See how it could get nasty? Also, add 'or until discharged' in the Duration entry to avoid confusion.
The Lesser Gate thing... just seems useless to me and a little bit awkward. Yeah, a stream of air underwater might allow a group of creatures to breathe and a stream of fire might cause damage, but what about a stream of earth? What does that look like? What does it do? Also, you need to detail the dimensions of the 'stream.' We know the size of the opening, but how far out does the stream of fire travel from the portal until it dissipates? I would consider getting more detailed and specific with your descriptions here. Still though, the idea of summoning a flowing stream of one of the four elements does not seem terribly useful to me when, for the same 7th level spell slot, I can just summon an elemental to do basically the same stuff, plus it can move around and hit things if I tell it to.
Also, what do you think of allowing magic items that grant skill points (such as 5 skill points in Ride from a wizard who has ranks in that skill).
I don't see a problem with it, if the item grants a competence bonus to the skill check instead of actual skill points. The new Magic Item Compendium is chock full of items that grant these types of bonuses to skill checks.
Gate, lesser does seem a bit useless. Perhaps if it was of lower level it might be viable, but even then...
|
|
I agree your way of describing it is cleaner, and leads to less confusion. I did intend for it to be rounded down at odd levels. The only problem with an 'until discharged' addition, is using the spell for skills that take a few minutes. It would work to jump across a pit or appraise a gem, but if you need to climb a hill or swim a river, you need the spell in effect for a few minutes. Unless, of course, I'm misinterpreting the meaning of 'discharge.' But once the spell is cast, it only applies to one particular skill. You can't cast the spell to gain a competence bonus to jump across the river, then change it to swim when you land in the middle instead (Damn those low rolls!)
As far as lesser gate, I need to give it more thought, apparently.
|
|
I don't see a problem with it, if the item grants a competence bonus to the skill check instead of actual skill points. The new Magic Item Compendium is chock full of items that grant these types of bonuses to skill checks.Also, what do you think of allowing magic items that grant skill points (such as 5 skill points in Ride from a wizard who has ranks in that skill).
The idea was to grant actual skill points, similar to an inherent bonus from a Manual of Bodily Health. Each skill point would cost on the order of 1000gp, but you would need to find a caster who has ranks in that particular skill.
This came about from a discussion on magic items granting feats. It's listed in the Arms & Equipment Guide as costing about 5,000gp for a feat, and in Complete Adventurer there is a feat that grants 5 skill points immediately. Thus, 1000gp per skill point.
This came about from a discussion on magic items granting feats. It's listed in the Arms & Equipment Guide as costing about 5,000gp for a feat, and in Complete Adventurer there is a feat that grants 5 skill points immediately. Thus, 1000gp per skill point.
I thought it was 10,000 gp for a feat?
|
|
This came about from a discussion on magic items granting feats. It's listed in the Arms & Equipment Guide as costing about 5,000gp for a feat, and in Complete Adventurer there is a feat that grants 5 skill points immediately. Thus, 1000gp per skill point.I thought it was 10,000 gp for a feat?
I'll have to double check when I have the book in front of me, but I think it says from 5000 to 10000, with 5000 per prerequisite. I would put the price between those two (if I'm right about what the book actually says) depending on the feat itself. The more expensive ones would be the ones most commonly taken (Power Attack, Spell Focus, what have you).