Power Word Kill

[JRR]

Does anyone else think this spell is useless? In AD&D, it would kill anyone with 60 hp or less, which would kill most magic users and your average thief, but at the level you get the spell, most other classes would be unaffected unless wounded to some degree. With the inflation of hit points over the editions, power word won't kill anyone of similar level to the caster unless he's substantially wounded. A 15th level wizard will have, on average 52.5 hit points before con bonuses. And let's face it, any 15th level wizard is going to get an item with a con bonus, due to his fragile hp. so let's say he starts with a 14 and gets a +6 from an item. So, 75 hp from con at 15th level. 127.5 hp on average. PWK will do squat, but one lightning bolt later, it could work. Any d8 or higher class is going to have to take quite a bit of damage before pwk is usable. That's before favored class bonuses, too.

So, I'm thinking of upping the damage to 150. Am I crazy? Think that's too harsh? Some of the higher level beasties have well over 300 health, so they are effectively immune until at half health even with this modification.

Thanks in advance.

[Themetricsystem]

A little bit of con damage goes a LONG way in terms of bringing high level monsters down to keel. A cloudkill is going to do 1 con damage a round on any creature that stays in it at a MINIMUM, and more if you have the appropriate buffs on yourself etc.
Call it that and then wait a few rounds on a group of mobs and you have a point-click 100 damage guarantee spell each turn.

[Austin Morgan]

Step 1: Dispel Magic on Con-Granting Item
Step 2: Power Word Kill
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!

[anthony Valente]

I don't think it's useless. But if you do plan on changing it, perhaps keep it auto-slaying at 100hp or less, but allow a Fort save for creatures with between 101 to 10hp/caster level?

[JRR]

Austin Morgan wrote:

Step 1: Dispel Magic on Con-Granting Item

Step 2: Power Word Kill
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!

Well, that would mean knowing your opponent had a con item, and actually guessing which item it was.

[JRR]

anthony Valente wrote:

I don't think it's useless. But if you do plan on changing it, perhaps keep it auto-slaying at 100hp or less, but allow a Fort save for creatures with between 101 to 10hp/caster level?

That's an excellent suggestion! A fort save would mean non warrior/clerics would get shafted, though, and that would make the spell even more of a caster killer.

[Spes Magna Mark]

Or, you could just make sure that 15th-level wizard foe has equipment that follows recommended guidelines. That's 34,800 gp, out of which no category supports 18,000 gp for a belt of mighty constitution +6.

You could also get rid of stat boosting items. They're boring and unnecessary.

[Umbral Reaver]

At least it does more 'damage' than your cone of cold, eh?

[SmiloDan]

Austin Morgan wrote:

Step 1: Dispel Magic on Con-Granting Item

Step 2: Power Word Kill
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!

Or better yet:

Step 1: Quickened Dispel Magic on Con-Granting item & Power Word Kill.
Step 2: Profit!!!

[Arnwolf]

Spes Magna Mark wrote:

Or, you could just make sure that 15th-level wizard foe has equipment that follows recommended guidelines. That's 34,800 gp, out of which no category supports 18,000 gp for a belt of mighty constitution +6.

You could also get rid of stat boosting items. They're boring and unnecessary.

+1

[JRR]

Spes Magna Mark wrote:

Or, you could just make sure that 15th-level wizard foe has equipment that follows recommended guidelines. That's 34,800 gp, out of which no category supports 18,000 gp for a belt of mighty constitution +6.

Okay, so a +4 item, my point still stands, it's not going to be useful against anything close to the same level, since a wizard will be 17th level when he gets the spell.

Spes Magna Mark wrote:

You could also get rid of stat boosting items. They're boring and unnecessary.

I'd love to do this, unfortunately, my players would mutiny.

[Austin Morgan]

SmiloDan wrote:

Austin Morgan wrote:

Step 1: Dispel Magic on Con-Granting Item

Step 2: Power Word Kill
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!

Or better yet:

Step 1: Quickened Dispel Magic on Con-Granting item & Power Word Kill.
Step 2: Profit!!!

Gahh! Why did I not think of that? :P

[Yerv Kinkash]

Austin Morgan wrote:

SmiloDan wrote:

Austin Morgan wrote:

Step 1: Dispel Magic on Con-Granting Item

Step 2: Power Word Kill
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!

Or better yet:

Step 1: Quickened Dispel Magic on Con-Granting item & Power Word Kill.
Step 2: Profit!!!

Gahh! Why did I not think of that? :P

Because you need the third step

3. ???

the most improtant of all steps in the profit game. Ask any Gnome

[Werecorpse]

..or you could change the spell so it just does 100hp damage, no save.