Balance advice needed on new spell

[Jellyfulfish]

I'm trying to design an elemental damaging spell based on a flamethrower effect.

The idea is to have fairly good damage output or fire type, with possibly a condition sideeffect similar to orb spells from 3.5, ongoing effect maintained by concentration, with an area of effect with the "cone" geometry, movable as part of the caster's maintained concentration.

Here is what I have so far.
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Fire Hose
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Drd 5, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 40 feet
Area : Cone-shaped emanation
Duration: Concentration
Saving Throw: Ref. half, see texte.
Spell Resistance: Yes

A blazing firestorm springs into existence from your open hand palms. The Fire Hose deals 1d4 per caster level (max 15d4) fire damage to any creature caught in the cone-shaped emanation at the beginning of the caster's turn. The first round a creature is affected by the Fire Hose, it must succeed a fortitude save or be dazzed for 1d4 rounds. Every round a creature is affected by the Fire Hose, it is entitled to a reflex save to reduce the fire damage taken by half.

On his turn, the caster can choose to maintain the Fire Hose via substained concentration. He can also choose to re-orient the cone-shaped emanation in any direction around him, but is otherwise forced to stay in place for the duration of the spell.
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The points of balance for this spell are as follow : While more damaging and easier to adapt to ennemie moves than Wall of fire, the Fire Hose lacks the extended duration past concentration and allows a reflex save for half damage. The possibly added condition hads some flavor to the spell without making it overpowered. The fact that you can deal caster level d4s per round might feel like alot but it bounds the caster to his original location, and concentration must be maintained (possible interruption via concentration check failure).

I'd like to have some feedback on this spell. If you think it's too powerful overall, if it needs another spell level allocation, etc. Please try to evaluate based on the actual power level of evocation/damaging spells, not based on other spell options which, we all agree, are usually better choices for casters.

-Jelly

[Kolokotroni]

Jellyfulfish wrote:

I'm trying to design an elemental damaging spell based on a flamethrower effect.

The idea is to have fairly good damage output or fire type, with possibly a condition sideeffect similar to orb spells from 3.5, ongoing effect maintained by concentration, with an area of effect with the "cone" geometry, movable as part of the caster's maintained concentration.

Here is what I have so far.
-----------------------------
Fire Hose
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Drd 5, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 40 feet
Area : Cone-shaped emanation
Duration: Concentration
Saving Throw: Ref. half, see texte.
Spell Resistance: Yes

A blazing firestorm springs into existence from your open hand palms. The Fire Hose deals 1d4 per caster level (max 15d4) fire damage to any creature caught in the cone-shaped emanation at the beginning of the caster's turn. The first round a creature is affected by the Fire Hose, it must succeed a fortitude save or be dazzed for 1d4 rounds. Every round a creature is affected by the Fire Hose, it is entitled to a reflex save to reduce the fire damage taken by half.

On his turn, the caster can choose to maintain the Fire Hose via substained concentration. He can also choose to re-orient the cone-shaped emanation in any direction around him, but is otherwise forced to stay in place for the duration of the spell.
---------------------------

The points of balance for this spell are as follow : While more damaging and easier to adapt to ennemie moves than Wall of fire, the Fire Hose lacks the extended duration past concentration and allows a reflex save for half damage. The possibly added condition hads some flavor to the spell without making it overpowered. The fact that you can deal caster level d4s per round might feel like alot but it bounds the caster to his original location, and concentration must be maintained (possible interruption via concentration check failure).

I'd like to have some feedback on this spell. If you think it's too powerful overall, if it needs another spell level allocation, etc. Please try to evaluate based on the actual power level of evocation/damaging spells, not based on other spell options which, we all agree, are usually better choices for casters.

-Jelly

I thin without maintaining it its find as a 4th level spell. But with the ability to maitain and re-aim the spell, it should be at least 5th level. Even then, that is alot of damage over time. I cant really think of anything to compare it with.

[Jellyfulfish]

The damage over time is a tricky issue I suppose. I mean a caster going nova (as far as damaging spells allow that) will deal d6s per caster level every round.

This spell allows for d4s every round. Plus the caster can't move. Plus ennemies can move away from the cone, move behind the caster allies, etc. All in all, with combat durations I have experience with, I can't see the spell being maintained past 3 rounds on average.

But then yeah, at first glance it does appear as a significant ammount of damage, so did I think while writing it down. Your observation confirms that. So more suited for a 5th level eh...

Note : the lack of similar spells, with effects that are pretty much in every fantasy / manga litterature, is kindda weird.

-Jelly

[InfoStorm]

My opinion is that the damage is too high for a concentration spell. Since you appear to want it to scale with he caster's level, I'd go with: 1d6 per four caster levels.

As a 4th level spell (will fudge the caster to 8th level)
You're talking 2d6/round to the whole area. That's more damage than the wall of fire without being too powerful.

Also, remember that a caster can move while concentrating.

[Jellyfulfish]

InfoStorm wrote:

My opinion is that the damage is too high for a concentration spell. Since you appear to want it to scale with he caster's level, I'd go with: 1d6 per four caster levels.

As a 4th level spell (will fudge the caster to 8th level)
You're talking 2d6/round to the whole area. That's more damage than the wall of fire without being too powerful.

Also, remember that a caster can move while concentrating.

I wanted to impose another restriction on the caster, so no movement in addition to concentration, in order to compensate for the damage output per round. But you also find it too damaging for a 4th/5th level spell, so it's probably too strong at this point.

I will write down a version with decreasing damage with distance. Similar to Wall of Fire.

-Jelly

[KenderKin]

I think the closest thing to compare this with is

Burning hands

Spoiler:

School evocation [fire]; Level sorcerer/wizard 1

CASTINGCasting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S

EFFECTRange 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes

A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips.

Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4).

Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action.

The suggested spell is obviously more than a multiple round burning hands....
If you change burning hands to a duration spell say 1 round/level, it becomes similar to the described spell.
But you are also increasing the damage die.
Probably a 5th level spell.....