Is it just me or is lesser confusion an almost useless spell? It lasts 1 round. You get a save. AND! there's still a 25% chance that if the save is failed, nothing happens! That's impressive for a spell (No, I'm being sarcastic). What is even more depressing is that it's a bard-spell, so who in their right mind would waste their precious spell-slots with this?
/rant
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Well, let's see:
1.) It's a 1st-level spell, so bards have access to it at level 1.
2.) It targets Will, which is the weak save for physically-powerful types that you would generally WANT to have attacking someone other than yourself or your allies.
3.) Yeah, there's a 25% chance that nothing happens. You know what else has more than a 25% chance of not doing anything when you're playing a 1st-level bard? Making an attack roll.
4.) "Note that a confused character will not make attacks of opportunity against any creature that it is not already devoted to attacking (either because of its most recent action or because it has just been attacked)." You have the ability to (possibly!) remove the creature's capacity to AoO someone (like the party's rogue moving in for a flank) for a round. Not bad!
So yeah, it's not an AWESOME spell by any means, but it's not terrible either. This is a 1st-level spell we're talking about here. By the time the bard gains some higher level spells and this one becomes useless, you can always swap it out for something else that scales better.
Well, let's see:
1.) It's a 1st-level spell, so bards have access to it at level 1.
2.) It targets Will, which is the weak save for physically-powerful types that you would generally WANT to have attacking someone other than yourself or your allies.
3.) Yeah, there's a 25% chance that nothing happens. You know what else has more than a 25% chance of not doing anything when you're playing a 1st-level bard? Making an attack roll.
4.) "Note that a confused character will not make attacks of opportunity against any creature that it is not already devoted to attacking (either because of its most recent action or because it has just been attacked)." You have the ability to (possibly!) remove the creature's capacity to AoO someone (like the party's rogue moving in for a flank) for a round. Not bad!So yeah, it's not an AWESOME spell by any means, but it's not terrible either. This is a 1st-level spell we're talking about here. By the time the bard gains some higher level spells and this one becomes useless, you can always swap it out for something else that scales better.
1) There's plenty of much better level 1 spells as well. (Charm person, hideous laughter, sleep)
2) These all also target sleep.3) You aren't limited to X attacks per day.
4) Nor will a charmed character, laughing character, or sleeping characters.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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1) There's plenty of much better level 1 spells as well. (Charm person, hideous laughter, sleep)
2) These all also target sleep.
3) You aren't limited to X attacks per day.
4) Nor will a charmed character, laughing character, or sleeping characters.
Charm Person is hard to use in combat (target gets a +5 on the save). Sleep is a full-round casting time and is thusly prone to disruption. Hideous Laughter is usually pretty good, though, yeah. Different spells for different purposes. Lesser Confusion also has the fun bonus of making it possible to deal a significant amount of damage. Say you tag an orc with a greataxe with it, who then attacks his ally. What other first-level spell deals 1d12+6 damage? :)
Okay... I see your points. I'd probably houserule that it'll last for 1 round / level... But that may be a bit too much... But it's usefulness is gone after a few levels...
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
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Charm Person is hard to use in combat (target gets a +5 on the save). Sleep is a full-round casting time and is thusly prone to disruption. Hideous Laughter is usually pretty good, though, yeah. Different spells for different purposes. Lesser Confusion also has the fun bonus of making it possible to deal a significant amount of damage. Say you tag an orc with a greataxe with it, who then attacks his ally. What other first-level spell deals 1d12+6 damage? :)1) There's plenty of much better level 1 spells as well. (Charm person, hideous laughter, sleep)
2) These all also target sleep.
3) You aren't limited to X attacks per day.
4) Nor will a charmed character, laughing character, or sleeping characters.
Remember that the target of hideous laughter gets a +4 on their save if they aren't the same type as you, as humor doesn't 'translate' well.
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Okay... I see your points. I'd probably houserule that it'll last for 1 round / level... But that may be a bit too much... But it's usefulness is gone after a few levels...
That would be a mighty powerful houserule....
Confusing a target is an extreme hindrance. The rounds per level version that is small burst is 4th level.
You could alter the duration to concentration + 1round, or concentration +1 round/level, or simply 'until saved against'.
I like the idea of giving it a duration of concentration. You are essentially taking yourself out of the fight, and you probably take the target out as well. Not a great trade off, but acceptable.
I like the idea of increased duration = saves each round to end the spell.(at least at low levels) I think it makes the spell a bit more fun to cast and see how long it lasts before the target makes its save. Any effects lasting beyond 1 round is bonus fun and a first level caster needs all the spell fun where he can find it.
-Flea
I like the idea of increased duration = saves each round to end the spell.(at least at low levels) I think it makes the spell a bit more fun to cast and see how long it lasts before the target makes its save. Any effects lasting beyond 1 round is bonus fun and a first level caster needs all the spell fun where he can find it.
-Flea
I agree. That would be a fairly balanced deal.
Alternatively, you could make Lesser Confusion a swift action to cast. Then its 1 round duration, Save AND 25% "miss" chance would be balanced by the action economy of casting it.
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Note that we are discussing lesser confusion here, the 1st-level spell, not its big brother confusion, which I agree is a perfectly fine spell as-is.Confusion really doesn't need the kind of buffing discussed upstream. It's a really good spell as-is.
My 2gp
Ah, noted.
Well, if we're going to fix all the worthless first level spells, we'd better roll up our sleeves! :-p
Alternatively, you could make Lesser Confusion a swift action to cast. Then its 1 round duration, Save AND 25% "miss" chance would be balanced by the action economy of casting it.
That could work as well...
Yay! My post #500... Halfway to 1k... *sigh*
The biggest abuse I see to "until saved against" is magical lineage + persistent spell combined with it. Making them double roll for a success.
Well, I think it's fine as is, but if you want it to scale a bit, I'd suggest that it lasts 1 round for every three caster levels you have.
So, first and second level bards have it last only 1 round. At third level (and before they get 2nd level spells) it will last for 2 rounds making it a decent option at that level. At 6th level (and just before you have access to confusion), it now lasts 3 rounds which is all you'll really ever need (for a first level spell).
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I like the idea of increased duration = saves each round to end the spell.(at least at low levels) I think it makes the spell a bit more fun to cast and see how long it lasts before the target makes its save. Any effects lasting beyond 1 round is bonus fun and a first level caster needs all the spell fun where he can find it.
-Flea
OK, now reverse the situation. That nasty 1 level spellcaster had cast it on you.
He has a intelligence of 16 and spell focus, so your DC is 15. You are a 1 level fighter with a total Will ST bonus of +0.
On average you will be out 2-3 rounds, with a 25% chance of seriously harm yourself every round and another 25% chance of attacking a random target.
Fun?
I see absolutely nothing wrong with this spell, try compare it with the average 1st level spell and not the one's perceived as the most powerful.