Necromancy Spell, 5th level, Arcane.
Reflex:Half SR:yes Target: all creatures in10ft radius burst plus 5 feet per 2 caster levels.
This spell turns your body into a conduit of negative energy, allowing you to strike at multiple foes 1d8/caster level negative energy damage. (maximum 15d8) and on casting the wielder takes 1d6/2 caster levels negative energy damage
Do you think it works, too strong or weak?
Necromancy Spell, 5th level, Arcane.
Reflex:Half SR:yes Target: all creatures in10ft radius burst plus 5 feet per 2 caster levels.
This spell turns your body into a conduit of negative energy, allowing you to strike at multiple foes 1d8/caster level negative energy damage. (maximum 15d8) and on casting the wielder takes 1d6/2 caster levels negative energy damageDo you think it works, too strong or weak?
Negative energy usually utilizes a will save mechanic. Change ref half to will half and it should be ok. Making it a will based spell will make it slightly less efficient against most monsters, so keep that in mind.
I think that the damage you take is too high for such a spell. I would rarely, if ever, cast a burst damaging spell that's centered on caster unless (in this case) my companions are undead, and I would definitely never cast it if I take so much damage from it.
It can be a nice spell if your companions are undead, and the caster is undead, perhaps even too good. Otherwise I would most likely never use it.
My issue with the spell is that it requires two separate damage rolls using different type of dice which, I think, would be too much hassle. Maybe the caster should suffer quarter of what he rolled on damage (half of the damage due to the nature of backlash itself, halved again as if he succeed his saving throw)?
Also I agree with change of save to Will.
And, how to say it... The area of spell feels wrong to me. Effects that would calculate their radius in such irregular way are rather rare. Maybe turn it to 5 feet radius per two caster levels? Or just fixed radius of 30 feet?
Otherwise nice idea.
Another issue I can think of is that it just heals undead too much as it doesn't follow the standard cure/inflict framework. Perhaps add a secondary effect to it and lower the damage.
SHADOW OF DEATH
Necromancy
Level: sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Target: All creatures in a 30f radius burst centered on yourself
Duration: instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will partial; Spell Resistance: yes
This spell turns your body into a conduit of negative energy inflicting 3d8+1/level points of negative energy damage (maximum +15) and causing living creatures affected by it to gain 1 temporary negative level. Negative levels stack. Successful will save halves the damage but does not prevent negative levels from occurring.
Undead creatures affected by this spell are instead healed and gain 5 temporary hit points for each negative level. Temporary hit points do not stack.
Negative levels caused by this spell are temporary and fade after one hour.