For reference:
Freezing Spells (Su): Whenever a creature fails a saving throw and takes cold damage from one of your spells, it is slowed (as the slow spell) for 1 round. Spells that do not allow a save do not slow creatures. At 11th level, the duration increases to 1d4 rounds.
So, here is my question. Unless I multiclass into an arcane caster, what the devil is the point of this for a Wave Oracle?! The Cold Touch revelation is a melee touch attack, so no saving throw, and the only cold spells I can find on the list are high level, like cold ice strike.
Can someone point out the use of this revelation to me?
The revelation probably exists for Oracles that want to cross class with an arcane spellcasting class, but I do wonder if it should function with Blizzard. RAW it doesn't.
I'm making a Sorceror who focuses on cold spells right now.
I would absolutely love that Revelation. Maybe I should make a one level dip into Oracle... hm. But a one level dip in Oracle is not really a good idea, since the curse will never get better.
I'm pretty sure it's for Oracles who take other spellcasting levels.
Did you forget about word-casting? Or perhaps elemental spell?
Elemental Spell yes, Word Casting no. I didn't see alot of words on the Cleric/Oracle list that had to do with damage. If you could point some out that are low level that would be handy.
But a one level dip in Oracle is not really a good idea, since the curse will never get better.
Not true, actually. It will improve from non-Oracle levels.
"An oracle’s curse is based on her oracle level plus one for every two levels or Hit Dice other than oracle."
But a one level dip in Oracle is not really a good idea, since the curse will never get better.Not true, actually. It will improve from non-Oracle levels.
"An oracle’s curse is based on her oracle level plus one for every two levels or Hit Dice other than oracle."
Excellent catch! I think I might take Tongues and choosing Aquan. It'll work well with the ice theme. Plus, I will be getting an Ice Mephit who can speak common and aquan. This will be better than the rimeblooded sorx Crossblooded with Frost, I think.
You're not missing anything. It's a huge oversight we've been over before. The only spell an Oracle of Waves benefits from this is Wall of Ice in very select cases.
Your only hope of getting any use is through Elemental Spell. Pretty sucky, I know.
I just find it bizarre because this issue has been known practically forever, since the Oracle was released, and yet there isn`t any eligible new Cold spells for the Oracle to use. I mean... those spells should have really been issued simultaneous with the Oracle (and Waves Mystery) itself, but it`s really really wierd for this state of affairs to still persist. Yes, as mentioned, you can Elemental Metamagic certain spells, but that seems like a hack. The Flames Oracle doesn`t need to do that, why should the Waves Oracle? If anything, that is Feat and Metamagic-tax on the Waves Oracle.
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I just find it bizarre because this issue has been known practically forever, since the Oracle was released, and yet there isn`t any eligible new Cold spells for the Oracle to use. I mean... those spells should have really been issued simultaneous with the Oracle (and Waves Mystery) itself, but it`s really really wierd for this state of affairs to still persist. Yes, as mentioned, you can Elemental Metamagic certain spells, but that seems like a hack. The Flames Oracle doesn`t need to do that, why should the Waves Oracle? If anything, that is Feat and Metamagic-tax on the Waves Oracle.
Agreed, the Flame Oracle gets the spells that benefit from Burning in the Mystery Spell list. The Waves Oracle should have the same.
However, I still see the Waves Oracle as being much more maneuverability and stealth based: Fluid Nature et al.
Yeah, that kind of is highlights the schizo nature of the Waves Mystery.
Personally, I MUCH MUCH prefer the `fluid` and even `symbolism` aspect of WATER,
(I prefer such an approach to elements in general, including fire, as opposed to dull concretist element:damage type fixations)
but if they`re going to include ICE and COLD DAMAGE as a theme, they should at least not make it suck.
Isn't the fact that Water is related to Cold Damage, but also its own subtype show that it isn't exactly a "dull concretist" thing?
Also Earth -> [Acid], but also [Earth].
And Air -> [Electricity], but also [Air].
Actually, the only element that is the same damage type is fire.
Or am I misinterpreting your statement, Quandary?
I think so. My last line may be the one you most want to pay attention in regards this specific issue.
My first line specifically recognized that both aspects (water/ ice/ fluid/ cold) are included.
My expressing my *personal dislike* (specifically noted) of the elemental type corellation was mostly an aside (ala `I don`t like raisins!`, that doesn`t mean Raisin Oracles shouldn`t be good at their schtick). I´d say that the Ice aspect of the Mystery is actually given decently themed abilities, aside from it`s dysfunctional Cold damage tie-in (Freezing Spells). In this area, I think my specific feedback about `elemental damage corellation` in the Oracle playtest actually was heard, and they were in fact moved away from the elemental damage correlation thing... I guess it`s just something that I feel compelled to bring up whenever it`s tangentially relevant ;-)
The problem is that with both aspects (fluid/ice) jammed into one Mystery, with one bonus spell list, the Waves Oracle doesn`t really have that many spells which they could even modify with Elemental Spell Metamagic... I.e. if Ice were it`s own mystery, it would be dead easy to add `Frostburst` (Fireball with Elemental Cold damage) to their spell list, if that was desired. Barring that, the MINIMAL Errata/fix for Freezing Spells would just be allowing the Freezing Spells to apply to other Revelations (which include Cold damage).
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What about taking the trait Two-World Magic and adding Ray of Frost to your known spells? Then you would have a cold spell you could cast every round.
Oracles got an ability that only really functions if they somehow get spells from another spellcasting class? Brilliant.
Oracles got an ability that only really functions if they somehow get spells from another spellcasting class? Brilliant.
Originally there were a number of planned spells for them, but they appear to have been cut. At least based on Dev statements that there were a number of new spells that could be used with it.