Am I getting this right?
Whail of the banshee: 10hp of damage per level (no cap?). So if a wizard, say a certain BBEG, who's CL22 casts this, he 's doing 220 hp of damage to each of the 22 people (1 person per level) it can affect?
That seems like a lot of carnage.
Sound wrong for some reason.
Ultradan
I thought this worked like sleep, in that the 220 hp of your example would be applied first to the closest target to the point of origin. Let's say it's a 10 hp minion. Any damage above that needed to kill that target (210 hp remain) gets applied to the NEXT nearest target, etc., until either the spell runs out of damage or affects the cap of 22 creatures.
I could be wrong though. But if I am, what is the point of the sentence "Creatures closest to the point of origin are affected first." in the spell ?
(a) It's a 9th level spell, so lots of carnage is allowed.
(b) It's a weaker version of the original (which was "save or die").
(c) The "Fortitude negates" is a notable disadvantage.
(d) It's "Wail" (or possibly "Whale"), not "Whail".
EDIT: sanguine made most of my points.
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I remember James Jacobs giving the same interpretation as SlimGauge, but the it become a horrendously underpowered spell for a 9th level spell (remember, it at a ST that totally negate it).
Going with the 3.5 version (where it was a save or die spell, no hp damage), I would stick to your interpretation, Ultradan.
Edit: Ninjed twice :(
I could be wrong though. But if I am, what is the point of the sentence "Creatures closest to the point of origin are affected first." in the spell ?
My understanding is that you can't pick and choose your targets; it just tries to kill the N closest living creatures to you.
... It's "Wail" (or possibly "Whale"), not "Whail".
LOL!
(Sorry, I'm at work doing three things at once.)
"Whale of the Banshee"... Just imagine it for a moment...
Ultradan
You had it right in the first post, 220 damage to each of up to 22 targets (if in range)
The fact that a save negates it keeps it in line.
By the time you are facing a CL 22 Wizard BBEG you should have defenses in line to make it not as ridiculous as it may sound.
It is not overpowered by that level. :)
Heck even a level 1 Commoner has a 5% chance of being completely unaffected by it.
A level 18 PC, especially if they are tough and/or prepared has a way better chance.
And just remember, it will hurt your friends too.
A 40 foot radius is pretty big. Unless you are outside you will normally be in that range.