RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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From the wording, I don't get the impression that you could, for example, declare a swift action, make a save, then declare a move action, make a save, etc, though.
For easier reference:
You fill your target with boredom. The target loses all interest in its current task and must make a Will save against the spell’s effect in order to perform its next action. If the target fails, it takes no action that round. The boredom lasts until the duration expires or the target breaks the spell’s effect with a successful Will save.
Let's see...
You have to make a will save "in order to perform [your] next action". So once you're affected, the next time you want to do something you'll have to make a will save. If you succeed, you break the spell. If you fail, you "take no action that round".
It doesn't really specify when you make future saves... It just says that the "boredom" lasts until the spell ends/is broken. This certainly implies that you get additional saves, yet it doesn't tell you when. I can only assume, then, that once you've finished a round of doing nothing, you save the next time you attempt to perform an action. Succeed and you're free, fail and you're out another round.
So it does seem very similar to hold person, but with a key difference: it doesn't make you helpless.
I think the key is the line "If the target fails, it takes no action that round." Basically, whatever your first action attempt is in that round, you make a save. If you succeed, you get to act normally and the spell ends. If you fail, you do nothing for the rest of the round. You don't make a save three times a round (swift, move, standard), but just once essentially at the beginning of the round.
The advantage of Hold Person over Oppressive Boredom is that Hold Person makes the target helpless (via paralyzation) and, on the rounds that the target makes the additional saves, the target can take no other actions. The advantage of Oppressive Boredom over Hold Person is that it can target any creature as opposed to only humanoids. Seems a nice trade for two of the same leveled spells.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Also note that, unless I'm missing something, oppressive boredom requires you to fail a save when it's cast in order to be affected at all, and then once you're considered to be under its effects, you'll need to fail a second save (this time once you try to actually do something) in order to actually lose any actions. That seems like a sufficient drawback to warrant the lower level, yes?
Hold person is sorc/wiz 3, whereas oppressive boredom is sorc/wiz 2, though?
You're right. However, hold person is a bard 2 and (more importantly) cleric 2. So the same level the wizard can Oppressive Boredom, the cleric can Hold Person.