Here's a homebrew spell I'm thinking of adding into my game world. What do you think about it, balance-wise? Is it too powerful/weak for a second level spell? Thanks for your thoughts!
School evocation [force]; magus 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, SEFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets one creature
Duration 1d4 rounds
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance yesDESCRIPTION
This spell is a specialized variant of magic missile, with its accuracy increased such that it can hit sensitive locations on its target’s body.
A single missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage plus 1d4+1 per two caster levels beyond first (maximum 5d4+5). The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment.
In addition, you may target specific parts of a creature, applying the blinded, deafened, or sickened condition to the target for 1d4 rounds, as you choose. A successful Fortitude save negates the condition, but not the damage. Creatures immune to precision-based damage, such as elementals and oozes (but not incorporeal creatures) are immune to this effect.
Objects are not damaged by the spell. This spell has only a 25% chance of affecting a target protected by a shield spell or similar effect which specifically negates magic missile attacks.
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Here's a homebrew spell I'm thinking of adding into my game world. What do you think about it, balance-wise? Is it too powerful/weak for a second level spell? Thanks for your thoughts!
School evocation [force]; magus 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, SEFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets one creature
Duration 1d4 rounds
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance yesDESCRIPTION
This spell is a specialized variant of magic missile, with its accuracy increased such that it can hit sensitive locations on its target’s body.
A single missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage plus 1d4+1 per two caster levels beyond first (maximum 5d4+5). The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment.
In addition, you may target specific parts of a creature, applying the blinded, deafened, or sickened condition to the target for 1d4 rounds, as you choose. A successful Fortitude save negates the condition, but not the damage. Creatures immune to precision-based damage, such as elementals and oozes (but not incorporeal creatures) are immune to this effect.
Objects are not damaged by the spell. This spell has only a 25% chance of affecting a target protected by a shield spell or similar effect which specifically negates magic missile attacks.
Please understand that this is entirely personal opinion and I am also wearing my GM hat when I say this so I will try to be objective but firm. I am not trying to attack you or disparage you in any way.
1.) This spell has an odd duration. It was the first thing that popped out at me. Most spell durations are based off of caster level rather than a random roll. Not to say this is bad it is just unusual and needs to be considered for balancing purposes. It will make the spell potentially stronger at level 3 and weaker at level 4 onward.
To simplify things I might go with the standard 1 round/caster level.
2.) This spell is basically Magic Missile + (Blindness/Deafness or Ray of Sickening)
Now Blindness/Deafness is permanent and this spell is only measured in rounds, so it is less powerful than Blindness/Deafness alone.
Ray of Sickening does require an attack roll however so it is a powerup for that spell.
So a version of Magic Missile + a more powerful version of Ray of Sickening or a less powerful version of Blindness/Deafness.
This to me means it is a level 1 + (1.5 or 1.5) spell or a level 2.5 spell.
I would personally place it at level 3.
3.) I also feel this spell is too flexible. It does too much. I would cut the spell to only damage + one effect and leave it at level 2 or Damage + your choice of one of two different but themed effects and bump to level 3.
This is due to the fact that it allows you to use one spell slot for a more flexible effect making it is more powerful. Instead of needing three slots to cover your options you need only one.
4.) Lastly I feel that you should perhaps change the last statement to be something like "Any effect that grants immunity to Magic Missile also grants immunity to this spell."
I do not know if you already have Ultimate Magic or not however I have found the "Designing Spells" section in it helpful.
PRD link for Designing Spells from Ultimate Magic
Anyway I hope this helps.
Please continue creating, it is the only way we get wonderful things like Pathfinder itself.
Change it to "A creature struck is subject to a dirty trick manuver With your caster level + your primary ability modifier as the CMB." Makes things a little more balanced and with the dirty trick it makes it more interesting without it being overpowered.
Change it to "A creature struck is subject to a dirty trick manuver With your caster level + your primary ability modifier as the CMB." Makes things a little more balanced and with the dirty trick it makes it more interesting without it being overpowered.
I like that idea -- in fact, it was where I got the idea from the spell from. But my issues with it are that some of the dirty trick options don't make sense in this context, and more importantly, it doesn't make sense for a move action to clear the condition if it's caused by being smacked in a sensitive spot by a spell.
Is there any way to either justify or replace this clause of dirty trick for this spell?
I think it should be 3rd level. The condition can be cleared by healing the damage. It can disable some gaze attacks. The disabled organ is not enchanted, it's damaged. Dispell magic won't heal it, but heal will.
Ray of sickening has much longer duration. 1d4 rounds duration for condition has precedent in cause fear.
However there is also precedent for considering sickening a +2 spell level adjustment: Sickening Spell (personally I think that it rather should have level adjustment of +1 as it is of little appeal currently but that's irrelevant now).
On the other hand sickening magic missile can affect multiple creatures, unlike your pin-pointing magic missile.
I would probably move the spell to third level but made it possible to affect multiple creatures like a regular magic missile.