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So, the subdomain, Decay, is an option when taking the Plant domain(Swaps with Bramble Armor). Now, this is a fantastic ability for many reasons. However, it comes at a rather hefty cost.
Pros:
-1 Strength every turn a creature is in it.
1d6 Damage to every turn a creature is in it.
30 ft Radius
No Save
No Spell Resist
Cons:
It effects all creatures, meaning Allies too.
Limited uses per day(Wis + 3)
Creatures gain +1 strength back for every turn spent out of the aura.
Would it be unreasonable to ask a DM: "Could the radius be reduced, or could it somehow not affect allies?"
As a DM, what would you say to that? If not a flat answer, what detriments/perks would you involve with it?
Decay
Associated Domain: Plant.
Replacement Power: The following granted power replaces the bramble armor power of the Plant domain.
Aura of Decay (Su): At 8th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura of decay as a standard action. Living creatures in this aura (except you) take 1d6 points of damage per round as their flesh rots. They also take a cumulative –1 penalty to Strength each round they remain in the aura. Once outside the aura, the penalty fades at the rate of –1 per round, but it begins building again if they reenter the aura. Plant creatures take 2d6 points of damage per round. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your cleric level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
Replacement Domain Spells: 3rd—contagion, 4th—poison, 6th—harm.
It would be reasonable (IMO) to allow a feat that lets you exclude creatures from the aura. Selective Channel does that for channeling, so there's really no mechanical reason not to have one for SLAs or domain abilities. Up to the DM, of course, and for many of them "Players Can't Have Nice Things" is a way of life.
ETA: Unless I'm reading the ability wrong, it says you can use it 1 round per cleric level per day, not Wis mod + 3.
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If I were to allow it, it would probably come in the form of a skill check that you couldn't take 10/20 on. Probably a DC 25 know(arcana) or some such that you had to make every round. Or, simply treat it as a standard action every round you wanted to not hit your friends to concentrate and not do the skill check.
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Here's what I would do if I were your GM: I'd say that you can take the feat Selective Channeling and have it apply only to this ability. This would be separate from the normal effects of Selective Channeling (i.e. if you wanted both effects, you'd have to take the feat twice).
If that turned out to be overpowered in play, I'd probably make it so using the feat cost double the rounds per day. BTW, rounds per day isn't Wis+3, it's equal to Cleric level.
Ha! Double ninja'd.
I have a question about this ability just from reading it. It doesn't clearly state how long the ability lasts after activation.
It says starting it is a standard action. It says it can last up to a number of rounds equal to your cleric level, so we have a maximum amount of time it can last. But it doesn't state whether you must use a standard action each round to maintain it, or whether it's a free action, or some other action. Perhaps I'm forgetting something though.
In any event, because there is no save or spell resistance I would not reduce the area. Reducing the area could make it too good. You could very easily and selectively target an enemy without fear of harming your allies and without them having no option other than avoidance of you.
Of course, upon closer inspection, targets only take strength damage for every round they spend in the aura. And they gain back 1 for every round out. A round is everyone getting to take an action from highest initiative count to lowest. If this is the case, then it seems like a character could move out of the aura on their turn every single time and never take any strength damage as they would never spend a full round in the aura. If this is the case then it makes the ability near worthless except as a means to covince enemies not to stand near you.
Hmmm....
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It would be reasonable (IMO) to allow a feat that lets you exclude creatures from the aura. Selective Channel does that for channeling, so there's really no mechanical reason not to have one for SLAs or domain abilities. Up to the DM, of course, and for many of them "Players Can't Have Nice Things" is a way of life.
ETA: Unless I'm reading the ability wrong, it says you can use it 1 round per cleric level per day, not Wis mod + 3.
You're right, sorry. I was mixing it up with how often you may use Wooden Fist.