Glacial Cold

[David C Smith]

I found this spell online and kinda like the flavor of it but it seems weak to me. Any thoughts on balancing it?

Glacial Cold
School conjuration [cold, elemental - ice]
Level druid 2, ranger 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect 20-ft. radius spread
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude half
Spell Resistance no
You create a zone of icy cold within the spell's area, creatures that end their turn in the area of effect take 1d6 points of cold damage

Thanks,

David

[Mudfoot]

The nearest equivalent is Flaming Sphere. Compared to that, this is a) bigger, b) immobile, c) less damaging (saves aside) and d) cold. So that's 1 medium advantage, 2 significant disadvantages and one slight advantage.

Options:
1) Creatures who fail to save are Slowed for 1 round. [so more likely to take damage again, as well as being arrow-fodder]
2) Damage +1 per 2 levels
3) 30-ft radius spread.

Personally, I'd do #1.

[Samasboy1]

It is really more of a utility spell than an attack.

This spell Zone of Glacial Cold, is from the 3.5 book Frostfell.

The book contains several options (feats/PrC) that only work/get stronger in areas of cold.

So the spell is intended to be a convenient way to create a cold area, not really as an attack spell in itself.

That said, if you want to use it, I think Mudfoot's Option 1 and Option 2 would work

[EvilPaladin]

I'd up the damage to d6 for every 2 CL [Max5d6], or have the target be staggered/slowed if they fail the save. It'd be like a weaker, cold-based fireball.

[Samasboy1]

Well, don't forget that Fireball is instantaneous, while Zone of Glacial Cold has a duration of 1 round/level.

So long as you can keep them in the area, the damage can actually be higher than a Fireball.

But combat doesn't usually work out that way.