Hello,
On the next d20 roll the target makes, it must roll twice and take the less favorable result.
A lvl 2 witch NPC cast this on a PC, it's got a 1 round/level duration, or until discharged.
Am i right to assume he'll need to roll twice on his 1st d20 roll in every round, as long as the spell lasts?
You are not right.
So, it only lasts 2 rounds and he only needs to make 1 re-roll?
Huh...too bad. :)
Oh well, thanks for the info.
At caster level 5 they would have to roll twice and take worst on a second d20 roll.
The spell has a duration because it's possible that you could cast it on someone (say not in combat) who doesn't do anything that would require a d20 roll to expend the effect of Ill Omen.
It's a 1st level spell without a saving throw that pretty much guarantees the target wont be able to accomplish what they wanted if it involves rolling a d20 for that round.
Couldn't the witch "cackle" to extend the effect over multiple rounds?
Cackle only extends the hexes it specifically lists. Even if it did increase the duration of Ill Omen, it wouldn't change the fact that after the spell has used up it's effects it ends.
Ill Omen is already incredibly powerful anyhow. It's a level 1 spell with no save that has a nasty scaling effect. Quickened Ill Omen at caster level 10 is ridiculously powerful.
Witch: "I'm going to throw a save-or-suck spell at Jimmy. But first, I'm going to wave a hand at Jimmy and cause his saving throw, plus two more d20 rolls after that, to be badly gimped."
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You can protect yourself a bit by taking a rank in Spellcraft. That way if someone Ill Omens you, and then tries to cast a spell on you, you can try a Spellcraft check. That eats up the Omen and leaves you in better shape for the saving throw.
I think in a lot of cases you won't see people using Quickened Ill Omen, but rather a lower-level accomplice who casts the Ill Omen just before the BBEG casts his own spell. In that case the Spellcraft helps a lot.
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Ill Omen is already incredibly powerful anyhow. It's a level 1 spell with no save that has a nasty scaling effect. Quickened Ill Omen at caster level 10 is ridiculously powerful.
Witch: "I'm going to throw a save-or-suck spell at Jimmy. But first, I'm going to wave a hand at Jimmy and cause his saving throw, plus two more d20 rolls after that, to be badly gimped."
Quickened ill omen is a sexy thing. Well worth a feat and a 5th level spell slot. Follow it up in the same round with a SoS spell or hex, before they can use a move action to negate a reroll.
You can protect yourself a bit by taking a rank in Spellcraft. That way if someone Ill Omens you, and then tries to cast a spell on you, you can try a Spellcraft check. That eats up the Omen and leaves you in better shape for the saving throw.
I think in a lot of cases you won't see people using Quickened Ill Omen, but rather a lower-level accomplice who casts the Ill Omen just before the BBEG casts his own spell. In that case the Spellcraft helps a lot.
The Spellcraft check to identify a spell happens "as it is being cast." It's a stretch to use up the effect of a spell while it is still being cast. What if after you roll your roll-twice-take worst Spellcraft check to identify the spell, you use that information to counterspell it? Suddenly the spell had no effect, because it was countered... except it did, because you already resolved the effect.
You're better off applying the effects of a spell right when the casting finishes, instead of during the casting.
Which makes perfect sense since...
A target who can speak and has at least one free hand and who is aware of the spell and its effects (such as from a Spellcraft check to identify the spell as it is cast) can negate one reroll by spending a move action to utter a brief prayer or good luck charm to appease the spirits of ill fortune.
A familiar with Use Magic Device and a wand of Ill Omen can open up this sexy spell for any caster.