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How does bleed work and why is this a useful Cantrip? Why doesn't it have the Evil Descriptor (is there a non-evil way to use this spell...)? And does it work on creatures subject to Ferocity or Orc Ferocity?
Furthermore, how would the caster know who is an eligible target for Bleed? Just sort of assumed to work on enemies that become unconscious during combat...? Or is the caster automatically aware who is eligible as a target upon casting this spell?
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Bleed is just the reversed version of Stabilize (like Inflict Light Wounds is the reversed version of Cure Light Wounds). Similar to the Inflict spells, the spell itself is not evil (though the use you make of it probably is).
You cast it on any target that has been beaten unconscious (negative Hit Points) but is not actually dead yet:
- If they were stable, they start dying again.
- If they weren't stable, they take one HP of damage.
The bleed spell is also a requirement for some magic items, such as weapons with the wounding quality.
As for how you could make use of it as a spell outside of item creation, and if that would not be an evil act... An officially sanctioned execution? Sacrifice of a non-intelligent creature as part of a beneficial ritual, such as for crop or livestock growth?
Nothing terribly combat-related comes to mind without it seeming like it skates the line between being an evil bastard and almost (but not quite) being an evil bastard.
Yeah, bleed is no more evil than a coup de gras.
I can't see any requirement the target be unconscious, so works against ferocity-ed targets just fine - assuming you have nothing better anyway.
You can go around with a sharp dagger to make sure all your enemies are dead, or you can spam bleed until it stops working, i.e. your target no longer qualifies as a "living creature".
It's a clean-up spell for spellcasters that don't want to get their hands dirty.
Or the caster could use mildly useful cantrips like Acid Splash, Ray of Frost, or Telekinetic Projectile to deal a point or two of damage.
This reminds me of the most useless 1st-level spell ever: Mirror Polish. Being a 1st-level spell, however, it is significantly more useless than Bleed.
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This reminds me of the most useless 1st-level spell ever: Mirror Polish. Being a 1st-level spell, however, it is significantly more useless than Bleed.
Not useless. Mirrors have two uses in pathfinder. Gaze attack defenses and some divination. Might be a few others.
A Wizard Spell that probably isn't prepared very often. Sorcerer has less use, unless they have a very specialized build. Could be handy to have a scroll of this spell for general preparations towards adventuring.
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Mirror Polish is mostly useful for keeping the fighter's shield usable as a mirror for mirror hideaway or mirror transport. Don't want to carry around a full sized mirror everywhere you go? Let the fighter do it for you!
But the Fighter needs to leave his shield behind if you use Mirror Transport. Also, Prestidigitation would probably work just fine to polish things, I think, under the cleaning effect. At the very least, Mirror Polish should be a cantrip like Bleed is.
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But the Fighter needs to leave his shield behind if you use Mirror Transport. Also, Prestidigitation would probably work just fine to polish things, I think, under the cleaning effect. At the very least, Mirror Polish should be a cantrip like Bleed is.
Instantaneous duration for a standard action spell makes it level 1. Adds a 50% chance to ignore gazes and otherwise functions as a mirror.
Prestigitation could temporarily make armor reflective or might be able to slowly polish, but it can't recreate a spell and isn't really useable for combat applications.
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But the Fighter needs to leave his shield behind if you use Mirror Transport. Also, Prestidigitation would probably work just fine to polish things, I think, under the cleaning effect. At the very least, Mirror Polish should be a cantrip like Bleed is.
It doesn't need to be a cantrip because you don't need to spam it ever. It would be pretty annoying if every metal thing the wizard passes becomes a mirror. It's fine as a scroll (or wand for the ambitious).
Yeah, bleed is no more evil than a coup de gras.
I can't see any requirement the target be unconscious, so works against ferocity-ed targets just fine - assuming you have nothing better anyway.
Ferocity doesn't make the creature stabilized as far as I can tell. Am I missing something?
Okay, okay, Mirror Polish is the Schroedinger's Wizard's Ace-In-The-Hole or something and everyone should have a scroll, I retract my statement.
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Ferocity doesn't make the creature stabilized as far as I can tell. Am I missing something?Yeah, bleed is no more evil than a coup de gras.
I can't see any requirement the target be unconscious, so works against ferocity-ed targets just fine - assuming you have nothing better anyway.
No, it doesn't make them stable, but they could be stabilized while subject to ferocity, I think. The distinction is just that Bleed doesn't only affect unconscious creatures, as some creatures could be conscious while stable and at negative HP. I was mainly mentioning it to cover all my bases and not because my intention is to use bleed as a counter to ferocity.