What do people think of the spell Mydriatic Spontaniety?


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https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mydriatic-spontaneity

I've known about the spell for some time and I think it's really good, at this point if I where to play a Psychic it would be for the fact that they get this spell a level earlier than other classes.

There is even a mass version for Psychics at level 6.

It's not a mind affect so it doesn't need to worry about immunity to mind effects.

It's a will save so it can affect undead and even constructs who are not actually immune to being nauseated.

It seems like a great spell for shutting down a target and then large groups at later levels.


NoTongue wrote:
It's a will save so it can affect undead and even constructs who are not actually immune to being nauseated.

The target is "one living creature", so no-go on using it against undead or constructs.

But yeah, that's a nasty save-or-die. Nauseated for 5 rounds minimum = dead, even without the blinding effect. To make it extra nasty do Magical Lineage + Persistent Spell. Clear it with the GM first though...


It won't work on those creature types because the spell requires targeting living creatures.

But otherwise yes, it's pretty overpowered. Nauseated combined with Blinded/Dazzled on a single spell is pretty huge, and can make even Dragons fumble around like idiots.


Most things that are immune to mind affecting effects (i.e. undead) are also immune to anything that requires a fortitu . . . wait. Is that a nausea effect on a will save? Huh.

I can see the spell being useful in some situations, able to effect things that suggestion can't. I really don't see it being worth a fourth level slot though. Might take it as a third level, if I was a psychic, though it wouldn't be my go to. Other third level spells that seem straight-up better are the aforementioned suggestion and stinking cloud. (Though stinking cloud isn't on the psychic list . . .)

In the end, I think the best use for the spell is against the PCs, like most obscure and suboptimal spells. It looks like it would make for a memorable encounter.

EDIT

Ninja'd twice. That's what I get for leaving tabs open to reply to later. I guess it doesn't work on undead . . . yeah, I really can't see a PC taking this one.


It’s pretty great for a Psychic, compare to Babble. The niche of living-but-immune-to-Mind-affecting is small but exists (lots of abominations, plants with eyes, some outsiders). It makes an evocation focused Psychic defensible.

Liberty's Edge

It's essentially a less versatile version of cacophonous call, which is considered a pretty good bard spell. The extra rider effects are superfluous compared to the nauseated effect.

The fact that it's an evocation/light/dark spell makes it interesting, although less effective if you've invested in spell focus for more common psychic schools, like enchantment.


It might not be a bad use of shadow evocation against a low-Will brute. Maybe not the most powerful option for the level, but the evocation school is low on Will-based save-or-sucks, so it could be nice to have on hand if shadow spells are your thing.


Against an enemy whom I would likely suspect to have bad Will Saves, this would be a very nice alternative to Reflex Save Blasting or Battlefield Control spells that are also Evocations.


DrSwordopolis wrote:
It's essentially a less versatile version of cacophonous call

You mean more versatile, right? Cacophonous Call is mind-affecting, so it won't affect things like vermin.


RumpinRufus wrote:
DrSwordopolis wrote:
It's essentially a less versatile version of cacophonous call
You mean more versatile, right? Cacophonous Call is mind-affecting, so it won't affect things like vermin.

In fact, it looks like mass mydriatic spontaneity is almost strictly better than mass cacophonous call, a bard spell of the same level. Not only can it affect mindless living creatures and inflict occasional blindness, it can also target any number of creatures as long as they're within 30 feet of each other - like mass heal or mass hold monster. This makes it a decent option for the Vast Spell metamagic feat.


I used the Mass version on my psychic quite a bit on the PFS path to 20. I joked about it being one of my only evocation spells quite a bit. "This haste template of dudes is vomiting for the rest of their lives" is a pretty good use of a spell slot.

It has its drawbacks, but still a good spell. It's no Icy Prison, though.


RumpinRufus wrote:
NoTongue wrote:
It's a will save so it can affect undead and even constructs who are not actually immune to being nauseated.

The target is "one living creature", so no-go on using it against undead or constructs.

But yeah, that's a nasty save-or-die. Nauseated for 5 rounds minimum = dead, even without the blinding effect. To make it extra nasty do Magical Lineage + Persistent Spell. Clear it with the GM first though...

I knew I'd miss something but I thought if I missed anything it would be some text in the undead or construct template but it will still do the job, I'll take the Psychic ability that lets you use mind effects on undead for suggestion.


I would draw your attention to this:

http://www.archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Debilitating%20P ain,%20Mass

mostly because, although it is mind-affecting, it dazes for a round even if the target saves... It also doesn't hurt that the mass version is 5th rather than 6th.


I think I prefer Aversion, longer duration and a solid effect even if they save.


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pad300 wrote:

I would draw your attention to this:

http://www.archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Debilitating%20P ain,%20Mass

mostly because, although it is mind-affecting, it dazes for a round even if the target saves... It also doesn't hurt that the mass version is 5th rather than 6th.

That spell is an abomination that GMs should probably always ban. Worse, it’s only the second worst from that same book!


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NoTongue wrote:

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OK, who cast snow crash?

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