Void Bubble - Mystic spell

[Galomier]

Void Bubble
1st - level Abjuration

Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: medium (100ft plus 10ft per level)
Targets: 1 creature per level (all must be within 30ft of each other)
Duration: 1 minute per level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes

As per Life Bubble you surround the target creature with a constant and movable 1 inch shell. Where Life Bubble creates a hospitable atmosphere for the subject to breath, Void Bubble sucks the atmosphere away leaving emptiness like the void of space. Each round the creature can make a Will save to dismiss the spell. While affected by the void the creature is subject the suffocation rules on page 404 of the Core Rulebook. Creatures that can survive in space or without breathing are immune. Environmental protections from armour do not offer protection against this spell.

[Ascalaphus]

I think this is far too strong for a level 1 spell. Keep in mind that the level of a spell is not based on how "metaphysically easy" it is (by comparing it to other spells that do similar things). Rather, it's based on how powerful it is (compared to other spells that do similar things).

Your spell should be compared to other offensive spells, not to a utility spell. A good comparison would be psychokinetic strangulation.

Your spell
- Deals less damage (only through suffocation)
- Doesn't have a chance of immobilizing people
- Has a save to fully break the spell

The benchmark spell
- Has a shorter range: close range means enemies can probably get to the caster in melee in one round and attack, breaking concentration.
- Affects only one creature, instead of one per level.
- Requires ongoing concentration, so it stops the caster from making different attacks the next round. Yours is fire and forget.
- Although it immobilizes people, they can still make ranged attacks to try to break your concentration and end the spell.
- Specifically states that casters can still cast spells. Normally, if you're holding your breath, you can't cast spells.

On the whole, your spells appears to be a bit more powerful than a 3rd level spell.

Furthermore, your spell probably shouldn't be an abjuration spell, since it's not protecting people. It seems more like evocation.

[SuperBidi]

Ascalaphus wrote:

A good comparison would be psychokinetic strangulation.

Not at all, the good comparison is Mental Block.

Same range, same target, same save type, same effect but limited to spells and language dependent effects (suffocation just prevents you from talking, it will hardly kill you if you have a save every round).
It's clearly a strong spell. I would put it as a second level spell instead of a first level one.

I like the fact that it's an abjuration spell, and I understand it if you consider that it's a perverted version of Life Bubble.

[Ascalaphus]

I don't think Mental Block is a good benchmark to use for comparison, because it's specifically banned in SFS. I suspect because it's very/too powerful.

[SuperBidi]

I realized that after posting, yes. I think it's because of its range, as there are very few medium range Mystic spells at level 1-3 (Daze Monster, Hold Person and Fear 2 only).

Mental Block is quite bad compared to Slow.