I always hated the name "eyebite". Not only does it make zero sense (how could an eye bite someone?) the spell doesn't even have anything to do with either eyes or biting (you'd think they'd have it work like a gaze attack or something to justify the name, but no.)
Death knell ok it kill the target but why do the caster received some bonus from the spell if he kill it, I don't get it
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Ray of Steves.
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Glancing through the wizard spells the following jump out at me
The spell Weird has a name that's quite vague. You would have no idea that it kills a bunch of people by scaring them to death.
The spell Blend always makes me think it chops things up into tiny bits, but it actually makes you harder see.
The spell Shades. Given it's name and level it must conjure some really premium sunglasses being a 9th level spell. Even if you're aware of the shadow conjuration spells you wouldn't realize without reading it that it's the top tier version of those spells.
The spell Bed of Iron sounds like an offensive curse type spell, not something that provides a beneficial effect.
The spell Transformation you might think by the name that it's a polymorph effect, or it changes one object into a different kind of object. Nope, it isn't any of those. Instead, it effectively strips away your wizard levels and replaces them with fighter levels (but without the class abilities or feats)...uh, what?
edit: I just realized, maybe the real issue is that most of these are spells with 1 word names. Without context these can easily be confusing. Though that being said both wish and miracle pretty much do what you'd expect from their names. Which shows that 1 word names can work just fine.
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I always hated the name "eyebite". Not only does it make zero sense (how could an eye bite someone?) the spell doesn't even have anything to do with either eyes or biting (you'd think they'd have it work like a gaze attack or something to justify the name, but no.)
This spell has been around since the earliest versions of D&D and the spell is named after the historical Irish term.
Definition of eye-bite in English:
VERB
To bewitch with the eye; especially to bring a malign influence to bear upon (a person) by means of one's gaze, to place the ‘evil eye’ upon.Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Reginald Scot (d. 1599), writer on witchcraft. From eye + bite.
The funny thing is, in pathfinder the witch class can get this ability and it's called Evil Eye.
Glancing through the wizard spells the following jump out at me
The spell Weird has a name that's quite vague. You would have no idea that it kills a bunch of people by scaring them to death.
The spell Blend always makes me think it chops things up into tiny bits, but it actually makes you harder see.
The spell Shades. Given it's name and level it must conjure some really premium sunglasses being a 9th level spell. Even if you're aware of the shadow conjuration spells you wouldn't realize without reading it that it's the top tier version of those spells.
The spell Bed of Iron sounds like an offensive curse type spell, not something that provides a beneficial effect.
The spell Transformation you might think by the name that it's a polymorph effect, or it changes one object into a different kind of object. Nope, it isn't any of those. Instead, it effectively strips away your wizard levels and replaces them with fighter levels (but without the class abilities or feats)...uh, what?
edit: I just realized, maybe the real issue is that most of these are spells with 1 word names. Without context these can easily be confusing. Though that being said both wish and miracle pretty much do what you'd expect from their names. Which shows that 1 word names can work just fine.
Most of the spell are based in d&d spell like tenser transformation, big big spell (all the hands force spell) mordekaiser spell and other more
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Either Peace Bond or Peacebond, because do we really need to call two different spells by the same name?
Meteor storm, you think is a meteor coming from the sky, but no it's came from your hands
Either Peace Bond or Peacebond, because do we really need to call two different spells by the same name?
That is confusing. I was aware of the 2nd spell, but not the 1st one. The second one does what I would expect a spell called "Peacebond" to do. The 1st one is just bizarre.
I had forgotten about Weird but that counts as well. It sounds like it should be a stronger form of confusion, or maybe just have a random effect from a table. "AOE version of phantasmal Killer" certainly wouldn't be what I would guess from the name.
I always hated the name "eyebite". Not only does it make zero sense (how could an eye bite someone?) the spell doesn't even have anything to do with either eyes or biting (you'd think they'd have it work like a gaze attack or something to justify the name, but no.)This spell has been around since the earliest versions of D&D and the spell is named after the historical Irish term.
The funny thing is, in pathfinder the witch class can get this ability and it's called Evil Eye.Definition of eye-bite in English:
VERB
To bewitch with the eye; especially to bring a malign influence to bear upon (a person) by means of one's gaze, to place the ‘evil eye’ upon.Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Reginald Scot (d. 1599), writer on witchcraft. From eye + bite.
I didn't know that. I guess it makes somewhat more sense, though still seems weird the spell doesn't work like a gaze or eye beam attack (as part of the definition is "to bewitch with the eye")
The spell Weird has a name that's quite vague. You would have no idea that it kills a bunch of people by scaring them to death.
I think this is another one that benefits from some knowledge of the word's etymology.
Old English wyrd ‘destiny’, of Germanic origin. The adjective (late Middle English) originally meant ‘having the power to control destiny’, and was used especially in the Weird Sisters, originally referring to the Fates, later the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth ; the latter use gave rise to the sense ‘unearthly’ (early 19th century).
Going a bit further, Wyrd is not just a witch, but one of the Fates, and there are tales of Wyrd that put this more in perspective:
In The Wanderer, wyrd is irrepressible and relentless. She or it "snatches the earls away from the joys of life," and "the wearied mind of man cannot withstand her" for her decrees "change all the world beneath the heavens".
This one is still a little vague, but giving it that context hopefully helps it make sense at least.
The funny thing is, in pathfinder the witch class can get this ability and it's called Evil Eye.I didn't know that. I guess it makes somewhat more sense, though still seems weird the spell doesn't work like a gaze or eye beam attack (as part of the definition is "to bewitch with the eye")
I guess the difference is that you can avoid gaze attacks by shielding your eyes, but this is supposed to be more about them giving you "The Eye" than about whether you see it or not.
Druid flame blade you don't even create a blade
The spell Weird has a name that's quite vague. You would have no idea that it kills a bunch of people by scaring them to death.I think this is another one that benefits from some knowledge of the word's etymology.
Old English wyrd ‘destiny’, of Germanic origin. The adjective (late Middle English) originally meant ‘having the power to control destiny’, and was used especially in the Weird Sisters, originally referring to the Fates, later the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth ; the latter use gave rise to the sense ‘unearthly’ (early 19th century).Going a bit further, Wyrd is not just a witch, but one of the Fates, and there are tales of Wyrd that put this more in perspective:
In The Wanderer, wyrd is irrepressible and relentless. She or it "snatches the earls away from the joys of life," and "the wearied mind of man cannot withstand her" for her decrees "change all the world beneath the heavens".This one is still a little vague, but giving it that context hopefully helps it make sense at least.
I still think it's a bad name for an area-effect Phantasmal Killer. If anything I would think a spell that control's someone's destiny would be some kind of divination spell.
Also, I agree that "bed of iron" is a weird name for a beneficial spell. It honestly sounds more like some weird torture device than any kind of spell. That said, I can't really think of a better name off hand.
Also, I agree that "bed of iron" is a weird name for a beneficial spell. It honestly sounds more like some weird torture device than any kind of spell. That said, I can't really think of a better name off hand.
I dunno turtle's rest?
Commune with nature is one of those spells whose name has always caused groans. Yes it does what it says, but there is another meaning.
Rope Tornado. If you don't know what a rope tornado is, then it sounds like it should involve literal rope. If you do know what a rope tornado is, then you expect it to be a still pretty powerful though smaller tornado.
Instead you get a super gust of wind.
Commune with nature is one of those spells whose name has always caused groans. Yes it does what it says, but there is another meaning.What other meaning?
_
glass.
I think he means to relieve oneself (similar to the saying "answer the call of nature"), but I could be wrong.
Death Clutch. Just because the name fails to communicate both what the spell does and how metal it is.
Kali Ma!
The spell name that has gotten the most giggles out of me is Mordenkainen's Lucubration. In my defense I was 12 when I first read it and didn't know what 'lucubration' was at the time.I did not know whatit meant either, but that did not really matter because I spent about a decade misreading it as "lubrication". Which funnily enough did not seem to have a lot to do with the spell!
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glass.
I remember on the original DND boards someone making some joke along the lines of "why not just cast grease instead? It's only a level one spell!"
I've always been annoyed that deep slumber isn't called 'greater sleep'. I believe it was several years into 3e before I even knew the spell existed.
Geas/Quest. I believe it's a holdover from earlier editions (when the spell was called Geas for wizards and Quest to clerics). Just pick one.
Geas/Quest. I believe it's a holdover from earlier editions (when the spell was called Geas for wizards and Quest to clerics). Just pick one.
It still works that way. I think they just amalgamated them in the book ti save space.
Bards, sorcerers, and wizards usually refer to this spell as geas, while clerics call the same spell quest.
But yes they probably would have just picked one if it didn't have to be backward compatible.
Ray of Steves.
I've always found the Steve spell like to be uncreatively named and not particularly descriptive.
Except whip of tiny Steves, which is in the running for best spell ever.
The "Transformation" spell should have been named "Combat Transformation". Sometimes adding a word or two to a name does help explain what a spell does without people needing to read it.
Or turn you into an actual Transformer? Preferably from the 90's cartoon.
The "Transformation" spell should have been named "Combat Transformation". Sometimes adding a word or two to a name does help explain what a spell does without people needing to read it.
Agreed. Even the original name (Tenser's Transformation) isn't very good IMO, as it tells you who invented it, but doesn't provide any more info about what it actually does.
I'm sure you mean the 80s cartoon. Anything else is heresy.The "Transformation" spell should have been named "Combat Transformation". Sometimes adding a word or two to a name does help explain what a spell does without people needing to read it.Or turn you into an actual Transformer? Preferably from the 90's cartoon.
I did, my mistake.
Time to declare Exterminatus. Again.
Prestidigitation. Go ahead, try and say it aloud.
Pres-ti-daaachooo!
I said it. I said the name. Look, maybe I didn't say every single little tiny syllable, no. But basically I said it, yeah.
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Prestidigitation. Go ahead, try and say it aloud.
Hey-presto-Digimon-Nation
Actually you know what it made me think of - Prester John.
That could be a fun character ... or a fun campaign ... hmmm...
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Another spell to pick on: Doom.
Seriously? Shaken is 'Doom'? More like 'Rattled', 'Minor Inconvenience' or heck just call the spell 'Shaken'! 'Doom' should be something that could kill you outright.
Heh, rename Doom to "rattled" and Weird to Doom and you've solved 2 of them.
I dislike the name Prestidigitation because it tells you nothing about what the spell does. Taken literally ("fast fingering") it ought to give you a temporary speed increase in doing fine manipulation, such as allowing a Disable Device or Sleight of Hand attempt with a bonus in half the time. But no, it does any old tripe that's vaguely useful but not unbalancing in an ill-defined way.
Actually, maybe that's it...a better translation might be "hand-waving".
Taken literally ("fast fingering") it ought to give you a temporary speed increase in doing fine manipulation...Or be in Pathfinder's erotic supplement: The Tome of Very Kinky Happenings.
And I have to declare Exterminatus yet again.
The last time I showed mercy we got the BoEF...
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Taken literally ("fast fingering") it ought to give you a temporary speed increase in doing fine manipulation...Or be in Pathfinder's erotic supplement: The Tome of Very Kinky Happenings.And I have to declare Exterminatus yet again.
The last time I showed mercy we got the BoEF...
The Book of Passion for P1 was handled much better, sadly there's been delays in the physical version and bestiary due to the s+$& going on in Stiles' life, but the PDF is purchasable, awesome book (not to mention it's not all about sex, but that is the focus for the most part).