Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DoveArrow 05-16-07, 12:22 PM	My group is gearing up to start a new, Forgotten Realms campaign in the jungles of Chult. I'm thinking about playing a wizard who has traveled to the Chultan Jungles in order to study the ruins of the ancient Sarrukh empires, in the hopes of better understanding that ancient culture. The sarrukh, for those of you who don't know, are a progenitor race of serpentlike creatures who first created the yuan-ti. If you want more information on them, you can either purchase the Forgotten Realms supplement, Serpent Kingdoms, or you can check out their Wikipedia entry here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarrukh). In any case, I want my wizard to use spells and equipment that have a serpent or yuan-ti theme. So far, I've looked at the following spells and thought they go along with the yuan-ti/sarrukh theme pretty well (Note: These are all from the Spell Compendium): gutsnake vipergout babau slime (I figure it mimics the produce acid ability of the yuan-ti. I'll just change the name) I'm curious if anyone can think of any other spells that might match this theme, either from Spell Compendium or some other source. If you have any ideas about equipment that has a serpent theme, that would also be useful to a wizard-type character, please let me know. Finally, if you have ideas for character background that would be useful, I would really appreciate it. Thanks. Note: I realize this post has some crossover into Character Optimization. However, since my character is a wizard, whose spells are an integral part of his character concept, I thought I'd ask this board for help with spells that build on the serpent theme I already have going. If you have suggestions for character builds, and ways to implement some of these ideas to make an effective character, please see my post (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=12414016#post12414016) on the Character Optimization board.
Kurobara 05-16-07, 01:24 PM	Ray of the Python from PHBII is a decent spell, but really, is snake-themed in name alone.
RevIron 05-17-07, 07:11 AM	How about a serpent shaped quarterstaff and at higher levels Rod of the Python or Rod of the Viper?
Mosyali 05-17-07, 09:09 PM	If the Faerun campaign books are allowed, you could always take the feat "Spell Thematics" from the Players Guide to Faerun. I can't quite recall exactly what it did and I didn't own the book (was a friends that I read through it), but IIRC, it makes the spell harder to identify with a Spellcraft check and makes the spells cast using it at a +1 caster level. You can only have one spell per level be a thematic spell though I would rule that all spells could fall under the theme. As a flavor thing it makes things like Burning Hands appear as if a swarm of snakes breath fire from your outstreched hands, or with Cone of Cold a swarm of snakes scitter about the ground in the requisite cone shape.
TalinXT 05-17-07, 09:56 PM	Just fake it. Grab a spell change its name and make it snake themed. Example. Melfs Acid Arrow: Spit of The Cobra Poison: Bite of The Serpent. True Seeing: Sight of The Snake This is concept, not optimization, so long as your dm knows what those spells really are you can do what you like.
DoveArrow 05-21-07, 11:23 AM	How about a serpent shaped quarterstaff and at higher levels Rod of the Python or Rod of the Viper? 05-16-07 10:24 AM I like your first idea. I'm guessing rod of the python and rod of the viper are in Serpent Kingdoms? Just fake it. Grab a spell change its name and make it snake themed. Example. Melfs Acid Arrow: Spit of The Cobra Poison: Bite of The Serpent. True Seeing: Sight of The Snake This is concept, not optimization, so long as your dm knows what those spells really are you can do what you like. I'm thinking of doing some of this. Like having my magic missiles be shaped like open mouthed snakes, or something. I'm thinking I may try and change some of the basic functioning of some of these spells too (nothing dramatic, but just enough to make it obvious that this spell is a little different from the one in the Player's Handbook.
RevIron 05-21-07, 12:29 PM	I like your first idea. I'm guessing rod of the python and rod of the viper are in Serpent Kingdoms? Both should be in the DMG, but I may be using old names for them (they're probably staves now) - as I recall the rod of the viper is a cursed item so might not be ideal. (It affects the character using it instead of the target IIRC, poison on self is not ideal). They may be in Serpent Kingdoms, but as I tend to use Ravenloft or Eberron for setting it's not where I remeber them from. (If either aren't in the DMG then I think that one is in the Ravenloft DMG - but obviously that won't be as much use to you.)
DoveArrow 05-22-07, 01:53 PM	Both should be in the DMG. Ah. You are correct, sir. As I recall the rod of the viper is a cursed item so might not be ideal. (It affects the character using it instead of the target IIRC, poison on self is not ideal). Actually, it only works if you are evil. Otherwise it doesn't do anything. Likewise, the rod of the python only works if you are good. I really like the rod of the python. Thank you for pointing it out to me.
Saragon42 05-23-07, 11:00 AM	A few other thematic ideas: Evard's Black Tentacles could be displayed as grappling snake coils; manyjaws (either PHB2 or the Spell Compendium) could be done as snake jaws; even stoneskin could be done as snakeskin instead. TalinXT has it right; as long as the spells are mechanically the same (i.e. you're not trying to sneak in a Spell Thematics feat for free :P ) talk to your DM and come up with whatever you can. As far as thematic spells -- it's not useful save in a few rare situations, but you may want to have sepia snake sigil in your spellbook too.
Tyberian 05-24-07, 06:22 PM	Have you thought about the feat thematic spellcasting? You could have hisses, etc accompany your spells as they are cast, and have your lightning bolts whip out as striking snakes. The feat also either makes identification or perhaps dispelling more difficult.
DoveArrow 05-24-07, 06:43 PM	Have you thought about the feat thematic spellcasting? You could have hisses, etc accompany your spells as they are cast, and have your lightning bolts whip out as striking snakes. The feat also either makes identification or perhaps dispelling more difficult. I'm actually considering it quite heavily. +1 to caster level on one spell per spell level and +4 DC to Spellcraft checks used to identify my spells is nothing to sneeze at. It also fits the character concept quite well.
Ensjak 05-29-07, 09:14 PM	I feel dumb for saying this but Sepia Snake Sigil...yeah? Also Summon Monster 1-4 and 6 all have vipers or constrictors that can be summoned.
TheWhirlingDeathaxe 05-30-07, 02:28 AM	How about the Poison spell right out of the ol' PHB? Also I believe there is a new version of the old Sticks to Snakes spell somewhere but I'm not sure which book or what the name was changed to. Also may want to think about using Alter Self and later Polymorph and Shapechange to make yourself all snake like. Also poison gas spells like Stinking Cloud and later Cloudkill and Hiss of Sleep would fit nicely.