Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LordKiwi 04-26-05, 04:48 AM	I just started reading through the spell section in Sandstorm and found this little gem. Basicaly, Ashtar is a level 2 spell that creates an orb that forces a nearby target to make a fortitude save when they take damage or the damage is converted into Dessication damage. It's suposed to be used offensivly but it seems much more useful as a defence. I've thought of a few ways of abusing it... 1. Protection from Dessication spell (Cleric 3, S/W 3, Druid 2, Ranger 2) This can be used to gain effectivly 10 hit points per caster level per casting. Ideal for all wizard, Arcane Heirophant and Sublime Lyrist builds. 2. Master Transmographist / Master of Many Forms Easiest to achieve with the MT, you can take the Ex ability from either a Dunewinder or Brine Ooze. Both have complete immunity to Dessication damage and dehydration. 3. Marruspawn All Marruspawn gain Dessication Resistance 10. Marrulurk make fantastic rogues so I can imagine a good dagger spell mage build from this. Practiced Spellcaster + Wizard 2 qualifies you for Dagger Spell Mage and you get the spell at ECL 8. 4. Magic Armour - Desication Resistance Ideal for a Gish, the armour enhancement costs just 9,000 gp and effectivly grants you DR 10/- 5. Camelopardel There is a rather dumb looking magical beast from Sandstorm could make a good cohort as it has an aura of protection from dessication of up to 50 hit points within 10'. Not ideal though, unless you could summon one. 6. Undead/Constructs It doesn't say it anywhere in the book but does anyone really think Undead and Constructs should be affected by Dessication damage? Really, your going to dry out my Iron Golem, that's nice. Anyway, it's probably not RAW but if you can gain either of these types, preferably through the Necropolitan template from Libris Mortis, it may grant you damage immunity. The Orb it creates so you want to summon it into your backpack for protection. Where you have resistance, not immunity you may suffer from Dehydration, but fatigue is not much of a penalty compared to DR10/- or 100 extra hit points. If you are worried about the fatigue there is a spell in Libris Mrtis to make you immune. Lord Kiwi,
LordKiwi 04-27-05, 04:58 AM	:bump: No one interested in invulnerability? Or at least in telling me there is a huge hole in this plan.
TheOne 04-27-05, 12:18 PM	Very good find, I'll have to use for my Arcane Hierophant BBEG
*R* 04-27-05, 01:16 PM	Ooh. Warforged caster or gish for immunity to fatigue. Does the conversion occur before DR, or does the text of the spell say that damage dealt is converted into Dessication damage? Ex: 1) 12 slashing damage 2) DR 2/- reduces it to 10 damage 3) Voluntarily failed save, 10 damage is converted to Dessication damage 4) Protection from Dessication reduces the damage by 10, to 0
LordKiwi 04-28-05, 08:13 AM	Ooh. Warforged caster or gish for immunity to fatigue. Good thining. Just imagine a Warforges Master Transmografist. Choose the Dessication Immunity of a Dune Winder for immunity to damage or, gain the immunity to magic of a Golem (I believe it's an Ex ability). And you can still benefit from DR 10/- and up to +100 hit opints till you get to that point. Does the conversion occur before DR, or does the text of the spell say that damage dealt is converted into Dessication damage? Ex: 1) 12 slashing damage 2) DR 2/- reduces it to 10 damage 3) Voluntarily failed save, 10 damage is converted to Dessication damage 4) Protection from Dessication reduces the damage by 10, to 0 It turns the damage into Dessication damage instead of it's normal type so... 1) 12 slashing damage 3) Voluntarily failed save, 12 damage is converted to Dessication damage 2) DR 2/- doesn't apply 4) Dessication Resistance reduces the damage by 10, to 2 Protection from Dessication can absorb up to 10 hit points per CL, to a maximum of 100 so in your origional example it would abosrb all 12 hit point of damage. Lord Kiwi,