Dread Witch and fear effects [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dread Witch and fear effects [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
partyduk
10-30-07, 06:30 PM I am thinking about making a fear based caster as a BBEG by combining levels of dread witch and nightmare spinner, but I have a few nuances I want to iron out.

The dread witch gets bonuses to its caster level depending on the level of fright it is at. (Shaken +1, Frightened +2, Panicked +3)

The nightmare spinner is immune to fear

This would normally pose a problem, but the dread witch gains the ability to affect characters with fear spells that normally would be immune to the effects. (up to 4 HD higher)

My question is: Could the Dread witch cast a fear spell on herself and gain the benifits of the class ability?

If so, if the spell causes the dread witch to run in fright, what does she run from? Logic would say she would be afraid of herself or the spell itself...but I figured I might get a more solid answer from here.

Thank you,
Duk
Marcus Majarra
10-31-07, 03:02 AM Being immune to fear effectively prevents you from benefitting from any effect that requires that you be subjected to a fear effect. So combining the Nightmare Spinner and the Dread Witch isn't exactly the best idea. As for casting a fear spell on yourself, that is also impossible on account of the fact that this spell is a cone-shaped burst. By definition, it spreads away from you from one corner of your square.
runestar
11-01-07, 06:59 AM My question is: Could the Dread witch cast a fear spell on herself and gain the benifits of the class ability?

No.

Note that the aforementioned dread witch/nightmare spinner combo is a fairly potent combination despite the lack of synergy with fear immunity, rather than because of.

The CO boards did not create it because you had some ability to voluntarily suppress your own fear immunity or something.:)
partyduk
11-01-07, 02:59 PM You see, that is not the case.

The exact text from Heros of Horror states:

"Greater Master of Terror (Ex);
Beginning at 4th level, the increased difficulty of all save DCs against all spells you cast with the fear descriptor increases from +1 to +2. In addition, your fear spells are now so potent that they can even affect individuals normally immune to fear, such as paladins, although the subject still gains a saving throw to resist the spell's effect. Only a target whose HD exceed your caster level by 4 or more is immune to your mastery of terror. For instance, if you are a sorcerer 7/dread witch 4 (overall caster level 10), a paladin of 14th level or higher is immune to your fear spells."

Barring the shortage of fear spells that can potentially target yourself, this seems theoretically this seems possible, just as long as my HD does not exceed my caster level by 4.

Is my logic correct?

-Duk

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
partyduk 10-30-07, 06:30 PM	I am thinking about making a fear based caster as a BBEG by combining levels of dread witch and nightmare spinner, but I have a few nuances I want to iron out. The dread witch gets bonuses to its caster level depending on the level of fright it is at. (Shaken +1, Frightened +2, Panicked +3) The nightmare spinner is immune to fear This would normally pose a problem, but the dread witch gains the ability to affect characters with fear spells that normally would be immune to the effects. (up to 4 HD higher) My question is: Could the Dread witch cast a fear spell on herself and gain the benifits of the class ability? If so, if the spell causes the dread witch to run in fright, what does she run from? Logic would say she would be afraid of herself or the spell itself...but I figured I might get a more solid answer from here. Thank you, Duk
Marcus Majarra 10-31-07, 03:02 AM	Being immune to fear effectively prevents you from benefitting from any effect that requires that you be subjected to a fear effect. So combining the Nightmare Spinner and the Dread Witch isn't exactly the best idea. As for casting a fear spell on yourself, that is also impossible on account of the fact that this spell is a cone-shaped burst. By definition, it spreads away from you from one corner of your square.
runestar 11-01-07, 06:59 AM	My question is: Could the Dread witch cast a fear spell on herself and gain the benifits of the class ability? No. Note that the aforementioned dread witch/nightmare spinner combo is a fairly potent combination despite the lack of synergy with fear immunity, rather than because of. The CO boards did not create it because you had some ability to voluntarily suppress your own fear immunity or something.:)
partyduk 11-01-07, 02:59 PM	You see, that is not the case. The exact text from Heros of Horror states: "Greater Master of Terror (Ex); Beginning at 4th level, the increased difficulty of all save DCs against all spells you cast with the fear descriptor increases from +1 to +2. In addition, your fear spells are now so potent that they can even affect individuals normally immune to fear, such as paladins, although the subject still gains a saving throw to resist the spell's effect. Only a target whose HD exceed your caster level by 4 or more is immune to your mastery of terror. For instance, if you are a sorcerer 7/dread witch 4 (overall caster level 10), a paladin of 14th level or higher is immune to your fear spells." Barring the shortage of fear spells that can potentially target yourself, this seems theoretically this seems possible, just as long as my HD does not exceed my caster level by 4. Is my logic correct? -Duk