Are spellcraft DCs too low? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are spellcraft DCs too low? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Psyrus
08-31-07, 10:24 AM Or am I doing something wrong?

I'm trying to create an epic spell based off of the Slay seed and it came out as follows:

Nega-ball
Necromancy/Psychometabolism [death]
Spellcraft DC: 99
Components: None
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 300 ft.
Target: 40' radius
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 891,000 gp; 18 days; 35,640 XP.
Seed: slay (DC 25). Factor: standard action (+20 DC), +10 to change the target to a 20' area, +4 to increase the area by 100%, +10 to increase the damage from d4 to d6, +40 to increase the damage from 2 dice to 12 dice, -10DC to power the spell (backlash).

As a standard action, the character reaches into the darkes part of their soul and brings forth the darkness from within.

The darkness manifests as a 6" diameter sphere of crackling black energy. This energy sphere may be thrown up to 300' and will explode into a 40' radius blast which causes all creatures caught in the area to make a Fortitude saving through DC 20 + Int (1/2 damage on a successful save) or take 12d6 negative energy levels. Because the caster is powering the spell from his own soul, he takes 10d6 points of damage which comes from his current hit point total (temporary hit points may not be used, negating the damage will negate the power of the spell).

I'm not sure if changing the target to an area should be greater than +10DC or whether DC99 is too low for the effect.

My character isn't epic yet, but the game is planning on going epic soon and it looks like my character should be able to reach DC99 spells by about 24th level.
bluemage55
08-31-07, 10:03 PM DC 99 is actually quite high, primarily because you will have to spend 35,640 XP and 891,000 gp to research the spell.

This is especially overpriced when you consider the fact that a constant death ward effect item to block it is only 112,000 gp.
Starmage21
09-02-07, 05:49 PM DC 99 is actually quite high, primarily because you will have to spend 35,640 XP and 891,000 gp to research the spell.

This is especially overpriced when you consider the fact that a constant death ward effect item to block it is only 112,000 gp.

its even cheaper than that. There is an armor quality that adds it for like a +1 bonus.
archerpwr
09-02-07, 07:02 PM its even cheaper than that. There is an armor quality that adds it for like a +1 bonus.

Only once per day.
dragon221284
09-03-07, 01:49 AM and a +4 bonus all the day (BoED; Soulfire)
Lormador
09-06-07, 12:38 AM Yeah this isn't out of line. Spellcraft 99 isn't easy to hit, it's a huge investment in time, XP, and cash, the spell can be blocked by lowly quickenable Death Ward, and you didn't even pump the DC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Psyrus 08-31-07, 10:24 AM	Or am I doing something wrong? I'm trying to create an epic spell based off of the Slay seed and it came out as follows: Nega-ball Necromancy/Psychometabolism [death] Spellcraft DC: 99 Components: None Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: 300 ft. Target: 40' radius Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Fortitude partial (see text) Spell Resistance: Yes To Develop: 891,000 gp; 18 days; 35,640 XP. Seed: slay (DC 25). Factor: standard action (+20 DC), +10 to change the target to a 20' area, +4 to increase the area by 100%, +10 to increase the damage from d4 to d6, +40 to increase the damage from 2 dice to 12 dice, -10DC to power the spell (backlash). As a standard action, the character reaches into the darkes part of their soul and brings forth the darkness from within. The darkness manifests as a 6" diameter sphere of crackling black energy. This energy sphere may be thrown up to 300' and will explode into a 40' radius blast which causes all creatures caught in the area to make a Fortitude saving through DC 20 + Int (1/2 damage on a successful save) or take 12d6 negative energy levels. Because the caster is powering the spell from his own soul, he takes 10d6 points of damage which comes from his current hit point total (temporary hit points may not be used, negating the damage will negate the power of the spell). I'm not sure if changing the target to an area should be greater than +10DC or whether DC99 is too low for the effect. My character isn't epic yet, but the game is planning on going epic soon and it looks like my character should be able to reach DC99 spells by about 24th level.
bluemage55 08-31-07, 10:03 PM	DC 99 is actually quite high, primarily because you will have to spend 35,640 XP and 891,000 gp to research the spell. This is especially overpriced when you consider the fact that a constant death ward effect item to block it is only 112,000 gp.
Starmage21 09-02-07, 05:49 PM	DC 99 is actually quite high, primarily because you will have to spend 35,640 XP and 891,000 gp to research the spell. This is especially overpriced when you consider the fact that a constant death ward effect item to block it is only 112,000 gp. its even cheaper than that. There is an armor quality that adds it for like a +1 bonus.
archerpwr 09-02-07, 07:02 PM	its even cheaper than that. There is an armor quality that adds it for like a +1 bonus. Only once per day.
dragon221284 09-03-07, 01:49 AM	and a +4 bonus all the day (BoED; Soulfire)
Lormador 09-06-07, 12:38 AM	Yeah this isn't out of line. Spellcraft 99 isn't easy to hit, it's a huge investment in time, XP, and cash, the spell can be blocked by lowly quickenable Death Ward, and you didn't even pump the DC.