Cantrip: Choke [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cantrip: Choke [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Neely
05-10-07, 04:26 AM Hiya,

I'd like to have some feedback on a cantrip design:

Choke
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One humanoid creature of 4 HD or less
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
This chokes a humanoid creature with 4 or fewer Hit Dice so that it can't take any verbal actions. Humanoids of 5 or more HD are not affected. A choked subject is not stunned, so attackers get no special advantage against it.

At this point the spell resemble much of the daze spell in it's effect besides it being limited to losing only verbal actions. I've tried to compensate this by removing the verbal and material components and by changing the save to a fortitude save. Is this a fair trade?

If anyone has some ideas to make this spell differ more from Daze, I'm open to all input.
Gray Richardson
05-10-07, 04:48 AM From the name I expected a different mechanic, you might consider calling it "Cough" instead, to emphasize its spontaneous (and not ongoing) duration. But, otherwise, I kinda like it. It could be fun!
Neely
05-10-07, 06:33 AM The name "Cough" makes me think too much of the spell "Horizikaul's Cough".

Besides, don't forget 1 round is 6 second ;)
Could already feel like a long time.

The spell could be described as if for a brief moment you feel something is stuck in your throat (like you would be choking on food), which will ofcourse cause a coughing reflex of the body.

Thanks for your input Gray Richardson.
Suin Bahhar
05-10-07, 06:55 AM Actually I think i got some neat uses for this spell tonight :plotting:
Stigger
05-10-07, 06:56 AM Given my recent extensive familiarity with both coughing and choking, I'd say choke was a fairly accurate name... and I'd totally agree that 6 seconds can feel like forever.

Otherwise it looks good, oddly like something I'm totally going to swipe from you... :D
Diffan
05-10-07, 04:52 PM Otherwise it looks good, oddly like something I'm totally going to swipe from you... :D

As am I. Kudos! Though I might even take it a step further and say that the casting time is 1 swift action. I mean, the spell could be used to keep a guard from yelling, create a diversion, give away someone's position, make a mage fudge a spell, etc... so making it a swift action makes it a must in many situations, not to mention that it's only component is somatic, like a snap of someone's fingers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Neely 05-10-07, 04:26 AM	Hiya, I'd like to have some feedback on a cantrip design: Choke Necromancy Level: Sor/Wiz 0 Components: S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One humanoid creature of 4 HD or less Duration: 1 round Saving Throw: Fort negates Spell Resistance: Yes This chokes a humanoid creature with 4 or fewer Hit Dice so that it can't take any verbal actions. Humanoids of 5 or more HD are not affected. A choked subject is not stunned, so attackers get no special advantage against it. At this point the spell resemble much of the daze spell in it's effect besides it being limited to losing only verbal actions. I've tried to compensate this by removing the verbal and material components and by changing the save to a fortitude save. Is this a fair trade? If anyone has some ideas to make this spell differ more from Daze, I'm open to all input.
Gray Richardson 05-10-07, 04:48 AM	From the name I expected a different mechanic, you might consider calling it "Cough" instead, to emphasize its spontaneous (and not ongoing) duration. But, otherwise, I kinda like it. It could be fun!
Neely 05-10-07, 06:33 AM	The name "Cough" makes me think too much of the spell "Horizikaul's Cough". Besides, don't forget 1 round is 6 second ;) Could already feel like a long time. The spell could be described as if for a brief moment you feel something is stuck in your throat (like you would be choking on food), which will ofcourse cause a coughing reflex of the body. Thanks for your input Gray Richardson.
Suin Bahhar 05-10-07, 06:55 AM	Actually I think i got some neat uses for this spell tonight :plotting:
Stigger 05-10-07, 06:56 AM	Given my recent extensive familiarity with both coughing and choking, I'd say choke was a fairly accurate name... and I'd totally agree that 6 seconds can feel like forever. Otherwise it looks good, oddly like something I'm totally going to swipe from you... :D
Diffan 05-10-07, 04:52 PM	Otherwise it looks good, oddly like something I'm totally going to swipe from you... :D As am I. Kudos! Though I might even take it a step further and say that the casting time is 1 swift action. I mean, the spell could be used to keep a guard from yelling, create a diversion, give away someone's position, make a mage fudge a spell, etc... so making it a swift action makes it a must in many situations, not to mention that it's only component is somatic, like a snap of someone's fingers.