Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Diffan 02-21-07, 06:02 PM	Ok, in an earlier post, I was wondering if a sor/wiz that tapped into the shadow weave could cast the cleric spell Darkbolt. Now I find another version, so which to use or do I incorporate both?? Version 1 from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and Spell Compendium: Darkbolt Evocation [Darkness] Level: Darkness 5 Components: V,S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Effect: One ray/2 levels (max. 7 rays) Duration: Instantaneous; see text Saving Throw: Will partial Spell Resistance: Yes You unleash beams of darkness from your open palm. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike you target. You can hurl one bolt for every two caster levels you have (max. 7). You can hurl all the bolts at once, or one bolt per round as a free action, starting in the round you cast the spell. You don't have to hurl a bolt in every round, but if you don't, the bolt is lost. If you hurl all the bolts at once, all your targets must be within 60 ft. of each other. A darkbolt deals 2d8 points of damage to a living creature and the creature is dazed for 1 round. A successful Will save negates the dazed effect but not the damage. Ok, now version 2 from Lord of Madness and Book of Vile Darkness: Darkbolt Evocation [Darkness] Level: Clr 2, sor/wiz 2, vile darkness 2 Components: V,S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One creature Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Fortitude partial Spell Resistance: Yes The caster makes a ranged touch attack against a foe, launching a bolt of cold darkness from his left hand. The bolt deals 1d8/2 levels (max. 5d8). Half the damage is cold, the other has no specific type. When struck, the foe must also succeed on a Fort. Save or be stunned for 1 round. A successful save negates the stunning effect. Ok, so which version do I use? Or could I use both, giving the 2nd level spell a lesser description and the 5th level spell a greater description? Thanks for your thoughts.
RooktheFury 02-21-07, 07:23 PM	They are both completely different spells. Change the name of the second one to make the name suit its nature better and use them both.
Diffan 02-21-07, 08:05 PM	They are both completely different spells. Change the name of the second one to make the name suit its nature better and use them both. That's a pretty good idea. I was actually thinking about renaming the 5th level one Shadowbolt instead. Though I didn't know if one version of this spell supercedes(sp?) the other.
Fabius Maximus 02-22-07, 10:59 AM	The latter one is called 'Slashing Darkness' now. It's the dark equivalent to 'Searing Light' and can be found in the Spell Compendium, too. Actually, it's better than the level 5 spell. You deal more consitent damage with it.
Diffan 02-22-07, 05:39 PM	ah, I see. So is slashing darkness a better spell than the original darkbolt? Also, I thought slashing darkness was only a cleric spell?
Fabius Maximus 02-22-07, 06:22 PM	ah, I see. So is slashing darkness a better spell than the original darkbolt? Also, I thought slashing darkness was only a cleric spell? Slashing Darkness is better until it caps out. After caster level 10, Darkbolt becomes better because of the better damage dealt when shooting all bolts at once at one target. But if you use Triadspell with Slashing Darkness, you get three uses of it. That's pretty good. Slashing Darkness is a cleric only spell, right. It's also level 3, medium range and has no stunning effect. As an afterthought: I could be wrong. I just took a look at the sources the SpC mentions, and neither Lords of Madness nor the Book of Vile Darkness was used. So there could still be two Darkbolt spells.
Diffan 02-23-07, 03:42 PM	As an afterthought: I could be wrong. I just took a look at the sources the SpC mentions, and neither Lords of Madness nor the Book of Vile Darkness was used. So there could still be two Darkbolt spells. Ah, HA! In all actuality, I think i'm going to roll with the spell from the Lords of Madness/Vile Darkness and just change the name. I like the fact that it's a Sor/Wiz spell and it fits very well with shadow weave characters. Thanks!