Power Word Pain - Restricted [Archive] - Wizards Community

Power Word Pain - Restricted [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Samwise
02-02-06, 01:35 AM Even though it is in an author/Triad only book (Races of the Dragon), I'd like to see this spell specifically booted from the campaign. (At least until it gets some serious errata.)
To try and avoid my rather longer rants about it I've posted elsewhere, I'll summarize:

1st level spell
No Save
Average damage to a single PC of 3rd-6th level is 10d6 (35 points)

This spell is pretty much certain death to any and all 1st level PCs, and can be a TPK with very little effort in a (standard for APL 2) CR 4 or 5 encounter, and near guaranteed with (standard for APL 2) two or three such encounters.

Power Word Fatigue is also pretty bad, and can join this new club, but Power Word Pain needs to be the founding member.
MatBlack
02-02-06, 01:54 AM good god!

the power words maladroit, deafen, nauseate, sicken, and weaken are pretty unbalanced as well.
Samwise
02-02-06, 02:34 AM good god!

the power words maladroit, deafen, nauseate, sicken, and weaken are pretty unbalanced as well.

Yeah. It takes a bit to sink in when you first read it. But once you think about it for a bit . . . YEESH!

As for the others:
Maladroit and Weaken aren't that bad compared to Ray of Enfeeblement and now Ray of Weakness as a Limited Spell from the Spell Compendium. Although they could be excessively harsh at APL 2, so would a fireball, and that would drop everyone. (And you would nearly always be safe from the worst as APL 4 unless you are playing up.)
Nauseate and Sicken compare fairly well to Ray Dizziness and Ray of Sickness. (Although PWS and RoS are both 2nd level, which is a bit odd considering the jump in level for these other four.)
Deafen looks in line with Blindness/Deafness. (No save, but shorter range, and massively shorter duration in almost all cases.)

Of course, this might mean all those Rays except Enfeeblement need the boot too, but right now Power Word Pain is my biggest concern.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Samwise 02-02-06, 01:35 AM	Even though it is in an author/Triad only book (Races of the Dragon), I'd like to see this spell specifically booted from the campaign. (At least until it gets some serious errata.) To try and avoid my rather longer rants about it I've posted elsewhere, I'll summarize: 1st level spell No Save Average damage to a single PC of 3rd-6th level is 10d6 (35 points) This spell is pretty much certain death to any and all 1st level PCs, and can be a TPK with very little effort in a (standard for APL 2) CR 4 or 5 encounter, and near guaranteed with (standard for APL 2) two or three such encounters. Power Word Fatigue is also pretty bad, and can join this new club, but Power Word Pain needs to be the founding member.
MatBlack 02-02-06, 01:54 AM	good god! the power words maladroit, deafen, nauseate, sicken, and weaken are pretty unbalanced as well.
Samwise 02-02-06, 02:34 AM	good god! the power words maladroit, deafen, nauseate, sicken, and weaken are pretty unbalanced as well. Yeah. It takes a bit to sink in when you first read it. But once you think about it for a bit . . . YEESH! As for the others: Maladroit and Weaken aren't that bad compared to Ray of Enfeeblement and now Ray of Weakness as a Limited Spell from the Spell Compendium. Although they could be excessively harsh at APL 2, so would a fireball, and that would drop everyone. (And you would nearly always be safe from the worst as APL 4 unless you are playing up.) Nauseate and Sicken compare fairly well to Ray Dizziness and Ray of Sickness. (Although PWS and RoS are both 2nd level, which is a bit odd considering the jump in level for these other four.) Deafen looks in line with Blindness/Deafness. (No save, but shorter range, and massively shorter duration in almost all cases.) Of course, this might mean all those Rays except Enfeeblement need the boot too, but right now Power Word Pain is my biggest concern.