3.5 New Spell: Force Light Crossbow (please critique) [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 New Spell: Force Light Crossbow (please critique) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harmor
09-20-04, 02:37 AM Mage's Sword (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/theraven_stephenh/spells/Mages_Sword.html) is pretty kewl, but too high level.

I would think there's a spell like this already, but I was thinking something along the lines of this:

Force Light Crossbow
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Effect: You
Duration: 1 round/level (max. 5)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell brings into being a shimmering, light crossbow made from force into your hands. As a force effect, it can strike ethereal and incorporeal creatures. It deals 1d6 points of force damage on a successful ranged touch attack, with a threat range of 19–20 and a critical multiplier of x2. The light crossbow does not need to be reloaded, but may only be fired once per round as a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

The light crossbow cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it.

If an attacked creature has spell resistance, the resistance is checked the first time the crossbow strikes it. If the crossbow is successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the crossbow has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.

Focus: A miniature platinum crossbow worth 25 gp.
smrtgmp
09-20-04, 03:40 AM Given that it has the potential to do far more damage than any other 1st level spell, I think you sould change a few things. As is, I would say the spell is at least 2nd level, maybe 3rd (albeit on the weak side of 3rd, except maybe for an arcane trickster). To keep it at 1st, you should put a cap on the duration, such as 5 rounds. If you dont want to cap the duration at 5, then I would stagger the increases to duration, such as 1 round/2 levels.
Harmor
09-20-04, 03:55 AM Cap set at 5 rounds.
smrtgmp
09-20-04, 04:01 AM Looks a lot better now. I think its fine now as a 1st level spell.

It could be very cool to have a 3rd level version that hovered over your shoulder and fired on its own. At 3rd level, you could probably cap the duration at 10 rounds (or possibly go without a cap at all, given that most fights dont last more than 10 rounds anyways).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 09-20-04, 02:37 AM	Mage's Sword (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/theraven_stephenh/spells/Mages_Sword.html) is pretty kewl, but too high level. I would think there's a spell like this already, but I was thinking something along the lines of this: Force Light Crossbow Evocation [Force] Level: Sor/Wiz 1 Components: V, S, F Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Personal Effect: You Duration: 1 round/level (max. 5) Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes This spell brings into being a shimmering, light crossbow made from force into your hands. As a force effect, it can strike ethereal and incorporeal creatures. It deals 1d6 points of force damage on a successful ranged touch attack, with a threat range of 19–20 and a critical multiplier of x2. The light crossbow does not need to be reloaded, but may only be fired once per round as a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. The light crossbow cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it. If an attacked creature has spell resistance, the resistance is checked the first time the crossbow strikes it. If the crossbow is successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the crossbow has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell. Focus: A miniature platinum crossbow worth 25 gp.
smrtgmp 09-20-04, 03:40 AM	Given that it has the potential to do far more damage than any other 1st level spell, I think you sould change a few things. As is, I would say the spell is at least 2nd level, maybe 3rd (albeit on the weak side of 3rd, except maybe for an arcane trickster). To keep it at 1st, you should put a cap on the duration, such as 5 rounds. If you dont want to cap the duration at 5, then I would stagger the increases to duration, such as 1 round/2 levels.
Harmor 09-20-04, 03:55 AM	Cap set at 5 rounds.
smrtgmp 09-20-04, 04:01 AM	Looks a lot better now. I think its fine now as a 1st level spell. It could be very cool to have a 3rd level version that hovered over your shoulder and fired on its own. At 3rd level, you could probably cap the duration at 10 rounds (or possibly go without a cap at all, given that most fights dont last more than 10 rounds anyways).