A couple necromancy spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

A couple necromancy spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Stormonu
12-29-05, 12:53 PM These are a couple necromancy spells I'm working on for my campaign. I need a way to further balance these spells, so that for example you can't cast the spell to not only rememorize it, but memorize an additional copy of the spell as well (which can be done with Black Marentail's Blood Draw at 14th level...). I was thinking perhaps an XP cost. Any other ideas?

Black Marentail's Blood Leech
Necromancy (Evil)
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft/2 levels)
Target: One living creature or one corpse
Duration: 1 hour
Saving Throw: Fort negates or none
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell is an insidious enhancement to Black Marentail’s Life Leech. Created by Black Marentail, there are whispers he created an even deadly version of this spell that still would draw half the life energy of his victim even if they successfully resisted the spell (such a spell would be at least 9th level).
This spell, like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, strips the victim of magical energy to fuel the wizard. However, unlike life leech which bestows negative levels to the victim, this spell deals ability damage to Constitution.
If used on a dead body, it acts exactly like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, but the caster gains +1 caster level per level the victim had in life.
If used on living bodies and the victim fails its saving throw, the caster deals 1 point of Constitution damage to the victim per level. For each point of Constitution damage dealt to the victim, the caster gains a like bonus to their caster level. A victim cannot lose more Constitution than it had in life. A victim drained to 0 Constitution dies.
The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls one level of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 3rd level spell).
Focus: The body of the victim to be drained.

Black Marentail's Life Drain
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One living creature or one corpse
Duration: 1 hour
Saving Throw: Will negates or None
Spell Resistance: Yes
By touching a living being or a fresh corpse, the caster can draw out the life force of a victim to use in casting spells.
The caster bestows upon the touched being 1d6 damage per two caster levels upon a failed save. In return, the caster gains a +1 bonus to their caster level per 5 hit points dealt for one hour. A victim cannot be dealt more damage than their total hit points + 10 (which slays the victim)
The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls one level of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 3rd level spell).
A corpse can only provide +1 caster level per two levels it had in life.
Focus: The victim of the spell.

<edit> Should have checked Vampiric touch before posting...changed spells (significantly)
tarkin
12-29-05, 01:48 PM Black Marentail's Life Drain

Needs the following changes:

1) Change it from recently killed corpse (which has no life force to drain) to: living creature that has -1 or fewer hit points. Then change "A corpse can only provide +1 caster level per two levels it had in life" to a "A living creature may not be lowered to less than -10 hitpoints by this spell."

2) Remove "Focus: The victim of the spell". The victim is the target of the spell, not the Focus.

3) Put in a limit that the spell may not do more than 10d6 points of damage (which it does at 20th level). Otherwise this spell becomes abusive in Epic play.

4) I suggest an XP cost only if spells are restored. If spells are restored, you lose spell level squared x 10 in xp. (10, 40, 90,... 810 xp)

----------------------------

Black Marentail's Blood Leech:

1) Material Cost: Black Opal worth 1,000 gp per Hit die of creature targetted, PLUS if spells are restored, you lose XP = to spell level squared x 10 in xp. (10, 40, 90,... 810 xp)

2) Remove "Focus: The victim of the spell". The victim is the target of the spell, not the Focus.

3) Add a line that says: If cast on something that is not a single corpse (Flesh Golem, statue turned to flesh using Stone To Flesh), the spell is wasted, but the Black Opal does not vanish.

4) Add a line that says: If cast on any form of undead, the spell does nothing, but the Black Opal you attempted to use distingrates to worthless dust.
Stormonu
12-29-05, 03:08 PM Near-complete revision after thinking about this over lunch. Kept the ability to drain a corpse in Life Drain. Does it still need an XP cost? (Note: these spells are a combination/variation of Vampiric Touch and Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer)

Black Marentail's Blood Leech
Necromancy (Evil)
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft/2 levels)
Target: One living creature or one corpse
Duration: 1 hour
Saving Throw: Fort negates or none
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell is an insidious enhancement to Black Marentail’s Life Drain. Created by Black Marentail, there are whispers he created an even deadly version of this spell that still would draw half the life energy of his victim even if they successfully resisted the spell (such a spell would be at least 9th level).
This spell, like Black Marentail’s Life Drain, strips the victim of magical energy to fuel the wizard. However, unlike Black Marentail’s Life Drain, which deals damage to the victim, this spell deals ability damage to Constitution.
If used on a dead body, it acts exactly like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, but bestows +1 caster level per level the victim had in life. This spell cannot be used on a body that has been slain by necromantic spells.
If used on living bodies and the victim fails its saving throw, the caster deals 1 point of Constitution damage to the victim per level. For every 2 points of Constitution damage dealt to the victim, the caster gains a like bonus to their caster level. A victim cannot lose more Constitution than it had in life. A victim drained to 0 Constitution dies.
The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls two levels of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 6th level spell or two 3rd level spells or any such combination of 6 spell levels). This must be done immediately upon gaining the bonus caster levels; you cannot use the caster levels and then choose to later switch them into spells. Multiple castings of this spell do not stack.

Black Marentail's Life Drain
Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: One living creature or one fresh corpse
Duration: 1 hour
Saving Throw: Will negates or None
Spell Resistance: Yes
By touching a living being or a fresh corpse (less than 1 hour dead), the caster can draw out the life force of a victim to use in casting spells.
If cast on a living creature, the caster bestows upon the touched being 1d6 damage per two caster levels upon a failed save (max 10d6). In return, the caster gains a +1 bonus to their caster level per 10 hit points dealt for one hour. A victim cannot have damage dealt to it exceeding their total hit points +10 (which slays the victim). Multiple castings of this spell do not stack.
If cast upon a freshly slain corpse, the caster gains a +1 caster level bonus per 4 levels or HD that the victim had. This spell cannot be used on a body that has been slain by necromantic spells.
The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls two levels of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 6th level spell or two 3rd level spells or any such combination of 6 spell levels). This must be done immediately upon gaining the bonus caster levels; you cannot use the caster levels and then choose to later switch them into spells.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stormonu 12-29-05, 12:53 PM	These are a couple necromancy spells I'm working on for my campaign. I need a way to further balance these spells, so that for example you can't cast the spell to not only rememorize it, but memorize an additional copy of the spell as well (which can be done with Black Marentail's Blood Draw at 14th level...). I was thinking perhaps an XP cost. Any other ideas? Black Marentail's Blood Leech Necromancy (Evil) Level: Sor/Wiz 7 Components: V, S, F Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft/2 levels) Target: One living creature or one corpse Duration: 1 hour Saving Throw: Fort negates or none Spell Resistance: Yes This spell is an insidious enhancement to Black Marentail’s Life Leech. Created by Black Marentail, there are whispers he created an even deadly version of this spell that still would draw half the life energy of his victim even if they successfully resisted the spell (such a spell would be at least 9th level). This spell, like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, strips the victim of magical energy to fuel the wizard. However, unlike life leech which bestows negative levels to the victim, this spell deals ability damage to Constitution. If used on a dead body, it acts exactly like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, but the caster gains +1 caster level per level the victim had in life. If used on living bodies and the victim fails its saving throw, the caster deals 1 point of Constitution damage to the victim per level. For each point of Constitution damage dealt to the victim, the caster gains a like bonus to their caster level. A victim cannot lose more Constitution than it had in life. A victim drained to 0 Constitution dies. The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls one level of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 3rd level spell). Focus: The body of the victim to be drained. Black Marentail's Life Drain Necromancy [Evil] Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V, S, F Casting Time: 1 round Range: Touch Target: One living creature or one corpse Duration: 1 hour Saving Throw: Will negates or None Spell Resistance: Yes By touching a living being or a fresh corpse, the caster can draw out the life force of a victim to use in casting spells. The caster bestows upon the touched being 1d6 damage per two caster levels upon a failed save. In return, the caster gains a +1 bonus to their caster level per 5 hit points dealt for one hour. A victim cannot be dealt more damage than their total hit points + 10 (which slays the victim) The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls one level of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 3rd level spell). A corpse can only provide +1 caster level per two levels it had in life. Focus: The victim of the spell. <edit> Should have checked Vampiric touch before posting...changed spells (significantly)
tarkin 12-29-05, 01:48 PM	Black Marentail's Life Drain Needs the following changes: 1) Change it from recently killed corpse (which has no life force to drain) to: living creature that has -1 or fewer hit points. Then change "A corpse can only provide +1 caster level per two levels it had in life" to a "A living creature may not be lowered to less than -10 hitpoints by this spell." 2) Remove "Focus: The victim of the spell". The victim is the target of the spell, not the Focus. 3) Put in a limit that the spell may not do more than 10d6 points of damage (which it does at 20th level). Otherwise this spell becomes abusive in Epic play. 4) I suggest an XP cost only if spells are restored. If spells are restored, you lose spell level squared x 10 in xp. (10, 40, 90,... 810 xp) ---------------------------- Black Marentail's Blood Leech: 1) Material Cost: Black Opal worth 1,000 gp per Hit die of creature targetted, PLUS if spells are restored, you lose XP = to spell level squared x 10 in xp. (10, 40, 90,... 810 xp) 2) Remove "Focus: The victim of the spell". The victim is the target of the spell, not the Focus. 3) Add a line that says: If cast on something that is not a single corpse (Flesh Golem, statue turned to flesh using Stone To Flesh), the spell is wasted, but the Black Opal does not vanish. 4) Add a line that says: If cast on any form of undead, the spell does nothing, but the Black Opal you attempted to use distingrates to worthless dust.
Stormonu 12-29-05, 03:08 PM	Near-complete revision after thinking about this over lunch. Kept the ability to drain a corpse in Life Drain. Does it still need an XP cost? (Note: these spells are a combination/variation of Vampiric Touch and Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer) Black Marentail's Blood Leech Necromancy (Evil) Level: Sor/Wiz 7 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft/2 levels) Target: One living creature or one corpse Duration: 1 hour Saving Throw: Fort negates or none Spell Resistance: Yes This spell is an insidious enhancement to Black Marentail’s Life Drain. Created by Black Marentail, there are whispers he created an even deadly version of this spell that still would draw half the life energy of his victim even if they successfully resisted the spell (such a spell would be at least 9th level). This spell, like Black Marentail’s Life Drain, strips the victim of magical energy to fuel the wizard. However, unlike Black Marentail’s Life Drain, which deals damage to the victim, this spell deals ability damage to Constitution. If used on a dead body, it acts exactly like Black Marentail’s Life Leech, but bestows +1 caster level per level the victim had in life. This spell cannot be used on a body that has been slain by necromantic spells. If used on living bodies and the victim fails its saving throw, the caster deals 1 point of Constitution damage to the victim per level. For every 2 points of Constitution damage dealt to the victim, the caster gains a like bonus to their caster level. A victim cannot lose more Constitution than it had in life. A victim drained to 0 Constitution dies. The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls two levels of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 6th level spell or two 3rd level spells or any such combination of 6 spell levels). This must be done immediately upon gaining the bonus caster levels; you cannot use the caster levels and then choose to later switch them into spells. Multiple castings of this spell do not stack. Black Marentail's Life Drain Necromancy [Evil] Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 round Range: Touch Target: One living creature or one fresh corpse Duration: 1 hour Saving Throw: Will negates or None Spell Resistance: Yes By touching a living being or a fresh corpse (less than 1 hour dead), the caster can draw out the life force of a victim to use in casting spells. If cast on a living creature, the caster bestows upon the touched being 1d6 damage per two caster levels upon a failed save (max 10d6). In return, the caster gains a +1 bonus to their caster level per 10 hit points dealt for one hour. A victim cannot have damage dealt to it exceeding their total hit points +10 (which slays the victim). Multiple castings of this spell do not stack. If cast upon a freshly slain corpse, the caster gains a +1 caster level bonus per 4 levels or HD that the victim had. This spell cannot be used on a body that has been slain by necromantic spells. The caster may choose to expend a bonus caster level gained to recall a spell previously cast during the day. Each bonus caster level spent this way recalls two levels of spells to memory (thus, for example, expending 3 bonus caster levels allows the caster to recall one 6th level spell or two 3rd level spells or any such combination of 6 spell levels). This must be done immediately upon gaining the bonus caster levels; you cannot use the caster levels and then choose to later switch them into spells.