Acidic Missile (New spell, PEACH) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Acidic Missile (New spell, PEACH) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cwslyclgh
02-23-07, 07:36 PM okay I was working on this spell today, and thought I would post it here to get some feedback.
before you get started I would like to say that I know that acid is generaly considered a Conjuration effect, however I specifically made this spell Evocation, because I thought it fit the spell much better... (so no need for posts that simply say "this spell should be conjuration." with out any further comments etc.)
other then that I am very interested in any feedback you might want to give me.

Acidic Missile
Evocation [acid]
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 4
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: medium (100ft. + 10ft./ level)
Target: Up to five creatures or objects, no two of which can be more than 20 ft. apart
Duration: Instantaneous (See text)
Saving Throw: Reflex partial (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes

A sour taste fills your mouth as you speak the words of this spell, increasing in intensity until you spit forth the final word and several bolts of emerald green liquid fly from your outstretched hands.

When you cast this spell a bolt of acidic energy darts out from your hand to strike its target, this bolt strikes the targets for 4d4 points of acid damage on the round the spell is cast, and sticks to the target for another round, inflicting 2d4 points acid damage before fizzling out. A target that makes a successful reflex save takes only half damage from the initial missile, and no secondary damage on the following round. The acidic missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature or object can’t be singled out.
You create an acidic missile for every four caster levels you possess (to a maximum of 5 missiles at 20th level). If you shoot multiple acidic missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature.
Thiez
02-23-07, 07:44 PM this spell should be conjuration.

Hehehe.

I really like it. I assume your inspiration came from magic missile and acid arrow? I'd argue the damage could go up a little bit, but since the damage type is Acid, it might be best to leave it this way.

I think the flavor text is great, but maybe it would be nicer to actually spit out these bolts of acid instead of shooting them from your hands?

Maybe use a lemon as material component? :D

And I must ask... why evocation? I think it would work as a "Conjuration, SR: No", as long as you mention the bolts are moved through the air by magic, so the bolts cannot enter an antimagic field. The acid itself is nonmagical and not subject to spell resistance.
Kaelaru
02-23-07, 08:04 PM For a 4th level spell, it certainly is not over-powered. You might consider changing the damage to d4 per caster level, max of 14 or something. A 3rd level fireball will often do more damage.
cwslyclgh
02-24-07, 02:37 PM thanks for the comments guys,

I think the flavor text is great, but maybe it would be nicer to actually spit out these bolts of acid instead of shooting them from your hands?I thought about it, but that is sort of gross....

Maybe use a lemon as material component?when I thought of giving it a material component, it was going to be either lemon seeds or lime peelings... but dicided just to go with V,S instead

And I must ask... why evocation? I think it would work as a "Conjuration, SR: No", as long as you mention the bolts are moved through the air by magic, so the bolts cannot enter an antimagic field. The acid itself is nonmagical and not subject to spell resistance.well first, evocation SR: no saves me a lot of writing doesn't it :P and second I was thinking it as more of an acidic energy, then of an actualy physical acid glob.

For a 4th level spell, it certainly is not over-powered.I never made a claim that it was over powered, on the contrary I was worried that it might be underpowered for a 4th level spell.

You might consider changing the damage to d4 per caster level, max of 14 or something.no, I do not want the damage to scale with caster level per missile... perhaps I could or should up the damage die to d6's though (or maybe even d8's) what do you guys think?

A 3rd level fireball will often do more damagefireball is not selectable in who it hits.

does anybody else have any sort of comments or advice?
keith187
02-24-07, 03:24 PM I like it. It's pretty useful. Not so much for damage but for it's ability to break things. I don't think it would be overpowered as d6's. Just look at orb of acid another adic damage spell of the same level. They are different from each other but in way's that you would actually want to take both of them if you were a caster specializing in acid type spells.
cwslyclgh
02-24-07, 11:10 PM thanks for the comments Keith187, I am beginning to lean toward changing the damage dice to d6's my self...

anybody else have any advice?
Llathos
02-25-07, 08:39 AM If you want more dmg, add more dice. Don't change to d6's. ALL spells these days seem to use D6's.

For some reason, d4's here just feel right. Just toss in another dice or two if you feel like it needs more oomph.
Thiez
02-25-07, 08:41 AM I don't like acid dealing d6's in damage. If you want to boost the damage a bit, I suggest you go for 6d4 instead of 4d6 :)

Yes, I'd hate to see the d4's miss out on the love.

Edit:
Ha! Someone agrees with me :)
cwslyclgh
02-25-07, 11:38 AM if I do that (increase intital damage to 6d4) do you think I should increase the secondary damage to 3d4 (to keep it half of the initial damage) or leave it as 2d4?
Thiez
02-25-07, 12:06 PM 3d4 is nice. Let's think about it. Initial damage = 6d4 = 15. Secondary damage = 3d4 = 7.5. Total damage: 22.5. You get 1 missile per 4 caster levels, so you 'get' about 22.5/4 = 5.625 damage per caster level. If the target makes its save, it only gets 7.5 damage / 4 caster levels, or 1.875 damage per caster level (I'm doing these calculations in my head without my dear calculatorator, so be nice when I err a bit).

So if you don't save, the damage can hurt quite a lot (it's above the '1d6/level' thing), but if you make the save, the damage is still a bit high (higher than 1/2 * 1d6/level (that would be 1.75 damage/level)).

Then again, you can do very mean things with other 4th level spells and the above calculations assume you have a single target. As an AOE, it is relatively harmless.

And I am unable to object to love for [Acid].
Nathreet
02-25-07, 01:07 PM d10 per caster level, but half of a d6 if the target makes its save. Still slightly weaker than an empowered scorching ray, which is about right for an acid spell.

If it were me I'd make it a metamagic feat: unerring spell. Take any range touch spell and make it auto-hit targets instead. The spell loses the ability to target total targets under full concealment and the spell becomes subject to effects that block magic missile. Increases the base spell's level by only 1, since ranged touch spells tend to hit anyway and because of the 2 drawbacks.
cwslyclgh
03-02-07, 03:00 PM d10 per caster level, but half of a d6 if the target makes its save. Still slightly weaker than an empowered scorching ray, which is about right for an acid spell.I don't understand what you are trying to say here..
TygerTyger
03-02-07, 03:29 PM Really like this, though I agree that it should be upped a bit in damage. A total of 6d4 per target for 5 targets at CL 20 is a bit light. And at CL 8, being able to only hit 2 targets for (assuming failed saves) an average of 12 points each is a bit light when compared to other level 4 spells. Heck, your Magic Missile is going to hit one target for an average of 12. A fourth level should more more powerful than two castings of a first. But that's just me.

Nice write-up. And yeah, keep the d4s. They need love too. Maybe not as much love as the noble and forgotten d12, but they still need it. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cwslyclgh 02-23-07, 07:36 PM	okay I was working on this spell today, and thought I would post it here to get some feedback. before you get started I would like to say that I know that acid is generaly considered a Conjuration effect, however I specifically made this spell Evocation, because I thought it fit the spell much better... (so no need for posts that simply say "this spell should be conjuration." with out any further comments etc.) other then that I am very interested in any feedback you might want to give me. Acidic Missile Evocation [acid] Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 4 Components: V,S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: medium (100ft. + 10ft./ level) Target: Up to five creatures or objects, no two of which can be more than 20 ft. apart Duration: Instantaneous (See text) Saving Throw: Reflex partial (see text) Spell Resistance: Yes A sour taste fills your mouth as you speak the words of this spell, increasing in intensity until you spit forth the final word and several bolts of emerald green liquid fly from your outstretched hands. When you cast this spell a bolt of acidic energy darts out from your hand to strike its target, this bolt strikes the targets for 4d4 points of acid damage on the round the spell is cast, and sticks to the target for another round, inflicting 2d4 points acid damage before fizzling out. A target that makes a successful reflex save takes only half damage from the initial missile, and no secondary damage on the following round. The acidic missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature or object can’t be singled out. You create an acidic missile for every four caster levels you possess (to a maximum of 5 missiles at 20th level). If you shoot multiple acidic missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature.
Thiez 02-23-07, 07:44 PM	this spell should be conjuration. Hehehe. I really like it. I assume your inspiration came from magic missile and acid arrow? I'd argue the damage could go up a little bit, but since the damage type is Acid, it might be best to leave it this way. I think the flavor text is great, but maybe it would be nicer to actually spit out these bolts of acid instead of shooting them from your hands? Maybe use a lemon as material component? :D And I must ask... why evocation? I think it would work as a "Conjuration, SR: No", as long as you mention the bolts are moved through the air by magic, so the bolts cannot enter an antimagic field. The acid itself is nonmagical and not subject to spell resistance.
Kaelaru 02-23-07, 08:04 PM	For a 4th level spell, it certainly is not over-powered. You might consider changing the damage to d4 per caster level, max of 14 or something. A 3rd level fireball will often do more damage.
cwslyclgh 02-24-07, 02:37 PM	thanks for the comments guys, I think the flavor text is great, but maybe it would be nicer to actually spit out these bolts of acid instead of shooting them from your hands?I thought about it, but that is sort of gross.... Maybe use a lemon as material component?when I thought of giving it a material component, it was going to be either lemon seeds or lime peelings... but dicided just to go with V,S instead And I must ask... why evocation? I think it would work as a "Conjuration, SR: No", as long as you mention the bolts are moved through the air by magic, so the bolts cannot enter an antimagic field. The acid itself is nonmagical and not subject to spell resistance.well first, evocation SR: no saves me a lot of writing doesn't it :P and second I was thinking it as more of an acidic energy, then of an actualy physical acid glob. For a 4th level spell, it certainly is not over-powered.I never made a claim that it was over powered, on the contrary I was worried that it might be underpowered for a 4th level spell. You might consider changing the damage to d4 per caster level, max of 14 or something.no, I do not want the damage to scale with caster level per missile... perhaps I could or should up the damage die to d6's though (or maybe even d8's) what do you guys think? A 3rd level fireball will often do more damagefireball is not selectable in who it hits. does anybody else have any sort of comments or advice?
keith187 02-24-07, 03:24 PM	I like it. It's pretty useful. Not so much for damage but for it's ability to break things. I don't think it would be overpowered as d6's. Just look at orb of acid another adic damage spell of the same level. They are different from each other but in way's that you would actually want to take both of them if you were a caster specializing in acid type spells.
cwslyclgh 02-24-07, 11:10 PM	thanks for the comments Keith187, I am beginning to lean toward changing the damage dice to d6's my self... anybody else have any advice?
Llathos 02-25-07, 08:39 AM	If you want more dmg, add more dice. Don't change to d6's. ALL spells these days seem to use D6's. For some reason, d4's here just feel right. Just toss in another dice or two if you feel like it needs more oomph.
Thiez 02-25-07, 08:41 AM	I don't like acid dealing d6's in damage. If you want to boost the damage a bit, I suggest you go for 6d4 instead of 4d6 :) Yes, I'd hate to see the d4's miss out on the love. Edit: Ha! Someone agrees with me :)
cwslyclgh 02-25-07, 11:38 AM	if I do that (increase intital damage to 6d4) do you think I should increase the secondary damage to 3d4 (to keep it half of the initial damage) or leave it as 2d4?
Thiez 02-25-07, 12:06 PM	3d4 is nice. Let's think about it. Initial damage = 6d4 = 15. Secondary damage = 3d4 = 7.5. Total damage: 22.5. You get 1 missile per 4 caster levels, so you 'get' about 22.5/4 = 5.625 damage per caster level. If the target makes its save, it only gets 7.5 damage / 4 caster levels, or 1.875 damage per caster level (I'm doing these calculations in my head without my dear calculatorator, so be nice when I err a bit). So if you don't save, the damage can hurt quite a lot (it's above the '1d6/level' thing), but if you make the save, the damage is still a bit high (higher than 1/2 * 1d6/level (that would be 1.75 damage/level)). Then again, you can do very mean things with other 4th level spells and the above calculations assume you have a single target. As an AOE, it is relatively harmless. And I am unable to object to love for [Acid].
Nathreet 02-25-07, 01:07 PM	d10 per caster level, but half of a d6 if the target makes its save. Still slightly weaker than an empowered scorching ray, which is about right for an acid spell. If it were me I'd make it a metamagic feat: unerring spell. Take any range touch spell and make it auto-hit targets instead. The spell loses the ability to target total targets under full concealment and the spell becomes subject to effects that block magic missile. Increases the base spell's level by only 1, since ranged touch spells tend to hit anyway and because of the 2 drawbacks.
cwslyclgh 03-02-07, 03:00 PM	d10 per caster level, but half of a d6 if the target makes its save. Still slightly weaker than an empowered scorching ray, which is about right for an acid spell.I don't understand what you are trying to say here..
TygerTyger 03-02-07, 03:29 PM	Really like this, though I agree that it should be upped a bit in damage. A total of 6d4 per target for 5 targets at CL 20 is a bit light. And at CL 8, being able to only hit 2 targets for (assuming failed saves) an average of 12 points each is a bit light when compared to other level 4 spells. Heck, your Magic Missile is going to hit one target for an average of 12. A fourth level should more more powerful than two castings of a first. But that's just me. Nice write-up. And yeah, keep the d4s. They need love too. Maybe not as much love as the noble and forgotten d12, but they still need it. :)