Are necrotic spells overpowered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are necrotic spells overpowered? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Watchdog_of_Hades
10-23-06, 11:29 AM One of my players wants to cast the various Necrotic spells (Libris Mortis). However, I believe them to be overpowered. Sure, you have to have a feat, and the target has to have a cyst, but look at Necrotic Burst. 5th level, and if you don't die, you take at least 3 times as much damage as the 7th-level Finger of Death. Is there some balancing feature that I've missed, or are the two I already listed already enough to make it work out?
Toptomcat
10-23-06, 01:07 PM Well, Necrotic Cyst is a touch spell, which exposes fragile casters to the tender mercies of frontline-types just to burn a round setting up Necrotic Burst.
That helps.
Witch
10-23-06, 01:22 PM The target needs to have a cyst. This is a quite noticeable requirement.

Essentially, it means that either, the target has to have had a cyst from before (small chance), or you have wasted your previous turn, casting a level 2 spell with a dreadfully low saving throw DC, unless you heighten it. In both case, an action is lost unless you quicken the spell. Either you lose an action, or the DC is low, or both.
That, combined with the feat, make the spells balanced. They indeed do -look- very powerful, and it will create "cool scenes", but in sheer numbers, they're not that powerful.
smrtgmp
10-23-06, 04:02 PM Unless you just make a commoner bomb.

Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC.

on topic: I dont think they're broken. I use them in my games and havent had any problems. The fact that you need to take a feat coupled with the requirement that the targets be cysted goes a long way to balance things.
GaffeR
10-23-06, 04:03 PM Unless you just make a commoner bomb.

Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC.
:plotting: :devil: :rofl:
Cherubaddon
10-23-06, 04:17 PM Unless you just make a commoner bomb.

Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC.

*insane cackling* oh man, cool idea! I love people who are creative with necromancy spells *cackling grows louder*! Just soooooooo evil!:devil:
Watchdog_of_Hades
10-23-06, 04:48 PM Okay, I guess that the cyst's save DC being low and spending an action in melee to cast it does kind of balance everything out. Thanks.
smrtgmp
10-25-06, 01:51 AM *insane cackling* oh man, cool idea! I love people who are creative with necromancy spells *cackling grows louder*! Just soooooooo evil!:devil:
Well I was playing a sickly grey elf (Darious the Frail, the name was a friendly jab at my friend Dariush who loathes elves) with a penchant for necromancy, and I was looking for a way to effectively deliver my cysts without using up the games most valuable resource (i.e. your actions). Just be cafeful using this around any holier than thou types that may be in your party.
nephsytis
10-25-06, 09:31 AM the players in my group feel that alot of the spells in libris mortis are unbalanced (as we play with the RAW for the books we own - i realise some like summon undead 3,4,&5 were nerfed in spell compendium).
but i dont care! they're full of flavour. i dont think there's anything funnier than shaking the ruler of the country's hand and whispering in his ear "roll a will save - i encyst!"

i think the spells are balanced by the prerequistes of having the feat, doing the touch spell to encyst and then the save and die spell. really by the time youve done all that you could have ripped out a quicker save or die and not used up a feat.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-23-06, 11:29 AM	One of my players wants to cast the various Necrotic spells (Libris Mortis). However, I believe them to be overpowered. Sure, you have to have a feat, and the target has to have a cyst, but look at Necrotic Burst. 5th level, and if you don't die, you take at least 3 times as much damage as the 7th-level Finger of Death. Is there some balancing feature that I've missed, or are the two I already listed already enough to make it work out?
Toptomcat 10-23-06, 01:07 PM	Well, Necrotic Cyst is a touch spell, which exposes fragile casters to the tender mercies of frontline-types just to burn a round setting up Necrotic Burst. That helps.
Witch 10-23-06, 01:22 PM	The target needs to have a cyst. This is a quite noticeable requirement. Essentially, it means that either, the target has to have had a cyst from before (small chance), or you have wasted your previous turn, casting a level 2 spell with a dreadfully low saving throw DC, unless you heighten it. In both case, an action is lost unless you quicken the spell. Either you lose an action, or the DC is low, or both. That, combined with the feat, make the spells balanced. They indeed do -look- very powerful, and it will create "cool scenes", but in sheer numbers, they're not that powerful.
smrtgmp 10-23-06, 04:02 PM	Unless you just make a commoner bomb. Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC. on topic: I dont think they're broken. I use them in my games and havent had any problems. The fact that you need to take a feat coupled with the requirement that the targets be cysted goes a long way to balance things.
GaffeR 10-23-06, 04:03 PM	Unless you just make a commoner bomb. Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC. :plotting: :devil: :rofl:
Cherubaddon 10-23-06, 04:17 PM	Unless you just make a commoner bomb. Encyst some poor sap and have him follow you arround (preferably via necrotic domination). Then have him run into the middle of your foes and detonate him with the version that causes him to explode and encyst everyone in the area (I think its necrotic burst or something like that). Not only do those in the area take respectable damage, they are subject to a cyst at a higher DC. insane cackling oh man, cool idea! I love people who are creative with necromancy spells cackling grows louder! Just soooooooo evil!:devil:
Watchdog_of_Hades 10-23-06, 04:48 PM	Okay, I guess that the cyst's save DC being low and spending an action in melee to cast it does kind of balance everything out. Thanks.
smrtgmp 10-25-06, 01:51 AM	insane cackling oh man, cool idea! I love people who are creative with necromancy spells cackling grows louder! Just soooooooo evil!:devil: Well I was playing a sickly grey elf (Darious the Frail, the name was a friendly jab at my friend Dariush who loathes elves) with a penchant for necromancy, and I was looking for a way to effectively deliver my cysts without using up the games most valuable resource (i.e. your actions). Just be cafeful using this around any holier than thou types that may be in your party.
nephsytis 10-25-06, 09:31 AM	the players in my group feel that alot of the spells in libris mortis are unbalanced (as we play with the RAW for the books we own - i realise some like summon undead 3,4,&5 were nerfed in spell compendium). but i dont care! they're full of flavour. i dont think there's anything funnier than shaking the ruler of the country's hand and whispering in his ear "roll a will save - i encyst!" i think the spells are balanced by the prerequistes of having the feat, doing the touch spell to encyst and then the save and die spell. really by the time youve done all that you could have ripped out a quicker save or die and not used up a feat.