Post/Author/DateTime	Post
deanruel 08-16-07, 01:34 PM	Hello everyone. I recently began my first very high levelled campaign and one of the things I'm noticing, as I'm sure many of you already have, is that death effect spells are just the kings of high level spelling. It's not a combat that goes by without Disintegrate, Destruction, Finger of Death, Touch of Death, etc etc etc gets thrown around like crazy. The main problem is not overuse of a spell it's that the spells are inherently comewhat unsatisfying. When you use your FIRST touch of death and your opponent simply keels over it's kinda fun, but after the dozenth time it just feels like your circumventing the entire D&D combat rules system. After all why create complex tactical plans when you can stand 50 feet away and play rocket tag with your opponent until one of you is dead. It also seems like a really really easy way to have a TPK occur. I mean if the party is ever only 4 failed saves, and maybe some Spell Resistances away from death EVENTUALLY you're gonna have four dead bodies and a ruined campaign. Anyway I came up with a very very simple solution based on the "Baleful Polymorph" spell's description that, I believe, puts death effects back into the realm of playability and doesn't automatically make them the first spell you reach for. If you need a name for the ability I call it "Death Throes". It is as follows- Short Explanation Whenever someone is targetted with a Death Effect that character recieves a +4 bonus to their saving throw against the effect. Long Explanation Whenever a spell, spell like ability, extraordinary ability, or attack offers a saving throw which, if failed, would result in the immediate death of a character that character is entitled to a +4 bonus on their saving throw. This effect does not come into play if the characters death would be from a result of hit point damage. So what do you all think? Useable? Pointless? Brilliant? Idiotic?
Rederik 08-16-07, 02:05 PM	My "fix" for save or die spells is, eh, they don't exsist. Note, Death attacks (assasin, arcane archer) death from extreme damage still exist due to the fact they are circumstantial so I am okay with them. I so have to agree with you about the unfuness of them. I actually had a similar thread a week or so ago. Good luck..
deanruel 08-16-07, 11:25 PM	How's that working? My fix is only something I believe will work, it's not tested yet. I planned on implimenting it next week. So if you've completely outlawed death effect spells and it's been working really well for you then I'd consider following suit. It's seems like it might be a bit heavy handed, especially given the number of "Save or die's" available at very high level, but it might be the only truly viable option.