Corpse Explosion [PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Corpse Explosion [PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
captianhowdy
05-19-07, 05:37 PM The long awaited...

Corpse Explosion
Necromancy
Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels)
Area: 20ft radius spread from corpse
Target: One corpse or Undead ally (small or larger)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: No

The targeted corpse explodes in a bloody blast. Bone splinters and bones deals d4 for small, d6 for medium, d8 for large, d10 for huge, d12 for gargantuan, and d12+1 for collosal. Any smaller than small are too small to effectively cause damage. It does a base of 1dx damage, plus an additional 1dx damage per two hit dice of the corpse or undead. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is bludgeoning. The body is no longer usable for being raised, as by Animate Dead.
AtmaWeapon
05-19-07, 06:36 PM The long awaited...

Corpse Explosion
Necromancy
Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels)
Target: One corpse
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Ref save half

The targeted corpse explodes in a bloody blast. Bone splinters and negative energy deal 1d8 damage per caster level. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is negative energy. The body is no longer usable for resurrections or being raised. Only a Wish or True Resurrection can resurrect a body whose corpse has been exploded.

Suggestions/Omissions:

1) No area is given.
2) No "SR Applies" indication is given (even if it's "No", you still really need to have it)
3) Why can Resurrection not bring this creature back to life? Resurrection clearly states the condition of the body is not a factor, and that only part of it is necessary.
4) As a 3rd level spell, it should have a damage cap, probably 10d8.
5) Should require a body of a minimum size, suggested small. Otherwise, people will just throw out a dead rat and cast this spell, which makes it better in almost all ways then Fireball, pending an area of course.
6) It doesn't make much sense for half the damage to be negative energy. If it is, then it would heal undead in the area, and would probably warrant the spell being at least 4th level.
captianhowdy
05-19-07, 06:48 PM I knew i was missing something...

Anyway, all edits made.
AtmaWeapon
05-19-07, 07:15 PM Looks good to me.

Another potential suggestion too, if you wanted to do so, would be to scale up/down the damage based on the corpse size. For example, 1d4 for small, 1d6 medium, 1d8 large, 1d10 huge, 1d12 gargantuan.
redraven
05-19-07, 09:31 PM First, a minor editing thing. Spells can either have a Target entry or an Area entry in the spell heading, but not both. I recommend:

1) Keep "Target: One corpse" and then indicating inside the spell description what the area is, or
2) Make it "Area: 20 ft radius, centered on corpse".

Second, it does not make much sense for the area to be a Spread (which goes around corners and negates cover, if you'll recall). I think it should be changed to a Burst. Other than that, it is a decent spell. I was thinking it might be closer to Diablo 2 if the damage was based on the dead creature's HD, but that would create a huge headache for the DM since the DM is the only one who could actually keep track of that sort of thing.
green_yawgmoth
05-19-07, 10:25 PM Funny thing, this spell was almost already printed in the BoVD, under the name Unliving Weapon. Does a flat 1d6/CL (10d6 cap), touch range, and the undead has to be dealt 1 damage before it explodes in a 20 ft radius.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
captianhowdy
05-19-07, 11:05 PM Really? ill have to look that up. if its too similar ill just use it instead.
nox
05-20-07, 06:14 PM Looks stylisch, but compared to fireball, this spell seems pretty weak, isn't it?

Sure you have a potentially higher damage, but for this you'll have to live with a "material component" that is hard to carry around (or you'll have to wait for the first enemy to drop, instead of dropping enemies at the start of the encounter), the point where you center the explosion is pretty much out of you control and the range is much shorter as well. Fireball looks like a safer/better alternative.

If a necromancer could place this spell on his mindless minions("Hey Skeleton #7, grapple this foe and go boom!"), or other undead beasts, it migth be more versatile, but currently it doesn't look this way.
Everdreaming
05-20-07, 08:15 PM Reminds me of Fatal Flame, from Complete Scoundrel. Not exactly the same, but almost the same idea.
Lafing Cat
05-20-07, 10:55 PM So, uh. what happens to a Colossal corpse, or one thats Tiny or smaller?
captianhowdy
05-21-07, 12:45 AM Ill edit it up, tell me how it looks now
Lafing Cat
05-21-07, 02:01 AM Ill edit it up, tell me how it looks now

I'd actually suggest d12+1 damage colossal, it represents closer to the same increase of 1 average damage per die that the others follow. Colossal is way too huge a jump otherwise.

Averages are (d4=2.5 d6=3.5 d8=4.5 d10=5.5 d12=6.5 3d6=10.5 d12+1=7.5, obviously)
HellflameArcanite
05-21-07, 06:55 AM Is the reflex save for creatures who are caught in the area affect, or the affected corpse?
Yusari
05-21-07, 10:09 AM Looks stylisch, but compared to fireball, this spell seems pretty weak, isn't it?

Sure you have a potentially higher damage, but for this you'll have to live with a "material component" that is hard to carry around (or you'll have to wait for the first enemy to drop, instead of dropping enemies at the start of the encounter), the point where you center the explosion is pretty much out of you control and the range is much shorter as well. Fireball looks like a safer/better alternative.

If a necromancer could place this spell on his mindless minions("Hey Skeleton #7, grapple this foe and go boom!"), or other undead beasts, it migth be more versatile, but currently it doesn't look this way.

That sounds similar to taking the feat Destruction Retribution from Libris Mortis.
RobbyPants
05-21-07, 11:37 AM I love the idea behind this spell, but it seems way too weak for a level 3 spell. I would consider having it do one damage die per every two caster levels (max 5 at 10th level), or one die at first level, and an extra die every two levels thereafter (max 5 at 9th level). The actual damage die could be based on size:

Size Damage
_________________________
Small or smaller 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large or larger 1d8

Also, you could work in a mechainic similar to the Destruction Retribution feat from Libris Mortis Yusari noted. Perhaps it does a base of 1d6 damage, plus an additional 1d6 damage per two hit dice. At this point, I would consider using hit dice, and not class levels (so a 20th level human fighter would deal 1d6 damage, just like a 1st level human commoner). Maybe there could be a maximum number of hit dice affected based on caster level.
captianhowdy
05-21-07, 11:44 AM Ok, edits made. Kinda a noob at mechanics so to most of this all i can say is o_o; , but i think this is what you ment
NobodyRemembersThis
05-21-07, 01:39 PM Corpse Explosion
Necromancy
Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels)
Target: One corpse or Undead ally (small or larger)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex partial
Spell Resistance: No

The targeted corpse explodes in a grotesque 20 foot radius burst. All creatures in the area of effect are Shaken for 1 round.

The exploding parts of the corpse deal damage based on the size of the corpse and the HD of the creature, to a maximum of 10 dice: Small deals 1d4 damage per HD; Medium deals 1d6 damage per HD, Size Large deals 1d8 per HD. Any smaller than small are too small to effectively cause damage; conversely, any larger than size large are simply too big for the spell to encompass. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is bludgeoning. A reflex save halves this damage but does not alleviate the Shaken condition.

Corpses used this way may not be animated after this spell has been used on the corpse. How's this look? It simplifies mechanics of the spell and makes it more unique than just a "corpse based fireball".
captianhowdy
05-21-07, 02:09 PM ok thats pretty much perfect. Mind if i use it?
NobodyRemembersThis
05-21-07, 02:16 PM That's what it is there for :cool:

Go ahead and use it...just give it a good name "Athios's Corpse Explosion" is an example. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
captianhowdy 05-19-07, 05:37 PM	The long awaited... Corpse Explosion Necromancy Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels) Area: 20ft radius spread from corpse Target: One corpse or Undead ally (small or larger) Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Reflex half Spell Resistance: No The targeted corpse explodes in a bloody blast. Bone splinters and bones deals d4 for small, d6 for medium, d8 for large, d10 for huge, d12 for gargantuan, and d12+1 for collosal. Any smaller than small are too small to effectively cause damage. It does a base of 1dx damage, plus an additional 1dx damage per two hit dice of the corpse or undead. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is bludgeoning. The body is no longer usable for being raised, as by Animate Dead.
AtmaWeapon 05-19-07, 06:36 PM	The long awaited... Corpse Explosion Necromancy Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels) Target: One corpse Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Ref save half The targeted corpse explodes in a bloody blast. Bone splinters and negative energy deal 1d8 damage per caster level. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is negative energy. The body is no longer usable for resurrections or being raised. Only a Wish or True Resurrection can resurrect a body whose corpse has been exploded. Suggestions/Omissions: 1) No area is given. 2) No "SR Applies" indication is given (even if it's "No", you still really need to have it) 3) Why can Resurrection not bring this creature back to life? Resurrection clearly states the condition of the body is not a factor, and that only part of it is necessary. 4) As a 3rd level spell, it should have a damage cap, probably 10d8. 5) Should require a body of a minimum size, suggested small. Otherwise, people will just throw out a dead rat and cast this spell, which makes it better in almost all ways then Fireball, pending an area of course. 6) It doesn't make much sense for half the damage to be negative energy. If it is, then it would heal undead in the area, and would probably warrant the spell being at least 4th level.
captianhowdy 05-19-07, 06:48 PM	I knew i was missing something... Anyway, all edits made.
AtmaWeapon 05-19-07, 07:15 PM	Looks good to me. Another potential suggestion too, if you wanted to do so, would be to scale up/down the damage based on the corpse size. For example, 1d4 for small, 1d6 medium, 1d8 large, 1d10 huge, 1d12 gargantuan.
redraven 05-19-07, 09:31 PM	First, a minor editing thing. Spells can either have a Target entry or an Area entry in the spell heading, but not both. I recommend: 1) Keep "Target: One corpse" and then indicating inside the spell description what the area is, or 2) Make it "Area: 20 ft radius, centered on corpse". Second, it does not make much sense for the area to be a Spread (which goes around corners and negates cover, if you'll recall). I think it should be changed to a Burst. Other than that, it is a decent spell. I was thinking it might be closer to Diablo 2 if the damage was based on the dead creature's HD, but that would create a huge headache for the DM since the DM is the only one who could actually keep track of that sort of thing.
green_yawgmoth 05-19-07, 10:25 PM	Funny thing, this spell was almost already printed in the BoVD, under the name Unliving Weapon. Does a flat 1d6/CL (10d6 cap), touch range, and the undead has to be dealt 1 damage before it explodes in a 20 ft radius. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
captianhowdy 05-19-07, 11:05 PM	Really? ill have to look that up. if its too similar ill just use it instead.
nox 05-20-07, 06:14 PM	Looks stylisch, but compared to fireball, this spell seems pretty weak, isn't it? Sure you have a potentially higher damage, but for this you'll have to live with a "material component" that is hard to carry around (or you'll have to wait for the first enemy to drop, instead of dropping enemies at the start of the encounter), the point where you center the explosion is pretty much out of you control and the range is much shorter as well. Fireball looks like a safer/better alternative. If a necromancer could place this spell on his mindless minions("Hey Skeleton #7, grapple this foe and go boom!"), or other undead beasts, it migth be more versatile, but currently it doesn't look this way.
Everdreaming 05-20-07, 08:15 PM	Reminds me of Fatal Flame, from Complete Scoundrel. Not exactly the same, but almost the same idea.
Lafing Cat 05-20-07, 10:55 PM	So, uh. what happens to a Colossal corpse, or one thats Tiny or smaller?
captianhowdy 05-21-07, 12:45 AM	Ill edit it up, tell me how it looks now
Lafing Cat 05-21-07, 02:01 AM	Ill edit it up, tell me how it looks now I'd actually suggest d12+1 damage colossal, it represents closer to the same increase of 1 average damage per die that the others follow. Colossal is way too huge a jump otherwise. Averages are (d4=2.5 d6=3.5 d8=4.5 d10=5.5 d12=6.5 3d6=10.5 d12+1=7.5, obviously)
HellflameArcanite 05-21-07, 06:55 AM	Is the reflex save for creatures who are caught in the area affect, or the affected corpse?
Yusari 05-21-07, 10:09 AM	Looks stylisch, but compared to fireball, this spell seems pretty weak, isn't it? Sure you have a potentially higher damage, but for this you'll have to live with a "material component" that is hard to carry around (or you'll have to wait for the first enemy to drop, instead of dropping enemies at the start of the encounter), the point where you center the explosion is pretty much out of you control and the range is much shorter as well. Fireball looks like a safer/better alternative. If a necromancer could place this spell on his mindless minions("Hey Skeleton #7, grapple this foe and go boom!"), or other undead beasts, it migth be more versatile, but currently it doesn't look this way. That sounds similar to taking the feat Destruction Retribution from Libris Mortis.
RobbyPants 05-21-07, 11:37 AM	I love the idea behind this spell, but it seems way too weak for a level 3 spell. I would consider having it do one damage die per every two caster levels (max 5 at 10th level), or one die at first level, and an extra die every two levels thereafter (max 5 at 9th level). The actual damage die could be based on size: Size Damage _________________________ Small or smaller 1d4 Medium 1d6 Large or larger 1d8 Also, you could work in a mechainic similar to the Destruction Retribution feat from Libris Mortis Yusari noted. Perhaps it does a base of 1d6 damage, plus an additional 1d6 damage per two hit dice. At this point, I would consider using hit dice, and not class levels (so a 20th level human fighter would deal 1d6 damage, just like a 1st level human commoner). Maybe there could be a maximum number of hit dice affected based on caster level.
captianhowdy 05-21-07, 11:44 AM	Ok, edits made. Kinda a noob at mechanics so to most of this all i can say is o_o; , but i think this is what you ment
NobodyRemembersThis 05-21-07, 01:39 PM	Corpse Explosion Necromancy Level: Cleric 3, sorcerer/wizard 3 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (20ft + 5ft./2 levels) Target: One corpse or Undead ally (small or larger) Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Reflex partial Spell Resistance: No The targeted corpse explodes in a grotesque 20 foot radius burst. All creatures in the area of effect are Shaken for 1 round. The exploding parts of the corpse deal damage based on the size of the corpse and the HD of the creature, to a maximum of 10 dice: Small deals 1d4 damage per HD; Medium deals 1d6 damage per HD, Size Large deals 1d8 per HD. Any smaller than small are too small to effectively cause damage; conversely, any larger than size large are simply too big for the spell to encompass. Half of the damage is piercing, the other half is bludgeoning. A reflex save halves this damage but does not alleviate the Shaken condition. Corpses used this way may not be animated after this spell has been used on the corpse. How's this look? It simplifies mechanics of the spell and makes it more unique than just a "corpse based fireball".
captianhowdy 05-21-07, 02:09 PM	ok thats pretty much perfect. Mind if i use it?
NobodyRemembersThis 05-21-07, 02:16 PM	That's what it is there for :cool: Go ahead and use it...just give it a good name "Athios's Corpse Explosion" is an example. ;)