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Xeviat-DM 12-24-05, 07:20 AM

Yes, this is probably my 3rd post on the topic in some time, but this is an idea that I think is so simple it should be posted. I was doing a comparison between a THFer and a TWFer on another thread, using 12th level characters as the base. Long story short, I determined that a 12th level, somewhat average fighter could deal 53.19 damage on average with a full attack. This is against a single target, though. At 12th level, a wizard can use cone of cold to deal 12d6 (average 42, though there is a save for half and characters with evasion can get away with taking no damage) damage to multiple targets. Now, dealing 12d6 damage to a single target seems perfectly fine, that's what the fighter can do, except one small difference: The fighter had to use a full attack action to do it. My proposed alteration is to simply make it so area affect spells take a round to cast. Not a full round action, but a complete round like summon monster. That way, the spell doesn't fire until the start of the wizard's next action, and enemies have an actual chance to disrupt the wizard's spellcasting. A number of more potent spells could be changed to this. Target spells would still go off if a target moved, but they'd have a chance to dive for cover, or otherwise make it more difficult to be targetted. What do you think? It is a whole-hearted nerf, but I do think that high level casters need to be taken down a peg or two.