SR available at 1st? [Archive] - Wizards Community

SR available at 1st? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tequila_Sunrise
09-10-06, 09:09 PM Seeing as how Spell Resistance is of equal power, no matter a character's level, is there any reason that SR shouldn't be available as a spell/ability right from 1st?
Lord_Varos
09-10-06, 10:18 PM Your point is very valid, and there is evidence to support this theory.

But Spell Resistance is a strength of your character, much like a spell is. Fireball and Telekinesis are also based directly on the power of the user, but are not used as 1st-level spells because they add power and potential to a character. Dealing 1d6 points of damage in a 20ft radius (1st-level Fireball) is great against groups, and 25-pound Telekinesis is still a potent Violent Burst weapon.

50% chance of negating spells from a 1st-level caster (SR 11) is powerful. Hell, SR 11 in general is always a good thing to add to a character. Only at 12th level or above will it be unusable, something that cannot be said for Ray of Frost, Sleep, or Summon Monster I. At 1st level, SR 11 is a huge dip in the power of enemy magicians.

If you are willing to overlook the preceding, which would be perfectly acceptable, then at least make the SR small, say 1d8 + caster level (max +5) for a 1st-level spell.
Wayside
09-10-06, 10:42 PM I'd say SR 5+Character Level would be a valid starting racial ability without need for Level Adjustment.
Tequila_Sunrise
09-11-06, 06:32 PM But Spell Resistance is a strength of your character, much like a spell is. Fireball and Telekinesis are also based directly on the power of the user, but are not used as 1st-level spells because they add power and potential to a character. Dealing 1d6 points of damage in a 20ft radius (1st-level Fireball) is great against groups, and 25-pound Telekinesis is still a potent Violent Burst weapon.

Point taken. I've recently redelved into my d&d revamp, where I'm turning all class features into feats. I got to the monk's various abilities and saw that they don't get Diamond Soul until 13th level and couldn't decide if this is for balance reasons or just to give them an ability at that particular level.

Thanks to the various posts, I've decided that it's a balance issue and so I'll require 13 character levels or so to buy SR 24 and then a feat every couple levels or so to raise it.
Seerow
09-11-06, 06:54 PM Buying set SR is bound to make it worthless over time.

I'd say 5+HD available around level 3 is fair.

Upgradable to 10+HD at around level 12

Upgradable from there to 15+HD around level 15-18 (Before you scream it's unfair to the casters, consider the insane number of ways a caster can raise his CL, pierce SR, or simply go around it by using Conjuration spells instead, and the character who spent 3 feats on it may find himself feeling gyped even with 15+HD SR at this level)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tequila_Sunrise 09-10-06, 09:09 PM	Seeing as how Spell Resistance is of equal power, no matter a character's level, is there any reason that SR shouldn't be available as a spell/ability right from 1st?
Lord_Varos 09-10-06, 10:18 PM	Your point is very valid, and there is evidence to support this theory. But Spell Resistance is a strength of your character, much like a spell is. Fireball and Telekinesis are also based directly on the power of the user, but are not used as 1st-level spells because they add power and potential to a character. Dealing 1d6 points of damage in a 20ft radius (1st-level Fireball) is great against groups, and 25-pound Telekinesis is still a potent Violent Burst weapon. 50% chance of negating spells from a 1st-level caster (SR 11) is powerful. Hell, SR 11 in general is always a good thing to add to a character. Only at 12th level or above will it be unusable, something that cannot be said for Ray of Frost, Sleep, or Summon Monster I. At 1st level, SR 11 is a huge dip in the power of enemy magicians. If you are willing to overlook the preceding, which would be perfectly acceptable, then at least make the SR small, say 1d8 + caster level (max +5) for a 1st-level spell.
Wayside 09-10-06, 10:42 PM	I'd say SR 5+Character Level would be a valid starting racial ability without need for Level Adjustment.
Tequila_Sunrise 09-11-06, 06:32 PM	But Spell Resistance is a strength of your character, much like a spell is. Fireball and Telekinesis are also based directly on the power of the user, but are not used as 1st-level spells because they add power and potential to a character. Dealing 1d6 points of damage in a 20ft radius (1st-level Fireball) is great against groups, and 25-pound Telekinesis is still a potent Violent Burst weapon. Point taken. I've recently redelved into my d&d revamp, where I'm turning all class features into feats. I got to the monk's various abilities and saw that they don't get Diamond Soul until 13th level and couldn't decide if this is for balance reasons or just to give them an ability at that particular level. Thanks to the various posts, I've decided that it's a balance issue and so I'll require 13 character levels or so to buy SR 24 and then a feat every couple levels or so to raise it.
Seerow 09-11-06, 06:54 PM	Buying set SR is bound to make it worthless over time. I'd say 5+HD available around level 3 is fair. Upgradable to 10+HD at around level 12 Upgradable from there to 15+HD around level 15-18 (Before you scream it's unfair to the casters, consider the insane number of ways a caster can raise his CL, pierce SR, or simply go around it by using Conjuration spells instead, and the character who spent 3 feats on it may find himself feeling gyped even with 15+HD SR at this level)