Deadly grains of sand? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Deadly grains of sand? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lunarflare1001
07-29-07, 01:48 AM Well, my brother is a naruto fan...

(No wait, don't leave yet! This isn't about anime chars!)

And he loves a character in there that manipulates sand.

He's always talking about it, and that got me thinking.

I've always liked the idea of controling elements, but my DM doesn't like custom classes.

This brings us to my real problem.

Couldn't I cast "animate object" on a few thousand grains of sand, then permanency? Sure, it'd cost a whole lot, but is it possible?

What about drops of water?

If so, how would you guys handle this awesome power?

My DM didn't seem to find anything wrong with it, but he also didn't know how to handle this. So, he asked me to put the topic up on the boards.
Kouk
07-29-07, 02:52 AM Get the book Sandstorm, there are a couple of prestige classes and spells that focus on manipulating sand, to pretty much do what you want.

One of them even gets a bonus for carrying around a bucket of sand.
Generic_NPC
07-29-07, 04:55 AM If you wanted to manipulate sand the way that Gaara does, one would suggest a magically enhanced calabash with a few of the less devastating abilities. First off, some kind of shatter effect or something to bring on the sand. Then, well, umm. . . then, simulation of some spell effect with the desired effects. Perhaps one should not be able to attain such an item until one is of a substantially higher level than he presently is (a fairly long-term goal).

Hasn't some group on some other board drawn up stats for the characters from Naruto?
claypigeons
07-29-07, 09:27 AM Go here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=8505687&postcount=30)
lunarflare1001
07-29-07, 09:42 AM Ah, thanks :D

Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :(

I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D
claypigeons
07-29-07, 10:17 AM Ah, thanks :D

Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :(

I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D

"Psionics" exist in Core. Have your DM take a look at the entry for Mindflayers. :D :P
Eikre
07-29-07, 11:39 AM Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :(

I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D

...What, for interest reading, or because you expect to find a new DM?
lunarflare1001
07-29-07, 06:54 PM ...What, for interest reading, or because you expect to find a new DM?

Interest reading, of course.
DrMorganes
07-29-07, 07:16 PM The environmental sourcebooks - Frostburn, Sandstorm, and Stormwrack - are very well done. Definitely speak to your DM about allowing material from them.
Mock26
07-29-07, 10:33 PM Create your own spells, then. A nice Animate Sand spell could be just what you are looking for. And, if you can get your hands on it, find some old copies of the 2nd edition Spells Compendium Books, for both wizards spells and priest spells. There were some really cool sand-based spells in their that could be easily adapted to the current rules set.
zioth
07-30-07, 03:32 PM I would take a very simple approach. What's important about a spell is its effects, not how it looks. So ask your DM if all spells could just be "sand themed" for this character.

For example, instead of casting Magic Missile, cast Pelting Sand, where thousands of sand particles appear out of nowhere and pelt up to five targets for 1d4+1/level force damage.

Ice Storm becomes Arctic Desert Storm. Fireball becomes Burning Sand. Obscuring Mist becomes Sand Cloud. Polymorph becomes Sand Form.

Of course, you can be a lot more creative than this, both with naming and with the visual effects. In the end, I think it will do what you want better than any prestige class.
Mock26
07-30-07, 05:22 PM I would take a very simple approach. What's important about a spell is its effects, not how it looks. So ask your DM if all spells could just be "sand themed" for this character.

For example, instead of casting Magic Missile, cast Pelting Sand, where thousands of sand particles appear out of nowhere and pelt up to five targets for 1d4+1/level force damage.

Ice Storm becomes Arctic Desert Storm. Fireball becomes Burning Sand. Obscuring Mist becomes Sand Cloud. Polymorph becomes Sand Form.

Of course, you can be a lot more creative than this, both with naming and with the visual effects. In the end, I think it will do what you want better than any prestige class.One of my old second edition characters was a lizardman mage who created Jaxa's Sandblast. It was basically a sand based version of melf's acid arrow. The biggest difference is that it did impact damage, could be used against inanimate objects, and only did damage on the first round when it struck its target. I thought it worked quite well as a 2nd level offensive spell.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lunarflare1001 07-29-07, 01:48 AM	Well, my brother is a naruto fan... (No wait, don't leave yet! This isn't about anime chars!) And he loves a character in there that manipulates sand. He's always talking about it, and that got me thinking. I've always liked the idea of controling elements, but my DM doesn't like custom classes. This brings us to my real problem. Couldn't I cast "animate object" on a few thousand grains of sand, then permanency? Sure, it'd cost a whole lot, but is it possible? What about drops of water? If so, how would you guys handle this awesome power? My DM didn't seem to find anything wrong with it, but he also didn't know how to handle this. So, he asked me to put the topic up on the boards.
Kouk 07-29-07, 02:52 AM	Get the book Sandstorm, there are a couple of prestige classes and spells that focus on manipulating sand, to pretty much do what you want. One of them even gets a bonus for carrying around a bucket of sand.
Generic_NPC 07-29-07, 04:55 AM	If you wanted to manipulate sand the way that Gaara does, one would suggest a magically enhanced calabash with a few of the less devastating abilities. First off, some kind of shatter effect or something to bring on the sand. Then, well, umm. . . then, simulation of some spell effect with the desired effects. Perhaps one should not be able to attain such an item until one is of a substantially higher level than he presently is (a fairly long-term goal). Hasn't some group on some other board drawn up stats for the characters from Naruto?
claypigeons 07-29-07, 09:27 AM	Go here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=8505687&postcount=30)
lunarflare1001 07-29-07, 09:42 AM	Ah, thanks :D Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :( I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D
claypigeons 07-29-07, 10:17 AM	Ah, thanks :D Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :( I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D "Psionics" exist in Core. Have your DM take a look at the entry for Mindflayers. :D :P
Eikre 07-29-07, 11:39 AM	Though sadly, my DM only allows the core books :( I need to look into this "sandstorm" though :D ...What, for interest reading, or because you expect to find a new DM?
lunarflare1001 07-29-07, 06:54 PM	...What, for interest reading, or because you expect to find a new DM? Interest reading, of course.
DrMorganes 07-29-07, 07:16 PM	The environmental sourcebooks - Frostburn, Sandstorm, and Stormwrack - are very well done. Definitely speak to your DM about allowing material from them.
Mock26 07-29-07, 10:33 PM	Create your own spells, then. A nice Animate Sand spell could be just what you are looking for. And, if you can get your hands on it, find some old copies of the 2nd edition Spells Compendium Books, for both wizards spells and priest spells. There were some really cool sand-based spells in their that could be easily adapted to the current rules set.
zioth 07-30-07, 03:32 PM	I would take a very simple approach. What's important about a spell is its effects, not how it looks. So ask your DM if all spells could just be "sand themed" for this character. For example, instead of casting Magic Missile, cast Pelting Sand, where thousands of sand particles appear out of nowhere and pelt up to five targets for 1d4+1/level force damage. Ice Storm becomes Arctic Desert Storm. Fireball becomes Burning Sand. Obscuring Mist becomes Sand Cloud. Polymorph becomes Sand Form. Of course, you can be a lot more creative than this, both with naming and with the visual effects. In the end, I think it will do what you want better than any prestige class.
Mock26 07-30-07, 05:22 PM	I would take a very simple approach. What's important about a spell is its effects, not how it looks. So ask your DM if all spells could just be "sand themed" for this character. For example, instead of casting Magic Missile, cast Pelting Sand, where thousands of sand particles appear out of nowhere and pelt up to five targets for 1d4+1/level force damage. Ice Storm becomes Arctic Desert Storm. Fireball becomes Burning Sand. Obscuring Mist becomes Sand Cloud. Polymorph becomes Sand Form. Of course, you can be a lot more creative than this, both with naming and with the visual effects. In the end, I think it will do what you want better than any prestige class.One of my old second edition characters was a lizardman mage who created Jaxa's Sandblast. It was basically a sand based version of melf's acid arrow. The biggest difference is that it did impact damage, could be used against inanimate objects, and only did damage on the first round when it struck its target. I thought it worked quite well as a 2nd level offensive spell.