Speak with Dead spell

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Novama

Mar 19, 2015 10:13:49

I need some opinions on the spell I made for my campaign:

1. does the spell already exist to some degree?

2. any imbalances that could arise from its use?

 

Speak with Dead 

level 1 spell

wizard list

touch

v,m,s

Ritual

cast time: 1 hour

duration: 10 minutes

Desc:

Caster performs ritual/spell on corpse to temporarily bring back the soul of the deceased and animate the body enough for conversation. The caster may then converse with the deceased for a short while. The corpse must have the minimum of a skull left intact from which it speaks. Effect ends after 10 minutes and cannot be used again on that corpse. 

 

I created this spell for the party's necromancer to give him more utility with a necromancer flavor. I felt a non-combat spell would be the least balance upsetting, and I could control the dialogue of the corpse to be helpful or hurtful without ruining plot elements while encouraging others. 

#2

Matau99

Mar 19, 2015 10:38:08

But Speak With Dead already is a spell...

#3

AaronOfBarbaria

Mar 19, 2015 11:00:14

1. speak with dead is a 3rd level spell that is on the bard and cleric spell lists (possibly others, I don't recall), and can be located on page 278 of the Player's Handbook or page 101 of the Player's Basic D&D PDF.

 

2. Balance of the spell seems fine at 3rd level - I wouldn't descrease the level of the spell, though, because I don't feel there is really much reason for an apprentice-tier character to have such advanced ability (speaking with the dead doesn't sound like basic magic to me)

#4

Ranthalan

Mar 19, 2015 11:18:27

I agree with Aaron.  If you wanted to add the spell to the Wizard list, you would be well within your rights as a DM.  If I were to do so, I'd consider making it a 4th level spell, a bit of a penalty since it's not naturally on that spell list.

 

Edited to add:  If you'd like your player to be able to do that sooner than they can with the spell level restrictions, consider using an NPC with the ability or a scroll.

#5

Novama

Mar 19, 2015 11:40:55

Thanks. I had a suspicion but I wasn't sure. 

 

This helps.

#6

CCS

Mar 19, 2015 18:56:19 		3rd lv/4th lv.... doesn't matter too much if you port it to the necromancer list. After all, you know what info you want to give out with it & when that'll be needed. So...
(Reply to #4)

arnwolf666

Ranthalan wrote: