Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Baptor Aug 30, 2014 21:08:02	Ok, so its basically a "fireball" that has a larger radius and does necrotic damage instead of fire, but it is 6th level and costs 500gp to cast?   For the benefit of a larger radius and a rare damage type, I could see bumping the level up or adding a costly component, but both?  There are other spells that deal necrotic damage that don't get near this kind of treatment. The wizard in my group and I (the DM) can't see any reason why someone would want to use this spell unless they had money to burn. I mean come on, Cone of Cold does more damage, is lower level and has no costly component. Does anyone else see a justification for this spell's high level and cost?
#2 JC999 Aug 30, 2014 21:17:27	Costly material components are only consumed if the spell specifically says they are. You can keep the same crushed black pearl powder for as many castings as you like.
#3 Baptor Aug 30, 2014 21:47:40	JC999 wrote:
#4 2Chlorobutanal Aug 30, 2014 21:51:08	The spell also has a huge area of effect compared to fireball and does an arguably more exotic type of damage.   It may seem a bit bland to have it just deal damage, but I believe this was an attempt to streamline certain spells from previous editions that played off of "hit dice" or levels (such as circle of death, color spray, and sleep, which all now function by comparing "damage" or "hit points" instead of "Hit Dice" or "levels.")
#5 Ghaliyah Aug 30, 2014 22:49:54	Baptor wrote: