I was wondering if anything could be done with the spells Shield and Stone Skin. I know Shield grants immunity to the spell Magic Missile, and I think this could drastically change the way mages fight each other (which may be a good thing, after watching many high lev mages fight with almost nothing but that).
I also wondered if Stone Skin could be made to absorb damage, rather than increase AC. I'm not sure of the coding capabilities of the Mud, but I would appreciate any feedback, creative, technical, or otherwise.
Protection spells
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Serge
I do not have my guides with me anymore, but from memory I always though that the spell shield was the basic shield spell for mages, and that in only confered a +2ac bonus. Further up the spell levels you had Spirit Shield, a necro spell I believe which gave a +4 bonus but tied some of your HP to the spell. Then there where greater versions of shield itself. To stop magic missile you would be looking at a spell like Minor Globe, though I am not sure that was effective against it.
Note - As to why mages fight with MM over other spells. Well its often their highest mastered spell so it succeeds more, plus - it also does some of the most damage for a spell, It cannot be saved against except for magic resistance, and the damage cannot be resisted against. Even in paper DnD magic missle was a staple to all adventuring mages.
As for Stone Skin, I agree with Tempus that it works as much as the PHB described, though it does not seem to stop damage from PC's. I have noted that a MOB will beat against it for a bit, but it will not do anything against a PC in a spar.
While we are talking about such spells. Wraithform to my mind should be looked at. It does not seem to reflect its intended use and power.
But then I am not sure such things are possible. In paper DnD if a priest cast hold person on a humanoid mob, they would simply walk up and crush their skull. No need to work out attack rolls, or take off HP. A charecter who cannot move is dead. This of course in the mud would be a tad to powerful (grumble;), so I know other means need to be found.
I am curious as to the third edition rules of wraithform and other spells since the went heavily into resistances. Does it provide anything like a 5/1 or 5/- ??
Anyways - I ramble....
S
Note - As to why mages fight with MM over other spells. Well its often their highest mastered spell so it succeeds more, plus - it also does some of the most damage for a spell, It cannot be saved against except for magic resistance, and the damage cannot be resisted against. Even in paper DnD magic missle was a staple to all adventuring mages.
As for Stone Skin, I agree with Tempus that it works as much as the PHB described, though it does not seem to stop damage from PC's. I have noted that a MOB will beat against it for a bit, but it will not do anything against a PC in a spar.
While we are talking about such spells. Wraithform to my mind should be looked at. It does not seem to reflect its intended use and power.
But then I am not sure such things are possible. In paper DnD if a priest cast hold person on a humanoid mob, they would simply walk up and crush their skull. No need to work out attack rolls, or take off HP. A charecter who cannot move is dead. This of course in the mud would be a tad to powerful (grumble;), so I know other means need to be found.
I am curious as to the third edition rules of wraithform and other spells since the went heavily into resistances. Does it provide anything like a 5/1 or 5/- ??
Anyways - I ramble....
S
If stoneskin works as detailed in the PHB, it will not stop all the damage from a hit if it is above a certain amount.
The shield spell in the game is a compromise I believe, since it would be very difficult to implement a spell as detailed in the PHB for shield (given below).
Wraithform is not by that name in my copy of the 3rd edn PHB. The closest I can find is gaseous form, but wraithform does not carry any of the drawbacks of that spell as it currently appears to work. If, however, you do not think it works properly, send an email to admins@forgottenkingdoms.com so as not to give out IC information on the board.
Gaseous Form
Transmutation
Level: Air 3, Brd 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing corporeal creature touched
Duration: 2 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
The subject and all her gear become insubstantial, misty, and translucent. The subject gains damage reduction 20/+1. Her material armor (including natural armor) becomes worthless, though her size, Dexterity, deflection bonuses, and armor bonuses from force armor (for example, from the mage armor spell) still apply. She becomes immune to poison and critical hits. She can’t attack or cast spells with verbal, somatic, material, or focus components while in gaseous form. (Note that this does not rule out certain spells that the subject may have prepared using the metamagic feats Silent Spell and Still Spell.) As with polymorph other, the subject loses supernatural abilities while in gaseous form. If she has a touch spell ready to use, it is discharged harmlessly when the spell takes effect. The gaseous creature can’t run but she can fly (speed 10, maneuverability perfect). She can pass through small holes or narrow openings, even mere cracks, with all she was wearing or holding in her hands, as long as the spell persists. She is subject to wind. She can’t enter water or other liquid.
Arcane Material Components: A bit of gauze and a wisp of smoke.
Shield
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also intercepts attacks, providing three-quarters cover (+7 AC and +3 on Reflex saves against attacks that affect an area). The disk moves out of the way when you attack, so it does not provide cover to opponents. The disk protects you only against magic missiles and attacks from one direction. You designate half the battlefield (with yourself on the dividing line) as being blocked by the shield. The other half is not. You can change the defensive direction of the shield (that is, rotate the dividing line) once as a free action on each of your turns.
(quoted from PHB 3rd edn)
The shield spell in the game is a compromise I believe, since it would be very difficult to implement a spell as detailed in the PHB for shield (given below).
Wraithform is not by that name in my copy of the 3rd edn PHB. The closest I can find is gaseous form, but wraithform does not carry any of the drawbacks of that spell as it currently appears to work. If, however, you do not think it works properly, send an email to admins@forgottenkingdoms.com so as not to give out IC information on the board.
Gaseous Form
Transmutation
Level: Air 3, Brd 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing corporeal creature touched
Duration: 2 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
The subject and all her gear become insubstantial, misty, and translucent. The subject gains damage reduction 20/+1. Her material armor (including natural armor) becomes worthless, though her size, Dexterity, deflection bonuses, and armor bonuses from force armor (for example, from the mage armor spell) still apply. She becomes immune to poison and critical hits. She can’t attack or cast spells with verbal, somatic, material, or focus components while in gaseous form. (Note that this does not rule out certain spells that the subject may have prepared using the metamagic feats Silent Spell and Still Spell.) As with polymorph other, the subject loses supernatural abilities while in gaseous form. If she has a touch spell ready to use, it is discharged harmlessly when the spell takes effect. The gaseous creature can’t run but she can fly (speed 10, maneuverability perfect). She can pass through small holes or narrow openings, even mere cracks, with all she was wearing or holding in her hands, as long as the spell persists. She is subject to wind. She can’t enter water or other liquid.
Arcane Material Components: A bit of gauze and a wisp of smoke.
Shield
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also intercepts attacks, providing three-quarters cover (+7 AC and +3 on Reflex saves against attacks that affect an area). The disk moves out of the way when you attack, so it does not provide cover to opponents. The disk protects you only against magic missiles and attacks from one direction. You designate half the battlefield (with yourself on the dividing line) as being blocked by the shield. The other half is not. You can change the defensive direction of the shield (that is, rotate the dividing line) once as a free action on each of your turns.
(quoted from PHB 3rd edn)
Tempus -
Thankyou for those exerts. I have never read the 3rd edition rules (Played mostly 1/2nd Ed), and the only knowledge I have of it is from playing Icewind Dale 2, so those spell extracts were very interesting to me.
The shield spell is really different from the 2nd ed one that I remember. My commetns were based on the fact that there was nothing to stop Magic Missile. Interesting that they targeted it like that in 3rd though I can understand why. The AC bonus is about right, though it adds to a saving throw is interesting. The 2nd Ed. shield spell I remember was never a blocking disk but a virtual armour. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
From the stone skin that I remember in 2nd ed, is that it asorbed a certain amount of damage before being destroyed. The more damage done the quicker it would go is all. I know 3rd has gone heavily into resistant usage, so there would be many changes here. I do like their resistance system though so no complaints. (Again, correct me if I am wrong, I could be thinking of Iron Skin, or is that a druid only thingy? - *sigh* I want my PHB and spellbooks
That spell gaseos form you listed I believe was essential the same in 2nd ed. They have a spell around the 3rd spell level like that. Its what vampires usually used as an inate ability and is a big pain in the butt too!
Thanks again for the info
Stayne
Thankyou for those exerts. I have never read the 3rd edition rules (Played mostly 1/2nd Ed), and the only knowledge I have of it is from playing Icewind Dale 2, so those spell extracts were very interesting to me.
The shield spell is really different from the 2nd ed one that I remember. My commetns were based on the fact that there was nothing to stop Magic Missile. Interesting that they targeted it like that in 3rd though I can understand why. The AC bonus is about right, though it adds to a saving throw is interesting. The 2nd Ed. shield spell I remember was never a blocking disk but a virtual armour. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
From the stone skin that I remember in 2nd ed, is that it asorbed a certain amount of damage before being destroyed. The more damage done the quicker it would go is all. I know 3rd has gone heavily into resistant usage, so there would be many changes here. I do like their resistance system though so no complaints. (Again, correct me if I am wrong, I could be thinking of Iron Skin, or is that a druid only thingy? - *sigh* I want my PHB and spellbooks
That spell gaseos form you listed I believe was essential the same in 2nd ed. They have a spell around the 3rd spell level like that. Its what vampires usually used as an inate ability and is a big pain in the butt too!
Thanks again for the info
Stayne
2nd ed shield spell was essentially the same in function, just game mechanically different. It was an invisible barrier, rather than being described as a disk. The reflex saving throw is to make it equivalent to a reduction in ac against hand-held or device-hurled missiles, and also allows easier dodging of area effect spells like fireball.
2nd edition stoneskin absorbs 1d4 attacks, plus one attack per two levels of the caster. 3rd edition has a timed duration rather than a set number of attacks, but gives less absolute immunity against each attack. Iron skins is a druidic version of stoneskin in baldurs gate, I couldnt find it in my PHB's with a quick look.
And no problem
2nd edition stoneskin absorbs 1d4 attacks, plus one attack per two levels of the caster. 3rd edition has a timed duration rather than a set number of attacks, but gives less absolute immunity against each attack. Iron skins is a druidic version of stoneskin in baldurs gate, I couldnt find it in my PHB's with a quick look.
And no problem