New Spell (PEACH)

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I'm not sure if this spell is balanced, and I could use some help with descriptive text.  It's essentially a toned-down version of prismatic sphere with emphasis on cold.   I could also use a new name, since there's already a few spells named similarly.

Frozen Mantle
EVOCATION  Cold
Level: Sor/Wiz 5  (Too powerful?)
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time:  1 standard action
Range:  10 ft.
Area:  10 ft. radius, centered on caster
Duration:  1 round/caster level
Saving Throw:  See Text
Spell Resistance:  See Text

At the spell's completion, an orb of pure frost surrounds the caster.  This orb has several effects.

Firstly, it blocks ranged physical attacks.  Any non-magical missile that hits the orb surrounding the caster is dissolved instantly.  The orb also protects against magical missiles.  He gains a +6 deflection bonus versus all magical missles.  (Too powerful?  How should it be changed?)

Secondly, the orb reflects and dispells certain magics.  Any fire magic that is cast at the orb is dispelled unless the caster's level exceeds the caster level of the orb.  Similarly, any cold magic that is cast at the orb is reflected back to the caster unless the caster's level exceeds the caster level of the orb. (Spell-turning, or keep as is?)

Finally, the orbs causes damage to any enemies who enter within the 10 ft. radius.  The enemy takes 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level (maximum 15d6), fortitude half.  Spell resistance applies to this damage. (Help with wordking here)

The material component of this spell is a white pearl of at least 200 gp value, consumed in the casting.

[Xathan]

It looks good to me, balanced all, but the problem I see with it is the +6 deflection bonus against magic missles wouldn't matter, since magic missles don't require an attack roll at all. Perhaps instead, the sphere forces magic missle attacks to make an attack roll?

[Ishmayl-Retired]

It's not versus the spell "Magic Missiles," it's versus all missiles with magical enchantments (+1, slaying, etc)

[Xathan]

Ahhhhhhhh. Ok, that makes perfect sense. In that case, it seems balanced to me. :)

[Poseptune]

It looks good. Not over or under powered at first glance, so I guess it is balanced. No material component? It needs something like material component: two identical snowflakes. Maybe something as simple as a 1gp pearl.

As for a name, maybe something along the lines of Frost's Embrace. I don't know I'm drawing a blank on words meaning cold or frost

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Poseidon, I like the "Embrace" part of that... how about "Frozen Embrace?"  Whatcha think?  Oh, and yeah, I'll probably do a material component, just haven't thought of anything worthwhile yet.

[Poseptune]

Frozen Embrace... hhhmmm has potential, but it doesn't quite roll off the tongue. Definitely better than Orb of Frost (which I think is a spell in Complete Arcane :))

[Xathan]

Yeah, orb of frost is. I love Frozen Embrace, but the problem with it is it makes me think of a spell that slowly engulfs your foe with frost, sapping them of strenght and the will to love untill they are utterly consumed...

[brainface]

ABJURATION Frost

, not [Frost]. :)

Level: Sor/Wiz 5

Range: 10 ft.
Area: 10 ft. radius, centered on caster
[/quote]Range: Personal
Area: 10-ft.-radius emanation centered on you[/i]
make more sense?

Duration: 1 min./3 caster levels

Saving Throw: Reflex half[/quote]Saving Throw: See text[/i] (?) I mean, the caster doesn't save vs. the protection affects.

Spell Resistance: No

chew through[/i] some golems if there's no SR.

At the spell's completion, an orb of pure frost surrounds the caster. This orb has several effects.

Firstly, it blocks ranged physical attacks. Any non-magical missile that hits the orb surrounding the caster is dissolved instantly. The orb also protects against magical missiles. He gains a +6 deflection bonus versus all magical missles.

Secondly, the orb reflects and dispells certain magics. Any fire magic that is cast at the orb is dispelled unless the caster's level exceeds the caster level of the orb. [/quote]Similarly, any cold magic that is cast at the orb is reflected back to the caster unless the caster's level exceeds the caster level of the orb.[/quote]http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spellTurning.htm[/url]
I'm not sure about this. It's much better than spellturning because it affects area spells, unless you're fighting an npc one level higher, in which case it's useless (?)

Finally, the orbs causes damage to any enemies who enter within the 10 ft. radius. The enemy takes 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level (maximum 15d6), reflex half.

You should probably consider applying spell resistance to this. (golems). Also, that damage seems pretty high for a continuous affect--fire shield at 1 level lower just deals 1d6+caster level, and only when the hit you.


spells referencing:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fireShield.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/coneOfCold.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/windWall.htm

[Lmns Crn]

I love Frozen Embrace, but the problem with it is it makes me think of a spell that slowly engulfs your foe with frost, sapping them of strenght and the will to love untill they are utterly consumed...

How about a Mantle, then? Definitely sounds like something regal and protective that you'd wrap around yourself. Frozen/Icy/Arctic Mantle could work, if you don't like an Embrace.

I'll say that to me, the spell's final effect, the cold damage against enemies who venture too close, sounds more like a Fortitude save to reduce it than a Reflex save. I get more of an "I weathered extreme conditions" vibe than "Hey, I just dodged a hailstone!"

Does that effect distinguish between friend and foe, or should the caster take care not to stand within ten feet of allies when using this spell?

[Xathan]

Ooo, mantle is pretty.

Oh, and maybe instead of having: "Similarly, any cold magic that is cast at the orb is reflected back to the caster unless the caster's level exceeds the caster level of the orb", perhaps just make it a standard caster level check? And don't have it work on area spells. That seems like a bit too much.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Okay, without any further thought, Frozen Mantle it is.

Brainface, Evocation it is, 1 round/caster level it is, spell resistance it is, and cold it is... you're always smarter than I :(  I should just tell you what I want and you write my spells from now on ;)

As far as the "Range, Area" goes, I modelled after Prismatic Sphere in the d20srd.  Is that not proper?

I'll think on some of the other points (level, spell reflection, etc).

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Original post updated, and LC, I also fixed the save, you're right that it makes more sense to be fortitude-based.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Thinking on it a little more, I think I'm going to lower the damage maximum to 10d6, and also possibly lower the duration.  I like the idea of keeping it level 5, but brainface is right that the current damage and duration is pretty durned powerful for that level.