PDA

View Full Version : Creating new spell guidelines



Altissimus
2010-10-14, 09:05 AM
Hey,

Does anyone have a link-to-info/experience-to-share on any guidelines for creating new spells?

Specifically, I would like to know how you determine spell level.

For example, how would you determine the level of this spell:

Example Spell of Enormous Strength
Transumation
Divine (Cleric)
Components: V,S
Casting Time: standard action
Range: touch
Target: 1 creature
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw: (harmless)
SR: Nah.
Effect: You grant the subject a +10 enhancement bonus to strength.

Rather than replies such as "I think it's a level 2", or "I think it's a level 9", please could you state *why* and *how* you came to that conclusion? ie, how you establish spell power.

Thanks,

A.

Lysander
2010-10-14, 09:14 AM
I'd say 6th level.

The way I determine spell level for new spells is compare them to existing spells. Your spell for example is similar to Divine Power, which is 4th level.


Divine Power
Evocation
Level: Clr 4, War 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level

Calling upon the divine power of your patron, you imbue yourself with strength and skill in combat. Your base attack bonus becomes equal to your character level (which may give you additional attacks), you gain a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength, and you gain 1 temporary hit point per caster level.

So yours gives more strength, but not the other benefits. That raises it by one level in my mind. Then I raise it another level because divine power is caster only while this can be cast on anybody.

Zaydos
2010-10-14, 09:16 AM
I'd say Lv 4.
Divine Power is personal only and a +6 to strength (easily available from items at later levels), but also grants Con and Full BAB.
I'd say it's about equal, possibly better than Divine Power.

Bite of the Weretiger is Druid Lv 5 (Wizard Lv 6) and is personal only granting +12 Str, +4 Dex, +6 Con, and +5 natural armor (and is a worthwhile level 6 spell) also grants natural weapons.

It's worse than Bite of the Weretiger, but can be cast on others.

Starbuck_II
2010-10-14, 09:17 AM
For example, how would you determine the level of this spell:

Example Spell of Enormous Strength
Transumation
Divine (Cleric)
Components: V,S
Casting Time: standard action
Range: touch
Target: 1 creature
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw: (harmless)
SR: Nah.
Effect: You grant the subject a +10 enhancement bonus to strength.

Rather than replies such as "I think it's a level 2", or "I think it's a level 9", please could you state *why* and *how* you came to that conclusion? ie, how you establish spell power.

Thanks,

A.

Well, first, the duration. Compare to existing spell Bull's Str.
10 min to hr is 1 level easy.

Than compare to str bonus.
+4 becomes +10?
That is 2 moves.

So 5th or 6th level spell. I'd say 5th, but one can argue 6th I gues.

Zaydos
2010-10-14, 09:22 AM
Well, first, the duration. Compare to existing spell Bull's Str.
10 min to hr is 1 level easy.

Than compare to str bonus.
+4 becomes +10?
That is 2 moves.

So 5th or 6th level spell. I'd say 5th, but one can argue 6th I gues.

Bull's Strength is 1 minute/level this is 1 round/level.