Alias
2013-01-23, 08:00 PM
This spell I wrote up a few moments ago to more fully fill the hole created by pulling Holy Word and Blasphemy out of the game. Those two spells by their very names have a hero/villain light, and I want spellcasters of all alignments to be able to be villains or heroes as necessary.
To understand the spell requires this bit of setting knowledge. The setting has 5 alignments, and characters can have any number of alignments - even cognitively dissonant ones. The limitation that this spell places, that the character have only 1 alignment to use it, is somewhat difficult to meet unless the player takes some care (though they don't have to be a paladin).
When considering balance keep in mind that any given character will have only one of these modes. Druids can use the Aboran version of this spell. The Valra and Sodra modes match up almost exactly with Holy Word and Blasphemy respectively.
Rebuke
Evocation (Invocation) [sonic]
Level: Clr 7, Drd 7
Components: V
Range: 40'
Area: Creatures which have any other alignment than yours in a 40' radius spread centered on you.
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will partial
You must be have only one alignment to cast this spell. You issue words of rebuke in the name of your divine patron that harm your foes.
Rebuke itself is actually five spells, one for each alignment, and the alignment of the rebuke determines its effect. You can only use the form of rebuke that matches your alignment. Rebuke replaces blasphemy and holy word in the core rules - what constitutes these terms is in the ear of the listener and the speaker.
When you are on your home plane outsiders within range of rebuke are banished unless they are from the plane of your alignment. This effect occurs whether they hear the rebuke or not. Creatures banished this way cannot return for at least 24 hours. This effect allows a will save to negate with a -4 penalty.
Rebuke inflicts up to four statuses on the creatures who hear it which have alignments differing from yours. A successful will save negates or reduces these statuses, but for each alignment they have directly opposed to yours the save has a -2 penalty (-4 if they have both your opposed alignments). The effects are cumulative and based on relative hit dice as follows:
HD -- Effect
Equal to caster level -- Minor
Up to caster level -1 -- Major
Up to caster level -5 -- Severe
Up to caster level -10 -- Deadly
Creatures whose hit dice exceed yours are unaffected by rebuke. For those affected the effects are as follows:
Abora
Minor: The creature is stunned for 1 round but defends itself normally.
Major: The creature is staggered for for 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is destroyed if undead or a construct (even a golem), living creatures are permanently polymorphed into a squirrel or similar harmless varmit. Save negates.
Balcra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is fascinated for up to 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is feebleminded. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d6 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Shunra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is shaken for 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is confused for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is petrified. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d8 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Sodra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is weakened, its strength score dropping by 2d6 points for 2d4 rounds, save for half of each.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is killed if living, Undead and constructs are unaffected. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d8 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Valra
Minor: The creature is deafened 1d4 rounds, save negates
Major: The creature is blinded 2d4 rounds, save for half
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is killed, or destroyed if undead. Constructs are unaffected. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d6 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
To understand the spell requires this bit of setting knowledge. The setting has 5 alignments, and characters can have any number of alignments - even cognitively dissonant ones. The limitation that this spell places, that the character have only 1 alignment to use it, is somewhat difficult to meet unless the player takes some care (though they don't have to be a paladin).
When considering balance keep in mind that any given character will have only one of these modes. Druids can use the Aboran version of this spell. The Valra and Sodra modes match up almost exactly with Holy Word and Blasphemy respectively.
Rebuke
Evocation (Invocation) [sonic]
Level: Clr 7, Drd 7
Components: V
Range: 40'
Area: Creatures which have any other alignment than yours in a 40' radius spread centered on you.
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will partial
You must be have only one alignment to cast this spell. You issue words of rebuke in the name of your divine patron that harm your foes.
Rebuke itself is actually five spells, one for each alignment, and the alignment of the rebuke determines its effect. You can only use the form of rebuke that matches your alignment. Rebuke replaces blasphemy and holy word in the core rules - what constitutes these terms is in the ear of the listener and the speaker.
When you are on your home plane outsiders within range of rebuke are banished unless they are from the plane of your alignment. This effect occurs whether they hear the rebuke or not. Creatures banished this way cannot return for at least 24 hours. This effect allows a will save to negate with a -4 penalty.
Rebuke inflicts up to four statuses on the creatures who hear it which have alignments differing from yours. A successful will save negates or reduces these statuses, but for each alignment they have directly opposed to yours the save has a -2 penalty (-4 if they have both your opposed alignments). The effects are cumulative and based on relative hit dice as follows:
HD -- Effect
Equal to caster level -- Minor
Up to caster level -1 -- Major
Up to caster level -5 -- Severe
Up to caster level -10 -- Deadly
Creatures whose hit dice exceed yours are unaffected by rebuke. For those affected the effects are as follows:
Abora
Minor: The creature is stunned for 1 round but defends itself normally.
Major: The creature is staggered for for 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is destroyed if undead or a construct (even a golem), living creatures are permanently polymorphed into a squirrel or similar harmless varmit. Save negates.
Balcra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is fascinated for up to 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is feebleminded. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d6 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Shunra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is shaken for 2d6 rounds, save for half.
Severe: The creature is confused for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is petrified. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d8 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Sodra
Minor: The creature is dazed for 1 round but defends itself normally. Save negates
Major: The creature is weakened, its strength score dropping by 2d6 points for 2d4 rounds, save for half of each.
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is killed if living, Undead and constructs are unaffected. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d8 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)
Valra
Minor: The creature is deafened 1d4 rounds, save negates
Major: The creature is blinded 2d4 rounds, save for half
Severe: The creature is paralyzed for 1d10 minutes, save to reduce to 1 round
Deadly: The creature is killed, or destroyed if undead. Constructs are unaffected. Save negates, but the creature is dealt 3d6 damage + 1 point / caster level (max +25)