Potpourri Creation Contest Chat Thread

[zagan]

Comment on Imprinted mind: The equivalent of you other spell that convert power into spell. I'm curious about the level difference, I would have though that they would be of the same level (or even fuse into one spell/power)

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Comment on Imprinted mind: The equivalent of you other spell that convert power into spell. I'm curious about the level difference, I would have though that they would be of the same level (or even fuse into one spell/power)

I was debating that, but it's mostly so it fits better on the domain list. That and the options are much greater for spells than for powers.

[zagan]

Peach for "On the life and time of Edward the sly"

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Fluff: I really like the fluff and the image from complete scoundrel

Luck component: Very nice idea, I like it.

Edward's Lucky Break: Really, really nice. Not sure if it would be worth a second level spell but at first level I get the feeling it's too powerful. Remind me a lot of abrupt jaunt which is considered very powerfull. Why conjuration and divination ?

Edward's Lucky Charm: Very nice too. The mechanic that add the bonus directly to the roll is interesting and powerfull.

Edward's Lucky Moment: Simple but cool.

Edward's Lucky Streak: Really powerfull this one. No luck component ? I think it could be abused in a crit build. (classic keen kukri with blood in the water stances). While rolling 10 or below end the spell It's not clear if the bonus count for that, if I have a +5 luck bonus do only rolling a 5 or below end it ?

Edward's Purloined Fortune: I love this one ! Nothing else to say on that count.

Edward's Replenishing Luck: Very nice but at level 4 it's probably all right.

Conclusions: I really like the fluff in each spell really add to the flavor, the mechanic of the luck component and adding the bonus to the die direcly is very nice too. All in all very good work.

[PId6]

Peach for "On the life and time of Edward the sly"

Thanks for the PEACH; always helpful.

Edward's Lucky Break: Really, really nice. Not sure if it would be worth a second level spell but at first level I get the feeling it's too powerful. Remind me a lot of abrupt jaunt which is considered very powerfull. Why conjuration and divination ?

I balanced this in comparison to Wings of Cover, which I consider a very good but not broken spell. The limiting factor on this is the expenditure of luck rerolls, which are extremely tight and require a lot of resources (aka feats) to get. To me, that justified the lower level, and likely made this weaker than Wings of Cover too. The luck reroll limitation also grants you a lot less uses than Abrupt Jaunt.

It's divination because I consider the idea of luck inherently falls under divination. It's Conjuration [Teleportation] because it's a teleporting effect. I had considered making it purely divination and fluffing it as "you were actually standing there the entire time," but that felt a bit too hard to believe.

Edward's Lucky Streak: Really powerfull this one. No luck component ? I think it could be abused in a crit build. (classic keen kukri with blood in the water stances). While rolling 10 or below end the spell It's not clear if the bonus count for that, if I have a +5 luck bonus do only rolling a 5 or below end it ?

It is very powerful, but it's also very risky. Every time you roll a d20, you'll always have at least a 25% chance of the spell failing. Even at caster level 15, you'll have to succeed with rolls at 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, and 70% in order to get a +5 bonus, which is very unlikely. You can skew that distribution by using rerolls and Action Points and such, but that requires expending even more resources to perform. Due to the short duration, long buildup, and multiple chances of failure, I think the spell's powerful effects are relatively balanced (though with something this weird, its impossible to be sure).

I didn't include a Luck component on this one because you're going to be expending them like crazy to make sure the spell doesn't fail. And yeah, the bonus was meant to be included in the spell's own calculations, which gives a sense of the more you get lucky, the easier it is to get luckier.

Conclusions: I really like the fluff in each spell really add to the flavor, the mechanic of the luck component and adding the bonus to the die direcly is very nice too. All in all very good work.

Thank you!

[zagan]

Thanks for the PEACH; always helpful.

I balanced this in comparison to Wings of Cover, which I consider a very good but not broken spell. The limiting factor on this is the expenditure of luck rerolls, which are extremely tight and require a lot of resources (aka feats) to get. To me, that justified the lower level, and likely made this weaker than Wings of Cover too. The luck reroll limitation also grants you a lot less uses than Abrupt Jaunt.

Very true, I didn't consider that.

It's divination because I consider the idea of luck inherently falls under divination. It's Conjuration [Teleportation] because it's a teleporting effect. I had considered making it purely divination and fluffing it as "you were actually standing there the entire time," but that felt a bit too hard to believe.

Okay.

It is very powerful, but it's also very risky. Every time you roll a d20, you'll always have at least a 25% chance of the spell failing. Even at caster level 15, you'll have to succeed with rolls at 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, and 70% in order to get a +5 bonus, which is very unlikely. You can skew that distribution by using rerolls and Action Points and such, but that requires expending even more resources to perform. Due to the short duration, long buildup, and multiple chances of failure, I think the spell's powerful effects are relatively balanced (though with something this weird, its impossible to be sure).

I can see your reasoning, and crit build need aren't that common particulary with caster level.

I didn't include a Luck component on this one because you're going to be expending them like crazy to make sure the spell doesn't fail. And yeah, the bonus was meant to be included in the spell's own calculations, which gives a sense of the more you get lucky, the easier it is to get luckier.

Okay, the reasoning is sound.

Thank you!

Glad to help.

[Glimbur]

PEACH of Belror's spells.

Let's compare Rude Awakening to Dominate Person. They're the same level, and Dominate Person is more restrictive on targets. Dominate lasts a lot longer (round/level v day/level). Dominate offers a meaningful save. Dominate allows another save if you're compelled to do something abhorrent. My biggest concern is that there is no helpful save against Rude Awakening, and no viable defense besides not having a skeleton or having lots of SR, or Mettle. I would be ok with Rude Awakening if the fort save suppressed the animation of the skeleton, and if it offered a save every round. As it is, it's crazy good.

Uncontrolled Rage is significantly stronger than Confusion. It's also a level higher, but a 3/6 chance of actively hurting the party is very strong. Even worse, the best way to attack yourself is a coup de grace (barring rules trickery about how you can't coup de grace yourself), which is probably lethal to most low will save folks. I'd spread the table out to a d8, pull out the bystander attack, and include 3/8 act normally.

Bone Breaking... normally you don't include both a touch attack and a saving throw. The rules about a spine attack are inconsistent, does it last 1d4 rounds or until cured? D&D doesn't model maiming well, but compare this to bestow curse. Bone Breaking is a level lower and is more limited in what it can affect. So, the power level is reasonable.

Skeletal Stiffness doesn't need a saving throw. Without one it could theoretically drop a dragon at CL 20, but by then dragons should be cheating up their dex and/or have other defenses.

With regard to Ironic Death, it's a mix of Disguise Self (1st level) and... the lowest level spell I could find to disguise someone else (besides an undead) is Veil, at level 6. That seems too high, but I'd still peg this spell at third level, especially with the trickery about spellcraft to identify it.

[BladeofOblivion]

PEACH of Belror's spells.

Let's compare Rude Awakening to Dominate Person. They're the same level, and Dominate Person is more restrictive on targets. Dominate lasts a lot longer (round/level v day/level). Dominate offers a meaningful save. Dominate allows another save if you're compelled to do something abhorrent. My biggest concern is that there is no helpful save against Rude Awakening, and no viable defense besides not having a skeleton or having lots of SR, or Mettle. I would be ok with Rude Awakening if the fort save suppressed the animation of the skeleton, and if it offered a save every round. As it is, it's crazy good.

Uncontrolled Rage is significantly stronger than Confusion. It's also a level higher, but a 3/6 chance of actively hurting the party is very strong. Even worse, the best way to attack yourself is a coup de grace (barring rules trickery about how you can't coup de grace yourself), which is probably lethal to most low will save folks. I'd spread the table out to a d8, pull out the bystander attack, and include 3/8 act normally.

Bone Breaking... normally you don't include both a touch attack and a saving throw. The rules about a spine attack are inconsistent, does it last 1d4 rounds or until cured? D&D doesn't model maiming well, but compare this to bestow curse. Bone Breaking is a level lower and is more limited in what it can affect. So, the power level is reasonable.

Skeletal Stiffness doesn't need a saving throw. Without one it could theoretically drop a dragon at CL 20, but by then dragons should be cheating up their dex and/or have other defenses.

With regard to Ironic Death, it's a mix of Disguise Self (1st level) and... the lowest level spell I could find to disguise someone else (besides an undead) is Veil, at level 6. That seems too high, but I'd still peg this spell at third level, especially with the trickery about spellcraft to identify it.

There is one thing about Rude Awakening that I need to clarify, and that is that the target is still in control of their own mind and voice. That means that purely mental and verbal actions, such as Suggestion Spells and most Psionics, or, for that matter, an Iron Heart Surge, are not hindered by the spell and can still be used by the victim. In addition, the caster cannot force the victim to do any of these things. If anyone wants to help me fix the wording, that would be great.

You are probably correct about Uncontrolled Rage. I will fix that.

The spine function of Bone-Breaking lasts for 1d4 rounds. The Semi-Permanent duration is for the other two effects. Not sure how to word that. I modeled this one based slightly off bestow curse anyway.

You are likely correct about Skeletal Stiffness, as it already requires an attack roll. Dex damage hurts though.

Ironic Death is very limited, however. It is weaker for the purpose of disguising oneself than Disguise self, and it is only effective to disguise others as you. It is too conditional of a spell for most Sorcerers, hence the level 2 status. The only two real uses for it are as the description implies, and to throw off pursuers.

[zagan]

I'm not sure PairO'Dice Lost will have the time to react to any comment but I will try to peach his entry:

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Fluff: The aliteration thing is cute and was probably pretty hard to pull off but i need to reread multiple time to get everything still it's nice idea. The seventh son of a sententh son is a reference to pratchett or to magical mythe in general ?

Synosto's Serpentine Saboteur: A little complexe but I like the idea, a few thing:
-Can the snake be attacked and if so what's it's stat ?
-What's the size of the snake ? Large as in large size category ?
-Do magical trap get to make opposed caster level check or something ?
-No save against the gaze attack ? That seem strong particulary the restriction against "readied actions, immediate actions, contingencies"

Synosto's Soporific Symbol: This one seem fine and correct for it's level one thing are you immune to your own spell ?

Synosto's Superficial Seeming: I really like this one. Typo in casting time it should probably be "1 standard action".
-No effect can see through both disguise, like higher level spell ?

Synosto's Suitability Shroud: I love thos one !
One thing you mentionned that creature with other sense like dog or bulette could make a will save. While I understand that scent make sense, why would tremorsense help at all ?

Synosto's Split-Second Skedaddle: Very good too. One confusing thing you mentionned that thing like dimensional anchor would get transfered to the illusion but the spell would fail if you were affected by a dimensional anchor, no ?

Anyway, all very good of spell, good job.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

I'm not sure PairO'Dice Lost will have the time to react to any comment but I will try to peach his entry:

Well, the contest finished before you commented so I couldn't make any changes regardless, but I wasn't expecting to get any PEACHes at all so I appreciate it anyway.

Fluff: The aliteration thing is cute and was probably pretty hard to pull off but i need to reread multiple time to get everything still it's nice idea. The seventh son of a sententh son is a reference to pratchett or to magical mythe in general ?

Myths in general (it's a fairly common trope) but I did have Pratchett in mind.

Synosto's Serpentine Saboteur: A little complexe but I like the idea, a few thing:
-Can the snake be attacked and if so what's it's stat ?

I used "magical construct" instead of "creature" for that reason--it has no stats, it just occupies space, though I should have been more clear.

-What's the size of the snake ? Large as in large size category ?

Yep; large is big, Large is a size category.

-Do magical trap get to make opposed caster level check or something ?
-No save against the gaze attack ? That seem strong particulary the restriction against "readied actions, immediate actions, contingencies"

I knew I forgot something. There should be a Will save for both the traps and the gaze attack.

Synosto's Soporific Symbol: This one seem fine and correct for it's level one thing are you immune to your own spell ?

Yep.

Synosto's Superficial Seeming: I really like this one. Typo in casting time it should probably be "1 standard action".

Yep.

-No effect can see through both disguise, like higher level spell ?

That's correct. Wouldn't be much use for it if true seeing and such could see through it, would there? I based the level and functionality off a Dragon spell that creates an illusory disguise that cannot be seen through by any detection spells but is lower-level than true seeing; it's a narrow enough use of illusions that I thought it was justified.

Synosto's Suitability Shroud: I love thos one !
One thing you mentionned that creature with other sense like dog or bulette could make a will save. While I understand that scent make sense, why would tremorsense help at all ?

Tremorsense senses vibrations. Even if you look and feel like, say, a giant, your weight and the way you move will still match your true form.

Synosto's Split-Second Skedaddle: Very good too. One confusing thing you mentionned that thing like dimensional anchor would get transfered to the illusion but the spell would fail if you were affected by a dimensional anchor, no ?

Dimensional anchor is a single-target effect and would be transferred to the duplicate; Dimensional lock is an area spell and would prevent the teleportation. The reason the spell is such a high level (aside from the fact that it combines two lower-level effects) is the fact that it can circumvent single-target restraints like dimensional anchor--the whole point is that it gets you out of things that are trying to prevent your escape without letting your captors know.

Anyway, all very good of spell, good job.

Thanks. I just wish I'd thought of it before 11 last night so I'd be able to change it based on feedback.

[zagan]

Well, the contest finished before you commented so I couldn't make any changes regardless, but I wasn't expecting to get any PEACHes at all so I appreciate it anyway.

My bad I was sure it was until today at midnight.

I used "magical construct" instead of "creature" for that reason--it has no stats, it just occupies space, though I should have been more clear.

Okay.

Yep; large is big, Large is a size category.

I meant in the sense the it occupy four square simultaneously ans can suppress trap in a 4 by 4 square area. I ask because a medium size snake pretty big for a snake and because you put Large in capital.

I knew I forgot something. There should be a Will save for both the traps and the gaze attack.

Yep better that way.

That's correct. Wouldn't be much use for it if true seeing and such could see through it, would there? I based the level and functionality off a Dragon spell that creates an illusory disguise that cannot be seen through by any detection spells but is lower-level than true seeing; it's a narrow enough use of illusions that I thought it was justified.

okay.

Tremorsense senses vibrations. Even if you look and feel like, say, a giant, your weight and the way you move will still match your true form.

Yeah I can see that but it vary on what the target perceive.

Dimensional anchor is a single-target effect and would be transferred to the duplicate; Dimensional lock is an area spell and would prevent the teleportation. The reason the spell is such a high level (aside from the fact that it combines two lower-level effects) is the fact that it can circumvent single-target restraints like dimensional anchor--the whole point is that it gets you out of things that are trying to prevent your escape without letting your captors know.

I was confusing the two, no problem then.

Thanks. I just wish I'd thought of it before 11 last night so I'd be able to change it based on feedback.

Very good work in so little time.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

I meant in the sense the it occupy four square simultaneously ans can suppress trap in a 4 by 4 square area. I ask because a medium size snake pretty big for a snake and because you put Large in capital.

4 by 4 squares is 20 by 20 feet, which is a fair size room/vault/tunnel; I made it big enough so the caster can essentially cast the spell, send it in, and ensure that a whole room is safe for them.

Very good work in so little time.

Thanks.

[DaTedinator]

Okay! Contest officially closed, and the voting thread is up!

And may I just say, good job everyone! People really brought their A-game, and while I'm usually impressed with entries in contests, this one was, in my opinion, even higher quality stuff than usual.

[DaTedinator]

Congratulations to Thrice Dead Cat, PId6, Glimbur, and zagan, and great job everyone! We had a pretty close race this time around.

Speaking of which, seeing as we had two ties, I went ahead and declared myself the official tie-breaker, because I didn't want to end with a tie. I'll be including that in the rules from now on, I suppose, though I'm open to complaints alternatives, including finishing with ties.

[Glimbur]

I'm ok with you breaking ties. You should get some sort of autocratic powers for all the work you put in to this.

[zagan]

I'm happy with an honorable mention thanks.
So when does the next one start ?

[DaTedinator]

Right now! Check it out! Contest IV: Origin of Species!

[zagan]

Race, hum. i was half expecting this one. No real idea yet but it should be interesting.

[DaTedinator]

Well, I mean, I can't be making up completely random stuff all the time. One of the reasons I went with the rotating theme was so there could be a contest for normal stuff like races and feats and stuff, since there couldn't be a dedicated contest for either (it would get really, really hard to keep fresh).

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Dang, why is my first thought to make another human variant for this? I'll probably find another idea here shortly, though.

[zagan]

Finally I've manage to finnish my race, it's was way harder than i though it would be. My first idea didn't pan out, but I'm pretty proud of my Lesser Silthilar.
I'll peach anyone that peach my race, in particular I would like to hear your though about the ability modifier and the dispersion ability.

EDIT: Oh and big thanks to unasorta for proofreading my work.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Bah! I had nearly all of my fluff up before GITP decided to destroy my previewed post. I'll get my modular dragonborn-esque race up sometime in the next few days.

[unosarta]

Bah! I had nearly all of my fluff up before GITP decided to destroy my previewed post. I'll get my modular dragonborn-esque race up sometime in the next few days.

That is why I always use word documents.

I may or may not have an entry for this class, depending on when I finish the soulmelds for my Base Class entry. I definitely have enough races to give stats.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

That is why I always use word documents.

I may or may not have an entry for this class, depending on when I finish the soulmelds for my Base Class entry. I definitely have enough races to give stats.

See, I usually use word documents, but I felt that I could get everything done in one glorious burst of homebrew: I didn't.

It's not a terribly big deal, though. I can churn out the fluff again rather easily and maybe get some of the general mechanics down, too.

[unosarta]

See, I usually use word documents, but I felt that I could get everything done in one glorious burst of homebrew: I didn't.

It's not a terribly big deal, though. I can churn out the fluff again rather easily and maybe get some of the general mechanics down, too.

Ah, well, I usually use 'em anyway.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Got the basics up on crunch and nearly all the fluff, too. I've got six lists of abilities to go through. Those lists will probably be up later, too.

[zagan]

Got the basics up on crunch and nearly all the fluff, too. I've got six lists of abilities to go through. Those lists will probably be up later, too.

Look really good so far, the image and the quote are really creppy but it fit, I'm looking forward to seing the possible ability.

[unosarta]

Well, the Zaletah is posted. Any critiques would be greatly appreciated!

[zagan]

Quick comment for the Zaletha:

The fluff seem very nice even if it remind a little of the raptoran but that's normal seeing that they're both humanoid with wing.

You don't specify their type, I think you mean for them to be Fey but i'm not sure.
A little more detail on their glide speed would be nice like the gliding entry for the raptoran.

Na maximul age ? So they're immortal ? If so you need to stat it somewhere I think.

The archbow and Gesh spear seem like nice weapon.

Feat:

Keeneye: Hum, I get the feeling that i've seen something exactly like that somewhere before, wasn't it an homebrew Prc ? Ah, I can't remember.

Climb the tree: I don't understand this one. Ignoring difficult terrain in forest ? By climbing and gliding ? That's the goal ?

Guidance of the Fae Brethren: What's the use for this one ? It seem really situational and setting specific because it depend on the Dm integratting the race fluff in the game.

The god seem very nice.

[unosarta]

Quick comment for the Zaletha:

Thanks!

The fluff seem very nice even if it remind a little of the raptoran but that's normal seeing that they're both humanoid with wing.

Well, that is a little bit unavoidable.

You don't specify their type, I think you mean for them to be Fey but i'm not sure.
A little more detail on their glide speed would be nice like the gliding entry for the raptoran.

Ugh, my mistake. Actually, they are not so much fey (because if they were, they would be at the very least LA +1), as humanoids descended from fey.

Na maximul age ? So they're immortal ? If so you need to stat it somewhere I think.

I could add one. It just seemed that if there was a race that was a) a hunter and gatherer society and b) not very many other races liked them or saw them in a positive light at all, if they weren't functionally immortal, a lot of them would have been dead, and the population would be incredibly small. I suppose I could remove it and simply say that they have a very, very small population.

The archbow and Gesh spear seem like nice weapon.

Thanks.

Feat:

Keeneye: Hum, I get the feeling that i've seen something exactly like that somewhere before, wasn't it an homebrew Prc ? Ah, I can't remember.

>_>
<_<

Definitely not...

Climb the tree: I don't understand this one. Ignoring difficult terrain in forest ? By climbing and gliding ? That's the goal ?

This is practically an exact copy of the text from the Brachiation feat, in Complete Adventurer, but with a bonus that you can take 10 on Climb checks.

Guidance of the Fae Brethren: What's the use for this one ? It seem really situational and setting specific because it depend on the Dm integratting the race fluff in the game.

I suppose. It was mostly just another way to show Zaletah and Fey relations, although I suppose it is pretty specific. Of course, if you saw the DM note at the bottom of the section, it is pretty blatantly clear that if the DM wants, they can remove the fluff about Fey, and simply not give access to the feat.

The god seem very nice.

Thanks.

[Lord_Gareth]

Do I NEED to have the starting ages/aging effects tables? Or the height-weight tables? Anything I put in them won't make any sense, and it's not like ANYONE ACTUALLY USES THEM.

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EVER.