[D&D 3.5] Blowing up the Action Economy with Spellblade Tennis

[JeminiZero]

For those who don't know yet, Spellblades (Players Guide to Faerun) are an enchantment that can be added to any weapon for 6k gold. Spellblades are tuned to a particular spell (or power if you use full transparency), and when you are targetted by that spell/power, the blade absorbs it, and you can redirect the effect next round as a free action.

Lets say I make 2 spellblade weapons tuned to Spell X (X can be any targetted spell). I carry one, and give the other to my psicrystal/familiar/any other intelligent and loyal minion which can follow reasonably complicated instructions.

At the start of the day, I could cast spell X on my minion. It would be absorbed by its spellblade, and then on its next round, as a free action, my minion could redirect Spell X's effects to me. Which would be absorbed by my spellblade. And on my next round I redirect it back at it and so on and so forth. In this manner we can bounce Spell X between one another, every round, as free actions. Spelblades do not state that there is any limit to the number of spells it can absorb in one round, so I could spam spell X, and keep all of it ricocheting between me and my minion (hence the name "Spellblade Tennis").

Upon seeing an enemy, We can stop redirecting spell X at each other, and start channeling it towards the enemy, one spell at a time, as free actions, until said enemy drops dead (assuming spell X can kill the enemy at all, so it might work best if its a "sure-kill" spell like searing orbs of fire. I imagine Tippy's Cindy must be dancing with joy by now).

It is possible to sustain Spellblade Tennis through the night, and build up on it further the next morning, literally letting you accumulate thousands or millions of spells. You need at least 2 individuals with spellblades to sustain it at any one point, so either have some people work in shifts, or get (at least 2) minions that don't need sleep (possibly including yourself).

Of course all this relies on a strict RAW of spellblades. By RAI, it might be argued that since spellblades are enchanted with spellturning, they might cause a resonating field when used in such a manner, rather than bouncing around indefinitely.

Charging the Spell Battery
In Essence, Spellblade Tennis provides a means for you to build up spells for later use. Because the spell battery can be transferred between pairs of Spellblades, you don't necessarily have to be present during the charging up process. You could say create a secure location (such as a time accelerated demiplane), and park 2 sleepless minions with spellblades, and a self-resetting trap that churns out the key spell every round. When you need a lot firepower, you can go to this location, order your minions to transfer the spell battery to you, and then go and blow something up.

Edit History:

Spoiler

-Whoops, its Players Guide to Faerun, not Magic of Faerun.
-Added note on sustaining through the night in shifts. Thanks to Lysander
-Added Demiplane Shenanigans. Thanks to Brock Samson

[druid91]

Seems like it would work to me. But I haven't seen the enhancement before so...

Though if it does work you could always just be a druid and give the second one to a bogun, Can psicrystals wield weapons?

[JeminiZero]

Originally Posted by druid91

Though if it does work you could always just be a druid and give the second one to a bogun, Can psicrystals wield weapons?

Even if they can't you could always give them armor appropriate for their size and shape, add Armor Spikes, and enchant those.

[druid91]

So with this, so long as you and your companion are near each other you can build up an (possibly) infinite number of attacks to use on the first poor shmuck to fight you? Once again good job.

[Tehnar]

Is there a set number of spells a spellblade can absorb? If not, I see nothing wrong with this trick, by RAW.

Even if a single spellblade can absorb only a single spell at one time, it can be a good trick to get a free action spell on the first round of each combat (or two if you are careful with initiative phrasings).

[Darkxarth]

Originally Posted by JeminiZero

For best effect, have both you and your minion not need sleep (e.g. A Warforged and his Psicrystal). You can sustain the ricochet through the night, and build up on it further the next morning.

Wouldn't taking free actions to redirect a large number of spells every 6 seconds not count as rest? Even if you don't need to sleep, I doubt your DM would allow you to regain spells/power points.

[JeminiZero]

Originally Posted by Tehnar

Is there a set number of spells a spellblade can absorb?

Nope.

Originally Posted by Darkxarth

Wouldn't taking free actions to redirect a large number of spells every 6 seconds not count as rest? Even if you don't need to sleep, I doubt your DM would allow you to regain spells/power points.

Then get 2 sleepless minions and 3 spellblades.

[Asbestos]

Would this work with Warlock generated magic? Infinite Eldritch attacks is still outrageous and you don't need that 'rest' nonsense.

[druid91]

Now I'm imagining an army of effigy soldiers with spellblades paired up with each other, with wizards nearby charging them up. Then they attack and vaporize everything.

[Lysander]

I like to imagine a trio of immortal wizards who have been charging up their spell blades for several hundred years in preparation for an epic battle. Then when the time comes they attack with thousands of spells in one round.

[JeminiZero]

Originally Posted by Asbestos

Would this work with Warlock generated magic? Infinite Eldritch attacks is still outrageous and you don't need that 'rest' nonsense.

Unfortunately, Spellblades only work on spells, and Warlock Eldritch Blasts are considered SLAs instead.

Originally Posted by Lysander

I like to imagine a trio of immortal wizards who have been charging up their spell blades for several hundred years in preparation for an epic battle. Then when the time comes they attack with thousands of spells in one round.

Millions of spells. Good point about working in shifts though, I'll add that in.

[Roderick_BR]

I don't know if it works that way. When you "shoot" the spell from your weapon, doesn't it cease to exist in there? It doesn't leave a "copy" behind.

[Flickerdart]

Originally Posted by Roderick_BR

I don't know if it works that way. When you "shoot" the spell from your weapon, doesn't it cease to exist in there? It doesn't leave a "copy" behind.

Yes, it's gone, but then the other spellblade sends it back. You can keep spells going like this indefinitely, so you can add a Scorching Ray a day to the volley and after a year you can loose 365 Scorching Rays as a free action.

[The Glyphstone]

I think what he's doing works like this:

Round 1: Cast Spell X into familiar's Spellblade. Total spells between two blades = 1.
Round 2: Familiar reflects Spell X into owner's Spellblade, owner casts Spell X into familiar's Spellblade. Total spells between two blades = 2.
Round 3: Familiar reflects Spell X into owner's Spellblade, owner reflects spell X into familiar's Spellblade, owner casts spell X into familiar's Spellblade. Total spells between two blade = 3.
Round 4: Familiar reflects 2 Spell X's into owner's Spellblade, owner reflects spell X into familiar's Spellblade, owner casts spell X into familiar's Spellblade. Total spells between two blades = 4.
...
...profit!!!
...
Round N: Familiar and owner stop bouncing between each other, and take N free actions to release N instances of Spell X at target enemy.

[balistafreak]

From a wider viewpoint, this spell doesn't let you break spells-per-day economy. If an enemy takes fifteen Scorching Rays to kill, you're going to need to cast 15 Scorching Rays one-by-one, whether into your foe or into your Spellblade network. This trick doesn't let you get extra spells per day, which is what I (confusedly) thought at first with the whole "millions" number being thrown around.

(Seriously, think about how many spells per day even a Wizard20 gets, then think of a million. You'll probably never even hit 100 "unused" (and then stored) spells during standard adventuring.)

That being said, it does let you break action economy in tactical combat with preparation. Firing your full allotment of spells-per-day (and possibly then some if you had extra spells the day before) within a single turn is still mighty-fine. And by mighty-fine, I mean that's how your enemies will be after that single turn.

[Mushroom Ninja]

Originally Posted by balistafreak

From a wider viewpoint, this spell doesn't let you break spells-per-day economy.

It lets you pump all your unused instances of the spell into the blades at the end of the day, effectively letting you save them. So yes, it does break the spells/day economy to some extent, assuming that you have minions to man the blades through the night.

[Milskidasith]

Originally Posted by balistafreak

From a wider viewpoint, this spell doesn't let you break spells-per-day economy. If an enemy takes fifteen Scorching Rays to kill, you're going to need to cast 15 Scorching Rays one-by-one, whether into your foe or into your Spellblade network. This trick doesn't let you get extra spells per day, which is what I (confusedly) thought at first with the whole "millions" number being thrown around.

(Seriously, think about how many spells per day even a Wizard20 gets, then think of a million. You'll probably never even hit 100 "unused" (and then stored) spells during standard adventuring.)

That being said, it does let you break action economy in tactical combat with preparation. Firing your full allotment of spells-per-day (and possibly then some if you had extra spells the day before) within a single turn is still mighty-fine. And by mighty-fine, I mean that's how your enemies will be after that single turn.

The spells don't expire, so you can cast twenty schorching rays today and regain the slots tomorrow.

[DragoonWraith]

Also, "millions" was only thrown around when talking about a trio of Immortal Wizards who have been doing this for millenia in preparation for some final showdown with the apocalypse or whatever.

[Mushroom Ninja]

Originally Posted by DragoonWraith

Also, "millions" was only thrown around when talking about a trio of Immortal Wizards who have been doing this for millenia in preparation for some final showdown with the apocalypse or whatever.

I don't think a trio wizards would even need millenia to get 1,000,000+ spells. If they are 13th level with 24 INT, each wizard could contribute 5110 Orbs of Force each year. That means in ~65 years, you get 1000000 orbs.

EDIT: If they're focused-specialist conjurors, it only gets quicker.

[tonberrian]

Would Repeating Spell and Echoing Spell synergize with this to cascade one spell into a nigh-infinite number of copies?

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

I have already looked at such a thing. My copy of PGtF was sitting on that very page.

Its quite TO, but works RAW, though see below.

Some Thoughts:
1 This only works with one spell
2 It does not multiply spells, so this requires even more outside help from spellcasters to give you a spell. Otherwise if you want to be the caster, you sacrifice your spellcasting for one spell (not a good idea imo)
3 The weapon does not state that it is capable of holding more than 1 of the same type of spell. "When the wielder is next subjected" obviously should be interpreted as a limitation.
(4) This requires a familiar (just like pun-pun) or another party member. Most tricks involving these are not considered by the authors.

The crux here is whether you want to give into an interpretation that screams abuse. Its not the choice between something cool and interesting, its the choice between RAI and NI silliness.

[Random_person]

You could throw in the Beth-null sorc for even more ludicrous power: as a standard action, produce an infinite number of spells eternally bouncing between the spellblades.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Originally Posted by PlzBreakMyCmpAn

3 The weapon does not state that it is capable of holding more than 1 of the same type of spell. "When the wielder is next subjected" obviously should be interpreted as a limitation.

Of course, if you read that as a limitation, then you could also read that as meaning it can only absorb and redirect one spell ever: "The wielder of a spellblade weapon is immune to a single spell chosen at the time the weapon is created.[...]When the wielder is next subjected to the chosen spell, the weapon absorbs it."

[Zergrusheddie]

I am failing to see the jumping effect giving an infinite amount of charged between the two. I see the power in dumping all of your Power Points or Spell Slots into the swords and then unloading all of them as a Free Action. Load up with Orb of Fires or something, go into combat, Celerity, shoot out enough balls of fire to make Jerry Lee Lewis jealous.

[druid91]

Originally Posted by Zergrusheddie

I am failing to see the jumping effect giving an infinite amount of charged between the two. I see the power in dumping all of your Power Points or Spell Slots into the swords and then unloading all of them as a Free Action. Load up with Orb of Fires or something, go into combat, Celerity, shoot out enough balls of fire to make Jerry Lee Lewis jealous.

Well the idea is that you can pump spells into the loop whenever, so the wizard burn all his 3rd level spell slots on fireballs to send into this loop leaves it to his companions, goes to sleep for hours and does it again, rinse and repeat until you have enough power within that loop to nuke whatever it is you want to kill.

[The Rabbler]

question: if you were to throw in nothing but scorching rays to this tennis, couldnt you also direct all but one ray at something else?

because you're still shooting at least one ray at the other spellblade, it stores up a scorching ray cast by a caster level x. then on the next round the other spellblade-wielder shoots out the scorching ray and aims at least one ray back into the first spellblade.

so you could keep the tennis going and launching extra rays at other people. does this work?

[druid91]

From what has been given here that sounds like it would work, as from what JeminiZero says you can redirect them anywhere, but the only point I could see would be holding back on something. Which you could do normally, so why waist the power?

[tyckspoon]

Originally Posted by druid91

From what has been given here that sounds like it would work, as from what JeminiZero says you can redirect them anywhere, but the only point I could see would be holding back on something. Which you could do normally, so why waist the power?

If you accept 1 ray worth of the spell=capturing the whole spell, then it allows you to discharge your Spellblades without actually discharging them. You get less output in that one nova-burst round, but because the 'tennis' rally was maintained between the Spellblades you can fire it off next round as well.

[Bucky]

If I'm reading this right, even with only a short lead-in time you can still use the trick with a cheap wand providing the spells to produce a shower of, say, 50 magic missiles at the start of combat. Or with a different wand/spell to have a dozen dispel magics ready for counterspelling as a free action.

In fact, the wand version lets a couple of level-1 noncasters pull it off if they don't have to pay for the Spellblades.

[Brock Samson]

So.... you pay/enslave a few level 1 warforged commoners to do this, give them each a spellblade with something like magic missle stored, give them all eternal wands of magic missle, have them UMD assuming they'll then add 1 spell every 10 days/wand (2 tries/day means rolling a 20 every 10 days). Come back to them centuries later when you're epic level and have to face some monstrosity no one could destroy, and steal the built-up spell-network they've been doing. Proceed to nuke planet. As a monk.