Disable (Compulsion Spell 3.5)

[Lysander]

The blindness spell always seemed a little too evil for a good character's taste. Permanent disability? Here's a less wicked alternative that provides more options.

Disable
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One living creature
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

You cause the subject to believe they are disabled in some fashion, preventing them from using a part of their body or one of their senses. You can choose between rendering the subject blind, deaf, unable to smell, unable to taste, can paralyze one hand leaving it limp and useless, or can weaken one leg giving them a limp that makes it impossible to run or charge. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect, with a cumulative -1 penalty for each time they failed previously. (This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.)

Material
A tiny shard of broken glass or ceramics

[DracoDei]

Kudos on avoiding the problem that, for most PCs casting situations, a debuff with a duration measured in minutes is just as good as one with a perminant duration.

As for "Evil", usually the PCs are going to kill the person anyway... but I guess to cow someone while you talk sense into them this MIGHT be about the right duration.