Scorpion Tail Gimmick

[Hanuman]

DROW Sorc/Wiz 3
Scorpion Tail(RoE p190)
<Trans, VS, 1StdAct, Touch, 1rnd/lvl>
– The touched target grows a magical scorpion
tail. As a Free Action each round, the target
may make a Melee attack with the tail at full
attack bonus against an adjacent foe. If the
attack hits, the tails does 2d6 + Strength
modifier Piercing damage (no save) and the
foe is Stunned for 1 round (FortNeg). The
tail attack is treated as ‘magic’ for purposes
of overcoming Damage Reduction.
Note: This spell may only be cast by Drow.

Plus
Sorc/Wiz 1
True Strike(PH p296)
<Div, VF(tiny archery target), 1StdAct, Personal>
– Add +20 Insight bonus to your next attack roll
within 1 round. Also negates miss chance
due to Concealment.

Essentially a cute little build where you can strike for 2D6+STR/round with a +20 and stun for as long as you have 1st level spell slots.

Better ways to op this, just thought it was cute =]

[JackMage666]

It seems good, except for the fact that True Strike requires a Standard action, so you're only attacking every other round. So, if the target passes the Fort save, you're probably not in terribly great shape.

[Hanuman]

It seems good, except for the fact that True Strike requires a Standard action, so you're only attacking every other round. So, if the target passes the Fort save, you're probably not in terribly great shape.
Scorpion tail is a free attack :smallwink:

[Urpriest]

It seems good, except for the fact that True Strike requires a Standard action, so you're only attacking every other round. So, if the target passes the Fort save, you're probably not in terribly great shape.

The tail attack is a free action.

[Thurbane]

Could you Power Attack with the tail?

[Flickerdart]

2d6 damage per round is not very impressive at 5th level, especially considering you have to eat the Drow LA. Would be pretty decent on an Arcane Trickster or Unseen Seer build, since you deal Sneak Attack damage against stunned opponents. Would be better when shared with a Raven familiar, who can use a Wand of True Strike and stab your enemy continuously while you do something useful.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

2d6 damage per round is not very impressive at 5th level, especially considering you have to eat the Drow LA. Would be pretty decent on an Arcane Trickster or Unseen Seer build, since you deal Sneak Attack damage against stunned opponents. Would be better when shared with a Raven familiar, who can use a Wand of True Strike and stab your enemy continuously while you do something useful.

You could bypass the LA with lesser drow, but that still means being an elf.:smallyuk:

[Flickerdart]

Lesser Drow is a waste of race, though.

[Hanuman]

2d6 damage per round is not very impressive at 5th level, especially considering you have to eat the Drow LA. Would be pretty decent on an Arcane Trickster or Unseen Seer build, since you deal Sneak Attack damage against stunned opponents. Would be better when shared with a Raven familiar, who can use a Wand of True Strike and stab your enemy continuously while you do something useful.
It uses the spells casting ability for a fort save stun every hit, which at 5th level could be around DC17 or so.

[Flickerdart]

I know. That's still not impressive, considering that for the cost of just one 3rd level spell you could, say, Hold Person them and then use your actions and spell slots for something else. And not have to be a Drow, or in melee range.

Or put multiple foes to sleep with Deep Slumber. Or restrict your foes to only a move action with Stinking Cloud. Leave trading action for action to the Monks who think grappling is a good idea.

[Tengu_temp]

So basically, spend a third level spell and then a first level spell every round to deal negligible damage with a small chance of stun? Not very impressive. I'd rather just spam magic missiles.

[Swooper]

I'm sure someone can come up with something interesting to do with a stunning free action attack in, say, a gish build.

And that spell... does it really require you to be a drow? :smallconfused: Never heard of spells with racial requirements before.

Edit: Huh, you're right. Race as a spell component. Lame. :smallsigh:

[WinceRind]

Might be a cute gimmick, but certainly not the best choice if you plan to be effective.

If you want it for flavour, by all means, get it. But when it comes to the actual gameplay, the save DC of 17 at level 5, against fort no less, might be a tad too weak. Especially considering that the stun only lasts a single round. There are better uses for your 1st level slots for doing damage or other beneficial effects - by level 5 when 3rd level spells become available (if you're a wizard, at least) you are better off just hitting people with magic missile for damage. It's gonna do 3d4 +3 total damage (which is probably going to be about the same as 2d6 + str on average, but with better minimum damage) and have 100% chance to hit. Cause, y'know, with your mighty wizard BAB you might as well not bother hitting things with anything but touch attacks unless you're going for a VERY specific build. And it's not like you're going to have that much strength on top of it to buff up the hit chances, unless you're willing to sacrifice other stats to have fighter-level strength alongside with wizard-level intelligence. Not to mention Dex for AC and Con for health...

For straight wizard, I wouldn't bother. If it lasts long enough, however, you might find it useful for some kind of a gish character - there are plenty of classes that combine arcane casting and good BAB growth and reliance on strength. Spellsword, Eldritch Knight (although I wouldn't call it a very "Good" class") and so on.

If you're trying to be an arcane trickster or otherwise sneak-attack-able wizard, this spell might be a bit more useful. But since it's melee range, you'd have to risk your neck a lot for an extra sneak attack. I suppose that could work. The stun itself could actually prove fairly useful in that case, if you managed to stun them first then hit them with a ray to get more sneak attack damage.

Plus it's a drow...

[Urpriest]

A lesser drow could presumably have the same advantages elves have in being a gish. A gish/unseen seer with the scorpion spell persisted could be good. True Strike spam is not worth it though.

[Hanuman]

I know. That's still not impressive, considering that for the cost of just one 3rd level spell you could, say, Hold Person them and then use your actions and spell slots for something else. And not have to be a Drow, or in melee range.

Or put multiple foes to sleep with Deep Slumber. Or restrict your foes to only a move action with Stinking Cloud. Leave trading action for action to the Monks who think grappling is a good idea.
Well first of all, it could be a pretty amazing magic item.

Second of all, a sparkly purple energy or a smelly cloud or sleeping is never going to be as awesome as a giant scorpion tail on your back impaling people.

[gallagher]

the answer is simple: Human+Able Learner+Use Magic Device

the UMD check to emulate a race is 25, which at level 5 you will have whatever charisma you can dump into that, +8, and i am sure you can easily find ways to up your check.

now you use it as a wand and say TA DA

[Hanuman]

Perfect! And since it's a natural attack doesn't it stack with touch of golden ice to apply a poison vs evil DC14 1D6 dex secondary 2d6 dex?

[Temotei]

Edit: Huh, you're right. Race as a spell component. Lame. :smallsigh:

This would be pretty sweet, actually. Make the race a material component and the race disappears, consumed by the spell. Not only would the character die, but the whole drow race would, too. :smallbiggrin:

That sounds like an epic spell.

[Dusk Eclipse]

A TWF sneak-gish (melee unseen seer for example) might make good use of this. more attacks=more SA.

Hmm hey I might work this into a Sword of the Arcane order Mystic Ranger... Hunter's Eye seems just perfect to be paired with this.