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View Full Version : [3.5] Legion of Sentinels



Xan_Kriegor
2011-01-15, 11:51 PM
The spell, as written in the PHB2 pg. 116:
Legion of Sentinels
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Beguiler 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: 10-ft.-radius emanation centered
on a point in space
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

A phalanx of spectral swordfighters appears. Their blades are drawn, and they stand ready to strike.

A ghostly, incorporeal swordfighter appears in each square covered by this spell’s area. A swordfighter can share a space with another creature or object. Each swordfighter threatens the squares adjacent to it and can make one attack of opportunity per round. The swordfighters do not hinder movement, block terrain, or block line of effect. They can flank an opponent
with each other and with your allies. Each swordfighter has hit points equal to twice your caster level and an Armor Class of 25. It makes saving throws or checks with a bonus equal to your caster level.
Material Component: A pewter swordfighter miniature figure.

Errata posted on the Wizards site:Should include the following text at the end of its description: “The swordsmen’s attacks are at a bonus equal to your caster level, they threaten critical hits on a 19 or 20, and they deal 1d8 points of slashing damage with a +1 bonus per three caster levels (max +5). They only make attacks of opportunity, and their weapon damage is slashing and is affected by damage reduction.”

Can the swordfighters make multiple AoOs per round? Would it make the spell OP if they could? I was thinking that a few sculpted Legion of Sentinels (into a 120-ft. line) running parallel to a fortress wall/gate would be one of the best defenses against an invading army, until I realized they could rush through and only the first few soldiers per group would die. What does the mighty Playground think?

dextercorvia
2011-01-16, 12:47 AM
The range is a little short for your idea. A 20th level caster could only get 75 feet of that line. Plus, you can't cast it from inside the wall that way. A line moves away from the caster.

The 20' spread is better anyway. You get 61 squares that way, as opposed to the line, which even if you had full range, would only give 48 squares.

From the reading of the spell, they seem to only attack your enemies, and would be better than greater invisibility for the party rogue.

ETA: The spell says one AoO per round.

AslanCross
2011-01-16, 12:55 AM
Each of the soldiers makes one AOO per round by RAW. That's it.

Greenish
2011-01-16, 01:10 AM
The range is a little short for your idea. A 20th level caster could only get 75 feet of that line.What do you mean? 120' line is a 120' line, surely.
Plus, you can't cast it from inside the wall that way. A line moves away from the caster.Yeah, so you stand atop the wall and shoot it along the wall.

The 20' spread is better anyway. You get 61 squares that way, as opposed to the line, which even if you had full range, would only give 48 squares.The line is better if you have to, say, defend a narrow area from being crossed from several points.

Xan_Kriegor
2011-01-16, 01:12 AM
The range is a little short for your idea. A 20th level caster could only get 75 feet of that line. Plus, you can't cast it from inside the wall that way. A line moves away from the caster.

The 20' spread is better anyway. You get 61 squares that way, as opposed to the line, which even if you had full range, would only give 48 squares.[...]

:smallconfused: From my understanding of the Sculpt Spell metamagic feat from Cityscape, any AoE spell can be turned into a 120-ft. line. Was it later updated and I'm just not aware?

And as far as direction of the line, what I was thinking of but never said was that the city would have magic traps out in the field that would be casting LoS and could be activated from inside, allowing for the parallel-to-wall angle. But admittedly it depends on whether the entrance to your city is wide or narrow for what angle you want to cast it at.

EDIT: Evil swordsage//ninjas! :smalltongue:

tyckspoon
2011-01-16, 01:19 AM
:smallconfused: From my understanding of the Sculpt Spell metamagic feat from Cityscape, any AoE spell can be turned into a 120-ft. line. Was it later updated and I'm just not aware?


There's a relatively obscure bit of the rules in how Range and Area interact-

A spell’s range is the maximum distance from you that the spell’s effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the spell’s point of origin. If any portion of the spell’s area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted.

It's the reason all those point-blank personal emanation spells like Antilife Shell and Detect Magic have a Range entry, despite being defined primarily by the area they cover measured from the caster. If you Shape a spell outside of its natural range, the excess portion just vanishes.

dextercorvia
2011-01-16, 08:31 AM
What Tyckspoon said. This is the reason why all of those low level cone spells are only so-so for shaping. They usually have a fixed range of 10-15'.

If you centered the 20' ball on a flying opponent spellcaster, would it put sentinels in each 5' cube? Meaning that he could eat 27 AoO's if he forgets to cast defensively?

The Glyphstone
2011-01-16, 10:00 AM
What Tyckspoon said. This is the reason why all of those low level cone spells are only so-so for shaping. They usually have a fixed range of 10-15'.

If you centered the 20' ball on a flying opponent spellcaster, would it put sentinels in each 5' cube? Meaning that he could eat 27 AoO's if he forgets to cast defensively?

Forget, nothing. Legion of Sentinels + Quickened Bigby's Slapping Hand.:smallbiggrin:

dextercorvia
2011-01-16, 05:16 PM
Yet more evidence that only casters can truly make another caster cry.