Chilingsworth
2011-10-05, 06:32 PM
Hey Playgrounders!
I was reading through my Spell Compendium and found a 2nd level druid spell called "Splinterbolt."
since we're going to be disscussing the spell, the stats:
SPLINTERBOLT
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One or more streams of
splinters
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You must make a ranged attack to hit
the target. If you hit, the splinterbolt
deals 4d6 points of piercing damage.
A splinterbolt threatens a critical hit on
a roll of 18–20.
You can fire one additional splinterbolt
for every four levels beyond
3rd (to a maximum of three at 11th
level). You can fire these splinterbolts
at the same or different targets, but all
splinterbolts must be aimed at targets
within 30 feet of each other and fired
simultaneously.
A creature’s damage reduction, if any,
applies to the damage from this spell.
The damage from splinterbolt is treated
as magic and piercing for the purpose
of overcoming damage reduction.
Material Component: A splinter of
wood.
Ok, so we have a spell that deals as much damage as a scorching ray, but has a crit threat range of 18-20.
I know there are far better things to do with a druid that use this spell, but for the sake of argument, how much can be achieved by optimizing this spell?
My initial ideas:
improved crit (ranged touch spell) naturally
Empower Spell
the usual metamagic reducers
maybe chain spell (via a metamagic rod)
maybe enlarge spell to increase the spell's range
two things:
1. anything else?
2. what else would a build made with this in mind be good at?
I was reading through my Spell Compendium and found a 2nd level druid spell called "Splinterbolt."
since we're going to be disscussing the spell, the stats:
SPLINTERBOLT
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Druid 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One or more streams of
splinters
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You must make a ranged attack to hit
the target. If you hit, the splinterbolt
deals 4d6 points of piercing damage.
A splinterbolt threatens a critical hit on
a roll of 18–20.
You can fire one additional splinterbolt
for every four levels beyond
3rd (to a maximum of three at 11th
level). You can fire these splinterbolts
at the same or different targets, but all
splinterbolts must be aimed at targets
within 30 feet of each other and fired
simultaneously.
A creature’s damage reduction, if any,
applies to the damage from this spell.
The damage from splinterbolt is treated
as magic and piercing for the purpose
of overcoming damage reduction.
Material Component: A splinter of
wood.
Ok, so we have a spell that deals as much damage as a scorching ray, but has a crit threat range of 18-20.
I know there are far better things to do with a druid that use this spell, but for the sake of argument, how much can be achieved by optimizing this spell?
My initial ideas:
improved crit (ranged touch spell) naturally
Empower Spell
the usual metamagic reducers
maybe chain spell (via a metamagic rod)
maybe enlarge spell to increase the spell's range
two things:
1. anything else?
2. what else would a build made with this in mind be good at?