A spell Xykon uses (SoD spoilers)

[RAGE KING!]

Just a question. I don't know that many spells, and i was wondering, what spell does xykon use in SoD? He uses it when he kills the waitress in the diner, and when he fights lirian (she becomes elf after she's hit with it).

[Chronos]

Against the waitress, it was probably Finger of Death (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fingerOfDeath.htm), which kills instantly. Against Lirian, though, I'm going to guess Energy Drain (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/energyDrain.htm). Xykon knows that's a good option to use against powerful enemy spellcasters (it's what he used to kill Dorukan), since it doesn't allow a save to prevent the effects, and immediately diminishes their magical capabilities. It might also account for de-shifting Lirian, if the negative levels dropped her below the prerequisite level to shift into a dragon form (I'm presuming that's an epic-level use of Wild Shape). Energy Drain could also be what he used against the waitress: If she had few enough hit dice and Xykon was lucky on the roll, it can kill instantly.

There is evidence that Xykon knows both of these spells, so (being a sorcerer) he could cast them at any time, without needing to prepare them.

[Edea]

Think he has the Silent Spell feat? Otherwise, both of those have a Verbal component, and apparently Xykon doesn't say anything when casting them (else there wouldn't be much of a question).

[HomerHT]

My vote is for Generic Blast Spell A.

The huecava uses it against Hinjo, as well. Tsukiko also uses it.

As far as I can recall, there's no spell in D&D that is simply "a beam hits you and does damage, but it's not disintegration." Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Lightning Bolt, but that doesn't look like lightning. Scorching Ray, but that deals too little damage and looks different when V casts it here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0065.html). Energy Ray, but that's a Psionic Power.

I'm liking Chronos's theory.

EDIT: I'm guessing you're referring to Tsukiko's spells here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0446.html). It's interesting because she seems to be casting two spells at once (one divine and therefore blue, one arcane and therefore grey...which also matches up with her heterochromatic eyes. Interesting, never noticed that before.) No real guesses as to what either one is.

At any rate, I think the lack of spell name in each case comes from the fact that they're talking while casting, and it wouldn't fit into the flow of dialog.

[donkyhotay]

At any rate, I think the lack of spell name in each case comes from the fact that they're talking while casting, and it wouldn't fit into the flow of dialog.

I don't think so, in this comic:
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0112.html
Xykon says 'magic missile' continually while having an in-depth conversation with roy. To avoid confusion it's just outside of the main text bubble. While not necessary I think giant could easily continue this for other spells, at least ones with a verbal component.

[David Argall]

I'd say these are spells of Cool-Looking Effects, which have no necessary mention in any of the holy texts. But given there are a dozen or so books that offer spells, there is likely one that fits.

[Edea]

Yeah, I mean he has "Moderately Escapable Forcecage," for chrissakes. Most likely versions of the D&D staples he 'researched' to not have those components (good grief, he uses them often enough, I don't fault him).

[Nu]

It might also account for de-shifting Lirian, if the negative levels dropped her below the prerequisite level to shift into a dragon form (I'm presuming that's an epic-level use of Wild Shape).

Actually I'm almost certain that Lirian used Shapechange to turn into the dragon, not Wild Shape.

[Green and Red]

Dragon Wild shape is an epic level feat, so it could be both

[Ancalagon]

I think he uses a Level 6 Spell, called "Slay in the Name of Plot". :)

[JasonDoomsblade]

[QUOTE=Nerd-o-rama;3204070]Lightning Bolt, but that doesn't look like lightning. Scorching Ray, but that deals too little damage and looks different when V casts it here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0065.html). Energy Ray, but that's a Psionic Power.[QUOTE=Nerd-o-Rama;3204070]

Lightning Bolt can paralyze whilst Scorching Ray can leave a burn.

[Chronos]

We often see characters speaking the name of a spell, but not always. Compare Vaarsuvius' lightning bolt (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0397.html), for instance. And the Giant specifically says somewhere that V doesn't have Silent Spell.

[Wolfman42666]

Does the verbal component have to be the spells name in DnD? and if so is it in Mr Burlew's world?:smallamused:

Also of topic I assume the colour that appears around each (spellcasters) hand when casting a spell is there IME, if so is there any way to deactive this, ie lose the effect, so you can cast a spell without immediatley alerting others (an illusion)

[GSFB]

As far as I can recall, there's no spell in D&D that is simply "a beam hits you and does damage, but it's not disintegration." Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are wrong...

Any number of spells could do just that, even disintegration: if you save, you merely take damage.

[Closet_Skeleton]

Lightning Bolt can paralyze whilst Scorching Ray can leave a burn.

Is that some kind of Pokemon reference or am I just tired?

[Chronos]

I stand corrected on one point: When Lirian changes into the dragon, she says "Shapechange", so it was the spell, not Wild Shape. I don't think there's any mechanism in the rules as written for an Energy Drain (or any other blasty spell) to undo a Shapechange, short of killing. So that at least would be a case of artistic license.

[Senex]

I suspect that OotS universe has some sort of a house rule that causes negative levels to affect spells with duration per caster level retroactively. This would explain how Xykon knocks Lirian out of Shapechange, as well as how his Energy Drains negated Durokan's Fly.

[Trixie]

Durkon can fly? :smallconfused:

Where? :smallamused:

[Ancalagon]

Next to the missing "u". :)