Talk:Sobering Skeletal Stillness (3.5e Spell)

Spell Level

shouldn't this be a higher level spell? (lev 2 or 3) i mean most low lev creatures have crap fort saves and skeletal bodies it would kick anything undead butts (unless its a spirit) if im wrong can u explain? --Legna6454 08:34, March 24, 2010 (UTC)

Compared to other wizard-level first-level spells (such as color spray or sleep) this spell is fairly comparable--basically any auto-kill for an ally once they coup-de-grace. Sure, this probably would be overpowered in rogue-level or fighter-level games, but wizard-level games are naturally very powerful. --Ghostwheel 08:43, March 24, 2010 (UTC)

Limiting the duration of concentration to one minute per level might be a good idea. I've been testing that in my current campaigns, and it seems to work rather well. It's still a little OP, but that's nothing that can't be adjusted. - Joker (talk) 11:19, 2 September 2018 (MDT)

Unlike color spray and sleep this can hit creature of a much much higher CR, so I agree with joker in that sense. It essentially hold monster without being mind-affecting, which is a bit gosh to put at 1st level. Oh and it bypass immunity to paralysis for some reason. --Leziad (talk) 11:52, 2 September 2018 (MDT)

Come to think of it, the campaigns I'm using it in are pretty high-powered, so it might be more prudent for others to limit it to even one round of concentration per level. Imposing a limit on the HD of the creatures affected by it would definitely be wise, too. As for affecting creatures otherwise immune to paralysis, it makes sense, as it clearly states that it affects only a creature's skeleton, and paralysis is a malfunction of the nervous system.

That said, if creatures immune to poison are also unaffected by a troglodyte's stench ability, then creatures with immunity to paralysis should also be immune to this spell to keep at first-level. Also, it explicitly states that it affects creatures with a skeletal structure, so one would assume that chuuls and umber hulks and other critters with exoskeletons are likewise unaffected. That's how I've been playing it, anyway. I just hope that someone doesn't try to use it on a choker when I'm DMing one of the sessions.... - Joker (talk) 13:25, 5 September 2018 (MDT)

An exoskeleton is still a skeleton; the spell specifically states that it affects exoskeletons normally. Does it ignore chitin-based skeletons while freezing calcium-based skeletons? Also, I am now imagining some dumb sap trying to use this spell to halt a gelatinous cube, and failing exactly as miserably as you would expect. --Luigifan18 (talk) 13:58, 5 September 2018 (MDT)

Whoops. I somehow read the description as "doesn't count." I have no idea how I managed that, but it looks like I may owe one of my players an apology. Oh well. Apart from my spontaneous illiteracy, what do you think of my suggestions? It's really just common sense stuff, anyway, but I think the paralysis thing helps balance it. - Joker (talk) 16:50, 5 September 2018 (MDT)