(So a mindflayer could still send an unwilling target to the Dimension of Pain, but it would have to go as well. ![]() Three alternatives (aside from leaving it as-is) have been proposed so far, by the way:ġ, planeshift can be split into two spells, one for utility transportation and one for offensive shifting.Ģ, a reinterpretation of the rules that calls for the shifter to travel with whatever he/she/it shifts. It is my sacred duty as DM to address those concerns (or at least give lip service to doing so), thus my query here. merely some concern that the rules (as interpreted) were somewhat unbalanced in favor of the 'thids, and potentially, down the line, in favor of the Planeshift spell in general. There were no complaints from the players that I had acted unfairly given the rules as interpreted (This may be partially because the character escaped her intended doom via a set of ominous and foreboding circumstances). Plus the character had seen them planeshift offensively once before, so she knew what she was getting into. The Illithid successfully cast defensively, for the record. Of course, it's ALREADY level 7 for mages.but that's an entirely different gripe. Given these things, I'd tend to suggest either removing the offensive capabilities of the spell, or upgrading the spell level. Granted, it does a lot more damage on a successful save, but it also has no noncombat usability. ![]() The closest spell that does this is Destruction.which is level 7. This means that ONLY a Resurrection or a True Resurrection will suffice. An unusual and counterintitive tactic, that, even when available, impedes the caster quite a bit as well.įor another, the body's gone. Death Ward? No problem! The only defense is to have a Dimensional Anchor active, on *oneself*. Vampires can painlessly be shifted to the Positive Material plane, thus deftly circumventing their legendary resistance to true death. However, I would posit that Planeshift, when used this way, is in many ways worse.įor one, it's not a necromancy effect, meaning that nothing's immune to it. Slay Living is indeed a save or die spell of equal effect, and does indeed do damage on a successful save. A simple change in the spell's target from "creature or creatures" to "WILLING creature or creatures," would solve that issue. However, I do question the wisdom of making a spell that was clearly designed to be a transportation spell into a powerful save or die spell as well. The mind flayer in question could have blasted the player, who on failing the save becomes stunned, and the illithid's next lunch. To that extent, planeshift as insta-death isn't adding much to their arsenal. After all, if you fail the save against mind blast, you're pretty much toast if there's no one else around to whomp on it. Illithid are, by their natures, given to "save or die" situations. The question is one that deserves a thought-out response, I think. I would be interested to know what rules have been successfully employed for focus regulation, and if anyone else has encountered concerns about spell balance in general, how those concerns have been approached. Even so, the dual applications of save-or-die and transportation utility have caused some of my players to call the balance of the spell into question (particularly for Clerics, who get it as a mere 5th level spell). The players' use of Planeshift as a save or die spell is somewhat limited by the material focus requirements. but a death in the Plane of Negative Energy is a single touch attack and failed will save away. ![]() Because the Illithid do not require the planar foci, they can shift their enemies to any plane they wish (IMC, it must be a plane the Illithid has visited personally, but that is a trivial constraint because Astral Projection lets them visit virtually any plane they desire.) Brain extraction requires at least two rounds of opposed grapple checks and whatnot. In the hands of mindflayers, it is potentially devastatingly unpleasant. ![]() After the session ended, my players and I discussed the implications of the attack applications of this spell. and it reached out with its slimy, bruse-colored, four fingered hand and planeshifted her to certain DOOM. She stabbed it, carving out half of its HP with a single blow. Last night a character in my game ran into a lone Illithid (it was nearly as surprised as she was).
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