Spell Variants

[Dead Greyhawk]

Shield
The Shield spell still grants AC 2, but any strikes upon the shield with a critical hit will degrade the shield’s AC rating just as if it was normal armor. A strike upon a Shield spell with a Magic Missile does no harm to the target mage, but the Magic Missile spell automatically reduces the Shield spell AC by one. Shield spells can only absorb magic missiles as long as they provide armor class protection, a maximum of eight.

Find Familiar
A mage casting find familiar must make a CON check of 1d6 per each 5 hour period the spell is in effect, representing the rigors of the spell. When a mage casts the Find Familiar spell, the mage will roll 1d10; on a 1-5 the familiar is a normal animal, 6-8 the familiar is 'special', on a 9-10 there is no familiar in range. Subsequent to such a roll, the DM will determine in which hour the familiar arrives.

Web
The Web spell binds the target in an immobile state. Spells only requiring verbal actions may be cast. Items in hand may be activated by command word with the grenade-like weapons table being consulted to determine the target. If lit on fire, the web will do 1d8 in damage, save against breath weapon for half. Creatures bound in the web can be struck with melee weapons by characters outside the web for damage as if they are immobilized. A 4d6 STR check must be made to retain use of the weapon. Missile weapons may not be shot or thrown into a web at creatures.

Fireball
The Fireball spell creates a ball of fire of fixed diameter, not spreading down corridors or through doors. Any area occluded or blocked does not contribute to the expansion of the ball of fire.

[Dead Greyhawk]

Cure Light Wounds
The Cure Light Wounds spell will not heal fewer hit points than the level of the cleric or druid. All rolls below the level of the cleric or druid will be increased to the cleric or druid level.

[Dead Greyhawk]

Write
A mage using this spell can scribe into his or her spellbook a new spell. This spell can be written from another spellbook, in which case the spell remains in the spellbook, or from a scroll, in which case the spell disappears from the scroll. The probability of successfully writing a spell is determined through the use of Intelligence Table II: Ability for Magic-users on p. 10 of the Players Handbook. The Chance to Know Each Listed Spell is the base probability of successfully writing a spell into a spellbook. This probability is modified by the ability of the caster to memorize and cast the spell. If the caster is unable to memorize and cast the spell, the chance of successfully writing a spell is modified downward 5% for each level between the level of the caster and the required level to cast the spell. Thus, a first level mage with an 18 intelligence has a base chance of 85%. This mage would have an 85% chance of writing cantrips or first level spells, a 75% chance of writing second level spells, a 65% chance of writing third level spells, and so on. Conversely, a higher level mage has an equal enhanced probability of writing spells the mage can already cast. A fifth level mage with an 18 intelligence has an 85% chance of writing a third level spell, a 95% chance of writing a second level spell, and a 99% chance of writing a first level spell or cantrip. Rolls of 00 are automatic failures and rolls of 01 are automatic successes, regardless of actual probability. Write requires the use of magic-based inks at a minimum cost of 100 GP per spell per spell level.

[venger]

admin said:

Shield
The Shield spell still grants AC 2, but any strikes upon the shield with a critical hit will degrade the shield’s AC rating just as if it was normal armor. A strike upon a Shield spell with a Magic Missile does no harm to the target mage, but the Magic Missile spell automatically reduces the Shield spell AC by one. Shield spells can only absorb magic missiles as long as they provide armor class protection, a maximum of eight.

Does one apply any dexterity bonus to the Shield modified armor class? And/or the bonus of any protective rings/cloaks/amulets?

[Dead Greyhawk]

Yes, but not normal or magical armor.

A caster with a shield spell on and Bracers of AC4 does not get a 6 point adjustment to the shield spell AC. A caster with a shield spell on who also has a DEX of 18 would get a 4 point adjustment as usual for DEX (front and flank, but not rear attacks). A caster with a shield spell on who also is wearing a cloak of protection +3 would get a 3 point adjustment overall.

[venger]

admin said:

Yes, but not normal or magical armor.

A caster with a shield spell on and Bracers of AC4 does not get a 6 point adjustment to the shield spell AC. A caster with a shield spell on who also has a DEX of 18 would get a 4 point adjustment as usual for DEX (front and flank, but not rear attacks). A caster with a shield spell on who also is wearing a cloak of protection +3 would get a 3 point adjustment overall.

a most judicious ruling

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