tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post4780388926532931384..comments2024-03-28T00:41:13.514-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Color SprayJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-11167974818070522522020-02-18T16:55:44.256-08:002020-02-18T16:55:44.256-08:00Don't be too hard on the 2E version - they wer...Don't be too hard on the 2E version - they were trying to compensate for the enormous flaws of the 1E version, and probably had no idea what the original was or where it came from. The biggest disservice that Gygax did to the spell, which you hardly even touched on, was reducing it to a 5' by 20' by 20' wedge. Since it's described as "fan-shaped," I assume the 5' is forward and the 20' are to the left and right; a point-blank spell rather than the 24 scale inches of the original! You'd be hard-pressed to fit more than three giants into that area, and if you've got three giants bearing down on your illusionist in melee then you've got big problems that Color Spray probably isn't going to fix no matter how good it is.<br /><br />Sleep, meanwhile, had a range of either 3" + 1"/level in 1E, or a flat 30 yards in the 2E version that got rid of scale inches. On top of that, Sleep affects a 15' radius* which is a much more favorable area of effect, and it lasts 5 rounds per caster level instead of a mere 2d4 rounds. I can definitely see the logic of "Color Spray sucks in every way compared to Sleep, we should do something to improve it." Maybe their improvement wasn't the perfect fix, but given that they retained the extremely limited range, I've never seen it abused in live play (the Baldur's Gate video games, now that's a different story) <br /><br />* The specification that all targets must be within 30' of each other is not precisely the same as a 30' diameter circle, but close enoughDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285793254382192231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-74544259596588408092020-02-18T15:25:11.070-08:002020-02-18T15:25:11.070-08:00I do like your illusionist from 2015 and I've ...I do like your illusionist from 2015 and I've just re-read both parts. I think that what you said then holds well:<br />"Illusion magic effects no real change in the mundane realm; all that occurs takes place in the minds of those that behold the illusions".Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-58563935448625277862020-02-18T15:09:08.834-08:002020-02-18T15:09:08.834-08:00yes, I think that you are right. You could just ha...yes, I think that you are right. You could just have the save vs spells, modified by wisdom bonus and rationalise it as 'something just didn't seem quite right".Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-43012784952433124512020-02-18T13:38:33.301-08:002020-02-18T13:38:33.301-08:00I do want to get away from the whole amorphous mec...I do want to get away from the whole amorphous mechanic of “disbelief.” You either receive a saving throw for the magic or you don’t. People tend to trust their senses (after years of interacting with the world through them).JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-21930642299620506132020-02-18T12:13:38.002-08:002020-02-18T12:13:38.002-08:00I agree the illusionist spells show be an effect o...I agree the illusionist spells show be an effect on an individual's or mass audience's semses but doesn't actually change reality.Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-9949471321637520152020-02-18T12:11:54.957-08:002020-02-18T12:11:54.957-08:00On the demi plane of colour, I've always viewe...On the demi plane of colour, I've always viewed the plane of Pandemonium in AD&D as being a swirling kaleidoscope of colour and a cacophony of church bells and brass horns.<br /><br />I think that you're right about the Dr Strange angle as I'm a big fan of the comic (my 2nd favourite after Spidey).<br /><br />The streamers should of course be illusory - so no save unless you actively disbelieve.<br />I think that you could consider mapping a stage illusionist tricks to spell effects.<br />Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-67912539441470234832020-02-17T10:13:38.978-08:002020-02-17T10:13:38.978-08:00I always just treated colorspray as a sort of supe...I always just treated colorspray as a sort of super sleep spell that could effect creatures over 4HD (who get saves) but was limited (like most illusions) to the Illusionist maintaining its effect. A really cool laser show like at a good arena rock concert.<br /><br />For me that works with the idea of illusionist magic, much more powerful versions of the mind affecting spells that MUs get but nothing that really bends reality like passwall or fireball.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-42685460204667407052020-02-17T09:16:44.110-08:002020-02-17T09:16:44.110-08:00@ Jacob:
Interesting thought. My first reaction t...@ Jacob:<br /><br />Interesting thought. My first reaction to such a spell is that it is more an MU spell than illusionist magic...it is creating something ("colorful ribbons") and illusionists only seem to draw "substance" (when they do) from the demi-plane of shadow. What...is there a demi-plane of color also?<br /><br />[that's a little too cutesy for my D&D...though it would explain a spell like chromatic orb, which I dislike]<br /><br />On the other hand, if the streamers were pure illusion (targets only SEEM to be bound...) then it's no more than a slight twist on the 3rd level spell paralyzation (itself a twist on the ubiquitous hold person spell)...and I'm just fine with that. <br /><br />Was there something like this in that Doctor Strange movie? I feel like I've seen some similar F/X somewhere.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-10324553191629532152020-02-16T15:42:56.044-08:002020-02-16T15:42:56.044-08:00Enjoying all your posts on this topic and almost a...Enjoying all your posts on this topic and almost all you've written previously.<br /><br />Colour spray is my favourite spell after phantasmal force as it just seems so magical over more mundane spell's such as sleep or fireball. It's just a pity BX doesn't have it.<br /><br />On the illusionist theme, I Think that you should consider spell's which affect the five senses. As well as audible glammer your illusionist needs something which creates illusionary odours or cancels out real ones.<br /><br />Finally I've always thought that an illusionist would benefit from a spell like hold person but which used colourful ribbons or wool to bind the victim to the spot.Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-64375250243859637732020-02-14T13:26:10.347-08:002020-02-14T13:26:10.347-08:00I will check it out. It appears 4E had a spell wit...I will check it out. It appears 4E had a spell with the same name (if not the same effect).JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-50629380485069647462020-02-14T10:10:57.636-08:002020-02-14T10:10:57.636-08:00I released 100% OGC, so you can copy it and use it...I released 100% OGC, so you can copy it and use it all you like. Rainbow colored lighting bolts. For the witch it's an 8th level spell, but I think an illusionist should be able to use it.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-6972812998140868082020-02-14T09:32:59.329-08:002020-02-14T09:32:59.329-08:00I was actually surprise to see Dan Proctor’s versi...I was actually surprise to see Dan Proctor’s version of color spray (in the Advanced Edition Companion for LL) retains the same nonsensical language found in 1E...figured he would have cleaned that up.<br /><br />I think “prismatic lightning” sounds a lot cooler than “prismatic spray.” THAT I might need to steal for my updated spell list.<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-87281304292461991962020-02-14T07:13:56.072-08:002020-02-14T07:13:56.072-08:00Let me second the appreciation for the Illusionist...Let me second the appreciation for the Illusionist posts. It has been a while since I looked at this spell in it's original 1st ed printing. The newer editions do a great job of cleaning this up. So much so that I forgot how the original spell read.<br /><br />On an unrelated note. That illusionist picture was the art I "borrowed" as one of my first witch characters. It so inspired me that in my Pagan Witch book I included color spray and in my Pumpkin Spice witch book I included prismatic spray (and prismatic lightning) as witch spells.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-79254971940873596782020-02-14T00:10:56.411-08:002020-02-14T00:10:56.411-08:00Thanks, Faol. Appreciate that.
: )Thanks, Faol. Appreciate that.<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-91283865593174206802020-02-13T22:07:56.514-08:002020-02-13T22:07:56.514-08:00Just to put in my vote, I'm enjoying your seri...Just to put in my vote, I'm enjoying your series on Illusionists. I've been thinking about how to make a version of the class for <i>White Box FMAG</i>, since they need to exist in the cosmology of the setting I'm currently running (the idea is that they are like fantasy Buddhists, kinda, in that they see the world as illusory, but unlike Buddhists they have learned how to manipulate the illusion to some extent, thus the "shadow" and "demi-shadow" stuff as they gain more of a deep understanding of the illusory nature of reality).<br /><br />Anyway, you're giving me some areas to look out for and to consider fixing in my own version.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-11282907114254791732020-02-13T18:04:58.813-08:002020-02-13T18:04:58.813-08:00Keenan Reynolds is an amazing guy. He is why I con...Keenan Reynolds is an amazing guy. He is why I considered them to begin with!<br /><br />But now I like them because they're the single team in the league who isn't completely generic. Love the unis and the name.Scott Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12067161332003628237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-45876997710434035932020-02-13T18:03:31.271-08:002020-02-13T18:03:31.271-08:00*ahem* But I always root for the home team...even ...*ahem* But I always root for the home team...even the Mariners.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-5230374166598334642020-02-13T18:02:17.860-08:002020-02-13T18:02:17.860-08:00I had soccer match(es) to attend at the same time ...I had soccer match(es) to attend at the same time as the game, but we caught the “highlights” at the bar later that evening. My buddy Steve-O is trying to get me to go to the inaugural home game with him this weekend ($19 per ticket! You can’t even get into a Storm game for that).<br /><br />Here’s the thing: they suck. And their backup QB? He’s an ex-NFL player who was a converted 3rd string WR *before* being cut. I love me som Jimmy Zorn, but I don’t relish the idea of sitting on a metal bleacher in a February downpour (we’ve had record rainfall in Seattle this month...lots of flooding). Think I’d rather mess around with illusionist spells in my warm house.<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-23730231088784246692020-02-13T16:32:23.334-08:002020-02-13T16:32:23.334-08:00Completely off topic. Did you watch the Dragons ga...Completely off topic. Did you watch the Dragons game? Will you invest some energy in rooting for them?Scott Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12067161332003628237noreply@blogger.com