In the same line as Daze and Sleep, maybe Scare can have its "up to 5 HD" cap lifted (when cast by a PC, if there are wand/item concerns), in exchange for lowering the DC.
Ways to lower the DC:
- 1 for every 2 levels over 4 (starting at level 6, then)
- The difference between the caster and the target
- Both handicaps, together
The second handicap can even be applied for, say, a level 3 targeting a level 5 (which is currently possible) - this makes Scare universally less reliable, but more versatile.
Other things that can be done:
- 1d3 round duration if the target is level 6
- 1d2 round duration if the target is level 7
- 1 round duration if the target is level 8+
Given that the targets will already have at least 2 more Will by virtue of being over level 5, -1 to -3 to the DC, and a larger net bonus if the caster is a lower level than the target, there will be a less-than-50%-chance on creatures that have 10 WIS and no base Will bonus, to say nothing of how unlikely it would be to even get Scare off against a level 8 target with
any Will bonus/gear - and even then, for a single round.
Yeah. I dont like these suggestions :( They are not very interesting spells anyway... We'll focus on doing interesting things rather than modifying or debating modification on spells that nobody care about.