As we all know, the spell "Call Lightning" can only be used while raining - and, it comes with the hefty damage of 1d10/level.
In traditional D&D, you can use the spell without rain, dealing 1d6/level - and with rain, 1d10/level.
This suggestion is basically to give the spell a purpose outside of the rare occasion it does rain when you NEED it so it's not useless in your spell slot.
I suggest that we turn the spell into 1d6/level without rain, and 1d10/level with rain - or, if that is overpowering, 1d4/level without rain, and 1d10/level with rain.
Comments?
It's been debated countless times. I'd be down for the 1d6 without rain and 1d10 during, but it probably won't happen.
It is powerful enough with 1d10 while raining; you would have to decrease that if you wanted to add anything new this would have to be decreased; personally I would just leave it at 1d10 / level
The only able to use when raining makes no sense at all to me. I am for any changes that make this magical spell be able to call a magical bolt of lighting from the sky/clouds.
Definitely no; the spell is powerful while it's raining and useless while it's not, which makes it far more interesting.
The better option is to give druids a way to make it rain!
It's 3rd circle, normally doing d6/level, the same as any of the wizards 3rd circle AoE spells.
Druids only get less spellslots to use it and if they make call lightning full PvP it should be fine.
Another issue is that it damages EVERYTHING. Does it damage the caster as well?
No, it only hurts hostile creatures I believe.
Quote from: Relinquish;180004It's 3rd circle, normally doing d6/level, the same as any of the wizards 3rd circle AoE spells.
Druids only get less spellslots to use it and if they make call lightning full PvP it should be fine.
Yes lets make fireball only during the day because without the heat of the sun it wont burn.
Seriously though, one of the only druid damage spells is rendered useless. Also the weather system doesn't always work right, in the QA right off an area it might not be raining when it should be. I would personally rather see it reverted back or damage reduced to 1d8 when raining and 1d6 when not, if possible.
It does indeed damage the caster.
We've discussed this as DMs and will probably grant excellent PCs whose concept demands lots of use this spell the ability to call in thunderstorms/rain.
Not to mention rain is not rare on Ymph.
Quote from: Caddies;180074We've discussed this as DMs and will probably grant excellent PCs whose concept demands lots of use this spell the ability to call in thunderstorms/rain.
Seems a bit backwards in the reasoning though, to me.
Quote"I'm a druid of Akadi. I like using lightning against my foes, and shall rock out by doing it"
*becomes excellent WITHOUT using lightning because it's so unreliable*
*gets a "Call Thunderstorm, Watch Out You Bastards Tool"*
Furthermore, it puts a mechanical gulf between those who haul round an often useless spell on the off chance they can use it, and those who manage to attract DM attention. Call Lightning is a flavourful spell but very all or nothing. It's ironically better as a consumable than as a cast spell because a scroll or device isn't taking up a spellslot when it can't be used.
1d4 when it's not raining doesn't seem OP at all. However, if not, perhaps a better idea would be a single use Rain Totem a druid can use to make it rain in an area. That would mean you wouldn't be able to call rain at will, but you WOULD have the option of calling in rain when you absolutely needed it.
@GoblinSapper. If you weren't sure, it's an aimable spell, it doesn't call lightning onto your position.
In 3.5, the way Call Lighting works is this: It takes one round to cast, and then after that, it lasts for 3 rounds, where you are able to fire a bolt of lightning at a single target dealing 1d6 damage per level.
The damage changes to 1d10 if there is any cloud cover at all. A druid is normally able to pull lightning from the sky. The obvious change to this is that in nwn, the ability is an AoE, where in 3.5, it's single-target. This has already been mentioned, but Call Lightning is the druid's really only formidable damage spell accessible before level 9.
I vote for a SERIOUS reconsideration of this spell at 1D6 no rain, 1D10 (1D8!?) while raining. Frankly I don't care so much about the damage (which is POWERFUL) but I want to USE this SPELL!!! To call even weak lightning from a clear sky is what offensive magic (and most magic IMO) is all about. This spell is awesome for RP, intimidating and possibly useful in the future. (how bout 1D4/lvl and fear ;) OR maybe 1d6/lvl only to one target? )
Magic is magical for a reason and I understand why this spell wouldn't work in a cave for example, however I emphatically PLEAD to allow use of the spell Call Lightning without the prerequisite rain. I'm not sure if its hard to script or not nor would I like to see the mechanical balance swayed. More so I vote for the awesomeness that is having your PC CALLING DOWN THA THUNDER!
Quote"I'm a druid of Akadi. I like using lightning against my foes, and shall rock out by doing it"
*becomes excellent WITHOUT using lightning because it's so unreliable*
*gets a "Call Thunderstorm, Watch Out You Bastards Tool"*
Pretty sure you can be a sweet, exciting PC without HAVING to cast Call Lightning. Excellence in RP, strength of concept, and the like. It exists beyond being able to cast a specific spell at specific times.
Maybe changing the spell a bit to if it doesn't rain, call rain. If it's already raining, do lightning. That way it'll make druids able to call rain but use two slots if they do it to call lightning.
Excellent idea. Don't forget about clerics who wield divine given powers from gods, however.
I do like that idea. Wonder if we can script it...
If so, maybe it could be a round / level type effect that effects the area only. It would also need to check for proper area types I imagine, unless you plan to further modify the spell to be used indoors and create a difference effect. ( I believe it used to summon boulders or something here when indoors?)
Either way, any improvement or implementation of that idea would be amazing.
I like LPFF's idea. Otherwise, I fail to see anything wrong with the spell currently. Call Lightning was devestating before the change in the sense you could cast it without harming allies (Yes, you can spam it with a Call Lightning wand on that orc hoard and never hit your allies) now, limited use states that you need to be careful preparing for this spell. Do we really want druids being able to call in storms, and unleash this devastating spell?
I used this spell to massive effectiveness in PvP on my druid, subduing three of the 6 people in a party in one spell.
Call lighting is only usefull when cast from wands or items, because it's too unreliable.
I like Caddies idea.
A suggestion: those who think the spell needs to be changed ought to try the spell out first. Perhaps this is a mistaken impression, but it really seems like anyone who has actually used the spell in its current form is satisfied with keeping it the way it is.
I admit it, i never, EVER used it. The thing is, i did try to, many, many times. It never worked out, because it never rained when it was necesary, or usefull.
Please don't forget about this thread... fix call lightning and BRING DOWN THE THUNDER!!!
It is a tight spell calling lighting down on the enemy and all but it sucks that it needs rain and something because other spells do not need rain life fireball and stuff which are not so differnent but not the same because they are different kanawhatimeanog?
So I think it would be cool. I mean CALL LIGHTNGNING is like the most badass thing any talos dude or chick can do, and if there has to be rain, how can it be badass? I mean what if a dude comes to you and is like
"Man you should call some lightning on those fools."
And you would be like
"Nah man I can't it is not raining so I rather let those sorcerers and wizards cast their spells while I prepared my call lightning hoping that thwre will be a slight chance that it rains so I can seem badass. Some people will be like "man you just have to find the weather machine or find a way to change the weather": but that just wont happen for most people because tehy do not reallly have the inspioration and stuff.
Level 9 druid - Empowered Spell - Call Lightning. The fact that you can only cast this spell in the rain seems perfectly fair to me. On these rare occasions you can be dishing out upto 130 electrical damage from a single cast. This gives druids + clerics(with the domain) a pretty awesome fear factor. I don't think you should be able to "call rain" this would make it far too powerful - Or you could have people dishing out 300+ Damage in 4 rounds which is far too powerful given the low magic setting.
lightning bolt=evocation and wizards can cast it anywhere.
call lighting=evocation
Evocation creates something from nothing, like the wizard creates a fireball or ice storm. no need for heat, flame, or cold to be around or something. but druids need it to rain to use their coolest offensive spell which is evocation like so many of the spell which create awesome destructive stuff out of nothing
Lets play for fun's idea is great, imo.
*bump* Any Consensus...can we plz make Call Lightning cooler?
Thanks! :)
My character was a former raincaller. I think having a way of actually calling the rain would be excellent.
If call lightning can make it rain, then could an empowered call lightning turn a sunny day into a thunderstorm? That would be sweet.
Making call lightning start a small rain if it is not raining already sounds like an exelent idea to me.
Has anything been done to improve/change Call Lightning because that would be REALLY cool or is this a dead thread?
Quote from: Zymnarkmar;189017Has anything been done to improve/change Call Lightning because that would be REALLY cool or is this a dead thread?
This dude (//%22http://www.escapefromunderdark.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42046&highlight=Vergil+Halender%22)
Still, I'd argue for if not rain calling then 1d4 damage or even 1d2 just for the visual effect in a clear sky, purely for RP reasons. Blue41 has done some excellent sermons, but his signature trick of WOO LIGHTNING only works on occasion. It's always cool to see him nuke offerings to Talos just because he can. It is the dog's bollocks for PVP if there's rain, and rain calling would mean that it hasted, or a caster team could be brutal. For example L5 caster drops a normal one for rain, then his L9 buddy drops an empowered one. Goodnight, heretics.