Another Nightmare Suggestion

[Nekhranokth]

Okay, it was an idea that came to me in IRC.
Without spoilers, let me say that the duration of the bonuses given by using the Nightmare ability have seemed to me to be short to the point of being useless if one is not already in the midst of combat... which is probably unlikely in the circumstance that you have a sleeping creature or PC around to use the ability on. Add to this the twice-a-day limitation for an average Dream Eater and the great variety of defenses against this effect listed in the previous suggestion, and the utility is perhaps much lower than was intended, correct me if I'm wrong.

I am not suggesting this instead of the previous suggestion, but in addition.

[COLOR="Red"]Instead of instantly applying the Nightmare bonuses to the Eater as they use the ability[/COLOR] (and then having them fade shortly thereafter, pointless since everything was asleep anyway),[COLOR="Red"] give the PC an item[/COLOR]. This item is stackable and when used will bestow one of the random effects the PC would have gotten from using Nightmare before this suggestion is implemented. Oh, and the item stacks to a maximum of 2. Using the ability if you already have 2 will just heal you and do the damage. Or maybe [COLOR="Red"]1 max at lvl  1, 2 at 5, 3 at 8[/COLOR]. But that sounds like a lot of scripting.

My suggestion is slightly twofold, though this part is much less important, I think. Might be a viable workaround for everyone and their grandmothers being immune to sleep, though. If possible, I'd suggest that [COLOR="Red"]at lvl 5 or 8 the Eater strips a target of their sleep immunity with the first casting, just like the life stealer with negative energy[/COLOR].

These, I think, will make the Dream Eater more in line with the fearful creatures they are supposed to be.