Snake Sneak
Posts: 129
Joined: Wednesday, 8th May 2013, 19:30
Brainstorm: bringing the Stalker back!
Since Dig has been changed to a pure Earth magic spell, it would seem that a reworked background should be centered on Earth magic. Hence, what are needed are some level 1 and 2 spells to redesign the book of Stalking. Here are then my suggestions for the spells in a new version of the book:
1) "Soften Steps", level 1 Earth/Charms, or Earth/Transmutation or just Earth. Gives a spellpower dependent stealth bonus if the character is not in water and not flying. Using swiftness should maybe cancel the effect. The use of the spell would be obviously to help the player remain stealthy and stab. A possible problem would be that it would remain relevant to the end of the game, but maybe that would be alright.
2) "Caltrops", level 2 Earth/Hex. Uses smite targeting (maybe beam?) to place a trap which has one charge. Any monster that walks ( it doesn't affect flying monsters) on it gets damaged for a small amounth and moves slower for a while if it fails a check (HD dependent rather that MR). It is thus somewhat similar to the Hex spell "Slow", but only affects movement, doesn't affect flyers and requires two schools. It would be balanced by the strenght of the effect and the damage. The spell would be used to help the stalker get away if a stab was unsuccessful.
3) The level 3 and 4 spells in the new book of Stalking should be Passwall and Dig as before.
4) There are several options for the last spell in the book. Petrify is the simplest one. Another possibility would be a new spell, maybe an area version of the "Caltrops" one. Call it "Mass Caltrops" or give it a somewhat poetic name, like "Lehudib's crystal weeds" or something. Another possibility would be something that helps with passwall, lets say "Earth sense", which allows the stalker to sense creature that are directly on the other side of the wall. The problem with that is of course the conflict with Ashenzari.
Suggestions and criticisms are highly welcome!