combining spells that no one ever takes.

[apeloverage]

I'm running a game later today, and I've decided to combine some of the 1st level Magic-User spells that are ignored in favour of Sleep and Charm Person.

Aberlard’s Insightful Eye: For 10 minutes x the caster’s level, the caster will be able to detect magic, secret doors, and the true forms of invisible, disguised or transformed creatures. They will also be able to read any magical or natural language, and the properties of any magic item will be apparent to them once they touch it. The incantations on a magic item or scroll may only be read using this spell [this spell combines Detect Magic, Read Magic, and Read Languages].

[apeloverage]

Abelard’s Puissant Protection: This spell has 3 effects.

i) For 1 hour, the caster is protected from attacks by magical or undead creatures, or those whose mind is under the control of a spell.

ii) For the same duration, the caster has +1 on saving rolls against attacks by evil creatures, and evil creatures have 1 less Hit Dice.

iii) At any time during this hour, the caster may cause a door, gate etc to become magically locked. This is a ‘free action’. Roll 2d6. The portal is magically locked for the total x 10 minutes. Strongly anti-magical creatures may be immune to this effect, and some spells, (eg the 3rd level spell Dispel Magic) will negate it.

[this spell combines Hold Portaland Protection From Evil]

[Deleted]

I like it!

The names are also evocative which is a plus.

What else you got?

[apeloverage]

That's it I'm afraid. I've only done the 1st level MU spells.

[blackbarn]

Wow, what a good idea. Simple, yet it sure makes those less exciting spells seem more worthwhile.

[premmy]

Not sure if he has an account here, but Urban (published in FO) does something similar in his own megadungeon with some spells. He also gives spells a side effect that's active as long as the spell is memorized but not yet cast, increasing their utility.

For instance, The Third Eye is a combination of various low-level detection spells (even though you have to choose one specific effect when casting it), but also gives you the abiltiy to detect magic at will (on announcement, not a passive ability) as long it's in your memory. Similarly, IIRC Crappy Prismatic Spray has the side effect of making you immune to all sleep effects as well as unable to sleep naturally while memorized.

[apeloverage]

Thanks everyone.

[Finarvyn]

If you combine the effects of multiple spells, how do you determine the new level for the spell?

For example, if one new spell does the same thing as Sleep and Charm Person it should be better than 1st level. Otherwise, why would anyone want Sleep or Charm Person.

Maybe add the levels together? Just me pondering out loud.

[apeloverage]

These new spells replace the spells that they combine, so that there are only five first-level spells.

[tombowings]

Very nice. I really like where this is going.

What is the fifth first level spell, though?

[apeloverage]

The fifth spell is Light. I added some effects to it:

"Creatures that are undead, or are used to darkness, will have -2 to hit while this spell is in effect. Creatures that are used to darkness will also have -2 morale. Secret doors will be automatically detected, and looting a corpse will be effectively instant instead of the normal time of 10 minutes."

[Mr. Darke]

This isn't a bad idea. I have been thinking of how to handle spells no one wants to take . I'll be playing with this.