Re: What can you do with... (Current topic: BRISTLE)

[Captnq]

FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN, BTW
I'LL BE MORE THE HAPPY TO LINK FROM THE FRONT PAGE
ANYTHING YOU POST

4/16/12: Updated after discovering a huge rule mistake Ray of Enfeeblement has been updated.
4/17/12: Skip to Chill Touch
4/20/12: Skip to Blade of Blood
4/24/12: Skip to Burning Hands
4/27/12: Skip to Conjuration (Healing), Hit Points, and You.
4/27/12: I moved Magic Missile to here to organize better.
5/1/12: He's BACK! And he's talking about Cloud of Knives
5/4/12: Skip to Bestow Curse
5/8/12: Skip to Disintegrate
5/15/12: Behold the horror of Flaming Sphere
5/20/12: The kids are after my lucky charms! (Bear’s Endurance, Bull’s Strength, Cat’s Grace, Fox’s Cunning, Eagle’s Splendor, Owl’s Wisdom, and Purple Horseshoes!)
5/21/12: You'll be hopping around on one foot after you read up on Caltrops
5/22/12: Break out the prilosec, because you'll have heartburn from this Acid Splash
5/29/12: Playing The Walking Dead Video Game has left me walking in an Acid Fog
6/1/12: Admiral Akbar says, "It's a Create Trap!"
6/5/12: Prepare to be underwhelmed by Affliction
6/8/12: Your ears will be bleeding when you hear about Sonic Snap.
6/12/12: This is taking too long. Will someone come to my Aid?
6/13/12: My inner child wants me to not be so Negative Levels
6/18/12: I know I haven't posted a spell in a while. I have an Alibi. Allow me to Amplify my voice as I explain to you how the spell Fireball got under my Barkskin. I guess I just needed a properly Aligned Aura
6/21/12: The hand is slower then my Prestidigitation
6/25/12: Sorry I've been slow to post. Work has been a real Backbiter
6/27/12: To get off Hoth you will have to run the imperial Blockade
7/1/12: My mom told me never to Vampiric Touch myself or I'd go blind.
07/16/2014: If you are a Lannister you know Friend to Foe.
08/14/2014: I Bristle at the thought at how broken this spell is.


MOVED TO THE SPELL BOOK
Acid Breath

I'm interested in exploring what you can do with a given spell. The criteria is: You can put the spell in something (Wand, potion, scroll), but it can't be the spell that makes something (No wonderous items, rods, rings). It has to be only about that spell (No staffs). You can use any metamagic feat that would legally work with the spell, but you can't use sudden whatever, or metamagic feats that are reduced because of some outside source (No arcane thesis or PrC powers).

I'm looking for the raw potential of a spell. I'm sure the apt pupil can find a way to bend the rules into new and interesting fashions. I'm doing it the hard way first, the easy way can follow. However, you can use any class that can cast the spell for the basis of making the spell, so if one class casts it at 2nd and one casts it at 3rd, you can use the former for the purpose of making a wand, for example.

I want to make it clear that I have no ego about this sort of thing. If anyone wants to jump in and even write up PART of a spell, hey, I'd love the help. Heck, if you have a snarky comment or two, an amusing story or even just a weird observation, please chime in. I welcome your input.

I am currently writing up notes on:

Starting over from scratcj

I hope to start working on and would like ideas about:
Ray of Exhaustion (Goes well with ray of enfeeblement)
False Life (Everyone needs hps)
Persistent Blade (Upon Request)
Gaseous Form (Trapsmith casts it at level 1)
Haste (Ditto)
Knock (Ditto)
Arcane Sight (Ditto)
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance (Ditto)
Protection from Energy (Ditto, but maybe I'll make a Defense against energy attacks thread)
Read Magic (Player came up with wierd suggestions)
Rope Trick (Tactics, mostly)
Sepia Snake Sigil (Did you know that range of effect is line of sight?)
Shield (I did Magic Missile)
See Invisibile (Tactics)
Scorching Ray (One of the few ways to break the 1d6 a level)
Sending (Making it work)
Searing light (To give some love to the clerics)
Sinsabur's Baleful Bolt
Howling Chain
Threesteel

[Solo]

You left out Violate Spell.

[kitep]

Violate Spell seems a lot like Corrupt Spell.  He can probably copy and paste the text for it

---

What about knowledge domain?  Did I miss something that says it's for melee only?  If you can apply it to magic missile, would it apply to each missile or each target?  No attack roll needed, but there is a damage roll.

[Maat Mons]

You should use spoilers on that first post. 

Is it acceptable to use recaster (Races of Eberron) and wyrm wizard (Dragon Magic) to pull from the most advantageous spell list and still use a full caster? 

For magic missile, you might want to consider argent savant (Complete Arcane) and force missile mage (Dragon 328, p50). 

War weaver (Heroes of Battle) can make great use of spells by affecting all allies with a spell that normally affects just one person. 

Is your name a reference to Captain N? 

[wotmaniac]

HERE you go.

and that's about all I have to offer.

[Solo]

Violate Spell seems a lot like Corrupt Spell.  He can probably copy and paste the text for it

Except for the part where it prevents your target from getting healed unless he is healed in a consecrated or hallowed area. Vile damage is like that.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

I hear it can attack the Darkness.

[sirpercival]

I hear it can attack the Darkness.

Only if you're drinking mountain dew.

[Captnq]

You should use spoilers on that first post. 

Ah. Thank you. I will do so going forward. I'm finishing up Ray of enfeeblement tonight on my overnight shift.

Is it acceptable to use recaster (Races of Eberron) and wyrm wizard (Dragon Magic) to pull from the most advantageous spell list and still use a full caster? 
For magic missile, you might want to consider argent savant (Complete Arcane) and force missile mage (Dragon 328, p50). 
War weaver (Heroes of Battle) can make great use of spells by affecting all allies with a spell that normally affects just one person. 

Perhaps I was not clear. I do not wish to optimize the spell. I wish to explore what can be done with it without optimization. After the various basic options are laid out, I'm sure many people can figure out how to take it even further, but you need to know what the basic options are first. Yes, I can figure out how to lower Metamagic level costs to -3 or something like that. A wand of Empowered Magic missile will still sell for 11250 gold regardless of how cheap it was to make.

I only spoke about the metamagic feats in general. I didn't work out every possible way you could combine the spells. The only ones I worked out were the ones I thought people would bother to scribe on a scroll or put into a wand. If you think I missed a combination that you think that you'd bother putting together and/or would spend gold to actually use, then please post it. Or if you have a battle tactic that would be useful to note in using Magic Missile. Or If I came up with something that is wrong that you'd like to point out.

For example, I'm uncertain if a retributive magic missile can be put into a potion. It doesn't state that retributive spells become Range: personal, put it certainly is implied. An argument could be made either way.

Is your name a reference to Captain N?

No. In high school I was called Captain Quaalude. As in, I was so hyperactive, the teachers wanted to put me on quaaludes.

You left out Violate Spell.

Book of vile darkness is 3.0 so I did not consider it. Nor did I include any of the Dragon magazine feats since it is questionable as to if they are cannon or not. However, if there is anyone who feels these feats should be included, please write iy up and post it. After a week or so, I'll consolidate any and all suggestions.

[Tubercular Ox]

After playing more than a few British vs. Zulu war games, the wounding option sounds useful to me for a villain.  Kill a civilian, and you've pissed the heroes off.  Wound a civilian, and one of them has to stop a round to stabilize the sap.  Wound five civilians and you might have paralyzed the entire party for a turn.

[Amechra]

Ooh, ooh, may I suggest tossing on an Arcane Thesis (Magic Missile)? It makes that juicy, juicy undead slaying Energized/Empowered Magic Missile spell only a +1 adjustment!

Nice catches on some of these; I'm pretty sure you actually could prepare Magic Missile as an Ocular Spell, though...

[Captnq]

Here’s the next spell I’ve been working on. If you have any requests, please let me know. Right now it’s whatever catches my fancy.

RAY OF ENFEEBLEMENT

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- PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 1 (3.5)
Necromancy
Level: Blighter 1, Dread Necromancer 1, Duskblade 1, Envy Domain 2, Maho-Tsukai 1, Master of Shrouds 1, Sorcerer/Wizard 1, Thayan Slaver 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject’s Strength score cannot drop below 1.
Editor: A first level spell, but one that is overlooked by many. It is far more useful against weak targets, like wizards and anyone who took strength as a dump stat. The average drain isn’t that impressive, and unfortunately it’s a penalty so it doesn’t stack with itself. However, there is no saving throw, which means in most low level encounters, it will prove effective. While you can’t kill someone with this spell because the most it will reduce strength to is 1, a follow up with a fell weaken magic missile or a ray of exhaustion can finish them off. Oddly enough, the spell comes into it’s own when one becomes a mid level wizard and can use metamagic feats and other spells together with Ray of Enfeeblement. The spell proves useful for many levels especially when combined with the black lore of moil.

Metamagic Feats

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Below is a selection of Metamagic feats and how they relate to Ray of Enfeeblement. Every applicable feat that can be applied to the spell is included, but not every feat is recommended. You need to judge for yourself what is useful to you and how you are creating your spellcaster.

Black Lore of Moil (Complete Arcane): This feat rocks my self-centered, necromantic world. It doesn’t increase the level of the spell, yet it adds damage. Adding damage opens up a whole new world of feats that can be applied. Normally a Ray of Enfeeblement can’t have the fell weaken feat. But make it a black lore of moil spell and suddenly you take it from an average 5.5 strength penalty to a 9.5. Of course there is the problem of adding the damage based on the original level. Metamagic feats increase the spell level, but I believe it is up for interpretation if you use the original level or the modified level. I believe the intent would be to use the original level, not the modified one. Still, a little damage can go a long way. That said, spreading your attack into drain and damage is somewhat counter productive. This feat is better used with necromancy spells that do damage.

Chain Spell (Complete Arcane): This feat rocks on toast. This feat doesn’t work with ray spells as per wizards of the coast. Sigh.

Deceptive Spell (Cityscape): A +1 level adjustment to make it appear the spell came from somewhere else other then you. Not a good choice to use on a spell that has poor range and is unlikely to kill in one shot.

Earthbound Spell (Player’s Handbook 2): A +2 level adjustment to make a booby trapped square that lasts for an hour. Superior to Delay Spell, it is still of questionable use, but not completely. If you are anticipating a siege or harassing pursuit, it may be useful. Otherwise, split ray is much better use of a two level adjustment.

Empowered Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +2 level adjustment for +50% effect. A 3rd level slot cast by a 10th level wizard does 10.25 drain on average. That’ll drop most wizard. But this is one of those situations where split ray might be more useful. Split ray doubles the effect whereas empowered is available in a metamagic rod.

Enlarge Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): Enlarge on short range spells is usually a waste of a level adjustment. But, if you need that extra thirty odd feet, you need it. I recommend for most people to simply drop the coin and buy it as a metamagic rod.

Fell Weaken (Librus Mortus): A +1 level adjustment to lower strength by 4 for one minute. Normally useless since the spell does no damage. Combine it with Black Lore of Moil and you got another -4 strength to tack on. Do note, that this metamagic feat cannot lower the target strength below 1, because it is part of the spell and doesn’t get applied separately. Still, it takes a moderately useful spell and keeps it alive for a few more levels

Fortify Spell (Complete Arcane): A +1 level adjustment gives you a +2 to overcome spell resistance. The effectiveness of this feat maxes out as a 5th level spell. Frankly, there are better uses for your levels.

Maximize Spell (Complete Arcane): A +3 level adjustment gives you maximum effect. Alas, that maximum effect is a 6. Use split ray instead.

Ocular Spell (Lords of Madness): I have dreams of four Split Ray/Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken/Empowered/Ocular Ray of Enfeeblement shooting out of my eyes. Heck yes this is a useful feat to use

Quicken Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): You are much better off having this be your main attack spell, and a follow up with a ray of fatigue or something. This spell will at best leave the target at a strength of one. You will need a second spell to finish them off.

Retributive Spell (Champions of Ruin): A Spell that drains the strength of those who seek to melee attack you. There are better choices, but this one will certainly make your attacker think twice.

Repeat Spell (Complete Arcane): Alas, since the spell does not stack with repeated uses, this feat is useless.

Silent Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +1 level adjustment and you can cast the spell in a silence field. Useful. As far as trying to make the ray sneaky, the close range makes that less then ideal.

Split Ray (Complete Arcane): A +2 level adjustment to double the effect. Pity you have to use it on separate targets.

Still Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): Still spells are for when you are being grappled or need to avoid arcane spell failure. There are better spells to be using while grappled and it’s a poor spell to use when being sneaky.

Twin Spell (Complete Arcane): Worthless since the spell creates a strength penalty, not strength damage.

Scrolls

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Scrolls below are a selection of the most likely spells a spellcaster would create. While there are many possible combinations, some of them are ineffective, pointless, and downright silly. Every possible version of Ray of Enfeeblement is given, but only the most useful Metamagic versions are provided. It is assumed that the spell is only being cast once, so that the creator would either want it to be as cheap as possible, or maximize its effectiveness. A summary of the effects of the scroll are provided underneath for purposes of comparison.

Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 25 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 str (7.14 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 2): 50 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+1 = Avg 4.5 str (11.11 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 4): 100 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+2 = Avg 5.5 str (18.18 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 6): 150 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+3 = Avg 6.5 str (23.08 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 8): 200 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+4 = Avg 7.5 str (26.67 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 10): 250 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 = Avg 8.5 str (29.41 gp/str)

Ray of Enfeeblement Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 4): 225 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+2 + 4 = Avg 9.5 str (23.68 gp/str)
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 (64.29 gp/hp)
   A strong metamagic combo. The fell weaken will only last a minute, but combat rarely lasts very long. And it does 1d6 points of damage to boot.

Ray of Enfeeblement Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 10): 525 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 + 4 = Avg 12.5 str (42.00 gp/str)
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 (150.00 gp/hp)
   An awesome combo. It only gets better from here.

Ray of Enfeeblement Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken/Split Ray (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 10): 1025 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 + 4 x 2 rays + 4 = Avg 12.5 str + 12.5 (41.00 gp/str)
Damage: 1d6 x 2 rays = Avg 7 (146.43 gp/hp)
Now you’re cooking with gas! On average you’ll reduce most 10th level fighters to a strength of one. Follow it up with a ray of exhaustion and it don’t matter how many hit points your target has, he’s dead, even if he makes his saving throw.

Ray of Enfeeblement Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken/Split Ray/Empower (Spell Level 6 / Caster Level 11): 1675 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 +4 x 2 rays x 1.5 = Avg 18.75 str + 18.75 (44.67 gp/str)
Damage: 1d6 x 2 rays = Avg 7 (239.29 gp/hp)
   Take down one giant or two wizards, your choice. Spreading the damage has the advantage of doing 16.75 twice which is a total of 33.5, or an extra four points. Alas, the damage is but the stinging of bees, but necessary.

Ray of Enfeeblement Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken/Split Ray/Empower/Maximize (Spell Level 9 / Caster Level 17): 3850 gp
Strength Penalty: 17 +4 x 2 rays = 21 str + 21 str (91.67 gp/str)
Damage: 6 x 2 rays = 12 hp (320.84 hp/gp)
Maximize is the only way to improve the spell at this point. It only gives another 2.5 points, so really it isn’t cost effective.

Wands

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The wands below are a selection of the most likely wands a wizard would create. The best possible versions of the base spell are shown as well as the best possible wand that could be made with Metamagic feats. It is assumed that the wand was created to be used repeatedly in a short amount of time. It is also assumed that creating a want with Metamagic feats requires additional time, cost and effort. As such, it is unlikely that the creator would make an inferior wand just to save on money at this point.

Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 750 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 str (4.29 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 2): 1500 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+1 = Avg 4.5 str (6.67 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 4): 3000 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+2 = Avg 5.5 str (10.91 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 6): 4500 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+3 = Avg 6.5 str (13.85 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 8): 6000 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+4 = Avg 7.5 str (16.00 gp/str)
Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 10): 7500 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 = Avg 8.5 str (17.65 gp/str)

Ray of Enfeeblement BLoM/Fell Weaken (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 4): 6000 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+2 + 4 = Avg 9.5 str (12.63 gp/str)
   Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp (28.57 gp/hp)
   The best over all combination as far as gold to drain is concerned.

Ray of Enfeeblement BLoM/Fell Weaken/Split Ray (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 10): 30025 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 + 4 x 2 rays = Avg 12.5 str + 12.5 str (28.57 gp/str)
   Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp (24.02 gp/hp)
   Not the best choice, but you could do worse. If you are looking to take down a crowd of incoming, this will certainly make front line fighters ineffective. Remember, a knight in shining armor has to carry that armor, so while it may not kill him, if he’s pinned under the weight of his own equipment, then it’s just as effective.

Ray of Enfeeblement Split Ray (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 6): 13500 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+3 x 2 rays = Avg 13 str (20.77 gp/str)
   While it looks like a good wand, the numbers just don’t support this mid range purchase. It’s expensive, but doesn’t deliver that much more punch. Then again, you can hit two targets a round or double up on one and hope to get lucky.

Ray of Enfeeblement BLoM/Fell Weaken/Empowered (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 10): 30025 gp
Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 x 1.5 + 4= Avg 16.75 str (35.85 gp/str)
   This wand is the best you can come up with for dropping a single target. Follow it up with a ray of exhaustion and you’ll take out anyone with a 22 strength or less.

Potions

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Normally you wouldn’t think of a potion of Ray of Enfeeblement, but it’s low enough to be a retributive spell. While there are a few +1 level adjustment feats that could be added, The additional cost in gold far out weighs the benefit. A retributive Ray of Enfeeblement potion is not that expensive and can be drunk by a fighter. Since a retributive spell expires when you ready or cast another spell, it is unlikely a fighter will find himself having to choose between casting or keeping his retributive spell ready.

Ray of Enfeeblement Retributive (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 4): 400 gp
   Strength Penalty: 1d6+2 = Avg 5.5 str (72.73 gp/hp)
   It will give your enemies pause and lower their ability to hit you by -3. Not bad,

Ray of Enfeeblement BLoM/Fell Weaken/Retributive (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 10): 1500 gp
   Strength Penalty: 1d6+5 + 4 = Avg 12.5 hp (120.00 gp/hp)
   Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp (428.57 gp/hp)
   An expensive potion to quaff, but the results speak for themselves. Most thieves have high dexterity, not strength. This could take out your average backstabber in one shot. Not something to use every day, but for the right occasion, it could really pay off.

And that concludes my assessment of Ray of Enfeeblement. I hope that this gives you ideas and allows you to breathe new life into this old spell. Please take the time to rip apart my suggestions and point out any flaws. And feel free to mention any combos you’d suggest.

[Captnq]

Ooh, ooh, may I suggest tossing on an Arcane Thesis (Magic Missile)? It makes that juicy, juicy undead slaying Energized/Empowered Magic Missile spell only a +1 adjustment!

I will reiterate my criteria:

I'm looking at the spell and only the spell. Feats that modify other feats are not included. I have no doubt I could use three wishes to reduce the level adjustment for Quicken Spell down to only a +1 when it applies to magic missiles, then use arcane thesis to bring it down to 0 so I can shoot magic missiles like a machine gun.

Not that you're point isn't valid, it just has it's place in a different discussion.

Furthermore, even if you did reduce the cost, it wouldn't reduce the retail cost of any of the magic items. Regardless of how cheap it is for the creator to make, it still has the same gp value on the open market.

[Amechra]

You forgot Enervate Spell for your Ray of Enfeeblement metamagic list; or does that only work on HP damage?

If you are taking suggestions, can you do one for either Persistent Blade, Cloud of Knives, Vampiric Touch, or Blade of Blood?

I would have the greatest preference for Blade of Blood, but it is your choice...

[Kethrian]

While Ray of Enfeeblement's penalty is indeed untyped, it must still follow the stacking rules: they do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession).

[Captnq]

You forgot Enervate Spell for your Ray of Enfeeblement metamagic list; or does that only work on HP damage?

Energize and Enervate only modify HP. Since BLoM doesn't get over 1d6, I saw no point.

If you are taking suggestions, can you do one for either Persistent Blade, Cloud of Knives, Vampiric Touch, or Blade of Blood?
I would have the greatest preference for Blade of Blood, but it is your choice...

Was actually working on Vampiric Touch. BLoM takes it into a scary place when I ran the numbers. But I'll take a look at the others.

While Ray of Enfeeblement's penalty is indeed untyped, it must still follow the stacking rules: they do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession).

My word, your right. It's a strength penalty, not strength damage. Here:

"Combine for a cumulative effect. In most cases, modifiers to a given check or roll stack if they come from different sources and have different descriptors (or no descriptors at all), but do not stack if they have the same descriptors or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession)."

So Fell weakness would work with it (same spell, but technically different source), but multiple rays only help if they can hit different targets. I'll have to rework the math.

[Captnq]

CHILL TOUCH
- PLAYER’S HANDBOOK (3.0)
- PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 1 (3.5)
Necromancy
Level: Blighter 2, Bone Collector 1, Cold Domain 1, Dread Necromancer 1, Duskblade 1, Maho-Tsukai 1, Master of Shrouds 1, Sorcerer/Wizard 1, Telflammar Shadowlord 1, Warmage 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature or creatures touched (up to one/level)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial or Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
A touch from your hand, which glows with blue energy, disrupts the life force of living creatures. Each touch channels negative energy that deals 1d6 points of damage. The touched creature also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it makes a successful Fortitude saving throw. You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level. An undead creature you touch takes no damage of either sort, but it must make a successful Will saving throw or flee as if panicked for 1d4 rounds +1 round per caster level.
Editor: It’s a weird spell. You have to succeed on a touch attack and the target gets a will save. That’s two dice rolls where the spell can fail. Compare that to magic missile which is ranged, has no miss chance, and no saving throw. However, you might be a necromancer and you need to take necromancy spells. In that case, it’s not so bad. A few things to point out. It has an instantaneous duration, that means use it or lose it. It allows you to make one touch attack against one target per level. If you are 20th level and only have one target, the other 19 touch attacks are wasted. However, should you have a 15’ reach and are surrounded by 20 targets, you can smack each one upside the head for 1d6. I should also point out that this requires you to be in melee range, which is rarely a good place for a spellcaster. However, combine it with spectral hand and you can hit targets up to over a hundred feet away. It is also important to remember that it’s a touch spell so a natural 20 is a critical for double damage.

Metamagic Feats

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Below is a selection of Metamagic feats and how they relate to Chill Touch. Every applicable feat that can be applied to the spell is included, but not every feat is recommended. You need to judge for yourself what is useful to you and how you are creating your spellcaster.

Black Lore of Moil (Complete Arcane): This feat rocks my self-centered, necromantic world. It doesn’t increase the level of the spell, yet it adds damage. However, being a first level spell means that it can only add 1d6. It may be worth your time to heighten the spell to second level, just so you can have a +1 to the save DC and have another 2d6 per target. Your call.

City Magic (Cityscape): This feat allows you to change half the damage into “City” damage for no level adjustment. There is no practical defense against city damage, so that basically makes half the damage unblockable. However, negative energy damage is hard to defend against, so this feat is next to useless.

Coercive Spell (Drow of the Underdark): Lowering will save is good. Lowering will save using an attack that allows a will save isn’t. Bad choice.

Consecrate Spell (Complete Divine): If city magic is useless at a +0 adjustment, this feat is even more so because of the +1 level adjustment. No.

Cooperative Spell (Complete Arcane): Not worth it.

Corrupt Spell (Complete Divine): Like Consecrate Spell, this feat doesn’t really turn around for you and isn’t recommended.

Deafening Spell (Drow of the Underdark): There are better spells. No.

Deceptive Spell (Cityscape): It’s a touch spell. Like… range of touch? Next.

Delay Spell (Complete Arcane): Utterly useless.

Earthbound Spell (Player’s Handbook 2): A +2 level adjustment to make a booby trapped square that lasts for an hour. The problem is, it can only target the person who triggers it, so four touch attacks are wasted. Bad feat for this spell.

Empowered Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +2 level adjustment for +50% damage. Not worth it, unless you plan stacking on some black lore of Moil damage onto the spell Then it might turn around for you,

Energize Spell (Librus Mortus): This feat is for doing damage to the undead, except this spell does no damage to the undead. Next.

Enervate Spell (Librus Mortus): A +2 level adjustment to do +50% to the living but -50% to undead and constructs. Yes, it stacks with empower, but there are more effective uses of a 5th level slot. Just use empower instead and leave this Metamagic feat to the NPCs.

Enlarge Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): Now you might be thinking of using this with Reach Spell. Alas, if you read Enlarge, it only doubles close, medium, and long range spells. Sorry. No help here.

Fell Animate (Librus Mortus): A +3 level adjustment to raise your fallen enemies as zombies. Tactically not very useful, but psychologically disturbing as heck. If you happen to have a wide number of almost dead people stacked like cord wood, this could turn large numbers of them into zombies without the gold cost of animate dead.

Fell Drain (Librus Mortus): A +2 level adjustment to drain 1 level for a few hours. All you need to do is one hit point. A much better spread then magic missile, if your goal is level drain. Best if you also include Reach Spell.

Fell Frighten (Librus Mortus): There are better spells to use with this feat. This spell has a to hit roll and a saving throw. Next.

Fell Weaken (Librus Mortus): A +1 level adjustment to lower strength by 4 for one minute. This goes well with the 1 strength loss the spell has already.

Heighten Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): If you use Reach Spell first, add on some BLoM damage, then jack the save DC up +5, you might have a spell that would be useful at clearing out low level targets. “Might” is the key word here.

Maximize Spell (Complete Arcane): A +3 level adjustment gives you maximum damage. The max damage on this spell sucks. Next.

Nonlethal Substitution (Complete Arcane): Seriously? Next.

Purify Spell (Book of Exalted Deeds): A +1 level adjustment to up the damage against evil outsiders to 1d8? Next.

Quicken Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): Far better choices.

Reach Spell (Complete Divine): This greatly expands your choice of targets. It is a must.

Reaping Spell (Champions of Ruin): So a +3 level adjustment to make sure a target stays dead. The upside is that this spell can hit many different targets. The downside is, you need to make sure they are barely alive when you cast this spell.

Repeat Spell (Complete Arcane): Normally I don’t like repeat, but the spell does so little damage per target to begin with, you are almost assured the target will still be there the next round.

Retributive Spell (Complete Divine): No. Too much of the spell is wasted when used as a retributive spell.

Silent Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +1 level adjustment and you can cast the spell in a silence field. The problem is, if you are in such a situation, you will want to win quick, not drag this out by spreading the damage over multiple targets. Bad choice.

Smiting Spell (Player’s Handbook 2): A +1 to make this a touch attack against one target for one blow with my weapon. No.

Still Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +1 level adjustment and you can cast the spell while grappled. Alas, there are much better choices for spells to cast while being grappled. Next

Transdimensional Spell (Complete Arcane): Do you like annoying multiple phase spiders at the same time? Next.

Twin Spell (Complete Arcane): A +4 level adjustment to double the damage. This is one case where I would go with repeat instead.

Wounding Spell (Lost Empires of Faerun): A +2 level adjustment and you get 1 point of damage a round until the target heals. Again, damage over time is usually a waste. You want to kill your target and kill him now. Then again, this spell already spreads the damage over a wide number of targets. Maybe ten bleeding goblins isn’t so bad.

Scrolls

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Scrolls below are a selection of the most likely spells a spellcaster would create. While there are many possible combinations, some of them are ineffective, pointless, and downright silly. Every reasonable version of Chill Touch is given, but only the weakest and the strongest version of a Metamagic version of magic missile is provided. It is assumed that the spell is only being cast once, so that the creator would either want it to be as cheap as possible, or maximize its effectiveness. A summary of the effects of the scroll are provided underneath for purposes of comparison. We include a range that it costs for gp/hp because the effectiveness goes down the less targets you can hit.

Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 25 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 1 target (7.14 gp/hp)
Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 3): 75 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 3 targets =17.5 hp (35.71 to 7.14 gp/hp)
Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 8): 200 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 8 targets = 35 hp (57.14 to 7.14 gp/hp)

Note, while you could make it a 20th caster level scroll, you’ll never have more then 8 targets within touch range. Thus anything more then 8 is a waste. The likely hood of you having more then 3 is very unlikely, and lets not forget that reading a scroll when inside someone else’s threat range is a bad idea to begin with.


Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 50 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 1 target (7.14 gp/hp)
   An improvement over the original. Double the damage for double the gold.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 400 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 5 targets (57.14 to 11.43 gp/hp)
   Now here is where the spell starts to improve. With a range of 30 feet, your threat range improves dramatically and the damage goes up as well because of the BLoM. A fireball at the same level is still better, but not as selective. If you have to fire into a melee where your fighters are mixed up with the enemy, this is a much better choice.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Heightened (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 750 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 = Avg 10.5 hp x 7 targets (71.42 to 10.20 gp/hp)
   Same spell, but heightened so you can tack on another 1d6 of BLoM and the gold to damage ratio actually goes down, as long as you have 7 targets.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Fell Weaken (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 725 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 7 targets (55.36 to 7.91 gp/hp)
   The target has to be hit with a ranged touch attack, then fail a fortitude save to lose one point of strength. But with this scroll, the target also loses -4 strength for one minute because even if it makes it’s will save, they take half damage from the BLoM. A fell weaken fireball of the same level would do 24.5 to every target that fails a reflex save, but they have to be standing together and your allies have to be out of the way. This spell is better for mass combat melee against targets with evasion. If you are fighting a gang of rogues, then this spell might be the better choice, even without the BLoM.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Empower/Heightened (Spell Level 6 / Caster Level 11): 1700 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 x 1.5= Avg 15.75 hp x 11 targets (107.94 to 9.81 gp/hp)
   Alas, it would only work well if you were being charged by a hoard of minions, but if you were, it would look impressive.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Fell Drain (Spell Level 5 / Caster Level 9): 1150 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 9 targets (164.29 to 18.25 gp/hp)
The point of this version is to hit as many targets as possible while sticking them all with a level drain. The BLoM assures that at least one point of damage will happen if you succeed on the ranged touch attack.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Fell Drain/Extend (Spell Level 6 / Caster Level 12): 1900 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 12 targets (271.43 to 22.62 gp/hp)
   Technically this spell is instantaneous so you cannot add on Extend. However, adding on Fell Drain adds on a duration based on your level. So, maybe you can convince your DM to allow it. As a DM, I would not allow it, because the level drain then lasts for 24 hours. That means there is a chance the level drain becomes permanent. I’m including it as a thought experiment for the apt pupil.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Empower/Fell Weaken/Heightened (Spell Level 7 / Caster Level 13): 2325 gp
Strength Penalty: 5 x 13 targets (465.00 to 35.77 gp/str)
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 = Avg 10.5 hp x 13 targets (66.67 to 17.55 gp/hp)
Ok damage, more targets, and strength drain.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Empower/Fell Animate/Heightened (Spell Level 9 / Caster Level 17): 3875 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 = Avg 15.75 hp x 17 targets (246.03 to 14.47 gp/hp)
   Now the goal of this version is to target any living enemy that has 5 hp or less. You are almost assured of killing him and turning him into a zombie. Walk into a bar full of first level commoners, walk out with 17 zombies. Send them rampaging down the street for a distraction while you teleport to your real objective.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach/Repeat/Wounding/Heightened (Spell Level 9 / Caster Level 17): 3875 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 = Avg 10.5 + 10.5 hp x 17 targets (184.52 to 10.85 gp/hp)
   I dislike damage over time. That said, here is the best I think you’ll come up with for this spell. 17 targets take 10.5 hp and start to bleed for one hp a round. Some will heal themselves. Then you follow up with another 10.5 hp and more bleeding. Now most of your enemies at 17th level won’t be killed by this, but it will harass up to 17 targets in a 30 foot radius of you.

Wands

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The wands below are a selection of the most likely wands a wizard would create. The best possible versions of the base spell are shown as well as the best possible wand that could be made with Metamagic feats. It is assumed that the wand was created to be used repeatedly in a short amount of time. It is also assumed that creating a wand with Metamagic feats requires additional time, cost and effort. As such, it is unlikely that the creator would make an inferior wand just to save on money at this point.

Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 750 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 1 target (4.26 gp/hp)
Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 3): 2250 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 3 targets =17.5 hp (12.86 to 4.29 gp/hp)
Chill Touch (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 8): 6000 gp
Damage: 1d6 = Avg 3.5 hp x 8 targets = 35 hp (34.29 to 4.29 gp/hp)

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 2000 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 1 target (5.71 gp/hp)
The gold to damage ratio is not as good as the regular version of this wand, but you get what you pay for. Seven hit points if the target fails its saving throw or 1.75 if they make it. Throw in a potential strength loss of one point every time you hit someone, at 40 gp a charge, it’s not that bad a wand, except that you have to get up close and personal.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 3): 5750 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 3 targets (16.43 to 5.48 gp/hp)
Strength Penalty: 5 x 3 targets (23 to 7.67 gp/str)
   If you’re going to poke someone with a stick, make it a stick that reduces your target’s strength by four to five points. Being able to take a poke at three targets in hand to hand range will certainly give your enemies pause.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Reach (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 12500 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 5 targets (35.71 to 7.14 gp/hp)
If you have five targets within 30 feet, it does more damage then an wand of empowered magic missile of the same level. If you only have one target, it does significantly less. As the caster level increases, the magic missile becomes the better choice because you can focus the damage, where this spell requires you to spread it around. Take away the BLoM and empowered magic missile moves back out in front.

Chill Touch Black Lore of Moil/Fell Weaken/Reach (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 22250 gp
Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 = Avg 7 hp x 7 targets (63.57 to 9.08 gp/hp)
Strength Penalty: 5 x 7 targets (89 to 12.71 gp/str)
Good damage spread, good strength drain, and multiple targets. The wand isn’t that bad, but it is horribly expensive, unless you happen to find yourself within thirty feet of seven targets on a regular basis. At 445 gold a charge, you’d better make each use count.

And that concludes my assessment of Chill Touch. I hope that this gives you ideas and allows you to breathe new life into this old spell.

[Captnq]

BLADE OF BLOOD

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- PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 2 (3.5)
Necromancy
Level: Assassin 1, Blackguard 1, Cleric 1, Duskblade 1, Sorcerer/Wizard 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Touch
Target: Weapon touched
Duration: 1 round/level or until discharged
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Red blood erupts along the weapon’s blade, bludgeon, or point. The blood drips to spatter in thick, viscous drops upon the ground.
This spell infuses the weapon touched with baleful energy. The next time this weapon strikes a living creature, Blade of Blood discharges. The spell deals an extra 1d6 points of damage against the target of the attack. You can voluntarily take 5 hit points of damage to empower the weapon to deal an extra 2d6 points of damage (for a total of 3d6 points of extra damage). The weapon loses this property if its wielder drops it or otherwise loses contact with it.
Editor: At first glance, this spell sucks. Clearly it’s made for spellcaster who does melee combat. A wizard with no con bonus and max hit points at first level would knock himself out. It’s a much better fit for a cleric who can use another spell to heal himself after he hits someone. However, take a closer look. It deals EXTRA damage. That means it isn’t separate, it adds to the weapon’s base damage. So your 1d8 long sword does an average of 4.5 normally. Now it does an average of 15. If you need to over come damage reduction, that could come in handy. The problem is, it quickly loses it’s effectiveness as you go up in level. At 5th level, magic missile does the same damage, doesn’t miss, and is ranged. On the other hand, no saving throw and no spell resistance means it’s a 1st level spell that will damage a will o’the whisp, if you can just hit the little booger. Tailor your spells to your enemies.

Metamagic Feats

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Below is a selection of Metamagic feats and how they relate to Blade of Blood. Every applicable feat that can be applied to the spell is included, but not every feat is recommended. You need to judge for yourself what is useful to you and how you are creating your spellcaster.

Black Lore of Moil (Complete Arcane): I love this feat for necromancy. Except for this spell. It does an extra 1d6 damage to whoever the spell damages. Which includes you. Sigh.

City Magic (Cityscape): The damage is Sword-in-your-spleen type. Adding city damage actually makes little sense, unless you are fighting something with massive amounts of damage reduction.

Coercive Spell (Drow of the Underdark): Lower both your enemy’s and your will save. Not a good idea.

Consecrate Spell (Complete Divine): Like city magic, not a hot idea.

Cooperative Spell (Complete Arcane): Not worth it.

Corrupt Spell (Complete Divine): Like Consecrate Spell, this feat doesn’t really turn around for you and isn’t recommended.

Deafening Spell (Drow of the Underdark): Do you want to be deaf? Next.

Deceptive Spell (Cityscape): You are going to deceptively enchant your own sword? Next.

Delay Spell (Complete Arcane): A +3 level adjustment for a 1 to 5 round delay. Useless. Utterly useless.

Earthbound Spellv (Player’s Handbook 2): Alas, the target is only weapons, so you cant earthbound this spell, unless you are being chased by animated weapons, then it will make them stronger.

Empowered Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +2 level adjustment for +50% damage. Sounds okay, except that you are then using up a third level slot which could be a fireball or something.

Energize Spell (Librus Mortus): A +1 level adjustment to do +50% to undead but -50% to everyone else. If you know you are fighting undead, it’s a good choice. But also because it reduces the damage you are taking by 50%. Rounding in your favor, you only take 2 points of damage.

Enervate Spell (Librus Mortus): A +2 level adjustment to do +50% to the living but -50% to undead and constructs. This is one of the few cases I would recommend this feat, but only if you are undead.

Extend Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): Do you really need to give up a second level spell to have the charge last for a few extra rounds?

Fell Animate (Librus Mortus): A +3 level adjustment to raise your fallen enemies as zombies. I can think of better uses for a 4th level slot.

Fell Drain (Librus Mortus): Do you want to drain yourself of a level? Next.

Fell Frighten (Librus Mortus): Do you want to be shaken? Next.

Fell Weaken (Librus Mortus): A negative 4 to your strength? Next.

Maximize Spell (Complete Arcane): A +3 level adjustment gives you maximum damage. It uses up a 4th level slot. Next.

Nonlethal Substitution (Complete Arcane): Hey, maybe you don’t want to kill yourself. There are worse choices.

Purify Spell (Book of Exalted Deeds): A +1 level adjustment to up the damage against evil outsiders to 3d8 while making yourself immune to the 5 points of damage as long as you are good. I think I may have actually found a spell I would use this metamagic feat on.

Reach Spell (Complete Divine): I don’t even know what the armor class of a weapon being enchanted at range would be, much less how to figure it out as a touch attach. A waste of two levels, regardless, since it doesn’t make the damage ranged, just your ability to enchant an object.

Reaping Spell (Champions of Ruin): So a +3 level adjustment to make your next strike reaping, when you have no idea if the blow will even put the enemy at -10. I suppose if you are the type to kill helpless enemies…

Repeat Spell (Complete Arcane): A +3 level adjustment causes the spell to fire again the next round. Now, that would let you do +6d6 damage for 10 hit points. Remember, it’s additive. But are there 4th level slots that do more damage to your enemies and less damage to you?

Retributive Spell (Complete Divine): Unless you want to enchant the weapon striking you, don’t use this feat.

Silent Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +1 level adjustment and you can cast the spell in a silence field. Very useful.

Still Spell (Player’s Handbook 1): A +1 level adjustment and you can cast the spell while grappled. If you are being grappled, how are you going to swing your sword? Next.

Transdimensional Spell (Complete Arcane): A +1 to be able to hit targets on another plane of existence, once. Useful in very specific situations, not needed for every day use.

Twin Spell (Complete Arcane): A +4 level adjustment to double the damage. Alas, when you do the math, there are far more effective uses for a 5th level spell. It looks like it should be overwhelmingly powerful, but in the end, the math does not support this feat with this spell.

Wounding Spell (Lost Empires of Faerun): A +2 level adjustment and you get 1 point of damage a round until the target heals. Again, damage over time is usually a waste. You want to kill your target and kill him now.

Scrolls

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Scrolls below are a selection of the most likely spells a spellcaster would create. While there are many possible combinations, some of them are ineffective, pointless, and downright silly. Every possible version of Blade of Blood is given, but only the weakest and the strongest version of a Metamagic version of Blade of Blood is provided. It is assumed that the spell is only being cast once, so that the creator would either want it to be as cheap as possible, or maximize its effectiveness. A summary of the effects of the scroll are provided underneath for purposes of comparison.

Blade of Blood (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 25 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (2.38 gp/hp)
Blade of Blood (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 3): 75 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (7.14 gp/hp)
Blade of Blood (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 5): 125 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (11.90 gp/hp)

After this point, it is simply more cost effective to use magic missile or some sort of damage spell.

Blade of Blood Energize (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 3): 150 gp
Damage: 3d6 x 1.5= Avg 15.75 hp vrs undead (9.52 gp/hp)
A good choice for a feat, if you are hunting the undead. In return, if you are living, you only take 2 points of damage. An excellent trade off.

Blade of Blood Purify (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 3): 150 gp
Damage: 3d8 = Avg 10.5 or 13.5 hp (14.26 or 11.11 gp/hp)
   An even better tradeoff when you don’t take any damage at all, if you are good aligned. And if the enemy is an outsider, even better. Otherwise, don’t use it.

Blade of Blood Transdimensional (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 3): 150 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (14.26 gp/hp)
   Okay, you find yourself in dire need of wacking some extradimensional bug-a-boo. Well, this spell might hurt you 5 hit points, but you are going to make it hate life. Cast this on your fighter’s biggest weapon and stand back. Hopefully he’ll connect in the next three rounds.

Wands

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I thought up a few wands, after someone pointed out that purity spell avoids a lot of the backlash.

Blade of Blood Purify/Energize (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 11250 gp
Damage: 3d6 x 1.5 or 3d8 = Avg 15.75 hp vrs undead or 13.5 vrs outsiders (14.29 or 16.67 gp/hp)
   Expensive, but if you are whacking undead, you could do worse.

Blade of Blood Purify/Energize/Black Lord of Moil (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 12500 gp
Damage: 4d6 x 1.5 or 4d8 = Avg 21 hp or 17 (11.90 or 14.71 gp/hp)
   Adding black lore of moil suddenly makes this wand much more competitive. It does 21 to undead and 17 to outsiders.

Blade of Blood Purify/Empower/Black Lore of Moil (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 22250 gp
Damage: 4d6 or 4d8 x 1.5= Avg 21 or 26.5 (21.19 or 17.45 gp/hp)
   Alas, that competitive edge seems to dwindle once you increase the caster level over 5. Still, if you have the money to blow, you could do worse.

Blade of Blood Black Lore of Moil (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 2000 gp
Damage: 2d6 or 4d6 = Avg 7 or 14 hp (5.71 or 2.86 gp/hp)
   Here we have the wand combined with BLoM damage. The choice is 2d6 or 4d6 to your enemy and 1d6+5 to you. Still, 2d6 isn’t bad.

Blade of Blood Black Lore of Moil/Heightened+1 (Spell Level 2 / Caster Level 3): 7000 gp
Damage: 3d6 or 5d6 = Avg 10.5 or 17.5 hp (13.33 or 8 gp/hp)
   Here we have the suicidal wand of choice. The choice is 3d6 or 5d6 to your enemy and 2d6+5 to you. The price starts to climb dramatically, but BLoM damage still keeps it semi-useful. And if you REALLY need to take someone down, RIGHT NOW, well, maybe you’ll survive.

Blade of Blood Black Lore of Moil/Heightened+1/Purify (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 13750 gp
Damage:  5d6 or 5d8 = Avg 17.5 or 22.5 hp (15.71 or 12.22 gp/hp)
   Now here we heighten the spell so we can add another die of BLoM damage and purify it so that a good user won’t get hit with the 2d6+6 damage. This combination is actually starting to look competitive. Alas, we need to heighten the spell two more levels to add a third die of BLoM damage, which would put it outside wand limitations.

Blade of Blood BLoM/Energize/Heightened+1/Purify (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 23500 gp
Damage:  5d6 x 1.5 or 5d8 = Avg 26.25 or 22.5 hp (17.90 or 20.89 gp/hp)
   And if you want to whack an undead, adding energize doesn’t suck too much, but it becomes increasingly worse when used on any other target.

Blade of Blood BLoM/Purify/Fell Drain (Spell Level 4 / Caster Level 7): 22250 gp
Damage:  4d6 or 4d8 = Avg 14 or 17 hp (31.79 or 26.18 gp/hp)
And here we have an expensive way to fell drain anyone hit with your sword. I’d still use magic missile fell drain first, but maybe this appears to certain players.

Oil

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Oil, on the other hand, I can see. Pouring this on a fighter’s weapon or your own makes sense, once in a while.

Blade of Blood (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 1): 50 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (4.76 gp/hp)
Blade of Blood (Spell Level 1 / Caster Level 3): 150 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 10.5 hp (14.26 gp/hp)

Blade of Blood Empower (Spell Level 3 / Caster Level 5): 750 gp
Damage: 3d6 = Avg 15.75 hp (47.62 gp/hp)
The only upside to this oil is that it increases the damage for anyone you hit, but since the 5 points of damage you take is fixed, it doesn’t increase by 50%.

That’s it for Blade of Blood. I know this one was a request, I’m sorry the numbers just don’t make this spell look good, but I suppose it depends on what class you are playing. An assassin or black guard might not have any better options. And there is no reason that you can’t be a monk/cleric who casts this on their hands while they do cause serious wounds as they punch through someone’s liver. It’s up to the individual player to find a way for this to work for them.

[Amechra]

Note that, if you are Undead, or are using Purify Spell and are good, the uses for this spell become far superior, namely because they're immune to the effects of the Fell line of effects.

And you know what? I would totally buy an Oil of Fell Animate Blade of Blood, and give it to the party ubercharger.

Or, if I was an evil bastard, make a wand of Fell Drain Blade of Blood, and then make a sword with a wand chamber, and advertising as a "bargain basement", telling all the 1st level Commoners coming in that the sword has a devastating smite ability, and if they would like, they can rent it to keep in reserve against brigands or such for a paltry fee...

But, yeah, within the constraints you gave yourself, it ain't a very good spell.

Why haven't you been including Persistent Spell in your analysis?

[Captnq]

Note that, if you are Undead, or are using Purify Spell and are good, the uses for this spell become far superior, namely because they're immune to the effects of the Fell line of effects.

Hey, Now there's a thought. Purify would work with all the fell feats. I will have to add them.

Why haven't you been including Persistent Spell in your analysis?

I have. It hasn't been available for any of the spells yet. Read it. Personal or Fixed Area only. None of these spells so far are personal or of a fixed area.