3.5 Call Lightning

[RolandOfGilead]

Hi all! Just checking the scoops, and found a neat little tidbit:
Call lightning now takes 1 round to cast, lasts 1 min/level, you can call down 1 bolt/round, and it does either 3d6 damage or 3d10 damage in a stormy area.
While this looks to be a serious weakening of the one shot power, its actually kind of neat.
What I want to know is if you can cast the spell multiple times to have several active call lightnings.. then you walk into your enemies camp and wham! 4 lightning bolts per round for 3d6. could be nasty. (granted, it takes 4 3rd level spell slots, so its good and bad. if you got a decent amount of time to prep, blast away! heck, burn all your 3rd level and 4th level slots, lets say 8 active.... hmmm

 

[Azul]

Probably not. I imagine they require you to use a standard action to "call down" the bolt each round. Still, making call lightning work in non-stormy weather and every round (as opposed to once every 10 mins) makes it far more useful to lower level druids.

In its 3e incarnation, I've almost never seen druids pack it (except on stormy days) unless they have control weather (when suddenly call lightning became a favourite spell). The 3.5e version sounds pretty darn nice actually... like a really beefed up variation on how produce flame works (the cast-once/get-many-weak-magical-attacks thing).

 

[Nifft]

The old Call Lightning was an army-killer (or a city-killer). This new one is better for normal battles.

I like it.

-- Nifft

 

[Silver Griffon]

No, the really cool part is that the current version of the spell doesn't work at all if you are not already in a storm. Pretty much made it useless in the past unless you also had control weather as it was completely up to the DM whether or not the weather would cooperate with you enough to use your prepared 3rd level spell. And unfortunately most DMs I know rarely plan weather. This is a change that definitely needed to be made!

Edit: Darn you guys type fast!

 

[ShadowStar]

Call Lightning
Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Drd 3
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Medium (100' + 10'/level)
Effect: One or more 30-ft.-long vertical lines of lightning.
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes

Immediately upon completion of the spell, and once per round thereafter, you may call down a 5-foot-wid, 30-foot-long, vertical bolt of lightning that deals 3d6 points of electricity damage. The bolt of lightning flashes down in a vertical stroke at whatever target point you choose within the spell's range (measured from your position at the time). Any creatre in the target square or in the path of the bolt is affected.

You need not call a bolt of lightning immediately; other actions, even spell casting, can be performed. however, each round after the first you may use a standard acction (concentration on the spell) to call a bolt. You may call a total number of bolts equal to your caster level (maximum 10 bolts).

If you are outdoors and in a stormy area - a rain shower, clouds and wind, hot and cloudy conditions, or even a tornado (including a whirlwind formed by a djinni or an air elemental of at least Large size; see the Monster Manual) - each bolt deals 3d10 points of electricity damage instead of 3d6.

This spell functions indoors or underground but not underwater.

 

[Stalker0]

You may call a total number of bolts equal to your caster level (maximum 10 bolts).

Phew, I knew there had to be something like this in there. Its a good spell for when a druid is in animal form. He casts it, changes form, and then uses it when needed. And it even works underground!!

 

[ForceUser]

Call Lightning
Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Drd 3
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Medium (100' + 10'/level)
Effect: One or more 30-ft.-long vertical lines of lightning.
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes

Immediately upon completion of the spell, and once per round thereafter, you may call down a 5-foot-wid, 30-foot-long, vertical bolt of lightning that deals 3d6 points of electricity damage. The bolt of lightning flashes down in a vertical stroke at whatever target point you choose within the spell's range (measured from your position at the time). Any creatre in the target square or in the path of the bolt is affected.

You need not call a bolt of lightning immediately; other actions, even spell casting, can be performed. however, each round after the first you may use a standard acction (concentration on the spell) to call a bolt. You may call a total number of bolts equal to your caster level (maximum 10 bolts).

If you are outdoors and in a stormy area - a rain shower, clouds and wind, hot and cloudy conditions, or even a tornado (including a whirlwind formed by a djinni or an air elemental of at least Large size; see the Monster Manual) - each bolt deals 3d10 points of electricity damage instead of 3d6.

This spell functions indoors or underground but not underwater.

Speaking as a druid player: OUTSTANDING.

 

[Apok]

Yes, this is an excellent, excellent change. Call Lightning is now a viable part of the Druids arsenal in a skirmish! Schmoove.

 

[isoChron]

Hm, 3d6 as a standard action (no 3.0 haste means only ONE standard action per round. NEVER more)....
since most fights don't last more than 5 to 7 rounds you won't get use of all 10 bolts. At the time used to call a lightning bolt you could cast a flame strike with a radius and min. 7d6. Half divine damage.
Hmmm, I can see the druids casting call lightning in the first round or before combat. Then they strike each round at 1 target with 3d6 (reflex half!). Maybe 3 or 5 rounds ... woohoo... seems not impressing to me.
If I compare it to produce flame (no save! 1w4 (+1/2levels), Level2 spell, multiple attacks per round if your BAB is high enough !) call lightning seems a bit underpowered to me.

It would have been nice if they just canceled the requirement of stormy weather (as they did with this spell) and left the rest untouched.

Just MHO.

YE

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think it is not bad.
Flame Strike is a 4th or 5th level spell, and you can`t direct it against a single foe.
The spell allows you to deal a maximum of 30d6 points of damage to a single target at 10th level or higher, and 15d6 at 5th level (when a Druid usually gets 3rd level spells).

Additionally, since it lasts a few minutes, and does work indoors, you might be able to use it for more than one combat (and we know that players grow accustomed to fast heading through the dungeons, since their bull `s strength doesn`t last longer)...

Mustrum Ridcully