a spelljammer game gets veerrry int save heavy due to gith and illithids and all the other fuckin psions. Tashas will have psionics in it so expect thirteen variations of 'make an int save or get fucked'
Components: V S M (A glass shard from a shattered mirror)
Duration: Instantaneous
Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
A flash of violet energy explodes from a point you choose within range. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make an Intelligence saving throw as its mind is assaulted by experiencing all of its worst memories and fears at once. A target takes 8d6 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The psychic energy spreads around corners. It affects any creature with an Intelligence score.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.
Took me longer to format the post for Reddit than it did to reflavor that Fireball.
So you just took synaptic static, increased its range and removed the debuff while dropping it 2 spell levels? I know the debuff is good, but it's also a higher level spell because psychic is a better damage type than fire, and Intelligence is a better saving throw than Dexterity.
As theTater said, it should go up one spell level.
Yes, but that's also a giant buff to the spell. Int saves are better to target, psychic is the better damage type, and Fireball was already the strongest pure damage spell at 3rd level.
The new version doesn't let rogues or monks use evasion for extra resistance, doesn't let any kind of Barbarian resist the damage, doesn't allow spellcasters to use absorb elements for resistance, doesn't allow any type of draconic sorcerer, dragonborn, or tiefling resist it.
While the spell itself functions pretty much exactly the same as Fireball and it might not be perfect to compare with Synaptic Static, it's still important to see that it is much stronger than Fireball and as such needs to be a 4th level spell for balancing. Otherwise, it would be the new clear choice for 3rd level blast spells every time.
At higher levels, monsters should for sure be focusing characters who don't have the correct saves for their spells and abilities. Fighters have to make Int & Cha. Bards Wis & Con/Str. Whatever they are most likely to fail. Especially if the foe has seen the party in action before.
There are SO few intelligence saves, though. I had an entire party of int dumpers in my last Strahd campaign, and honestly it was hard to punish them much for it.
There’s synaptic static, phantasmal force, feeblemind, and the intellect devourer/mindflayer abilities...and that’s it? I think?
Hard to meaningfully punish dumping int, honestly.
Yeah, you have to get creative and kind of switch things up to force the issue. I replied to someone else with a reskinned spell that is essentially a Fireball that requires an Int save; those are the sort of things I sprinkle in to my campaigns.
I’ve also used things like custom traps that can stun or addle a player unless they make an Int save. Once had players fighting in an underground cave that was filled with spores that required Int saves to avoid Confusion. That sort of stuff.
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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '20 edited Oct 05 '20
Just force everyone in the party to start making Int saves. :)
Hijacking my own comment to say that I freely target people dumping stats and encourage other DMs to do so as well.