November 2000

Karmic Retribution
Posted Friday, November 3, 2000 by
PanzerMagi

This Words from the Magi will be short - I'd just like to post the description for a spell I think we could definitely use in the Forgotten World someday. I don't recall seeing it before, but there's always the chance this has already been suggested by someone else and I've merely forgotten - if so, I apologize in advance.

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Name: Karmic Retribution
Area of Effect: 7 by 7 square
Duration: Instantaneous
Level: 6
Saving Throw: None
Damage: Special, see below
Spell Type: Cleric

When cast, Karmic Retribution causes all targets within the area of effect to suffer the effects of their most recently cast spell from levels 1 through 5. This spell will always be cast as if they themselves had cast it for maximum effect. For instance, a spell like hold person which can have multiple targets but which gives a penalty versus save if cast against a single target will be cast with that bonus. If an area of effect spell like fireball was the most recent cast by a spellcaster victim, that victim will cast that area of effect spell centered on themselves. If the most recent cast spell is a directional effect spell, such as lightning bolt, it will be cast directly on the spellcaster and then move away in a randomly determined direction. If the spellcaster had cast a level 6 spell most recently, the Karmic Retribution still causes them to cast the last level 1 through 5 spell they had used.

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I think this one would be a lot of fun, and could make for some interesting co-ordination in team PvP combat. Imagine setting yourselves up to use Karmic Retribution one round after everyone cast cure crits on each other in your team? Or faking the other guys out by acting like you were setting up a karmic retribution so they didn't use any offensive spells that round? Lots of interesting possibilities...