Chromatic Orb, I dont get it

Troll Slayer · 07-24-2001, 05:33 PM

Everyone seems to love Chromatic orb once their amge reaches high levels. I don't get it. With a +6 to the saving throw of the target, how often does it ever really do an instant kill? It would seem that on powerful enemies, which have low saving throws, you would need to cast the cleric spell doom (-2 saving throws) and greater mailison just to get rid of the penalty. To have thoese spells work, the creaters magic resistance and spell protections need to be dropped. So now we are looking at several spells being cast, just for the chance to do an instant kill. Maybe on weak enemies its a good spell, but I can't see how it would work that great aginst a lich, dragon, golem,or high level wizard. Could anyone explain it to me? I want to understand the spells fun potential, and right now I don't.

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Best to remain silent and thought a fool, then to open ones mouth and remove all doubt

Lord of Alcohol · 07-24-2001, 05:39 PM

An over-rated spell yep

oldbittercraig · 07-24-2001, 05:47 PM

there's always a 5% chance (1 on a 20) that it will succeed! I could'nt see using it as any more than a desperate gamble...

Dreamer128 · 07-24-2001, 06:17 PM

For a lvl1 spell, 5% is not so bad.

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Those who watch their backs meet death from the front- Dreamer128 Demonslayer of the OHF.

DarkTemplar · 07-24-2001, 07:23 PM

I would agree that it is not a lot of use vs people with good saves / magic resistance, so dont use it against them! It is very effective against weaker fighter types, i can recall having one of my mages begin chased by a group of bandits, he cast six orbs and nailed five of them. (Yes i know my fighters could have mowed them, but they we having a nice wander somewhere else).

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Those who ph33r the darkness have never seen what the light can do

trux · 07-24-2001, 08:14 PM

It's a first level spell, it's not meant to crush the opposition every time. Of course it's not gonna immediately kill a powerful villian (dragon, beholder, etc.)

Chromatic Orb has a little more playability in PnP D&D, as the mage gets to choose the effect it will have on the opponent at casting time (i.e. choosing blindness, stun, instant death, etc.)

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trux

Starkiller · 07-24-2001, 08:24 PM

Ok, maybe this doesnt happen to everyone, but even with a high level party, think about how often your warriors critically miss. That is the same chance the spell has of succeeding, and as a first level spell you can memorize a bunch of them. 1 in 20 is about 1 in 7 battles if you spend just 3 slots on the spell, and only use then on difficult battles like I do. They do a little damage, not too much less than a magic missile if you are lucky and have a chance to kill outright, not bad if you ask me, especially on those annoying guys like Djinns which turn into gas and then reform with full hp when you kill them since this kills them permanently. Finally, if you store a couple in a minor spell sequencor which can only store up to 2nd level spells anyway, then right as combat starts you can do a really quick attack in addition to whatever other spell you want to cast since it is a special ability, and it will damage them, stopping any spell they are casting and have 2 5% chances to kill them. Not bad for level 1 if you ask me. Sure, its a gamble, but hey, lifes no fun if you don't roll the dice every now and then.

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"Not everything ends the way you think it should"

Jerome · 07-24-2001, 08:25 PM

Like trux said, it's not MEANT to be a uber-spell.... some people just have a prefrence for it, like many do for a veriety of spells

***though on worthless creatures you cant be arsed killing it works a treat

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Icing Death · 07-25-2001, 03:45 AM

That minor sequence idea isn't bad, I mix it with magic missile sometimes

Chromatic Orb is an ok spell, but IMO not to be relied on. I use it as a last resort, once all my spells are depleted, in hope that I will kill a tough foe out of luck. Hey, it's worked b4

Redblueflare · 07-25-2001, 09:32 AM

It's not supposed to be a power spell. But it works great against a few enemies. Do you hate umber hulks? Kills them instantly. Sometimes works against vampires too.

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Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just don't have to listen.

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07-24-2001, 05:33 PM	#1
Troll Slayer Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: July 13, 2001 Location: MN, USA Posts: 22	Everyone seems to love Chromatic orb once their amge reaches high levels. I don't get it. With a +6 to the saving throw of the target, how often does it ever really do an instant kill? It would seem that on powerful enemies, which have low saving throws, you would need to cast the cleric spell doom (-2 saving throws) and greater mailison just to get rid of the penalty. To have thoese spells work, the creaters magic resistance and spell protections need to be dropped. So now we are looking at several spells being cast, just for the chance to do an instant kill. Maybe on weak enemies its a good spell, but I can't see how it would work that great aginst a lich, dragon, golem,or high level wizard. Could anyone explain it to me? I want to understand the spells fun potential, and right now I don't. ------------------ Best to remain silent and thought a fool, then to open ones mouth and remove all doubt

07-24-2001, 05:39 PM	#2
Lord of Alcohol Xanathar Thieves Guild Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Charlotte,NC Age: 60 Posts: 4,570	An over-rated spell yep

07-24-2001, 05:47 PM	#3
oldbittercraig Elminster Join Date: July 12, 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ, us Posts: 435	there's always a 5% chance (1 on a 20) that it will succeed! I could'nt see using it as any more than a desperate gamble...

07-24-2001, 06:17 PM	#4
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 39 Posts: 6,136	For a lvl1 spell, 5% is not so bad. ------------------ Those who watch their backs meet death from the front- Dreamer128 Demonslayer of the OHF.

07-24-2001, 07:23 PM	#5
DarkTemplar Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: July 15, 2001 Location: Mainenhead, Berks, England Posts: 13	I would agree that it is not a lot of use vs people with good saves / magic resistance, so dont use it against them! It is very effective against weaker fighter types, i can recall having one of my mages begin chased by a group of bandits, he cast six orbs and nailed five of them. (Yes i know my fighters could have mowed them, but they we having a nice wander somewhere else). ------------------ Those who ph33r the darkness have never seen what the light can do

07-24-2001, 08:14 PM	#6
trux Avatar Join Date: May 19, 2001 Location: Darkside of the Moon Posts: 578	It's a first level spell, it's not meant to crush the opposition every time. Of course it's not gonna immediately kill a powerful villian (dragon, beholder, etc.) Chromatic Orb has a little more playability in PnP D&D, as the mage gets to choose the effect it will have on the opponent at casting time (i.e. choosing blindness, stun, instant death, etc.) ------------------ trux

07-24-2001, 08:24 PM	#7
Starkiller The Magister Join Date: July 4, 2001 Location: New York, NY, USA Posts: 149	Ok, maybe this doesnt happen to everyone, but even with a high level party, think about how often your warriors critically miss. That is the same chance the spell has of succeeding, and as a first level spell you can memorize a bunch of them. 1 in 20 is about 1 in 7 battles if you spend just 3 slots on the spell, and only use then on difficult battles like I do. They do a little damage, not too much less than a magic missile if you are lucky and have a chance to kill outright, not bad if you ask me, especially on those annoying guys like Djinns which turn into gas and then reform with full hp when you kill them since this kills them permanently. Finally, if you store a couple in a minor spell sequencor which can only store up to 2nd level spells anyway, then right as combat starts you can do a really quick attack in addition to whatever other spell you want to cast since it is a special ability, and it will damage them, stopping any spell they are casting and have 2 5% chances to kill them. Not bad for level 1 if you ask me. Sure, its a gamble, but hey, lifes no fun if you don't roll the dice every now and then. ------------------ "Not everything ends the way you think it should"

07-24-2001, 08:25 PM	#8
Jerome Knight of the Rose Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Scotland Age: 38 Posts: 4,418	Like trux said, it's not MEANT to be a uber-spell.... some people just have a prefrence for it, like many do for a veriety of spells ***though on worthless creatures you cant be arsed killing it works a treat ------------------

07-25-2001, 03:45 AM	#9
Icing Death Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: July 24, 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 21	That minor sequence idea isn't bad, I mix it with magic missile sometimes Chromatic Orb is an ok spell, but IMO not to be relied on. I use it as a last resort, once all my spells are depleted, in hope that I will kill a tough foe out of luck. Hey, it's worked b4

07-25-2001, 09:32 AM	#10
Redblueflare Galvatron Join Date: May 9, 2001 Location: The backwoods in Georgia sigh Age: 39 Posts: 2,151	It's not supposed to be a power spell. But it works great against a few enemies. Do you hate umber hulks? Kills them instantly. Sometimes works against vampires too. ------------------ Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just don't have to listen.

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