Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mulhull Apr 16, 2007 23:55:43	From Dragon Kings, just for convenience's sake Rift (Alteration, Conjuration/Summoning) Range: 0 Components: V,S,M Preparation time: 120 days Duration: 1 night Casting Time: 10 turns Area of Effect: Sphere 360 yards around caster Saving Throw: None With this spell, the wizard magically brings the Negative Material Plane closer to the Prime Material Plane, creating a rift between the two centered upon himself. The wizard must first study undisturbed for at least four hours per day for four months, reading scrolls and books about the Planes. Upon casting, all undead within the area of effect gain nine times thier original hit points as "phantom" hit points for the duration of the spell. For instance, a 5 hp zombie gains an additional 45 phantom hit points for the entire night In combat the phantom hit points are taken off first, then the actual hit points are lost until the undead creature is slain. The area of the rift moves with the caster, possibly placing some undead out of the sphere, or encompassing others as he moves. Phantom hit points are gained immediately upon entering the sphere, and then only once per creature per casting. The caster has no control over which undead receive the benefit of the phantom hit points; all undead in the sphere are so affected. The Material component for this spell is an obsidian goblet containing the ground bones of a dead necromancer. Well, the only thing I can think of is does it not include the caster himself? He is within the sphere after all. But...jebus, why doesn't Dregoth use this on himself? He has I think 145 hit points, so he'd have 1305 additional hitpoints? What could possibly stop him other than something which would instantly destroy him, disintegrate and the like. He could have killed Borys with this spell, and possibly all the SK's. He may not be able to become a god, but this is the closest he can get!
#2 j0lt Apr 17, 2007 9:25:20	Yikes! 1305 temporary HP?!?
#3 zombiegleemax Apr 17, 2007 11:26:10	I always just assumed that the spell did not include the caster, but centered the radius on him. It would thus benefit any undead that remained within that designated radius of him, but not the actual caster--despite the fact that he is in the radius, he is not the target of the spell. I may be remembering this incorrectly, but didn't spells in 2e that affected the caster specifically say so? I just find it hard to imagine that the designers felt any need to clarify whether the caster would be affected for two reasons: 1) they did not expect any of the casters to be undead and 2) (perhaps most importantly) Dregoth was not yet thought of when Dragon Kings was released. I believe that Troy Denning has stated that Dregoth was not his creation nor Tim Brown's. But if the spell DID affect the caster... ouch...