Talk:Lightning Ray (3.5e Spell)

Balance

This spell is much better than the same level spell SRD:Scorching Ray (Spell).

Not only does it have a better range, it also deals more damage at all levels except the third. At 6th level, it does almost double damage! As a DM, I would either ban the spell, nerf it, or move it to level 3.

Reference table (damage and average damage)

Level	Scorching Ray		Lightning Ray
3	4d6	14	3d8	13.5
4	4d6	14	4d8	18
5	4d6	14	5d8	22.5
6	4d6	14	6d8	27
7	8d6	28	7d8	31.5
9	8d6	28	9d8	40.5
11	12d6	42	10d8	45

--Mkill 06:51, 9 August 2007 (MDT)

It does not allow multiple targets though, which usually doesn't matter, but can matter none the less. It does have a better range though so I agree with a nerf. Perhaps if it were made a touch attack it would be fair? --Aarnott 07:34, 9 August 2007 (MDT)

Yes, I'd say its okay as a touch attack, but than you should change the name as it is no ray anymore. --Mkill 07:44, 9 August 2007 (MDT)

Would "Lightning Touch" work? --Green Dragon 11:37, 9 August 2007 (MDT)

The only thing that sucks about it is that it is just a better shocking grasp. There is nothing really unique about a low level lightning touch attack (been done). Instead we could keep it as a ray, lower the damage to 1d6 per character level (max 5d6) and add a low duration stun effect, blindness effect, or dazzle effect (fits the lightning theme). --Aarnott 11:58, 9 August 2007 (MDT)

After reading your comments and thinking it through for a bit, I decided I'll do what I did with Improved Magic Missile, change the damage dice progression from 1 dice/per caster level to 1 dice/per 2 caster levels. By doing this, the damage per level will look more like this:

Level	Scorching Ray		Lightning Ray
3	4d6	14	2d8	8
4	4d6	14	2d8	8
5	4d6	14	3d8	13.5
6	4d6	14	3d8	13.5
7	8d6	28	4d8	18
8	8d6	28	4d8	18
9	8d6	28	5d8	22.5
10	8d6	28	5d8	22.5
11	12d6	42	6d8	27
12	12d6	42	6d8	27
13	12d6	42	7d8	31.5
14	12d6	42	7d8	31.5
15	12d6	42	8d8	36
16	12d6	42	8d8	36
17	12d6	42	9d8	40.5
18	12d6	42	9d8	40.5
19	12d6	42	10d8	45

So Lightning Ray will still beat SRD:Scorching Ray (Spell) for damage in the end, but only by a minuscule amount (3 points), and at a level where both spells are far less useful due to:

1. Better damage-dealing spells that are available at higher level, such as Delayed Blast Fireball and Meteor Swarm.
2. Higher level spells that are far better and more useful than direct damage spells, such as Wish, Power Word Kill, and Time Stop.

So that will be the change I will make to the spell, and if anyone has any other balance issues with the spell, just let me know.-Pirate-Sorcerer 00:10, 12 August 2007 (MDT)

Edit: I have now made that change to the spell.-Pirate-Sorcerer 00:13, 12 August 2007 (MDT)

I must say, I think it is a lot better. Good work. --Green Dragon 13:44, 12 August 2007 (MDT)