An incendiary spell casting staff is a powerful magical instrument designed specifically for casting fire-based spells. It is a staff that is imbued with magical properties, allowing the user to channel and control fire magic with greater precision and potency. The staff is typically made from a durable and heat-resistant material, such as enchanted wood or reinforced metal, to withstand the intense heat and flames that it produces. The main purpose of an incendiary spell casting staff is to harness the element of fire and use it as a weapon or tool. Fire spells can be incredibly destructive, causing widespread damage to enemies or objects. With an incendiary spell casting staff, the user can create large fireballs, summon walls of fire, or unleash streams of fire towards their targets.
Nikosandros Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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As to different traditions using the staff, you couldn t cast the slot with your Divine Sorceror spells, so you couldn t use the spontaneous casting rules to reduce the cost of casting from the staff, but you will be able to use the prepared casting version once you have the Basic Spellcasting to spend the level 3 slot to overcharge the staff, potentially for a total of 7 charges at level 8. It is a strange and overpowered combination of a classical ground-targeted area spell but with the added mechanic that it automatically locks on the targeted enemy.
With an incendiary spell casting staff, the user can create large fireballs, summon walls of fire, or unleash streams of fire towards their targets. The staff itself is usually adorned with intricate engravings or symbols that amplify its magical properties. These engravings serve as conduits for the user's mana, allowing them to channel their energy into the staff and unleash powerful fire spells.
Dragonsfoot
Incendiary Cloud seems a bit underwhelming for an 8th-level spell. It does less total damage than a simple fireball (2 x caster's level over three rounds, versus 3.5 x caster's level all at once) It's quite useless in an open space--the enemy can simply move away before the cloud starts burning.
Its redeeming feature is that its area of effect is proportional to the fire source you start with, so you could fill an entire dungeon with flames if you built a big enough bonfire first. But you'd likely destroy a lot of valuables along with the intended targets--notably any scrolls and spellbooks, among the most precious of treasures to a magic-user.
What practical applications does this spell really lend itself to?
xyzchyx Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by xyzchyx » Tue May 16, 2006 7:05 am
I never played an MU to a high enough level to be able to cast that spell, and looking it over I can't see why I would ever want to.
So. does anybody know if there some practical use for this spell that can't be better accomplished with lower level spells, and why is it so high level? (IMO, it should probably be about level 4 or 5).
garhkal Titan of Dragonsfoot
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Post by garhkal » Tue May 16, 2006 8:58 am
Being i have enver seen anyone learn this or use it, i cannot say. strange that. Confuscious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!ExTSR Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by ExTSR » Tue May 16, 2006 1:24 pm
Duration, fast casting time, and multiple saves required.
However, it is rather underpowered; IMC I've raised the damage and the duration of same.
Nikosandros Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by Nikosandros » Tue May 16, 2006 2:38 pm
It's a very weak spell.
In general I believe that the problem is that many damage dealing spells fare poorly against fireball and lighting bolt. Cone of cold is 5th level and not really any better, incendiary cloud is 8th and clearly weaker.
xyzchyx Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by xyzchyx » Tue May 16, 2006 3:32 pm
Frank Mentzer wrote: Duration, fast casting time, and multiple saves required.Duration isn't a plus for this spell because the maximum total damage delivered over its entire duration is still less than the average amount of damage delivered by a spell like fireball. The only way in which fireball can do less damage is if you roll a LOT of ones when rolling damage for one.
Multiple saves isn't really a plus either, as the spell description specifies that only people that failed their save in the first round of damage need to reroll saves for the other rounds that the spell does damage.
The only thing that this does that fireball doesn't already do better is obscure vision for its duration, which while useful in and of itself, coupled with how much weaker this spell's damage is than fireball does not seem to make sense for an 8th level spell.
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Post by Istarlömé » Tue May 16, 2006 11:04 pm
Wasn't this a song by War?
Incendiary Cloud, what is it good for?
garhkal Titan of Dragonsfoot
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Post by garhkal » Wed May 17, 2006 9:15 am
Nikosandros wrote: It's a very weak spell.
In general I believe that the problem is that many damage dealing spells fare poorly against fireball and lighting bolt. Cone of cold is 5th level and not really any better, incendiary cloud is 8th and clearly weaker.
I disagree with COC being weaker. Yes, it may not have as high a damage potential per level (5 max versus 4) but it has no cap, and on average has a higher minimum.. 2 versus 1.
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Post by cwslyclgh » Wed May 17, 2006 1:05 pm
cone of cold and fireball actually do the exact same average damage, 3.5 points per level (Niether spell has a damage cap in AD&D1e) Cone of cold's main advantage is a larger area of effect but that is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it has to start at the caster. (nothing about the spell says that it will expand to fill the volume of the area of effect like a fireball, or rebound off barriers like a lightning bolt, making it more useful in certain situations as well).
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Nikosandros Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by Nikosandros » Fri May 19, 2006 7:15 pm
garhkal wrote: I disagree with COC being weaker. Yes, it may not have as high a damage potential per level (5 max versus 4) but it has no cap, and on average has a higher minimum.. 2 versus 1.
Damage cap? No such thing in 1E.Nikosandros Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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Post by Nikosandros » Fri May 19, 2006 7:17 pm
cwslyclgh wrote: cone of cold and fireball actually do the exact same average damage, 3.5 points per level (Niether spell has a damage cap in AD&D1e) Cone of cold's main advantage is a larger area of effect but that is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it has to start at the caster. (nothing about the spell says that it will expand to fill the volume of the area of effect like a fireball, or rebound off barriers like a lightning bolt, making it more useful in certain situations as well).
Well, yes but cone of cold is 5th level. that's two levels higher. deimos3428 Hero of DragonsfootPosts: 1835 Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:37 pm Location: Toronto
Post by deimos3428 » Fri May 19, 2006 8:32 pm
Nikosandros wrote:cwslyclgh wrote: cone of cold and fireball actually do the exact same average damage, 3.5 points per level (Niether spell has a damage cap in AD&D1e) Cone of cold's main advantage is a larger area of effect but that is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it has to start at the caster. (nothing about the spell says that it will expand to fill the volume of the area of effect like a fireball, or rebound off barriers like a lightning bolt, making it more useful in certain situations as well).
Well, yes but cone of cold is 5th level. that's two levels higher.IMC, there are two main factors in gauging the relative level of spells. The first, obviously, is Power. More Power = higher level. The second, often overlooked, is Control. Again, more Control = higher level. Furthermore, Power and Control are inversely proportionate: given two spells of the same level, if one has more Power, it has less Control.
Using that as my guideline, let me now analyze Fireball and Cone of Cold.
The Power of the two spells is roughly the same: same average damage, similar volume, and saving throws are permitted for half damage.
Fireball really doesn't have very much Control at all. You point, wait for the streak of flame to blossom into a fireball, and hope you measured distance well. It's rather basic, and extremely dangerous, really. You might argue it's too high level to begin with, but we're talking relative to Cone of Cold, here.
Cone of Cold has considerably more Control: shape and direction. (The caster gets to be a bit more careful of what he smites.) You're certainly in no personal danger as it's radiating away from you, with no chance of blowing back into your face, and no chance of it being obstructed/blowing up prematurely. (The PHB is a little unclear about what happens if the fireball's streak is prevented from reaching it's target before "blossoming into the fireball", IIRC. It either fizzles or blossoms early, but that's a debate for another day. The point being Cone of Cold doesn't have this problem; presumably because it's designed with more Control in mind.)
Ok, so they have about the same Power, but higher Control for Cone of Cold. Is it two levels worth of Control, you ask? I'll answer that with a hypothetical spell, "Frostball". Assume it works exactly as Fireball, but causes cold damage instead of fire damage.
Now, Fireball is virtually uncontrolled. Fire spreads anywhere and everywhere, causing flammable objects to ignite. So almost all the magic of the spell goes into Power. "Frostball", of course, does not ignite everything in its AoE and can be considered to be more controlled.*
Furthermore, unlike fire, "cold" is not an element. It is therefore more difficult to use. So "Frostball", by it's very nature, uses more of its spell energy in Control, leaving less available for Power. In order to maintain the same amount of Power, it would have to be a 4th level spell. Cone of cold is even further controlled than the hypothetical "Frostball" yet has the same damage.
5th level begins to make sense, at least relative to Fireball. Whew.
* This may sound counter-intuitive. Not igniting everything in an AoE is more controlled than doing so. Conversely, you could state that Fireball uses more Power because it does ignite everything in it's AoE, if that's easier to accept. Any magic not used for Control, is used for Power, and vice versa.
Nikosandros Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
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The staff may also be infused with various gems or crystals that enhance its magical abilities, such as increasing the range or intensity of the fire spells cast. Using an incendiary spell casting staff requires great skill and control, as fire magic can easily get out of hand and cause unintended damage. Users must be well-versed in the study and practice of fire magic in order to effectively wield the staff. It is also important for users to maintain a calm and focused mindset, as any sudden bursts of anger or frustration can inadvertently increase the strength and volatility of their fire spells. In addition to its offensive capabilities, an incendiary spell casting staff can also be used for practical purposes. It can be employed to start fires for warmth or cooking, illuminate dark areas, or clear away obstacles by burning them. Its versatility makes it a valuable tool for adventurers, mages, and anyone in need of fire-based magic. In conclusion, an incendiary spell casting staff is a potent magical instrument that allows users to wield the element of fire. With its ability to create devastating fire spells, it can serve as a formidable weapon and tool. However, it requires skill, control, and a deep understanding of fire magic to wield it effectively..
Reviews for "Embrace the Inferno: Unleashing the Power of the Incendiary Spell Casting Staff"
1. John Doe - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the incendiary spell casting staff. First of all, it arrived late and in poor condition. The packaging was torn and the staff itself had scratches and dents. Secondly, the staff did not live up to its claim of producing powerful incendiary spells. I could barely set a piece of paper on fire with it, let alone cast any impressive spells. Overall, a complete waste of money.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the incendiary spell casting staff, but it fell short of my expectations. The staff did produce some flames when casting spells, but they were weak and short-lived. It also required a lot of effort to generate any fire at all, which was quite frustrating. Additionally, the staff's construction felt flimsy and I was worried it would break easily. I ended up returning it and would not recommend it to others.
3. David Thompson - 1 star
The incendiary spell casting staff turned out to be a complete disaster. Not only did it fail to produce any significant flames, but it also smelled awful when trying to ignite any spells. The stench was unbearable and lingered in the air for hours. I reached out to customer support for assistance, but they were unhelpful and dismissive. A terrible product with even worse customer service. Stay away from it!