With a snap of a finger, the vial of hydrogen peroxide shatters in a blinding flash of light, sterilizing everything within range.
If used directly on an open wound as a Touch spell, the wound is immediately disinfected and cleansed of any parasites, poisons, or infections and diseases. This merely cleans a wound if the wound is not fresh, while using it on a wound or infection within one round of an infection of disease or parasite immediately cleans and cleanses the wound, curing a creature of the ailment before it can set in. This spell cannot otherwise cure any creature of a disease or poison which is already affecting it.
If used as normal, the spell bathes the area in a blinding white light of magical sterilization, scouring out all infectious substances, poisons, and diseases, and destroys hazardous molds (such as brown mold, yellow mold, or russet mold), fungi, and slimes (such as green slime), and renders all materials and surfaces within the area completely clean and sterile. This spell also automatically exterminates all verminous creatures within the area, such as fleas, flies, maggots, rats etc. in a manner similar to the Exterminate* spell.
Lastly, this spell can harm certain types of creatures within it's area. Tiny-sized Aberrations, Beasts, Fiends, Monstrosities, Oozes, and Undead in the area make a Constitution saving throw. Taking 5d8 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. Creatures slain by this spell are utterly reduced to nothingness, leaving no trace behind.
* - (a vial of hydrogen peroxide, which the spell consumes)
For context... Exterminate was a cantrip from 1e or 2e which does the following (translated to 5e): [A Tiny Beast (or a swarm of tiny-sized beasts) targeted by this spell takes 2 (1d4) points of Necrotic damage. This spell only works on non-magical creatures. It does not affect creatures that have been polymorphed or were the subject of a reduce spell. It is effective on common vermin such as a mouse, a rat, a beetle, or a fly. If the target was sufficiently small, such as tiny ants or fleas, a volume of up to 1 cubic feet could be made free of that pest.]
Additionally, this spell is my attempt at resurrecting the Sterilize spell from it's 0e roots, where it was introduced as a spell for the Healer Class, but was left mostly un-described and never made it into any following edition.
Exterminate / Sterilize existed in 1e because the tone of the game was different. Characters were fighting for survival every moment of the game. Mundane things could and did routinely kill players for almost no reason. That is not the type of game 5e is targeting.
This is way too specific and severely underpowered for a 7th level spell. This is a list of creature that meet the criteria. There are 3 above CR 4, and 2 of them are unique. So unless you routinely encounter swarms of Demilich, there are always going to be better options. Doubly so because this does significantly less damage than it should
This is the suggested spell damage by level in the DMG. A 7th level multi-target spell should do 12d6 (42) average damage. Yours does 22.5, or just above half of what it should be (because the other spell effects are very minor for 5e). With better other spell effects this could be appropriate (see later)
Your cleansing effect can be replicated by prestidigitation, a cantrip. They just have to cast it multiple times. Or if you are trying to protect foodstuffs, the 1st level RITUAL spell purify food and drink does the job, and you don't even need to expend a spell slot to do it.
I would look at Sunburst as a starting place. Pick the level you want the spell to be and what secondary effect you want it to have. Reduce the damage dice by 1 level to account for it. Don't make it so specific.
In this case, you can add the object cleaning for free. Then I would add Lesser Restoration. On a single target this is a 2nd level spell. Since this will be multitarget, add two levels (4th level effect). Then do the remaining damage dice. Target spell level is 7, minus 4 levels for our restoration effect leaves 3 levels worth of spell damage (6d6, or around 21). So your 5d8 would be fine.
So the spell is now:
LEVEL
7th
CASTING TIME
1 Action
RANGE/AREA
Self (60 ft )
COMPONENTS
V, S, M *
DURATION
Instantaneous
SCHOOL
Abjuration
ATTACK/SAVE
CON Save
DAMAGE/EFFECT
Radiant
(add flavor text and description as appropriate)
Objects with the radius are instantly cleaned and sterilized
up to six creatures of your choice within range are cured of either one disease or one condition afflicting it. The condition can be blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or poisoned
creatures of your choice within range must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 5d8 radiant damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one.
I agree, the spell reads like it's designed for a different game system entirely. Possibly as something for a "hardcore realism" homebrew setting, with more lasting injuries and minute details managed for health and such.
I'd also recommend giving a GP value for the vial of hydrogen peroxide the spell consumes... if it was just a drop of hydrogen peroxide I think you could justify that as being one of the "costless" material components that you would find in a component pouch, but if it's going to require a full vial of something that normally isn't sold in D&D it would help to give it a numeric value.
thank you for the criticism. I'll take it into account when retooling the spell. I assumed the base spell had been fairly underwhelming for it's level, but wasn't too sure, so I added a few features. I do want to keep the feature where the spell destroys mold, which is one of the only things the spell was described to do.
"7th Level Healer Spells: 1. Sterilize: this spell will cleanse any room of any infection, mold, slime, or nasty creatures, up to 5 hit die."
But I do see the points of fact and will alter the spell to rebalance it's power accordingly.
Also, just a funny bit of information: Sterilzie did not exist in 1e, or 2e, just Oe. It was never reprinted as a spell outside Dragon Magazine Issue 3 (October 1976). At the same Time the same class, the Healer, got the stand-alone spell "Cure Deafness" also as a 7th level spell, which is now, as stated above, rolled into Lesser Restoration, a Level 2 spell.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
With a snap of a finger, the vial of hydrogen peroxide shatters in a blinding flash of light, sterilizing everything within range.
If used directly on an open wound as a Touch spell, the wound is immediately disinfected and cleansed of any parasites, poisons, or infections and diseases. This merely cleans a wound if the wound is not fresh, while using it on a wound or infection within one round of an infection of disease or parasite immediately cleans and cleanses the wound, curing a creature of the ailment before it can set in. This spell cannot otherwise cure any creature of a disease or poison which is already affecting it.
If used as normal, the spell bathes the area in a blinding white light of magical sterilization, scouring out all infectious substances, poisons, and diseases, and destroys hazardous molds (such as brown mold, yellow mold, or russet mold), fungi, and slimes (such as green slime), and renders all materials and surfaces within the area completely clean and sterile. This spell also automatically exterminates all verminous creatures within the area, such as fleas, flies, maggots, rats etc. in a manner similar to the Exterminate* spell.
Lastly, this spell can harm certain types of creatures within it's area. Tiny-sized Aberrations, Beasts, Fiends, Monstrosities, Oozes, and Undead in the area make a Constitution saving throw. Taking 5d8 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. Creatures slain by this spell are utterly reduced to nothingness, leaving no trace behind.
* - (a vial of hydrogen peroxide, which the spell consumes)For context... Exterminate was a cantrip from 1e or 2e which does the following (translated to 5e): [A Tiny Beast (or a swarm of tiny-sized beasts) targeted by this spell takes 2 (1d4) points of Necrotic damage. This spell only works on non-magical creatures. It does not affect creatures that have been polymorphed or were the subject of a reduce spell. It is effective on common vermin such as a mouse, a rat, a beetle, or a fly. If the target was sufficiently small, such as tiny ants or fleas, a volume of up to 1 cubic feet could be made free of that pest.]
Additionally, this spell is my attempt at resurrecting the Sterilize spell from it's 0e roots, where it was introduced as a spell for the Healer Class, but was left mostly un-described and never made it into any following edition.
Exterminate / Sterilize existed in 1e because the tone of the game was different. Characters were fighting for survival every moment of the game. Mundane things could and did routinely kill players for almost no reason. That is not the type of game 5e is targeting.
This is way too specific and severely underpowered for a 7th level spell. This is a list of creature that meet the criteria. There are 3 above CR 4, and 2 of them are unique. So unless you routinely encounter swarms of Demilich, there are always going to be better options. Doubly so because this does significantly less damage than it should
This is the suggested spell damage by level in the DMG. A 7th level multi-target spell should do 12d6 (42) average damage. Yours does 22.5, or just above half of what it should be (because the other spell effects are very minor for 5e). With better other spell effects this could be appropriate (see later)
Your cleansing effect can be replicated by prestidigitation, a cantrip. They just have to cast it multiple times. Or if you are trying to protect foodstuffs, the 1st level RITUAL spell purify food and drink does the job, and you don't even need to expend a spell slot to do it.
I would look at Sunburst as a starting place. Pick the level you want the spell to be and what secondary effect you want it to have. Reduce the damage dice by 1 level to account for it. Don't make it so specific.
In this case, you can add the object cleaning for free. Then I would add Lesser Restoration. On a single target this is a 2nd level spell. Since this will be multitarget, add two levels (4th level effect). Then do the remaining damage dice. Target spell level is 7, minus 4 levels for our restoration effect leaves 3 levels worth of spell damage (6d6, or around 21). So your 5d8 would be fine.
So the spell is now:
(add flavor text and description as appropriate)
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
I agree, the spell reads like it's designed for a different game system entirely. Possibly as something for a "hardcore realism" homebrew setting, with more lasting injuries and minute details managed for health and such.
I'd also recommend giving a GP value for the vial of hydrogen peroxide the spell consumes... if it was just a drop of hydrogen peroxide I think you could justify that as being one of the "costless" material components that you would find in a component pouch, but if it's going to require a full vial of something that normally isn't sold in D&D it would help to give it a numeric value.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
thank you for the criticism. I'll take it into account when retooling the spell. I assumed the base spell had been fairly underwhelming for it's level, but wasn't too sure, so I added a few features. I do want to keep the feature where the spell destroys mold, which is one of the only things the spell was described to do.
"7th Level Healer Spells: 1. Sterilize: this spell will cleanse any room of any infection, mold, slime, or nasty creatures, up to 5 hit die."
But I do see the points of fact and will alter the spell to rebalance it's power accordingly.
Also, just a funny bit of information: Sterilzie did not exist in 1e, or 2e, just Oe. It was never reprinted as a spell outside Dragon Magazine Issue 3 (October 1976). At the same Time the same class, the Healer, got the stand-alone spell "Cure Deafness" also as a 7th level spell, which is now, as stated above, rolled into Lesser Restoration, a Level 2 spell.