Change of a Death domain Power

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TempuranTempeh
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat May 06, 2023 12:13 pm

Change of a Death domain Power

Post by TempuranTempeh »

While the Death Domain power has been fixed in terms of triggering and being able to be used, due to the assigned feat/function it severely underperforms compared to other domain powers due to rarely ever triggering.

Death domain's intended power might sound good on paper, however the reality is that despite the high level threshold for its use, the domain power's DC remains low for even mid-low level areas and is easily passed. The domain power is thus reduced to a waste of a round.

Let's compare to some other domains:
(Numbers directly pasted from the official spell table on Wiki)

* Sun domain: Sunfire - Every 1 minute
80 (10d8) / avg. 45

* Fire domain: Meteor Swarm / 3 minutes
240 (30d8) / avg. 135

* Cold domain: Burst of Glacial Wrath / 3 minutes
150 (25d6) / avg. 87.5

* Ooze domain: Vitriolic Sphere / minute
120 (20d6) / avg. 70

* Moon domain: Moonbeam / 30 seconds
72 (12d6) / avg. 42

* Destruction domain: Destruction / minute
60 (10d6) / avg. 35

* Air domain: Horizikaul's Boom / round (6 seconds)
60 (15d4) / avg. 37.5

While I understand if this is meant to avoid more snacks for defiler / suffering builds, there is a variety of themed spells with a direct impact that could be linked instead of a redundant feat which should not add to the draining.

For example, any of the spells below could fit the theme and unlike the current power, would have a reliable reason to be used.

* Withering Ray - 90 (10 + 20d4) / avg. 60
* Blackfire (not in the comparison table, entropic damage)
* Grim Terror - 90 (15d6) / avg. 52.5
* Destruction - 60 (10d6) / avg. 35
* Horrid Wilting - 200 (25d8) / avg. 112.5

There are also wards such as Death Ward or Predator which could work for the theme. I would not suggest False Life as it is rather redundant to clerics who have access to virtue and regeneration.

Thank you for considering!

Sariandi the Treasure Hunter - chilling on the mainland away from shovels, sandbanks and islets
Ashari Hürriyet Vahl - actively Hammer-ing

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