Change the Combust Immunity Cloak

[Egon the Monkey]

I've just seen a certain piece of quest end loot that is a cape that has Spell Immunity: Combust. I think that's rather overpowered as an item for a few reasons:

Combust is an extremely common spell used by NPCs. The Orc Prophets have it, the goblin pyromancers have it, the Kobold Evokers have it and the Gnoll Elite Shamans have it. Did I miss anything there?  It's arguably the most dangerous spell in their arsenal especially against low levels. This turns it into a joke. I should know, I used to have a PC who'd use a set of 15/- Fire Resist robes (DM loot, no other bonuses) to make those enemies waste spells on him.

Combust is one of the better offensive spells on a single target, and popular on both sorcs and wizard PCs for attacks or for defending themselves. Total immunity is pretty vicious as there's no counter to it. Your spells just becaume pointless.

Other spell immunity items are reasonably balanced, like the Mind of Slime, which is only cloth and gives immunity to a mind spell (there are lots of ways to get mindspell immunity) or the Electric Loop immunity leathers (nobody really uses that spell anyway, other than Summoned Rat Arcanists). There's little reason for most PCs not to wear this if they have it. It's rare, yes, but it's kind of crazy.

I'd  suggest changing it to 5/- Fire Resist and 1/day Endure Elements. That still takes the edge off a combust but can be beaten. Or giving it some fairly horrible drawbacks against other forms of magical attack. Or changing the immunity to Burning Hands.

[Paha]

It's still only combust. These same mobs you mention also have things are that whole lot more harmful, like fireballs and that care gives no protection to that what so ever.

It is very flavorable immunity in my opinion, when on other hand certain amount of resist gives you a good deal of immunity vs smaller fire damage, even possibly combust or fireball if you got reflex save.

[Howlando]

PM me where it drops.

I tend to agree it is probably too good for random loot.

[TheImpossibleDream]

You forget combust has no saving throw to avoid the initial guaranteed damage. I like that this cloak is an option.

Considering the other spells the same monsters cast are 30-40 damage fireballs and dispels and the fact that you can spam empowered Combust on someone to kill them in 2 rounds with no saving throw while hasted at 9.

[Drakill Tannan]

Change it to give fire resistance 5/- or 10/-

[AfroMullet]

That'd make it even more powerful against everything related to combust except the initial damage. If it was 5/-, you'd only take 1 damage every round you fail the saving throw. 10/- you would take no damage whenever you fail the saving throw. Fireballs would also do less damage. So that option, in my opinion, is even more powerful.

[Barehander]

The appropriate solution would be to give monster casters more variety and let people use this if they bother to carry it around for the few times they'll need it.

[derfo]

I think it sounds fine the way it is. Putting on a cloak to not get combusted sounds like a generic likable tactic. Players will probably take note that is a anti-combust cloak and not cast combust on them. The downside is already not being able to benefit from usual cloak bonuses while having anti-combust cloak on.

[Drakill Tannan]

That'd make it even more powerful against everything related to combust except the initial damage. If it was 5/-, you'd only take 1 damage every round you fail the saving throw. 10/- you would take no damage whenever you fail the saving throw. Fireballs would also do less damage. So that option, in my opinion, is even more powerful.

I'm pretty sure the subsequent damage is also modified by +1 per caster level.

[TheImpossibleDream]

I'm pretty sure the subsequent damage is also modified by +1 per caster level.

No. it' 1d6 straight that a reflex save can be made against. The initial being 2d6 +1 per caster level with no saving throw and ability to be empowered for double damage pretty easily (being only a level 2 spell)

[Drakill Tannan]

So it was changed for EFU then?

[Diz-e]

Yes, there is no initial save, but keep in mind that they still have to hit you with a touch attack.

[FleetingHeart]

If anything it should have a +save vs fire.

[Relinquish]

Yes, there is no initial save, but keep in mind that they still have to hit you with a touch attack.

Wrong there is no touch attack for combust.

[FleetingHeart]

http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Combust

Range: Touch