Is there way to use Circle of Death?

[jesselsat]

The area of effect for Circle of Death (huge circle centered around the caster) seems to make this spell almost impossible to use since it's not PC-friendly.

Or an I misunderstanding the way the spell works?

[Sotanaht]

No, there is not a way to use it, but not for the reason you think. The problem is this line:
"No creature of 9 or more HD can be affected"

By the time you get Circle of Death, your entire party will have more than 9HD. Circle of death is spell level 6, so that means the earliest you could obtain it is 11th level, which translates to 11HD. The problem is that you almost never face enemies with fewer HD than you have levels, and those you do are usually so weak as to be not worth wasting spells on. Quickspider Swarms are probably the only exception, but I don't think you'll be high enough level when you see them to use it.

Note that negative levels reduce HD, so if you get level drained a bunch you might become susceptible to your own Circle of Death. Using level drains to make enemies susceptible does not seem like a good strategy, but it would technically work.

[Orange]

Originally posted by Sotanaht:

No, there is not a way to use it, but not for the reason you think. The problem is this line:
"No creature of 9 or more HD can be affected"

By the time you get Circle of Death, your entire party will have more than 9HD. Circle of death is spell level 6, so that means the earliest you could obtain it is 11th level, which translates to 11HD. The problem is that you almost never face enemies with fewer HD than you have levels, and those you do are usually so weak as to be not worth wasting spells on. Quickspider Swarms are probably the only exception, but I don't think you'll be high enough level when you see them to use it.

Note that negative levels reduce HD, so if you get level drained a bunch you might become susceptible to your own Circle of Death. Using level drains to make enemies susceptible does not seem like a good strategy, but it would technically work.

read the Kingmaker's version... which unlike the PnP version which is just meant to murder low level creatures, it states creatures that have more than 9 HD must make a save or take damage

Originally posted by jesselsat:

The area of effect for Circle of Death (huge circle centered around the caster) seems to make this spell almost impossible to use since it's not PC-friendly.

Or an I misunderstanding the way the spell works?

Aside from isolating the caster near the enemy, i suggest Death Ward o party members to mitigate friendly fire

[1ttffsse]

creatures over 9hd still take 100 damage flat on a failed save. that is decent damage on a level 6 spell but nothing spectacular. I think chain lightning is a bit more and party friendly but it is a reflex save which means it is better/worse depending on enemy saves.

Even In Pitax chapter I murdered whole maps with circle of death casts on a cloak of sold souls necro mage...just send sword and shield Jaethal to grap some enemies and nuke over her.

overall it gets overtaken by better level 8 and 9 damage spells of course. at level 6 I like hellfire ray, greater heroism and possibly chain lightning as my spell choices if I have to break it down to 3. I guess disintigrate is nice too if for some reason you have spell focus:transmutation instead of evocation.

[Daliena]

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

I guess disintigrate is nice too if for some reason you have spell focus:transmutation instead of evocation.

Like Octavia? (Love her, but Abjuration as a banned school? Grrr! I need my stoneskin..)

[1ttffsse]

Originally posted by Daliena:

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

I guess disintigrate is nice too if for some reason you have spell focus:transmutation instead of evocation.

Like Octavia? (Love her, but Abjuration as a banned school? Grrr! I need my stoneskin..)

yeah on octavia if you transmutation route that is what you do...you load up on transmute spells like web, slow, baleful polymorph, disintegrate etc. but as a wiz she should have enough feats to take transmutation+evocation spell foci.

[1ttffsse]

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

Originally posted by Daliena:

Like Octavia? (Love her, but Abjuration as a banned school? Grrr! I need my stoneskin..)

yeah on octavia if you transmutation route that is what you do...you load up on transmute spells like web, slow, baleful polymorph, disintegrate etc. but as a wiz she should have enough feats to take transmutation+evocation spell foci.

but transmutation is still the "light" version of conjuration school.

[Orange]

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

yeah on octavia if you transmutation route that is what you do...you load up on transmute spells like web, slow, baleful polymorph, disintegrate etc. but as a wiz she should have enough feats to take transmutation+evocation spell foci.

but transmutation is still the "light" version of conjuration school.

But how else i'm a suppose to play a buffed nerdy old man?
> Flexing Wizard

[Daliena]

Originally posted by Orange:

Originally posted by 1ttffsse:

but transmutation is still the "light" version of conjuration school.

But how else i'm a suppose to play a buffed nerdy old man?
> Flexing Wizard

https://i.imgur.com/jLMg4mq.jpg