Lightning Bolt

Magic-user 3

Range. 4” plus 1” per CL

Duration. Instantaneous

Area of Effect. Special

Evocation

Components. V, S, M

Casting Time. 3s

Saving Throw. ½

Upon casting this spell, the magic user releases a powerful stroke of electrical energy which causes damage equal to 1 six-sided die (d6) for each level of experience of the spell caster to creatures within its area of effect, or 50% of such damage to such creatures which successfully save versus the attack form.

The range of the bolt is the location of the commencement of the stroke, ie. if shot to 6", the bolt would extend from this point to n inches further distance.

The lightning bolt will set fire to combustibles, sunder wooden doors, splinter up to 1-ft thickness of stone, and melt metals with a low melting point (lead, gold, copper, silver, bronze). Saving throws must be made for objects which withstand the full force of a stroke (cf. fireball).

The area of the lightning bolt's effect is determined by the spell caster, just as its distance is. The stroke can be either a forking bolt 1" wide and 4" long, or a single bolt ½" wide and 8" long.

If a 12th level magic-user cast the spell at its maximum range, 16" in this case, the stroke would begin at 16" and flash outward from there, as a forked bolt ending at 20" or a single one ending at 24". If the full length of the stroke is not possible due to the interposition of a nonconducting barrier (such as a stone wall), the lightning bolt will double and rebound towards its caster, its length being the normal total from beginning to end of stroke, damage caused to interposing barriers notwithstanding.

Example. An 8" stroke is begun at a range of 4" but the possible space in the desired direction is only 3½"; so the bolt begins at the 3½" maximum, and it rebounds 8" in the direction of its creator.

The material components of the spell are a bit of fur and an amber, crystal or glass rod.

Note that physical damage is not exceptional, so that if a solid wall is struck, the bolt effectively rebounds its full remaining distance. If it strikes a barrier which is shattered/broken through by the force of the stroke, then the bolt continues beyond.

Underwater, this spell resembles a fireball as pertains to area of effect. Instead of a stroke, the electrical discharge takes the form of a 2" radius sphere, centering on the point where a stroke would originate were the spell cast above water. All those within the sphere will suffer the full effect (saving throw indicates one-half damage).

Dragon #154, Sage Advice. Q. Can a lightning bolt spell be cast vertically or at right angles to the caster, or must it be cast in line with the caster?A. A lightning bolt spell must be cast so that the bolt is in line with the caster and his target. The bolt may be cast in any direction, including straight up, as space permits.

DMG, p.109. SIEGE ATTACK VALUES. Lightning bolt vs Wood: ½ = Damage shown is per level of the spell caster employing the spell, and assumes fire damage following; if the wooden target is protected by green hides, is wet, etc., reduce damage by 50%.DMG, p.110. CONSTRUCTION DEFENSIVE VALUES. Door, wooden = 1; Door, wooden, reinforced = 3; Window, shuttered = 4; Ballista = 2; Catapult, heavy = 6; Catapult, light = 4;DMG, p.54. Hull Values. The hull value or the defensive point value is how much damage the ship can sustain before sinking (any time that damage reaches one-third or more of this value, repairs must be made). For damage done to a ship by various attack forms, see Siege Attack under CONSTRUCTION AND SIEGES. To determine the number of points each ship can have, see the table below and roll accordingly. Rowboat = 1-4; Galley, small = 2-12; Galley, large = 4-16;

DMG, p.54. Burn Damage of Controlled Fires. Lightning bolts will have to be checked for burn damage at increments of 8-dice. Anything below that only does structural damage (see CONSTRUCTION AND SIEGES, SIEGE ATTACK VALUES). When a lightning bolt does burn damage, subtract 3 from the roll for the kind of damage that is done (for example, a 15 is rolled, 15 — 3 = 12; twelve is the number on the table to determine damage).

Polyhedron #4, Spelling Bee. (excerpt) Felonius can select a forked bolt for a 10' by 40' area, or a single 5' by 80' bolt. He can't have the forks go in different directions; that's just a descriptive term to explain the wider area of effect. Back when he was 5th level, his bolt could start up to 90 yards off, and could go 40' (or 80') from that point. These days, of course, he's got a lot more range... it can start up to 200 yards away (outside) at 18th level, or (of course) right off of his fingertips if he wishes. Rebounds are possible. The bolt will rip through wooden doors, creatures, and up to 1' of stone, but it will ricochet off of thicker stone, metal doors, and other immobile objects. In this case, the bolt acts like light when reflecting; as in diagram D, it may be bounced off of a slanted wall to hurtle down an unseen corridor. But it rebounds straight back off of a flat facing wall, and can be tricky in tight spaces, as in diagram E.If the bolt should happen to contact a creature more than once, due to rebounding, it does NOT do any more damage than what the caster rolls; more damage makes the bolt too powerful. The victim must save for each contact, however, and if any of the saving throws are missed, full damage is incurred. There would logically be less of a chance for the creature to save in this case; remember that the entire bolt moves at the speed of light, much too fast for the situation to change while it's flying. Lightning bolts are as noisy as fireballs, with similar hazards as those described under fireball.

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