Scrolls of Strike Dead

[JamWarrior]

The very high casting target for Strike Dead has the side effect of making it a really very powerful scroll if you don't know the spell.  Auto-cast and the opponent needs to make a will roll of 18 or die instantly.

300 gold may be a lot of money but it's very possible to get by selling all your loot after a single game, and for a 65% chance to kill the enemy wizard the moment you see him (until he gets some will roll improvements from level ups) they're probably worth it.

I'm not crying for the banhammer or making cries of OP, just soliciting thoughts as I fear they could turn low level play into nuke tennis if their use becomes common.  The first player to land a hit kills the enemy wizard, and effectively kills his opponent's warband for all future games, unless they have a high enough level apprentice or a life potion (again both less likely at low level play).

A fairly soft house rule suggestion would just be that Strike Dead can't be cast from scrolls if you don't know the spell.

Thoughts?

[JamWarrior]

Ok, I'm a bit of a fool and hadn't noticed strike dead only takes you to 0 health.  You can still roll on the recovery table.  That allays my fears somewhat.

'He struck me dead!'

'Dead?'

'.....I got better.'

[JamWarrior]

And only 8" range.  Okay I'm calming down now.  It's a nuke, but a one-shot, expensive, short range nuke that might be resisted.  I'd be interested to hear the results of someone giving it a try in a campaign with understanding opponents.

[tys123]

Don't forget everyone can also use life to boost the save.

So a new wizard can boost his roll by 13 before dying.
Cast it on a unhurt thug and he has less than a 50% chance of dying.
10 on the dice + 9 health - 1 will = 18.

Unless he is getting a lot of cover bonus an elemental bolt scroll is going to do more damage on average.

[JamWarrior]

Another solid point.

Lesson learned.  Think on it a bit first, post later!