Chain Lightning
(Evocation)
Chain Lightning
(Evocation)
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When this spell is cast,
the electrical discharge begins as a single stroke of lightning, 1/4" wide,
commencing from the fingertips
of the caster and extending to the primary target which must lie within
the maximum range as dictated by the level of the caster.
Chain lightning differs sharply
from a lightning bolt spell in that
it has a primary TARGET as opposed to an AREA effect.
If the primary target makes
a successful save vs. Spell, one-half damage form the bolt of chain lightning
is taken;
otherwise full damage (1d6
points per level of the caster) will be inflicted.
In addition, after striking
the initial TARGET, the bolt arcs to the nearest other object, be it animal,
vegetable or mineral.
This chain of striking continues
from one object to another object nearest it, possibly setting up an oscillation
between two (presumably stationary or immobilized) objects, or a regular
pattern involving three or more objects.
If two or more possible
targets are equidistant, the chain lightning will arc to metal first, then
to the one with the most fluid, otherwise at random.
The chain keeps building
up as many 'links' (including the initial target) as the spell caster as
levels.
Thus a 12th level magic-user
casting the spell would hit 12 targets: the primary target first, then
11 other (not necessarily different) targets.
After the initial strike,
each object subsequently struck is entitled to a saving throw versus spell,
if applicable.
Success on this save indicates
that the stroke actually arced to the next nearest target, and the target
that saved takes no damage.
The arcing bolt will continue
until it has struck the appropriate number of objects, as indicated by
a target's failure to save or lack of the opportunity to do so (as for
an inanimate object of non-magical nature), until the stroke fades out
or strikes a target that grounds it.
Direction is never a consideration
in plotting the path of the arcing chain lightning.
Distance is a factor, though,
a single arc can never be longer than the range limit.
If, in order to arc, the
bolt must travel a greater distance than its max. range, the stroke fades
into nothing.
A tree or a substantial
piece of conductive metal - such as interconnecting iron bars of a large
cell or cage - will ground the lightning stroke and prevent further arcing.
The lightning inflicts one less d6 of damage on each target it hits after striking the primary target for the first time; if the initial target was struck by a 12d6 bolt, the next target struck takes an 11d6 bolt, then 10d6, 9d6, 8d6, 7d6, and so on all the way down to 1d6 - the last spurt of energy from the bolt. (A saving throw for half damage applies on each stroke, different from the save versus spell to see if the lightning actually hits secondary target. ) The caster can be struck by an arc from his or her own spell. .
MC: A bit of fur;
an amber, glass or crystal rod; and as many silver
pins as the spell caster has levels of experience.
UW:
Effects underwater as a lightning bolt
of double normal radius, but inflicts only 1d6 of damage for every level
of the caster (save for half damage).
Chain
Lightning was devised by John R. Kingsbury, and the spell won a 1st
place in the 5th Invitational AD&D Masters
Tournament - D68.24