Color Spray

[bafzoul]

Could someone help me with a write-up for this 1st level AD&D spell without going over 40 active

[Zed-F]

8d6 EB?

IIRC it's a damage spell, I don't recall exactly what it does though. A description would help.

[Doug Limmer]

Here's the SRD version:
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Color Spray
Illusion (Pattern) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 15 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous; see text
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious.

Each creature within the cone is affected according to its Hit Dice.
2 HD or less:The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.

Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray.

Material Component
A pinch each of powder or sand that is colored red, yellow, and blue.
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Personally, it seems more complicated than it need to be to me. I would probably just go with a 3d6 NND EB, doesn't affect blind targets, with a linked 2d6 Sight Flash. I suppose limited range (-1/4) would be appropriate, too, but I'd forget trying to do the saving throw and "more HD get less affected" parts; leave that up to CON and flash defense and REC and such.

A 3d6 NND may not be able to knock even weak opponents unconscious, though. You may need to go over 40 active points to more precisely model the spell.

[Old Man]

Dump the EB and just go with the sight flash. Either flashed or stunned are 1/2 DCV, which ought to be plenty; I am unaware of any formal definition for 'stun' in AD&D. It still has to be area effect as well.

[Lezentauw]

If you want D&D spell conversions, I would check out Killer Shrike's homepage. If you don't agree with how he does things, that is fine, but I would at least check what he has done already. No need to re-invent the wheel...http://www.killershrike.com/FantasyHERO/Content/Powers/Spells/Spells.asp?Type=Arcane&Subtype=Wizardry&Category=Illusion

[Hugh Neilson]

(Total: 20 Active Cost, 4 Real Cost) Sight Group Flash 0 1/2d6, Area Of Effect (3" Cone; +1 1/4); 1 Charge (-2), Linked (Color Spray to the Brainpan; -1/2), No Range (-1/2), Extra Time (Delayed Phase, -1/4), Incantations (-1/4), Requires A Magic Skill vs Spell Resistance Roll (No Active Point penalty to Skill Roll, RSR Skill is subject to Skill vs. Skill contests -1/4), Gestures (-1/4) (Real Cost: 0)

plus

Ego Attack 1d6, Area Of Effect (3" Cone; +1) (20 Active Points); 1 Charge (-2), No Range (-1/2), Extra Time (Delayed Phase, -1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Linked (Color Spray to the Eyes; -1/4), Requires A Magic Skill vs Spell Resistance Roll (No Active Point penalty to Skill Roll, RSR Skill is subject to Skill vs. Skill contests -1/4), Incantations (-1/4) (Real Cost: 4)

Always a great place to look. A lot of D&D spells are "target KO'd" unless saves. That works poorly in Hero, where you're not restricted to a very few spells per day. Let the target's defenses and STUN be his saving throw.

So, ignoring most of the limitations (you can add your own), and using your 40 AP level, I'd probably build this as:

Sight Group Flash 1d6, Area Of Effect (3" Cone; +1 1/4) (11 AP); Linked (Color Spray NND; -1/2), No Range (-1/2)

plus

1 1/2d6 AVLD (Flash Def +1 1/2), Area Of Effect (3" Cone; +1) (28 Active Points); No Range (-1/2), Linked (Color Spray to the Eyes; -1/4).

NB: I like AVLD Flash better for this particular spell. An NND, or an Ego Blast as KS suggests, would also work, but it seems to me it's the colours that do the damage. It won't show the same effect as the D&D spell, but it's the flavour that counts.