Color Spray Confusion

[Alpharius]

There appears to be a contradiction here?

Color Spray (Alteration)
Level: 1 Components: V,S,M
Range: 1”/level Casting Time: 1 segment
Duration: 1 segment Saving Throw: special
Area of Effect: 1/2” x 2” X 2”
wedge

Explanation/Description: Upon casting this spell, the illusionist causes a
vivid fan-shaped spray of clashing colors to spring forth from his or her
hand. From 1 to 6 creatures within the area of effect can be affected. The
spell caster is able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or
her levels of experience. Affected creatures are struck unconscious for 2 to
8 rounds if their level is less than or equal to that of the spell caster; they
are blinded for 1 to 4 rounds if their level or number of hit dice is 1 or 2
greater than the illusionist; and they are stunned (cf. power word, stun,
seventh level magic-user spell) for 2 to 8 segments if their level or number
of hit dice is 3 or more greater than the spell caster. All creatures above the
level of the spell caster and all creatures of 6th level or 6 or more hit dice are
entitled to a saving throw versus the color spray spell. The material
components of this spell are a pinch of each powder or sand colored red,
yellow and blue.

So…

1)The spell will affect 1 to 6 creatures.
2)The caster is able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience.

This would seem to indicate that the illusionist could only affect creatures equal to or less than his current level of experience.

But, we are then told what happens when the spell hits creatures that have MORE levels and/or hit dice than the illusionist!

How to reconcile “The spell caster is able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience “ vs. “All creatures above the level of the spell caster and all creatures of 6th level or 6 or more hit dice are entitled to a saving throw versus the color spray spell.”

For example, how could a 5th level illusionist use this spell against a 6th level fighter?

It looks as if the spell was intended to be able to affect 1 to 6 creatures, but then some language was added in limiting it to the illusionists level in terms of hit dice, but then we’re told what happens if the target has more hit dice than the illusionist has levels, and the whole thing is now a bit muddled.

Any ideas?

[T. Foster]

As far as I can tell it's just a flat-out contradiction. In play, we've always ignored the "able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience" clause and just allowed the spell to affect 1-6 creatures in the area of effect with the effects as noted based on the target's level/HD compared to the caster's.

[Alpharius]

As far as I can tell it's just a flat-out contradiction. In play, we've always ignored the "able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience" clause and just allowed the spell to affect 1-6 creatures in the area of effect with the effects as noted based on the target's level/HD compared to the caster's.

Probably what was intended, as no other explanation makes much sense!

[Terrex]

As far as I can tell it's just a flat-out contradiction. In play, we've always ignored the "able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience" clause and just allowed the spell to affect 1-6 creatures in the area of effect with the effects as noted based on the target's level/HD compared to the caster's.

This is precisely how we handle as well.

[Alpharius]

I just found out it is also how my face to face DM plays it too!

[ken-do-nim]

I just found out it is also how my face to face DM plays it too!

Yup. The more interesting color spray ruling, in my opinion, is whether or not you allow it to affect undead. I'd prefer that it did, since illusionists have few weapons against the undead, but I'll admit that the effects unconsciousness, blinding, and stunning aren't ideal candidates for the undead, particularly mindless ones like skeletons who don't have consciousness, organic eyes, or a brain.

[darnizhaan]

Perhaps the writer was thinking about the scroll rules which would later show up on DMG page 128. If a first level illusionist casts a scroll written at the 6th level (the minimum), he or she could affect monsters with a hit die greater than his or her own, but they would get a saving throw.

But, it is still simpler if this was an error. There are other examples, such as fireball having components listed as V, S, but having bat guano and sulphur listed as components in the text.

[Mudguard]

I don't think there is really a contradiction, it's just bit unclear. This section “All creatures above the level of the spell caster and all creatures of 6th level or 6 or more hit dice are entitled to a saving throw versus the color spray spell.” needs to be prefaced by something like "In the case of casters who are 6th level and above...".

[Alpharius]

That doesn't really clear it up!

It really appears as if we should ignore the strike the sentence "The spell caster is able to affect 1 level or hit die of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience", especially given the rest of the text of the spell.

[Mudguard]

Here's a simple example. Boris is a level 9 Magic User. He can affect 9 HD/Levels of creatures with the Color Spray spell. As he is looking for a bottle of Lafite '59 in the cellar, he spots a Troll(6+6HD) and two Orcs(1 HD) breaking open a barrel of his prized '39 Chateauneuf du Pape. That's 3 creatures(within the 1-6 able to be affected by the spell). Incensed, he gets initiative and casts Colour Spray! The two Orcs are both struck for unconscious 5 and 6 rounds respectively. The Troll gets a save vs. the spell because it has 6 or more HD. It makes the save and advances on Boris...

[Mudguard]

Here's a slightly different example, Boris comes down to the cellar again and this time finds nine Orcs having a go at the 'Neuf du Pape. He casts Colour Spray again. As a 9th Level MU, he can affect a total of 9HD worth of creatures with the spell, but this is moderated by the number of creatures. He can only affect six of the Orcs maximum. The half-dozen all go down(no save), and he has three left to deal with.

[T. Foster]

That's not the issue. The issue is why the spell description would include detailed effects for creatures with more levels/HD than the caster if the spell is only able to affect as many levels/HD as the caster has levels. If the latter is true then the former will never ne relevant and is wasted space.

[darnizhaan]

That's not the issue. The issue is why the spell description would include detailed effects for creatures with more levels/HD than the caster if the spell is only able to affect as many levels/HD as the caster has levels. If the latter is true then the former will never be relevant and is wasted space.

Exactly

[Mudguard]

Ah...I got it now. Facepalm.

[foxroe]

I would say that the sentence "The spell caster is able to affect 1 level or hit dice of creatures for each of his or her levels of experience." was a mistake.

However, something else to consider is a spell scroll that contains Color Spray. The spell will be at the sixth level for purposes of effects (DMG, pg.128). So the question is, would a 2nd level Illusionist using the scroll simply be able to affect 6HD/6Levels, or would he/she be able to affect 6HD/6Levels but the target gets to save or only suffer a lesser effect?