Dulrik wrote:
Since I haven't heard anyone even mentioning the damage over time as a concern, this obviously isn't where the spell is supposed to be headed. I'll be toning down the initial burst a bit to compensate.
That's because DoT effects just aren't important in a game where you can readily escape as long as you aren't immobilized. How exactly do you envision the magma cling (DoT) working in practice?
Warlock casts magma spray, it clings to the target, the target flees and then the warlock uses track to chase him down while the DoT kills them?
Not likely to happen that way.
I think a more likely scenario is the warlock casts magma spray, it clings to the target, and the target quaffs a recall potion and makes a mad dash to their local healer and buys enough heals to survive.
The victim then spends ten to fifteen minutes grinding cash and has enough obsidian to buy more heals.
No one mentions the DoT effect because any prepared character engaging in pkill that isn't immobilized will have a way to avoid death due to the periodic damage. And players like Dark-Avenger know that if the spell is changed so that only the DoT effect ignores magical protection, warlocks can be safely ignored again.