Someone wants to min-max his character.
The spell is
Sigil of pain, on the "
Rune Law" spell list. Why?
- It's on a base spell list, not a special, nor even an Arcane spell list,
- It's a level 9 spell, thus available in a B or C pick,
- It's a sigil. Why is it important? Because to inscribe a normal level 9 spell, one needs to cast as well a Rune IX spell, which is a level 18 spell, and a Rune Paper X, which is a level 14 spell. Since it's a sigil, one may directly inscribe it without the need for a Rune x and, logically as it's between the Rune IV and Rune V spell, only a Rune Paper V, which is a level 9 spell,
- It's an area effect spell that depends on the caster's level, being 10'R per level of the caster,
- Now the fun part: it inflicts damage that depends on both the amount by which the RR missed and the caster's level. In fact, each target takes a number of hits equal to the amount they missed their RR times the caster's level divided by 5 (round up),
- It's a Runemaster's spell, meaning that, usually, the character knowing it has also access to the "Sigil/Runes Imbedding" spell list.
Now, an example, to make it clear.
Let's take a level 10 Runemaster, which is not that high.
First, with the spell itself, said Runemaster affects an area of 100'R (!) and inflicts to opponents in hit points damage
twice the amount they missed their RR. Miss it by 20, which isn't that much, and it's a whooping 40 hit point damage!
Starting level 11 however, a Runemaster starts to become a true heavy artillery mob cleaner. Why? First, he inflicts
thrice the amount his opponents missed their RR (in an area of 110'R)! Then, "
Sigil/Runes Imbedding", spell level 11,
Imbed V. What does it mean? Well, he may start imbedding the
Sigil of pain himself (i.e., non for some external help, for instance from an Alchemist) on "rune paper or some similar fragile organic material" (such as... his own
clothes!). Since he has access to at least
Charge wand, a level 8 spell, he may recharge himself his cloth (he may still need to have an Alchemist "create" it as a wand first, though, as he doesn't know
Make wand). Sure, it takes 8 weeks to do so but he may just have several clothes, make sure one is always fully charged, and charge the others whilst adventuring. Or even overcast with preparation
Charge rod... Then, when needed, he may now cast every round or so the sigil.
So, yeah, for your Big Bad, just have a level 16 Runemaster. Four times the amount his opponents missed their RR in an area of 160'R, with the spell cast every round (regardless of how you consider it, the sigil is a level I spell for the Runemaster at such a level) whilst not expending PP (it's a sigil...). Oh, and
Charge staff, so he may cast it 100 times with no problem.
As for its successor, I'll let the suspense build a little longer.