Desecrate the Supernatural

[Jerell]

One of my players was arguing that the spell automatically kills it's target in 2D4 seconds if the damage listed in the spell doesn't instantly kill it. I didn't go for that interpretation of course. This spell is just supposed to do the damage listed right? Not auto-kill Balrogs in the 2D4 seconds... I read the spell as the 2D4 seconds was how long the spell took to do the damage listed. Tell me that's right? I can't believe DtS would be a one cast auto kill to anything supernatural.

[eliakon]

Since the next sentence is 'Regenerating creatures will be unable to Bio-Regenerate damage caused by this spell....
It would seem that the 2d4 seconds is, indeed the damage caused. Especially since the damage of the spell is 3d6x10, and not 'death'. The spell Deathword is one of the few 'save or die' spells and it explicitly outlines the mechanics of the death.
So yes, it would appear that the 'killing the target' to be more hyperbole than outcome. Though the damage caused is enough to out right kill many things, especially since it cant be regenerated. In fact I would take it as more 'if this spell kills the target then 2d4 seconds after casting the corpse will be a dried up husk'

[SpiritInterface]

In typical Palladium fashion the text of the spell contradicts the intro blurb of the spell. The detailed description explicitly states that if you fail your saving throw you will die, and if you make your saving throw you suffer damage and can not regenerate until you rehydrate.

[drewkitty ~..~]

The Text of the spell does have the "2d4 seconds" text in it, however, this is just giving an example of flavor text about what it looks like so GM's can describe what they see.
While this does allow the GM to let the SN being make one to three Final Attack(s) even as, if the damage is enough to kill it, it dies. It does not give any firm footing for a Player to argue that with just one 50 PPE spell can kill any SN being with just one casting is laughable.

The spell text explicitly says that if the save vs magic is successful that the damage is halved. Thus confirming that the damage listed in the spell stats is what damage the spell does.

[Jerell]

Yes, that is exactly what I thought, and ruled as such when it was claimed.

I did post here to see if my opinion was shared only because the player in question is also a sanctioned Megaversal Ambassador GM, and usually doesn't make outrageous claims.

In typical Palladium fashion the text of the spell contradicts the intro blurb of the spell. The detailed description explicitly states that if you fail your saving throw you will die, and if you make your saving throw you suffer damage and can not regenerate until you rehydrate.

None of my books state anything about a save or die for Desecrate the Supernatural. RUE and Rifts Book of Magic both say, successful saves reduce damage to half. There is nothing in the detailed description that says a failed save is instant death. May I ask your source?

[drewkitty ~..~]

The sentence being talked about seams to be the "Core Idea" or "Initial Concept" of the spell that was incorporated into the text without being modified to reflect the finished stats and text of the spell.

[Prysus]

None of my books state anything about a save or die for Desecrate the Supernatural. RUE and Rifts Book of Magic both say, successful saves reduce damage to half. There is nothing in the detailed description that says a failed save is instant death. May I ask your source?

Greetings and Salutations. I think I can see how the "save or die" interpretation comes about. There are two things I'm going to look at.

1: Initial write-up stat block section. Here we see "3D6x10" for damage and the duration is "Instant." Seems pretty clear, right?

2: Second paragraph of the write-up. "The spell works by drawing moisture out of the target, killing it in a matter of 2D4 seconds ..." This says "killing" the target (not damaging, not hopefully killing, not killing most, or anything like that, but a flat statement of "killing" the target). Also, it's in 2D4 seconds, which isn't quite the same as an "instant." Up to 8 seconds (which would actually be half a melee round, so possibly multiple melee actions) is usually not considered an "instant."

Now do I think the spell is meant to be a "save or die" spell? No, especially since it discusses recovering from the affects right after the part about killing the target. But I do see how the wording could suggest the death part. The spell tells you it does damage in an instant, and kills targets in 2D4 seconds. At best, it's badly written flavor text. Anyways, hope that helps. Farewell and safe journeys for now.

[Tor]

Perhaps after suffering that instant damage you have those 2-8 seconds to cast a spell like 'negate magic' to stop the spell (since it is still happening) before it finishes dehydrating you? Seems like a melee attack or two might be squeezed into the span. A save vs pain for that initial damage would be nice though.

Perhaps the recovery applies to people who manage to cancel the magic before it finishes?

Another possibility: utterly waterless beings who have no moisture to be drawn out of them (like say, the Phantom RCC from Phase World, MDC beings with supernatural physical attributes made out of pure energy) would probably be immune to a de-moisturization death but still take the initial damage.