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Fireball, Skipping Betty
(Evocation)
Level: 2
Range: 1 mile
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 rd./level
Casting Time: 2 segments
Area of Effect: 10-ft. radius
Saving Throw: ½
The Skipping Berry Fireball can be used as an effective long range weapon
by a magic-user. This fireball leaves the caster's hand traveling at a nearly constant
rate of 100 yards per round. Each round a target is in range, the caster
may attempt to hit the target with the fireball by rolling a successful to hit roll.
If the roll fails or no desired target is in range, the caster can allow the
Skipping Betty Fireball to "skip" off the ground (or water) and continue to fly
on to its next range increment. An attempt to hit a new target in the next range
increment may be made each round the Skipping Betty travels. Once the fireball has successfully hit a target it detonates with a 10 foot blast radius as a normal
fireball causing 1d 4 points of damage/caster level to all within the area of
effect who fail to make a saving throw.
Potential targets must be within a 45 degree firing arc from the front of the
caster. Each time a Skipping Betty skips it is subject to a -1 to hit penalty on
subsequent targeting attempts and -1 damage penalty (cumulative) to those
affected by it when it finally does detonate. If the caster cannot hit a target (or
obstruction) before the spell duration expires the Skipping Betty fails to
explode and does no damage.
Note that the caster must have a reasonably unobstructed and level path to
effectively hit a target in a range increments beyond the first. He must also be
able to see his target otherwise he will suffer a -4 to hit penalty. Uneven terrain
with obstructions will cause additional to hit penalties at the discretion of
the GM. If a Skipping Betty misses its target by more than 5 from the
required number to hit in this case, it detonates after hitting one of the
obstructions. The material components are a tiny ball of bat guano, a pinch of
sulphur, and a piece of gum arabic.
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