 Pessimism
Source Horror Adventures pg. 123
School enchantment (compulsion) [emotion, mind-affecting]; Level arcanist 5, bard 4, medium 4, mesmerist 4, psychic 5, skald 4, sorcerer 5, witch 5, wizard 5CastingCasting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (a shard of a broken mirror)EffectRange close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration 1 hour/level
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yesDescriptionYou erode the target’s confidence and instill a sense of despair. This fear of failure manifests as a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls. Additionally, the target can’t gain morale bonuses of any kind while the spell remains in effect. No amount of achievement counters the spell’s effects—the target simply explains away positive events with a self-critical perspective.
Certain events can solidify the character’s belief that it is doomed. Whenever the target rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll or saving throw, fails an ability or skill check by more than 5, or takes additional damage as a result of a foe’s confirmed critical hit, the penalty to roll imposed by pessimism becomes –3 for 1 round. This increased penalty doesn’t stack, even if multiple catastrophes occur on the same round.
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