I’m an AD&D 1e player & GM. There are parts I really like about it. Recently I was thinking about the lowly Sleep spell and how it has the same efficacy for all levels of spell caster.
I see two different ways to mod the spell without making it over-powered. After all, magic missile adds more missiles, fireballs adds more hit dice.
Number of Dice
By changing the number of dice used with a formula of an additional die per 5 levels, it raises both the minimum and the maximum. The high end of the hit dice affected don’t change, but rather the chances of affecting an ogre. Boosting the chances from 50% to 75% and finally automatic. Why shouldn’t a name level Wizard be able to take out an ogre? An ogre with maximum hit points has 33 and the average damage from an 11th level fireball is 38.5 hp.
| Hit Dice | No. Affected 1st – 5th level Wizard | 6th – 10th level | 11th level + |
| Up to 1 HD | 4d4 (4-16) | 5d4 (5-20) | 6d4 (6-24) |
| 1+1 to 2 HD | 2d4 (2-8) | 3d4 (3-12) | 4d4 (4-16) |
| 2+1 to 3 HD | 1d4 (1-4) | 2d4 (2-8) | 3d4 (3-12) |
| 3+1 to 4 HD | 1d4/2 (1-2) | 1d4 (1-4) | 1d4 + ½ d4 (2-6) |
| 4+1 to 4+4 HD | 1d4, 3 or 4 (0-1) | 1d4, 2-4 (0-1) | 1 Creature |
Size of Dice
Changing the size of the dice raises only the maximum affected, but use similar changes for the top tier as in the number of dice example.
| Hit Dice | No. Affected 1st – 5th level | 6th – 10th level | 11th level + |
| Up to 1 HD | 4d4 (4-16) | 4d6 (4-24) | 4d8 (4-32) |
| 1+1 to 2 HD | 2d4 (2-8) | 2d6 (2-13) | 2d8 (2-16) |
| 2+1 to 3 HD | 1d4 (1-4) | 1d6 (1-6) | 1d8 (1-8) |
| 3+1 to 4 HD | 1d4/2 (1-2) | 1d4 (1-4) | 1d6 (1-6) |
| 4+1 to 4+4 HD | 1d4, 3 or 4 (0-1) | 1d4, 2-4 (0-1) | 1 Creature |
Other Possibilities
A third possibility would be to allow the spell to affect up to 5 to 6 HD creatures on a 1d4, with a roll of 4. However, there aren’t many monsters in that category, other than NPCs. At that level, I’d give a saving throw if they were affected. But to me, boosting the level does make it seem overpowered.
Another possibility would be to increase the Area of Effect, so instead of a 3″ diameter circle. For example, add 1″ at 6th level and another 1″ at 11th level. This wouldn’t change the number affected, just the size of the affected area.
A final way to mod this spell would be to boost the minimum. At 6th -10th level make the minimum affected be half the count, and at 11th+ make the minimum 75% of the count, such as below.
| Hit Dice | No. Affected 1st – 5th level | 6th – 10th level | 11th level + |
| Up to 1 HD | 4d4 (4-16) | 4d4+4 (8-16)* | 4d4+8 (12-16)** |
| 1+1 to 2 HD | 2d4 (2-8) | 2d4+2 (4-8)* | 2d4+4 (6-8)** |
| 2+1 to 3 HD | 1d4 (1-4) | 1d4+1 (2-4)* | 1d4+2 (3-4)** |
| 3+1 to 4 HD | 1d4/2 (1-2) | 1d4,1 (1),2+ (2) | 2 Creatures |
| 4+1 to 4+4 HD | 1d4, 3 or 4 (0-1) | 1d4, 2-4 (0-1) | 1 Creature |
* Add 1 to all 1’s rolled
** Add 1 to all 1’s & 2’s rolled
If one wants a more powerful sleep spell, one could make an Improved Sleep of a higher spell level. There is nothing to prevent a PC from researching this. Some ideas for this are for affecting either higher hit dice creatures, or perhaps creatures unaffected by sleep. The latter might require some ingredient from a ghast, since their touch affects elves. Discovering this spell when up against an enemy spell caster would really get the players’ attention.
Conclusion
I’m not sure if I will add one of these to my house rules. I had to write this out so I could pull back and consider the ramifications for game balance. I don’t often mod spells, but this one captured my attention. At time like that, I just need to write it out. Then I can come back later and review it after I have had time to ponder it.
Have you modded the sleep spell? Did you make it more or less powerful?
