I've started working on a 3-4 session game of 4e I'll be running as a fill-in so our current DM can play a bit between the ongoing campaign modules. i asked people for things they'd like to see in the game to give me some ideas and direction, and so far so good. One of the things I want to include is a "rainbow" prismatic color-based event/trap, but I'm still feeling my way through the rules.

Basically, one of the folks wants some "tactically interesting" combat, so I was thinking along the lines of a large crystal in a shaft of light that results in a prismatic effect in the room. When the crystal is turned, the rainbow shifts around the room, and I was thinking about having it interact with like-colored crystals in the walls, or colored sections of floor, or something. I was thinking of having it play a role during combat with some critters, such that the players would gain advantage by actually turning the crystal.

So, what should the effect be? Shut off doors or other means of reinforcement for the incoming bad guys? Do damage to certain creatures (maybe including the players)? Change the state (blinded, stunned, etc.) of monsters in certain sections of beam?

Throw out some ideas here and let's see what we can come up with.

Quote from: Werekoala;399001I've started working on a 3-4 session game of 4e I'll be running as a fill-in so our current DM can play a bit between the ongoing campaign modules. i asked people for things they'd like to see in the game to give me some ideas and direction, and so far so good. One of the things I want to include is a "rainbow" prismatic color-based event/trap, but I'm still feeling my way through the rules.

Basically, one of the folks wants some "tactically interesting" combat, so I was thinking along the lines of a large crystal in a shaft of light that results in a prismatic effect in the room. When the crystal is turned, the rainbow shifts around the room, and I was thinking about having it interact with like-colored crystals in the walls, or colored sections of floor, or something. I was thinking of having it play a role during combat with some critters, such that the players would gain advantage by actually turning the crystal.

So, what should the effect be? Shut off doors or other means of reinforcement for the incoming bad guys? Do damage to certain creatures (maybe including the players)? Change the state (blinded, stunned, etc.) of monsters in certain sections of beam?

Throw out some ideas here and let's see what we can come up with.

3e Prismatic Sphere; tone it down to 4e levels. Make each ray narrow (covers a line of tiles). Then, the players and monsters can try to shift it in their favor.

Disco ball of DOOM.
Various effects by colour, and maybe they can determine what effect a colour has with an Arcana check? Some of the monsters might have resistances to some of the effects.
Matching the traditional colours:

1. Red - fire damage
2. Orange - acid damage
3. Yellow -electricity
4. Green - poison
5. Blue - petrification (slow)
6. Indigo - insanity
7. Violet - sent to other plane (maybe replace with 'teleport around battlefield' -reroll effect on 1d6 and take that instead, then move into that zone).

Set damage to whatever the party can handle I guess, which NAD they target would probably vary (Blue, Green = Fort; Indigo, Violet = Will, others Reflex?)