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Alcopop
2010-09-10, 10:06 AM
Spiritual Weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiritualweapon.htm)

Is there anyway to make this thematically intriguing spell not suck?

Gensh
2010-09-10, 12:39 PM
I'm not quite sure how effective they are, but there are two higher-leveled versions of the spell in 3.0 Oriental Adventures. I don't know if they were reprinted in a 3.5 book or not.

WinWin
2010-09-10, 01:30 PM
Metamagic. Invisible spell could be effective. Especially because it attacks like a weapon, so many foes could waste actions attempting to fend off an invisible foes that does not exist. Persisted DMM is not a bad option, especially if expecting incorporeal foes.

It combines decently with Divine Power.

It can't be used to perform actions like disarm or trip, though it is a weapon-like spell, and should benefit from sneak attack.

Not really a great spell. But could be situationally better than Summon Monster 2. It could probably benefit from a couple of magical items and other spells, but there are not many core options for improvement.

Abies
2010-09-10, 01:34 PM
Spiritual Weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spiritualweapon.htm)

Is there anyway to make this thematically intriguing spell not suck?

Make it a free action to direct.
Allow it to flank.
up the damage to 1d8/3 levels and apply Wis bonus to the damage as well.

Combined with Divine Power, it would attack at full BAB+Wis, so that woudl be nice.

It's already pretty good at lower levels, espically if the Cleric is standing in the back buffing/debuffing and not being harassed.

Telonius
2010-09-10, 01:54 PM
Find a deity whose favored weapon is the Braid Blade, maybe? 18-20, x3. Not much, but it's something.

erikun
2010-09-10, 02:00 PM
What kind of action does "directing" the Spiritual Weapon take? One would think it would take a standard/full attack action, especially considering that "redirecting" is a move action. However, the text in the spell description seems to indicate that it makes the attacks automatically. If directing is a free action, than you may full attack while your Spiritual Weapon full attacks also, or even full attack with multiple Spiritual Weapons.

Spiritual Weapon has no enhancement bonus, so Greater Magic Weapon should be able to affect it.

The Spiritual Weapon always deals 1d8 damage, regardless of form, but the critical properities of the weapon are based on your deity's favored weapon. A deity with a rapier or pick as a favored weapon would keep the expanded critical range/multiplier.

WinWin mentioned a few other ideas, such as persisting and Divine Power. Sneak attack should be possible, although being unable to flank with the weapon will make that difficult.

The Spiritual Weapon is doing the attacking, not you, so you should be able to maintain Invisibility while the weapon does the work.

Lapak
2010-09-10, 02:50 PM
Allowing it to flank goes a very long way.

JonestheSpy
2010-09-10, 02:52 PM
Spiritual Weapon is great in certain circumstances, generally low magic/low power games. If folks aren't loaded down with magic weapons by level 3, than a spell that effects incorporeal or DR/magic creatures is pretty dang handy.

More evidence of DnD's low magic theory/high magic practice schizophrenia.

Yorrin
2010-09-10, 02:59 PM
I remember one time we were fighting a Dragon who we had backed into a small cave. I spent every turn casting spiritual weapon, and by the end I think there were 14 of them going at once. That's a lot of attacks. Anytime you're against an immobile foe you can stack a bunch of them to great effect.

Paul H
2010-09-11, 10:39 PM
Hi

There's a Hammersphere from MIC, that acts as a Spiritual WPn 1/Day, but does 3D6 base damage.

Or Wiz 9/Argent Savant 3 (CA) does extra point of damage, plus spell is Extended for free. (Cast your Divine Pwr first, so your BAB is better).

Or, you could play a Warmage follower of god/power with War Domain. Take Arcane Disciple (War), and although your BAB sucks, you do add your Int modifier to damage each hit.

Hope this helps
Paul H
Edit: So, as Warmage 9 follower of Xan Yae takes Arcane Disciple at 6th, Extra Edge at 9th. Int 20. Casts Divine Pwr, then Spiritual Wpn:
Attack +9/4 (plus Wis mod). Dam D8 +11. Crit 18-20x2 (Falchion)