[Arcana Evolved] Winter Witch

[Redland Jack]

I've never played a long-running D&D campaign before (and I'm in such a campaign now), so I figured I'd solicit advice on power selection. I'm in a game with a small, melee-centered party (an unfettered, a giant fighter-type, a winter witch (me!), and sometimes a fighter-type NPC). Thus, even as a 'half-caster', I'm the primary spellcaster for the party.

I'm just about to attain 5th level, and I'm trying to decide which witchery I want to grab: Ice Song or Icefire. I took Freezing Word at 1st level.

I'm guessing that I'll be taking Chill Spirit at 10th level.

Argument for Ice Song:
1) I've heard that in D&D, 'pure' damaging spells aren't useful at higher levels (I'm not sure what constitutes higher levels, though).
2) The paralyzing effect is much rarer in Arcana Evolved than in 3.5/PF.

Argument for Icefire:
1) Can hit any creature, instead of just small and medium sized.
2) Other than Ice Blade (which my low strength character doesn't want), it's the only power that can make good use of the Witchery Lord upgrade (which also keeps the damage at just about 1d6 / level).

We used a robust 35 point buy, so my stats at 4th level are:
Str: 8
Int: 16
Wis: 18
Dex: 14
Con: 14
Cha: 8

[hamlet]

You'd probably get a better answer to these questions over at Monte Cook's forums, if they still exist.