Spells for an Abjuration based caster?

[Mcdt2]

I'm working on some homebrew involving expanding the group of so-called "list casters" such as Beguiler, Warmage, and Dread Necromancer (In fact I'm making use of this homebrew (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?317861-Fixed-List-Caster-Project-(3-5)&p=16545265#post16545265) for such a purpose) but I don't really have anything for Abjuration. I know it's a school focused primarily on defense, and reactive characters tend to be dead characters, but the asymmetry bugs me.

Does anyone have any suggestions of good spells in Abjuration that could work for this? For that matter, I'm open to thematic suggestions from other schools as well (such as Mage Armor, a solid defensive spell that's nonetheless a Conjuration spell), or even suggestions from the psionic power lists, which could be easily converted into spells. I'd be fine with spells from 3.0/3.5 or Pathfinder, even 3rd party or homebrew stuff.

Speaking of Homebrew, if anyone happens to have a Abjurer type homebrew class just lying around, I'd love to see it. Would save me tons of effort, that's for certain.

[Zaydos]

Well part of my solution was throwing Divination and Abjuration together (similar to how Beguiler is Illusion + Enchantment) and giving them an unthematic damaging effect (something about explosive bits of half-formed magic).

But that said here's my shot at one: the countermage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?228046-Countermage-Spontaneous-Abjurer-Diviner-%283-5-PEACH%29).

[Mcdt2]

Well part of my solution was throwing Divination and Abjuration together (similar to how Beguiler is Illusion + Enchantment) and giving them an unthematic damaging effect (something about explosive bits of half-formed magic).

But that said here's my shot at one: the countermage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?228046-Countermage-Spontaneous-Abjurer-Diviner-%283-5-PEACH%29).

Ooh, I really like that Zaydos, I really do. I expected something a bit gish-y, but counter magic is also good. Bookmarked and added to my games (shame that none of my players are currently playing buff happy casters, but the dread necromancer will "enjoy" having all his stuff countered I'm sure).

[weckar]

I always saw Abjurers less as defenders and more as nullifiers. In a general sense. It fits the etymology of the term a lot better too. Maybe give them some abilities to nullify or even reverse existing magical effects, beyond counterspelling.

[chaos_redefined]

I'd look for spells that prevent access to an area, and have an amazing BFC guy with Wall of Good (doesn't let evil through), Refusal (doesn't let spellcasters through, unless they meet some description you specify when casting), Repulsion (people can't approach you), Anticipate Teleportation/Greater (delays teleports a round, allowing you to run to the other side of the aforementioned barriers), and all of the sudden, the enemy has to sit in the corner, allowing your party members to rob him of his HP.

[deuxhero]

I agree with barrier type spells.

Caltrops is a nice cantrip. You can't overlook the good old wall of ice/stone/iron line. You could also add wall of salt, but make it a wall of pretty much anything else with the same status instead (salt is literally worth its weight in silver, Wall of Salt is instantaneous.).

[TheOOB]

Before thinking of spells you need to think of the purpose of the class. None of the school specialist mages are just a spell list. The Beguiler for example, is a super skilled magical rogue, and their spell list reflects it. Their list is prodominatly illusion and enchantment spells, but they gain several other spells that fit their roll. The dread necromancer is about being the really tough leader of an army of undead. Naturally necromancy is a major focus of theirs, but that's not everything they do. The warmage is like a tactical artillery platform, they are designed to fight armies.

So what does your abjuration focused caster do? Are they an implacable warrior who fights on the front line with spell and sword and can buff them and their party? If so maybe add transmutation to the mix and give them abilities that let them cast their buffs quickly making many of those short duration buffs more worth it. Are they a battlefiel controller who uses barriers and minions and spells to always give their side an edge while never directly attacking their foes? Maybe conjuration is a good secondary school where they can summon minions quickly and cast their spells through their allies/minions. Are they a defensive implacable caster who only helps others and causes no harm at all? Maybe give them healing magic and some powerful buffs/tactical abilities.

You need to make the class something better/more than just a sorcerer who learns lots of that schools spells(this is why the warmage sucks, a blaster sorcerer is way better than a warmage, and the beguiler and the dread necro are cool because they can do things a sorc can't).