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dorisfrog
2007-08-14, 03:58 AM
What spells would your wizard never be with out ?

banjo1985
2007-08-14, 04:01 AM
Magic Missile all the way! Oh, and fireball too, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to wizards! I also tend to go for Hypnotise and Daze, just in case the situation arises...

Reel On, Love
2007-08-14, 04:04 AM
Overland Flight. You can literally have it on all the time, too, or at least most of it.

Jack Mann
2007-08-14, 04:07 AM
If I'm not banning evocation, it's gotta be defenestrating sphere. It's a sphere. It defenestrates people. What more could you ask for?

If I am, then my favorite spell is phantom steed. Always useful.

Inyssius Tor
2007-08-14, 04:09 AM
The obligatory link (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19085) in these situations...

Me personally? Prestidigitation. Seriously, it's probably the best non-combat spell ever published; any real spellcaster would certainly research it before they researched anything else. (Oh, and did I mention that it's a cantrip?)

Reinboom
2007-08-14, 04:14 AM
I tend to not play wizards, but as a sorcerer player - I can't go without benign transposition anymore. It's so... handy. Low levels - if you have a flying familiar its a fly replacement. High levels, even the unconscious thing you knocked out is willing to give it a go.

Swooper
2007-08-14, 05:14 AM
Detect Magic, Light, Mage Armour, Dispel Magic, Fly, Bestow Curse, Teleport. Think that about covers it.

Charity
2007-08-14, 05:20 AM
See obligitary link (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19085) above.

But as it's you, Magic mouth, Illusionary script, water breathing, anything thats on the cleric or beguiler spell lists... what?

Edit - I nearly forgot secret page, thats a must have!

Tyger
2007-08-14, 06:55 AM
Seconding Defenestrating Sphere... damn nice spell. Too bad its Evocation.

Personal favorite though still has to be the good old fashioned Evard's Black Tentacles. This is your win spell at mid levels. Until you get into flying opponents or huge + opponents, this spell single handedly wins most encounters. (until you piss off your DM that is)

DraPrime
2007-08-14, 07:38 AM
As people above have said, defenestrating sphere is a great spell. Raise dead is also a good one. Having an army of undead is more useful than many people think.

Kurald Galain
2007-08-14, 08:41 AM
Phantasmal force.

(Minor image for you 3E people)

Dhavaer
2007-08-14, 08:50 AM
Raise dead is also a good one. Having an army of undead is more useful than many people think.

That would be animate dead.

Clove
2007-08-14, 08:59 AM
I didn't see invisibility in this list yet.

Some spells always get into my spellbook, regardless of personality or general party tactics.

0th

Detect Magic (treasure identifier. Why would you a mage who can't see magic???)
Mage Hand (not awesome per se, but what kind of spellcaster are you if you can't move small objects with your mind?)
Light (If you don't have dark-vision this one might save you. It is usually not used, but if you don't have it...)
Prestidigitation (does magic tricks, cleans, obviously magical effects. Like I said before, "are you a magic-user?")

1st

Mage Armor (not so great at 1st level, great later)
Magic Missile (not so great at 1st level, great later)
Sleep (awesome at 1st level, a mage must-have)

2nd

Invisibility (ridiculously long duration, escape spell, stealth, hide)
Scorching Ray ("stupid-good" damage for 2nd level spell)

3rd

Fireball or Lightning Bolt (Fireball is better though)
Fly (again, are you a spellcaster? Can you fly or make others fly? You better be able to or I'll laugh.)

4th

Evard's Tentacles (allow no save and no MR are always good.)
StoneSkin (if your DM doesn't care about the Diamond Dust spell component)

5th

Teleport (of course. Spellcaster? Yes? Teleport confirmed.)

Ulzgoroth
2007-08-14, 09:11 AM
Color Spray. Akin to sleep, a key spell for level 1-2 action. No HD effected cap, standard action to cast instead of 1 round, and targets it takes out can't be woken up. 15-foot range is a downside, but it's still a great spell.

Kurald Galain
2007-08-14, 09:20 AM
Invisibility (ridiculously long duration, escape spell, stealth, hide)


Er, one minute per level isn't that ridiculous? Or did you mean the 2E version that lasts 24 hours?

yango
2007-08-14, 09:33 AM
I'm disappointed! No one's mentioned Dispel Magic? IMO thats a must-have for any and every spellcaster that its available to, not just wizards!

Sornjss Lichdom
2007-08-14, 11:39 AM
dispel magic is good for other spell casters but the most handy spell caster to spell caster spell, at mid lvl at least is globe of invunrabilaty, lesser. Oops sry, that is just an awesome spell for a spell battle, get it in a wand.

yango
2007-08-14, 12:59 PM
dispel magic is good for other spell casters but the most handy spell caster to spell caster spell, at mid lvl at least is globe of invunrabilaty, lesser. Oops sry, that is just an awesome spell for a spell battle, get it in a wand.

At higher levels, you can use Antimagic Field with either Mastery of Shaping or Extraordinary Spell Aim to create a 5x5 hole at the center, then cast conjuration (creation) spells out of your hole.

CasESenSITItiVE
2007-08-14, 02:52 PM
detect magic FTW

yango
2007-08-14, 03:43 PM
detect magic FTW

Technically, since you get all cantrips, you could say that your wizard would "never be without" all of them.

Quellian-dyrae
2007-08-14, 09:09 PM
Ethereal Mount from the Spell Compendium is amazing. Up to 240' speed for the entire party, plus eventual flight, for up to one hour per level? Sold!

I'm a big fan of solid fog and/or acid fog.

At least one method of teleportation.

Unseen Servant, once I learned to ignore the really rather roundabout description and realized that it's actually Mage Hand (X4 strength) + Open/Close + 1 hour/level duration.

Greater Blink.

Also, I second Banjo1985 with the traditionalist Magic Missile and Fireball style.

CASTLEMIKE
2007-08-14, 09:30 PM
A lot changes depending on your level (Is your PC a Generalist or a Specialist?), your feats, your adventuring party buddies and their capablities particularly their spell casting abilities, group magic items and the type of DM and his campaign.

Sleep is great at low levels and nicer than Color Spray for range.

Color Spray and Grease are still nice at higher level as level 2 spells if you have the Sculpt spell feat.

Scorching Ray is one of the best level 2 spells in regards to meta. In a level 1 starting and leveling up low level campaign heavy on combat using Flaws it works well with Precocious Apprentice and the Fiery Burst Reserve Feat.

Dispel Magic up through level 11 - 12 or so and possibly higher depending on the campaign style.

Fly unless there are no or very rare aeriel encounters or obstacles in your games and then I'd still have a single scroll for just in case).

Fireball for a blasting campaign.

Shadow Conjuration gives a wizard a lot of utility options duplicating Conjuration spells (Emergency Web, Enchanted Tattoo, Spectral Steed, Phantom Steed, Summon 5 Summon Monster 3 creatures)

Teleport at levels 9 - 12 if no sorcerer in the party with it as a known spell or your DM isn't stringent about rolling destinations or ranges otherwise Greater Teleport at level 13+ in some form.

Anti magic aura.

Summon Monster 7 for a Movanic Deva from the Fiend Folio to Raise Dead party PCs for free plus other abilities like Commune or some healing and on a scroll is usually fine for an emergency.

Limited Wish for general utility despite experience cost as a single memorized spell or on a scroll or two.

Weredwarf
2007-08-15, 11:56 AM
0th:
detect magic
prestidigitation

1st:
magic missle
identify
shield

2nd:
web
scorching ray

3rd:
dispel magic
slow
fireball
displacement

4th:
stoneskin
greater invisibility

5th:
teleport
baleful polymorph

6th:
disintegrate

7th:
finger of death

8th:
polar ray
polymorph any object

9th:
gate
time stop
energy drain

dorisfrog
2007-08-15, 12:18 PM
I thought I better add my own choices 3e with a little extra
1st level resistance detect magic read magic hield
2nd level scorching ray Tasha's hideous laughter invisibility
3rd level fireball slow haste
The character I play is only 5 level so I haven't looked at higher level yet
Dorisfrog

yango
2007-08-15, 01:07 PM
I thought I better add my own choices 3e with a little extra
1st level resistance detect magic read magic hield
2nd level scorching ray Tasha's hideous laughter invisibility
3rd level fireball slow haste
The character I play is only 5 level so I haven't looked at higher level yet
Dorisfrog

1) You left out 0th level spells
2) You put your 0th level spells in 1st level

Arbitrarity
2007-08-15, 01:09 PM
Prestidigitation. It's like limited wish, except more limited!

I spoonfeed myself liquid using telekenesis while juggling balls of light, cleaning the tavern, and drying the dishes! And warming people up!

yango
2007-08-15, 01:18 PM
The character I play is only 5 level so I haven't looked at higher level yet
Dorisfrog

Well, of the levels you have available, these are the good ones I can think of off the top of my head:
1st level
Mage Armor - obvious
Sleep - Until you start fighting things out of the HD range, it DESTROYS Magic Missile on efficiency
Shield - obvious
Identify - Good until you get Analyze Dweomer

2nd level
Alter Self - Troglodytes for +6 Natural Armor, stacking with Mage Armor and Shield for a very nice +14 to AC.
Scorching Ray/Acid Arrow - One for damage output, the other for versatility
Invisibility - obvious
Mirror Image - obvious
Blur - Other spells are better, but this works until you have Blink/Displacement
Web - Evard's Black Tentacles' and Entangle's middle brother.

3rd level
Dispel Magic - All casters have no excuse not to take this. Counterspell without identifying, shut down spell effects on a single target or area, and suppress magic weapons? Why not?
Haste - Excellent in the long run, and qualifies you for the Swiftblade, which is a fantastic class.
Blink - More miss chance!
Displacement - More miss chance!

Delaney Gale
2007-08-15, 10:19 PM
My avatar wouldn't go without disintegrate, but that's because he enjoys the little green ray and the "fizzle".

For the best benefit? Haste. Hastehastehaste. It turns your melee-fighters into powerhouses instantly, and it's only third level, leaving your slots with good saves for offensive spells.

Charity
2007-08-16, 02:39 AM
2nd level
Alter Self - Troglodytes for +6 Natural Armor, stacking with Mage Armor and Shield for a very nice +14 to AC.



I don't think Alter self works like that in 3.0.

Rachel Lorelei
2007-08-16, 02:42 AM
I don't think Alter self works like that in 3.0.

It sure does! It says you gain natural armor. Troglodyte form is a classic!

dorisfrog
2007-08-16, 03:50 AM
I've just read alter self (3e) your attack rolls,natural armour bonus, and saves do not change , its a shame though

tannish2
2007-08-16, 04:50 AM
i tend to play sneakier characters so.... nondetection invisibility scrying [darkvision see invisibility detect magic(permenancy is fun)] analyze dweomer and of course veil at higher levels... then theres combust and sound lance for low level offence... O! and knock,,, i often buy wands of that one

Charity
2007-08-16, 04:52 AM
I've just read alter self (3e) your attack rolls,natural armour bonus, and saves do not change , its a shame though

Thought so
Alter self is broken in 3.5 so no great loss, you can still use it as a cheap fly, spiderclimb, water breathing, passwall so it's still a good (too good) spell.

Leon
2007-08-16, 11:16 AM
It sure does! It says you gain natural armor. Troglodyte form is a classic!

its a shame they stink


Spells
Dispel magic
Greater Invisability
Presdigitation
Mage Hand
Scorching Ray
Chain Lightning
Hold Monster
Ray of Enfeeblement
Mage Armour
Baleful Polymorph
Orb of Force

sophosbarbaros
2007-08-16, 10:00 PM
Touch of Idiocy

CASTLEMIKE
2007-08-16, 10:44 PM
I thought I better add my own choices 3e with a little extra
1st level resistance detect magic read magic hield
2nd level scorching ray Tasha's hideous laughter invisibility
3rd level fireball slow haste
The character I play is only 5 level so I haven't looked at higher level yet
Dorisfrog

What you have is nice. Sticking to core some of the following could be strong spells for you.

0 level Cantrips: You should change Detect Magic and Read Magic from level 1 to 0 Level Cantrips. Prestidigitation and Dancing Lights are strong spells.

Ghost Sounds can be useful. Mage Hand which lasts as long as your PC Concentrates (Up to 5#) can be useful. Mending is occassionally useful. Ray of Frost is nice for Making Ice Blocks for cooling your ale and other things or a magical non cross bow attack.

Other nice spells:

First Color Spray and Ray of Enfeeblement are nice. Magic Missile is nice for high AC and other hard to hit targets.

Charm Person can still be useful depending on how it is used (Particularly if cast from a distance (Preferably hidden or out of sight) and then checked with via Detect Magic to see if it worked) makes someone your friend can be very useful in a game.

Unseen Servant can be very useful.

Silent Image is a strong spell but depends on the campaign.

Comprehend Languages is a very strong spell in some campaigns for solving ancient language clues and puzzles.

Second Web

(Arcane Lock (Down Time), Continual Flame, Knock are nice to have unless low magic campaign and limited spells).

Highly Recommended Alter Self, False Life (Extra hit points are always nice), Read Thoughts, Suggestion and Rope Trick is really strong at levels 5+ for adventuring parties.

Third Dispel Magic, Fly, Lightning Bolt

Drider
2007-08-17, 12:26 AM
if you have encyclopedia arcane, the "summon sex partner" spells are good.
1st lvl can get an ogre or dryad which kills a cr 1 encounter...after that the monsters stop being useful for combat...but i still like them :smalltongue:

Nostri
2007-08-17, 02:30 AM
Accourding to the SRD you gain any "...normal physical qualities of the new form while retaining your mind." The list it gives includes natural armour bonus as one of those things.

Charity
2007-08-17, 04:46 AM
Not in 3.0. The SRD is 3.5 and thus not relevent.
It has been specifically checked by the OP, please move on.

Edit - As many might already know, I have nothing against the mighty U, far from it! Unfortunately it has no place in Accordingly, though Armour and colour would like to thank you for the sentiment.