Beguiler spell loving.

[Tyger]

OK, the more I look into this class, the snazzier and sexier it gets. Granted, my new Beguiler will be a sneaky little Whisper Gnome, so how sexy that is depends on your size preference I suppose. :)

What I can't figure out is why the class didn't get a single new spell out of the Spell Compendium. Many of the spells there are bumps on existing spells (the Beguiler gets Mage Armor but not its Greater cousin from SpC) and there are a tonne of Illusion and Enchantment spells that just scream Beguiler in that book.

Any thoughts on this oversight? And any suggestions on pitching them to my truculent and parsimonious DM?

[EvilRoeSlade]

It isn't an oversight. Adding to a beguiler's spell list would unbalance the class.

[Ramza00]

the reason why beguiler didn't get any new spells is they didn't want to insert power creep. If you give beguiler new spells out of Spell compedium you should do a switch of another spell off its list, even then it may not be balanced.

[blue_fenix]

That's actually one of the main reasons why the advanced learning ability was put into both beguiler and warmage - so they could pick up spells that get released in other books that don't get specifically labeled as beguiler/warmage spells. (I believe this was stated explicitly in a Sage Advice column or something like that on the WoTC site). Go ahead and ask your DM if certain ones can be granted to you, though, especially if it is obvious that they fit the flavor of the class.

[Person_Man]

Beguilers don't need new spells, and giving them new spells would just imbalance the class. I'll even take it one step further - I hope that when 4.0 comes out (which will occur 3 months after 3.5 becomes unprofitable, whenever that is) they switch ALL spellcasters to a Beguiler/Duskblade model.

Codex creep ruins balance, and makes reasonable party building a much more difficult task. Obliterate the generic Wizard, Sorcerer, etc., with access to thousands of different spells. Replace them with balanced specialist Wizards with explicit spell lists that are never expanded.

It will also sell more books, in my opinion, which is there real goal anyway.

[Jack Mann]

Keep in mind, though, that duskblades were given a couple of spells from the spell compendium (swift expeditious retreat, swift fly, and swift invisibility), so it does seem a bit odd that they wouldn't have similarly given a few to the beguiler.

[TheOOB]

Keep in mind, though, that duskblades were given a couple of spells from the spell compendium (swift expeditious retreat, swift fly, and swift invisibility), so it does seem a bit odd that they wouldn't have similarly given a few to the beguiler.

It is not odd at all. The duskblade has a limited number of spells known, even if new spells are introduced, they don't neccesarly get more powerful, as they have to lose access to another spell to get a new one.

The beguiler, on the other hand, has access to their entire spell list at will, giving them a new spell instantly gives them a new ability they can access without any cost, thus they get more powerful. It's one of the same problems that preparation casters have, beings it takes no (or very little) resources to get access to a new spell, every new book that has spells makes them more powerful, unlike spontaneous casters who must give up something to gain something new.

[Jacob Orlove]

Keep in mind, though, that duskblades were given a couple of spells from the spell compendium (swift expeditious retreat, swift fly, and swift invisibility), so it does seem a bit odd that they wouldn't have similarly given a few to the beguiler.

Those were all super easy to describe though ("as the PHB spell, but swift casting time and duration one round"). Giving the Beguiler SpC spells would require either reprinting those spells in the PHB2, or requiring players to buy multiple books, neither of which they apparently wanted to do.

Besides, Beguilers get more than enough excellent spells at every spell level. Just grab the few extra you want via advanced learning.