Why is it 9th level? Anyone used it much?

Inconsequenti-AL · Mar 9, 2004

What's so good about the foresight spell?

As far as defenses go, it just doesn't seem very impressive? Especially for a 9th level spell. +2 insight to reflex saves/AC.

There is the extremely vague second paragraph. That does seem to indicate you could avoid any trap or danger, but if that's the case then whats the +2AC/reflex saves about?

Am I missing something? Reading it wrong? Does it do supa-kewl things I'm not noticing?

Has anyone used it to great effect?

SRD said:
Foresight
Divination
Level: Drd 9, Knowledge 9, Sor/Wiz 9
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal or touch
Target: See text
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: None or Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No or Yes (harmless)
This spell grants you a powerful sixth sense in relation to yourself or another. Once foresight is cast, you receive instantaneous warnings of impending danger or harm to the subject of the spell. You are never surprised or flat-footed. In addition, the spell gives you a general idea of what action you might take to best protect yourself and gives you a +2 insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves. This insight bonus is lost whenever you would lose a Dexterity bonus to AC.
When another creature is the subject of the spell, you receive warnings about that creature. You must communicate what you learn to the other creature for the warning to be useful, and the creature can be caught unprepared in the absence of such a warning. Shouting a warning, yanking a person back, and even telepathically communicating (via an appropriate spell) can all be accomplished before some danger befalls the subject, provided you act on the warning without delay. The subject, however, does not gain the insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Arcane Material Component: A hummingbird’s feather.

Henry · Mar 9, 2004

The spell was interpreted far more loosely in 2nd edition, and being 9th level may well be a hold-over from older editions. It's real power is in NEVER being surprised by anything. It says you don't get the bonus if you lose your Dex bonus, but the only way you would lose your dex bonus is to be paralyzed in some way (or being grappled).

As it is, It might be worth 7th level, but I too have a hard time visualizing it as 9th level.

Darklone · Mar 9, 2004

Probably they kept it at 9th level since it's a "longtime" buff spell.

jester47 · Mar 9, 2004

Well one possible result of the spell is

"Bandits await you in ambush further up the road. Best course of Action is to take the trade path to a small village and then reconnect to the road."

Or

"there is a vampire hunting you, I would suggest stakes, garlic, a cleric and finding a river."

Basicly it lets a player know what the threats are to him (or whoever the target is) and how to defeat them. It breaks the adventure or allows the DM to impart information important to the adventure that a character might have missed. This can be terribly important at higher levels where things are save or die.

Aaron.

Darklone · Mar 9, 2004

Mind Blank would help you to surprise a forsighted dude, right?

jessemock · Mar 9, 2004

Inconsequenti-AL said:
What's so good about the foresight spell?

As far as defenses go, it just doesn't seem very impressive? Especially for a 9th level spell. +2 insight to reflex saves/AC.

There is the extremely vague second paragraph. That does seem to indicate you could avoid any trap or danger, but if that's the case then whats the +2AC/reflex saves about?

Am I missing something? Reading it wrong? Does it do supa-kewl things I'm not noticing?

Has anyone used it to great effect?

Yeah; it was clearer in 1st edition. I quote: "Just hand the player the module and tell him to have a blast."

niastri · Mar 9, 2004

Darklone said:
Mind Blank would help you to surprise a forsighted dude, right?

I would go with opposed caster level checks in that case...

Plane Sailing · Mar 9, 2004

It sure doesn't seem as useful as the new 8th level spell "Moment of Prescience", thats for sure.

It's usability depends almost entirely upon the DMs desire, which makes its usefulness widely variable.

melkoriii · Mar 9, 2004

Would MindBlank stop the spell? forsighted is not reading minds. Its like precognition (sp). You just know these things. It has nothing to do with your foe.

dcollins · Mar 9, 2004

jessemock said:
Yeah; it was clearer in 1st edition. I quote: "Just hand the player the module and tell him to have a blast."

This is not a spell that was in 1st Ed. AD&D. It must have been introduced in 2nd Ed. -- that's part of the reason it sticks out like a sore thumb among the other 9th level wizard spells.

Why is it 9th level? Anyone used it much?

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