Low-level spell combos/tactics (Bill - Stay Out!)

I'm running a 5th lvl gnome diviner (180-yr old grandmother, but that's another story) and thought I'd pick the minds of those on these boards for tips on creative and/or unusual tactics to use in combat. I've taken evocation as the banned school, so no big bang spells, and I'm more interested in strategies which weaken, harass, and preferably embarrass the enemy. Ones which help protect my PC are appreciated too.

We're using core PHB stuff now, though metamagic uses the spontaneous metamagic rule from UA (can be applied spontaneously 3/day, without taking a higher level spell slot). My PC has every 1st lvl spell in her spellbook as well as a lot of 2nd level and few 3rd lvl ones, and could probably get her hands on any which she doesn't have. She can also use banned or non-wizard spells with Use Magic Device, but has a low bonus in it (+5).

Some basic combos I had in mind:

1) Have the party archer fire a flaming arrow at enemies in the distance and ready to cast a pyrotechnics spell on it as it reaches them.

2) Shrink Item on a large, heavy object. Hang it above a door the bad guys are coming through (if we have time) or just toss it at them and end the spell. Ker-splat!

3) Use Silent Image to create a wall of fog or some other barrier between the enemy and the party. With my PC telling the others that it's an illusion and giving them a +4 to save, at least some of them should be able to see through it and nail the enemy (who can't see through it till they actually interact with the illusion) with ranged weapons and spells.

4) Grease and Stinking Cloud on the same area. Drops speed down to a quarter and has a chance to nauseate them.

5) Alter Self into an avariel (the PC archer is one) for flight and maneuverability purposes.

Any others? Thanks, in advance.

shove 'em around

If you're a fan of grease, look at the Player's Guide to Faerun, as there are several low-level spells that do a force-effect bullrush on the target. Fun to shove them off cliffs, into pits, onto your grease- not to mention to get that sneaky, ethereal, level-draining specter away from you but QUICK.

Hi Shilsen,

Not a combo but pretty good on it's own is grease. In particular, greasing a weapon is always good value against most melee types - who traditionally have marginal Reflex saves. They have to save everytime they try to pick it up or use it (if they failed the initial saving throw).
In concerts with an illusion of some description (flames on the weapon), you can have a lot of fun.
My other low level favourite is Shatter but that's evocation. Too bad huh.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

Herremann the Wise said:

Hi Shilsen,

Not a combo but pretty good on it's own is grease. In particular, greasing a weapon is always good value against most melee types - who traditionally have marginal Reflex saves. They have to save everytime they try to pick it up or use it (if they failed the initial saving throw).
In concerts with an illusion of some description (flames on the weapon), you can have a lot of fun.

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Yeah, I love grease. As I just posted on the other version of this thread I'd posted in the General RPG Discussion section, besides getting someone to drop a weapon one can drop a readied grease in front of the big, bad charging guy and ruin his attack. Drop a grease on your pal being grappled by a huge creature. Grease the evil cleric's holy symbol and mess up his chances of holding it to cast a spell. Lots of options.

My other low level favourite is Shatter but that's evocation. Too bad huh.

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Heh! That's my other favorite low level spell, too. Great minds ...

It's not a core rule book addition, but...

Focus Missles. Arrows that cost about 1,000 each (and 25 xp, I think), but you can cast an area effect spell using them as an enimation point after they are launched into the field. Greater Shadow Conjuration anyone?? Or Grease from a huge distance??

Can you still use Shadow Evocation?? I don't have access to 3.5, so I don't know if it quals as an evocation as well as illusion.


Alter self into an Aarrocokra (think I have the spelling correct). They can use ranged weapons with their feet while in the air (per the Dark SUn rules in Dragon. Can't beat a speed of 90 in flight).

my fav's - although I have posted them elsewhere -

Mount - as cover, to detect traps, to bait sharks, to clog hallways, to fill pits
to drop on people (if persuasive) , to sell, to anchor ropes or cross rivers

Web and summon swarm (spiders) admittedly a DM call - but can be vicious

make scrolls of tensers disc - if you have an allied caster, then you can ride in style.

Scrolls in general - 3 1st lvl scrolls cost - 37 gp and 3 xp - can make a huge difference if you find yourself low on magic - colorspray, Charm Person, Silent image for example you wont always need them, but each could turn an entire situation in a pinch.

Storyteller01 said:

It's not a core rule book addition, but...

Focus Missles. Arrows that cost about 1,000 each (and 25 xp, I think), but you can cast an area effect spell using them as an enimation point after they are launched into the field. Greater Shadow Conjuration anyone?? Or Grease from a huge distance??

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What book is that from?

Can you still use Shadow Evocation?? I don't have access to 3.5, so I don't know if it quals as an evocation as well as illusion.

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Yes, I can use it, but not yet (it's a 5th lvl spell). I expect to have some fun with this one.

Alter self into an Aarrocokra (think I have the spelling correct). They can use ranged weapons with their feet while in the air (per the Dark SUn rules in Dragon. Can't beat a speed of 90 in flight).

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Aaracokra, IIRC. Are they humanoids? I probably can't use them, since I don't think they exist in this campaign world (it's a homebrew one, cobbled together from lots of sources). But since the DM decided to give avariel a good maneuverability rating (instead of average, as in RoF), I have a nice option there.

Evilhalfling said:

my fav's - although I have posted them elsewhere -

Mount - as cover, to detect traps, to bait sharks, to clog hallways, to fill pits
to drop on people (if persuasive) , to sell, to anchor ropes or cross rivers

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Dude! You really do not like horses, do you? I can't drop them on people, since that's explicitly not allowable by the rules on conjuration spells. But I like the other options.

Web and summon swarm (spiders) admittedly a DM call - but can be vicious

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Heh! I'll have to remember that one.

make scrolls of tensers disc - if you have an allied caster, then you can ride in style.

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I'd considered that, but it's not an option right now, since I'm the only arcane caster in the party. Maybe in the future.

Scrolls in general - 3 1st lvl scrolls cost - 37 gp and 3 xp - can make a huge difference if you find yourself low on magic - colorspray, Charm Person, Silent image for example you wont always need them, but each could turn an entire situation in a pinch.

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I know what you mean. My PC started off a good 4,000 XP behind the rest of party, since I wanted to use it to make scrolls/wands and scribe spells. With the costs of spell scribing, that worked out to a good 50,000 gp worth of stuff. We just had one session, so I'm waiting for an opportunity to save the party's bacon a few times with the right scroll for the right occasion.

Unseen Servant to carry a light 30' in front of your party, so you can see ahead and are not immediately in danger, if anything happens.

Charm Person on the fighter to buy you a nice glass of wine.

Don't use Shrink Item that way, it will create a huge mess. Literally. Really, you'll never be able to sleep on a ship anymore with all the nightmares from flying wizards dropping huge blocks of granite down from a height for target practice.

Shrink Item on a fire could also work nice with your favorite second level spell.

Bye
Thanee

Thanee said:

Unseen Servant to carry a light 30' in front of your party, so you can see ahead and are not immediately in danger, if anything happens.

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I like that. And moving at a slower speed, since Unseen Servant can't do more than 15 ft/rd, isn't that much of an issue since my gnome moves at 20 anyway.

Charm Person on the fighter to buy you a nice glass of wine.

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Shouldn't be difficult, since he has a Will save of +0 at ECL6

Actually the party fighter is an avariel archer (other PCs are a cleric and a paladin - married couple - of the same deity), who spent the last session getting into fights and picking up women (only elves, since anyone else is beneath him ). My PC figures he needs a lesson, so we may start next session with her meeting him in the form of a female avariel (alter self) and pretending to succumb to his charms. I'll be curious to see the reaction in and OOC, once he finds out that he had sex with a 180 year old grandmother

Don't use Shrink Item that way, it will create a huge mess. Literally. Really, you'll never be able to sleep on a ship anymore with all the nightmares from flying wizards dropping huge blocks of granite down from a height for target practice.

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Shrink Item on a fire could also work nice with your favorite second level spell.

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Shrink Item doesn't say anything about putting the item in stasis, however. Don't you think the fire would keep burning (in miniaturized form) till it used up its fuel?