6th level spell for a Sorceror

[Jack Simth]

Contingency can really help your ranged touch spells (Orb of Cold, Disintegrate, Scorching Ray) by letting you cast a True Strike as a free action. Contingency (Displacement when I'm threatened by a melee attack) is pretty good.

You could drop a banana seed every few hundred feet, wherever you go. They're almost invisible and biodegradable. Then a Contingency (Teleport) could take you to the nearest banana seed that's not in your pocket when you hold your breath for three seconds. This lets you teleport even while paralyzed or Held.

And just hope nobody else is carrying a bannana - especially not the opposing melee.....

 

[DM_Matt]

Its 5th, but Firebrand is better than Chain Lightning.

 

[Pyrex]

For my Alienist PC my hands-down winner 6th level spell is...

Imbue Familiar with Spell Ability. (Complete Arcane)

My imbued familiar almost always has one of the following actions Readied.

-> Ready to Counterspell (Int 10, gets my +15 Spellcraft ranks)
-> Ready to Disrupt (by hammering the caster with Empowered Magic Missile)
-> Ready to get us out of the way with Dimension Door.
-> Ready to cast Resist Energy against incoming energy spells.

Etc...

It's like having a chained contingency. Or, when necessary, 3.0 haste for a few rounds...

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, True Seeing is nice. As are any of the illusion spells. And the Mass (stat buff) spells always come in handy. +2 AC & Reflex, +2 hp/level & Fort saves, +2 Will, +2 save DCs, +2 attack & damage...

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Thanks... Some more interesting ideas!

Imbue familiar with Spell Ability is an interesting idea... My familiar is a betentacled Rat called Mr Hill - took him more as a roleplaying device rather than for combat purposes... It'd be nice to get use out of him. My only slight worry is that our DM revels in blowing up familiars, paladin mounts and the like I'm very tempted with that - the counterspelling use is particularly imaginative!

As for contingency quicken - I already get quickened stuff through the Arcane Preparation feat... Love that feat to bits. The banana idea is great - not heard that before and it's very cool! Only problem with that would be my phobia of fruit (don't ask!) - still vegetable seeds would work just as well?

Wow. Non detection looks like a particularly good way to go. Hadn't thought that through fully before! I guess Mind Blank would do the same - only without the level check? Was intending to pick that up soon anyhow, but 'Yikes!'.

True seeing would be nice, but the expensive material component scares me away from it somewhat...

Darmanicus - I thought about taking FiendForm and Permenancy just for you.

 

[Jack Simth]

Wow. Non detection looks like a particularly good way to go. Hadn't thought that through fully before! I guess Mind Blank would do the same - only without the level check? Was intending to pick that up soon anyhow, but 'Yikes!'.

Well, how well Mind Blank works against See Invisible and True Sight depends on how the DM cares to read it:

Mind Blank

Abjuration

Level: Protection 8, Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The subject is protected from all devices and spells that detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts. This spell protects against all mind-affecting spells and effects as well as information gathering by divination spells or effects. Mind blank even foils limited wish, miracle, and wish spells when they are used in such a way as to affect the subject’s mind or to gain information about it. In the case of scrying that scans an area the creature is in, such as arcane eye, the spell works but the creature simply isn’t detected. Scrying attempts that are targeted specifically at the subject do not work at all

See Invisible/True Seeing don't detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts; they aren't mind-affecting spells or effects; they're not scrying (which is usually defined more along the lines of distance-viewing); however, they might fit under information gathering - but I'd say no, just because it could be used to make someone completely undetectable by any means, and that would be hard to balance.

 

[Plane Sailing]

IMO true seeing isn't worth it for three reasons

1. material component cost
2. short duration
3. short range

See invisibility beats it on all three levels for the most important problem (invisible foes), leave it for the radiant servant to pick up when it is needed.

I still think contingency is great, especially as a last ditch defence (whether it is "if I'm dying teleport me to the sanctuary of my favourite temple back home" or "if I'm grappled, polymorph me into an Annis Hag" - the latter is especially good since by the straight rules a sorcerer doesn't have many good options if he is grappled.)

The acid fog damage is good in that there is no save or spell resistance and well targetted a foe will remain in there for at least 4 rounds (taking 8d6 acid damage) but if they are affected by your grease spell it might take them much longer to get out! You would then be later able to ditch Solid Fog and take one of the other cracking 4th level spells (like Stoneskin or enervation or wall of fire or fire shield)

n.b. if you do stick with Summon VI, I imagine that a particular effective use is to summon hordes of Pseudonatural Lantern Archons. Their light rays are a great ranged attack which goes through all resistances, they can cast a few useful spells etc.

Cheers

 

[Thanee]

With your Spell Focus: Enchantment, I'd suggest Wages of Sin from Book of Exalted Deeds (Or Mass Suggestion from PHB, if the book is not allowed).


Analyze Dweomer would be nice, but as you say, there is also a Diviner in your party, therefore unnecessary.

Planar Binding, while a great spell, pretty much also requires Magic Circle and Dimensional Anchor.

Bye
Thanee

 

[beaver1024]

It has to be between True Seeing and Contingency. Under core rules Contingency is one of the few ways sorcerers can cast a more tan 1 spell a round.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Plane Sailing - definitely with you on True Seeing. 250GP for 16 minutes is just too expensive. If it was an hour a level, I'd be sorely tempted, but ah well...

Grease + fogs... Just been thinking about that. Not nice for armoured guys. It's a good day when you learn something nasty.

Contingency is tempting... when you need it, you really need it! Grappling is a scary prospect - although I tend to be incorporeal most of the time in combat - which skirts the problem to some extent. I'm wondering if it's something that's worth Limited Wishing or paying for... campaign tends to run in short timeframes of frentic activity. When we're really busy the 16 day duration is quite possibly a dozen sessions!

With your Spell Focus: Enchantment, I'd suggest Wages of Sin from Book of Exalted Deeds (Or Mass Suggestion from PHB, if the book is not allowed).

I do have access to BOeD, but havn't got it to hand... What does Wages of Sin do? Is it one I'd need to be exalted to use?

Analyze Dweomer would be nice, but as you say, there is also a Diviner in your party, therefore unnecessary.

I'm very tempted with Analyze dweomer... it is something the diviner uses, but I'm horribly curious about magical stuff. Would work nicely with Reaving Dispel, which I'm strongly considering as an alternative to Disjunction - partly because I like stealing, but mostly because I don't want to get involved in a Disjunction arms race with the DM.

Planar Binding, while a great spell, pretty much also requires Magic Circle and Dimensional Anchor.

He is insane, but I guess there ought to be a limit somewhere!