A non-conjuration alternative to Mage Armor?

[Kershek]

[Edit - change "Shield" to "Mage Armor" below and this post will make a lot more sense ]

If you were to create a spell that acted like Shield, but wasn't a conjuration spell, what would it look like? Would you allow such a new spell?

There is an Evocation wizard in my game that used Conjuration as his prohibited school but is finding that he really wants that Shield spell. I suggested finding an item to boost AC, but he counters that there is no item that gives +7 AC using that spell or any other low level spell that is as good as Shield. So, now he is considering doing research on a new spell.

If you had this job, what would you write up?

I'm leary in allowing new untested spells in case it causes an unforseen imbalance in the future. However, I'm looking for opinions from others as to what you would use so I have some comparison.

Or would you simply say that the character chose his prohibited school and has to live with it? Granted, they created these characters over a year ago and we have learned a lot since then.

 

[Crothian]

Sounds like a specialist is trying to get around not being able to cast the shield spell to me. I would not allow it to happen. He's trying to get around what he sacrificed.

 

[Staffan]

I'm with Crothian on this. A specialist gets some pretty neat benefits (such as an increase of 50% in spells per day at first level), and they *should* have to make sacrifices to get that benefit.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Hmm. A first level defensive spell that's like shield but isn't cojuration. I've got it.

Shield
Abjuration
Sor/Wiz 1
Target: Personal
Duration 1 min/level
Effect:
Creates a small invisible disk of force which generates infinite erratta, clarification, sage advice, house rules, and arguments. Usually (but not always, depending on the DM) grants +7 AC from half the battlefield and can be reoriented as a free action on your turn. For more detailed information, see the PHB.

Shield will work fine for your evoker. Mage Armor is the forbidden (conjuration) fruit.

 

[Crothian]

Shield will work fine for your evoker. Mage Armor is the forbidden (conjuration) fruit.

That's just funny.

 

[Kershek]

Um. Oops. I had that all wrong, don't know where my head was.

Yes, he has shield. He wanted something like Mage Armor, as someone above pointed out, because it has a duration of hours, not minutes.

Of course, in that case, he could get Bracers of Armor, but of course those get pretty expensive.

 

[Crothian]

Of course, in that case, he could get Bracers of Armor, but of course those get pretty expensive.

Once he gains a few levels he'll be able to afford them just find. Or he can do like all adventurers do and kill the current owners and steal them.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Once he gains a few levels he'll be able to afford them just find. Or he can do like all adventurers do and kill the current owners and steal them.

Yes, it rather makes a mockery of the way that "Lawful Good" is often (apparently) understood, doesn't it

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

He can buy a Mitral Chain Shirt. For 1.000 gp and a cookie (?), he gains a +4 armor bonus, no armor check penalty, and a 10% arcane spell failure. That is nothing, especially since he's not a Magic Machine Gun , err, Sorcerer.

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[hong]

He can buy a Mitral Chain Shirt. For 1.000 gp and a cookie (?), he gains a +4 armor bonus, no armor check penalty, and a 10% arcane spell failure. That is nothing, especially since he's not a Magic Machine Gun , err, Sorcerer.

The guy who's playing the 3rd level sorc in my soon-to-start Britannia 3E campaign has just chosen his spells:

1st Level:
Endure Elements
Protection from Evil
Shield

I'm seriously considering giving the guy 100 XP just for not taking magic missile for a change.