Are these two spells good for a sorcerer?

[gfunk]

1. Acid Fog

The spell looks cool, but how does it play in practice? What combos do you guys used with this spell, if any?

2. Limited Wish

This spells, on the surface, looks great for Sorcerers b/c of its versatility, but 300 XP a pop is pretty hefty. Do you think it's worthi it?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Hennet realizes that he has no way of escaping from the ogres. The ogre-mage had used its wand to dispel his fly spell, and Hennet's other spells had run out. Except for limited wish.

"Gee, I wish I could dimension door out of here."

And he did. Paying 300 XP is a lot less than paying a whole level (or the 5000 gp diamond needed for true ressurection). Any spell that could save your life makes limited wish look really really good.

Acid fog slows your opponent down; if they have a speed of 30 feet, no armor, and don't have the Run feat, they'll spend a minimum of 4 rounds in the area of effect (if you originally centred it on them). And there's no saving throw. You oculd put it between melee opponents and yourself. They can't see you to shoot you (and suffer hefty attack penalties to do so), and they'll take damage if they rush you! Kind of like fire shield, but works against archers too

 

[Gilrion]

Hennet realizes that he has no way of escaping from the ogres. The ogre-mage had used its wand to dispel his fly spell, and Hennet's other spells had run out. Except for limited wish.

Actually, Hennet can use any of his lower level spells on his 7th level spell slot. So if he has DD or Teleport or any such thing on his list, he can use it.

Still, Limited Wish is a pretty good spell. It's not something you will use often (a negative point for the sorcerer) but by the time you get it it can just sit on the back of your list, to be taken out triumphantly if you are ever taking a heavy beating. 300 XP is not that much at higher level, so you can pay the price every now and then. The biggest prize of this spell, IMO, is its ability to reproduce ANY spell of 4th level or lower. This means you can reproduce a divine spell or something else not on the Wiz/Sor spell list, ie cure critical wounds (a life-saver), spell immunity, modify memory, reincarnate, speak with dead, restoration, etc. I admit, I haven't used it in practice, but if you play a hard campaign, you are likely to use this stuff at least once. If it saves your life that one time, it's worth it in my book.


Acid Fog is also a good spell, but personally I see better at 6th level. True Seeing, Chain Lightning (if you're an evocation-type), Eyebite, Shades, Disintegrate, Greater Dispelling all beat Acid Fog to the spot in my book... It all depends on your spell list, of course. Acid Fog is the sort of thing my sorcerer tries to get scrolls of. It has no save, so being in a scroll doesn't really matter much.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I meant that Hennet the sorc never learned dimension door as his 4th-level spell. He thought polymorph self (free natural armor!), minor globe of invulnerability, stoneskin, polymorph other (turn victims into newts) and ice storm were all better spells. Actually, there are a lot of other good 4th-level spells.

 

[gfunk]

The biggest prize of this spell, IMO, is its ability to reproduce ANY spell of 4th level or lower. This means you can reproduce a divine spell or something else not on the Wiz/Sor spell list, ie cure critical wounds (a life-saver), spell immunity, modify memory, reincarnate, speak with dead, restoration, etc.

Well, to my understanding, Limited Wish will let you duplicate a 5th level spell or lower from anybody's spell list. PHB, p.222

"Duplicate any other spell of 5th level or lower, provided the spell is not from a school prohibited to you."

I definitely agree Limited Wish looks good on paper, but does anybody have any "battlefield" experience with it? or Acid Fog?

 

[Gilrion]

I meant that Hennet the sorc never learned dimension door as his 4th-level spell. He thought polymorph self (free natural armor!), minor globe of invulnerability, stoneskin, polymorph other (turn victims into newts) and ice storm were all better spells. Actually, there are a lot of other good 4th-level spells.

Well enough. However, I feel any sorcerer worth his salt will have at least one (usually not more than one) bgi movement spell. Either DD and Teleport Without Error or Teleport as one of the first 5th level spells. I've found you really can't go without it.

Coincidentally, I don't find 4th level that good. It's not bad, but 3rd and 5th levels are by far more challenging in terms of spell choice. Polymorph Other is indeed great, but IMHO, Ice Storm and Polymorph Self slots would be better spent elsewhere. If a pure sorcerer needs natural armor (aka AC) he or his party is doing something wrong. I much prefer to take Alter Self at 2nd level: saves the higher level spot for something like Improved Invisibility, or Stoneskin (if you really need the melee protection). Imp Invis and a movement spell (Fly, Spider Climb, Expeditious Retreat, Levitate, etc) can get you out of trouble with most monsters.

Anyway, that's not what gfunk asked, so I'll stop here.

 

[mzsylver]

2. Limited Wish

This spells, on the surface, looks great for Sorcerers b/c of its versatility, but 300 XP a pop is pretty hefty. Do you think it's worthi it?

Limited Wish is DEFINITELY worth it. very very useful.

wish you could cast Empowered Sonic Orbs cause that mage has Shield up? want a Wall of Force to hide in? need a Disintegrate to get rid of that Wall of Force? that enemy rogue giving you trouble and wish you knew Blink or Blur?

granted it costs xp, but 300 isnt a killer like Wish.

Limited Wish is a must have.

 

[Gromm]

Acid fog is nasty, especially if your DM plays the NPCs right.

If you throw it so they are on the edge of its effect and they are moving towards you it will be a LONG time before they reach the other side (and odds are they have no way of knowing if you centered it on them, behind them or in front of them).

Even then its good against most foes since moving 4' a round with a double move (for spd 20'-most heavy armor fighter types), takes forever to get out of. It also tends to slow down or shut down spell casters in its area of effect.

Still there are other spells that might be higher on ones list for a sorceror (disentigrate, chain lightning, eyebite).
But I'd definately put it up there, especially if your DM plays "fair".

 

[LightPhoenix]

Limited Wish is perhaps THE best spell a sorcerer can take. It is one of the most versatile spells in the game, and should the sorcerer ever desperately need to cast a spell he has not selected... well, 300 xp is pretty worth it. It handily beats out Wish/Miracle, which requires 5000 xp.

Plus, it even fits the motif of a spontaneous caster

LightPhoenix

 

[Ancalagon]

Wow, that avatar of your confused me for a moment!

"wait a minute, I didn't reply to this thread..."



Anyway, Acid fog is a KILLER if you use it in a dungeon combine with a wall spell. If your foes are in a dead end coridor or a small room...

For a sorcerer, there are probably better spells though.

Ancalagon