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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Eldren" data-source="post: 1581810" data-attributes="member: 16555">I always use this gauge as to what might be "overpowered" (I put it in quotes because most of the time I don't believe in the concept; most often I find a Dungeon Master calls something overpowered when they just weren't expecting an intelligent application of the spell's concepts, and they aren't ready to deal with it; some preparation and a working knowledge of all rules being used in the campaign can usually keep something from being overpowering):  "Does my character want to use this spell to the point that I never have to erase it from their daily preparation list?"  If the answer to that is "yes", then I proceed. For instance, my Exalted Paladin/Knight of the Chalice never really let go of the Sanctified spell Sunmantle.  That spell gave Damage Resistance 5/-, and it lashed out, with a guaranteed hit, at anything which struck my PC for 5 points of damage per strike.  Combined with the impressive damage-dealing capabilities of an intelligently-constructed Paladin/Knight of the Chalice, that spell can be all the difference between a successful or failed combat, from the character's perspective. Greater Luminous Armor is only really going to be brought to bear with straight spellcasters, because it provides an armor bonus, which wouldn't stack with the existing armor likely worn by the divine casters (the Cleric, Paladin, Druid, and Ranger).  Even so, that +8 to Armor Class is impressive. Rain of Embers is pretty gnarly, dealing 10d6 of damage per round to evil creatures.  Use this spell on the Lower Planes, and you're going to make some immortal enemies. Armageddon doesn't summon either Bruce Willis or Ben Affleck (for which we're all eternally grateful; we might kinda wish it summoned Liv Tyler, though...), but the celestials it does summon can make the difference in a fight, particularly since it ends with one of the higher-powered celestials making an appearance, and control of those celestials rests solely with the caster.  You can do some damage with an intelligent application. That's the Sanctified magic.  Of the regular new magic from the Book of Exalted Deeds, another spell my Paladin frequently used was Divine Sacrifice.  That lets you sacrifice up to 10 hit points (and with the high-end hit dice Paladins have, that usually isn't much to them) to get an additional 5d6 of damage on your next strike.  In a fight with an evil Outsider, combine this with a Holy Evil Outsider Bane weapon, the "Sanctify Martial Strike" feat (also from the Book of Exalted Deeds), a Smite Evil use, "Power Attack", and a couple levels of Knight of the Chalice (for bonus damage d6s against evil Outsiders), and you're talking the kind of bonus damage usually reserved for Rogues doing a Sneak Attack.  At 16th level, my Paladin/Knight of the Chalice would, with this spell, her Holy Evil Outsider Bane greataxe ("Heaven's Wrath"), and the bonus dice from her two Knight of the Chalice levels, deal +10d6 on her first hit.  Throw in her Smite Evil damage, and things started getting kind of sick. The 6th level Wizard/Sorceror spell Starmantle is obviously good enough that in addition to giving it as a spell, it's also the basis for a magical item from the BoED.  Something that automatically destroys nonmagical weapons that strike it (which would also presumably be any natural weapons striking the spell's field of effect, unless the creature has attacks that count as magical for purposes of bypassing Damage Reduction) is nasty when you start essentially destroying creatures' limbs who are attacking your spellcaster. Be wary of abuse of Quickshift, another 6th level arcane spell.  It grants use of Teleport and Greater Teleport as a spell-like ability, usable as a free action once a round.  Great way for a Wizard or Sorceror to set up delayed-effect magic and then get out of Dodge. The 8th level spell Last Judgment is nasty; evil creatures are struck dead and sent back to the Lower Planes.  It has a casting time of 1 round, but combined with the metamagic feat "Rapid Spell" (from The Complete Divine), this can quickly be abused; it also grants a Will save for partial effect, but Will is often the weakest save for the greatest number of monsters.  Even if they make their save, they can take up to 18 points of Wisdom damage, meaning they could still be slain outright.  Impressive power, and since the spell isn't Sanctified, it could presumably be used by Neutral spellcasters. Those are the ones that immediately come to mind for me.  Hope it helps.</blockquote>

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