Gathering Shadows

[Bendris Noulg]

Hey, folks...

In my quest to define Shadow Magic within my campaign, I'm looking for sources with Shadow-type spells. Not just Illusions, but any other spells that have any effect involving shadows (Ex: animate shadow from R&R1 is a Transmutation spell).

The sources I currently have confirmed as sources are:

S&S Studio's R&R1, R&R2, Divine and Defeated
Mongoose's Illusionist
Fantasy Flight's Spells & Spellcraft and Path of Illusion
AEG's Magic

Any other books you folks could recommend I dig into/borrow/purchase to further this endeavor?

 

[der_kluge]

There is a Shadow domain, and new shadow-based spells in the Bluffside book.

Here they are:

Eclipse
Transmutation
Level: Shadow 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 full round (see text)
Range: See text
Area: 40-mile diameter
Duration: 1 minute per caster level

Eclipse brings into existence a huge disk of pure shadow that completely blocks out the light from the sun. After spending a full round to cast, the disk begins to form, drawing its energy from the plane of shadow. The disk takes 2d10 minutes to fully cover the sun after casting.
The caster’s location during casting is the center of a 40-mile diameter circle of darkness that the eclipse covers. During the spell's duration, the area 20 miles around the 40-mile diameter area of effect is under a partial-eclipse, and the effects described below are halved.
During the eclipse, the sky grows dark, and the entire region in the area darkens as if it is dusk. While under the effects of eclipse, the following conditions are in effect:
• All shadow spells are cast at +4 caster level of effectiveness.
• All shadows, and shadow-based creatures, summoned or otherwise, double their hit points. These hit points are temporary and go away after the spell’s duration.
• Anyone attempting to Hide, as per the skill, receives a +10 circumstance bonus.
• All Necromantic, and Undeath spells are cast at +1 caster level of effectiveness.
• Any attempts to turn undead receive a –5 penalty.
Only a miracle or a wish spell can only counter the effects of eclipse.
Material Component: A platinum coin dipped in the blood of a Shadow Dragon.


Shadow Form
Transmutation
Level: Shadow 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 2 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

The subject and all his gear becomes as a shadow. While in this form, the subject gains +8 competence bonus to hide and always moves silently (+20 bonus). In addition, the subject gains 10/+1 damage reduction, and gains a 50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal source. Any armor the subject was wearing no longer provides AC bonuses. While in shadow form, spells requiring verbal components can not be cast.
Unlike a real shadow, however, the subject can not pass through solid objects, and any attacks made while in this form act as they would normally, receiving no benefit. The subject can pass through cracks in walls, and under doors. Additionally, this spell works underwater.
Material Component: A small piece of black obsidian that is consumed during casting.


Summon Shadows
Conjuration
Level: Shadow 8, Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 full round
Range: Close (25 ft. + f ft./2 levels)
Effect: 2d4 Shadows Summoned
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

When cast, this spell summons 2d4 shadows. The shadows have the same alignment as the caster, and remain under the caster's control for the duration of the spell, at which time they vanish.

 

[diaglo]

d20 Black Company?

 

[BlackMoria]

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting - the Shadow Weave (how shadow magic works and its adherents), the Shadovar (a city of powerful mages from the Plane of Shadow), Shade Template (the Shadovar are shades), Shadow Adept (a prestige class), some shadow spells.

Unapproachable East - more shadow spells, the ritual of shadow walking (a template), the Shadowlords of Teflamm (a prestige class for rogues with more of an emphasis on shadows than the shadowdancer prestige class)

 

[Bendris Noulg]

C'mon, folks... Pubs, plug your wares!

I got a bunch of stuff on my shelves, but (obviously) not an in-total index of everything within them. A goodly number of my friends have similarly sized shelves from which to borrow if I don't own. And I'm in the mood to buy (see Bluffside, below). So even if the source has just *one* spell or *one* item, I wanna hear about it.

There is a Shadow domain, and new shadow-based spells in the Bluffside book.

Y'know, that's a purchase I kept putting off, so much so that I forgot about it.

Thanks for the reminder... Got a used copy on the way.

Thanks for typing those out, though; I can work them in now.

d20 Black Company?

Actually, you gotta kinda feel sorry for Chris and the rest of 'em at Green Ronin... Y'know how I'll get if they screw it up. As is, though, based on little comments made by Chris and Nicky in various places/boards, I'm comfortable with the indicated course (being that it won't just be D&D with a dark paint job, but a Black Company RPG).

And, yes, there should be lots of shadow stuff, assuming the first book covers the South.

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting - the Shadow Weave (how shadow magic works and its adherents), the Shadovar (a city of powerful mages from the Plane of Shadow), Shade Template (the Shadovar are shades), Shadow Adept (a prestige class), some shadow spells.

My bad... I keep forgetting about my non-OGC sources.

There's (a little) more in Magic of Faerun and Manual of the Planes.

Unapproachable East - more shadow spells, the ritual of shadow walking (a template), the Shadowlords of Teflamm (a prestige class for rogues with more of an emphasis on shadows than the shadowdancer prestige class)

Got a friend bringing me his copy this afternoon.

If anything concerns me about the Core use of the shadow concept, one that seems to extend into other publisher's products, is the general assumption that, because of the (monster) Shadow, the plane of Shadow is associated with evil/undeath. Easily fixed, of course, but I'd still like to see a different spin (kinda the way ENWorld's Death took the death-deity into a new direction).

One thing that's starting to develop itself into my head is the idea that a character on the Plane of Shadow might be able to simply manipulate the essence of the plane. Would certainly give more "oomph" to Mongoose's Craft Shadow Skill, provided it took a Feat or a Prestige Class to gain the ability. Have to work that one out later, though...