My conjurer can cast Cure Serious Wounds, or..?

[Jolly Giant]

I'm making a new character, a 10th level specialist wizard (conjurer). NOT A SUMMONER, he specializes in direct damage spells. I'm taking the Master Specialist PrC from Comp. Mage, and one of the class features is that a 3 different levels he gets to add one additional free conjuration spell to his spell book. The DM; who likes a bit of powergaming (since the more powerful our characters are, the harder he can hit us! ), says that for these 3 spells I can select any conjuration spell i want, even if they're not normally on the sor/wiz spell list.

At my level, I get 2 of these; one 3rd level or lower, one 4th level or lower. I've opted for Cure Serious Wounds and Rain of Spines; a 4th level wu jen spell from comp. mage that I think looks really cool. Next level, I'll get Heal!

I'm just wondering if anyone have any better ideas for what my 3 special bonus spells should be? I've been thinking about replacing that wu jen spell with Lesser Planar Ally, or even Cure Critical Wounds. The campaign starts saturday night, so I still have a little time to fine-tune my character...

 

[jeffh]

I'm making a new character, a 10th level specialist wizard (conjurer). NOT A SUMMONER, he specializes in direct damage spells. I'm taking the Master Specialist PrC from Comp. Mage, and one of the class features is that a 3 different levels he gets to add one additional free conjuration spell to his spell book. The DM; who likes a bit of powergaming (since the more powerful our characters are, the harder he can hit us! ), says that for these 3 spells I can select any conjuration spell i want, even if they're not normally on the sor/wiz spell list.

At my level, I get 2 of these; one 3rd level or lower, one 4th level or lower. I've opted for Cure Serious Wounds and Rain of Spines; a 4th level wu jen spell from comp. mage that I think looks really cool. Next level, I'll get Heal!

I'm just wondering if anyone have any better ideas for what my 3 special bonus spells should be? I've been thinking about replacing that wu jen spell with Lesser Planar Ally, or even Cure Critical Wounds. The campaign starts saturday night, so I still have a little time to fine-tune my character...

I don't know Rain of Spines, but it's hard to think of a better use for one of those two slots than to take a healing spell, so I think CSW is a solid choice. If it's not optimal it's almost certainly in the top 5.

 

[blargney the second]

If you have to choose between CSW and CCW, bear in mind what other spells will be competing for your spell slots of the same level. The Orb spells are 4th, right? If you've got a lot of them, the 3rd level cure spell might be a good idea.
-blarg

 

[Jolly Giant]

I don't know Rain of Spines, but it's hard to think of a better use for one of those two slots than to take a healing spell, so I think CSW is a solid choice. If it's not optimal it's almost certainly in the top 5.

Rain of Spines is pretty cool. It deals only a moderate amount of damage, but anyone who fails their Reflex save is pinned to the ground by the spines. It like a Hold Monster for conjurerers, with an area of effect!

 

[Jolly Giant]

If you have to choose between CSW and CCW, bear in mind what other spells will be competing for your spell slots of the same level. The Orb spells are 4th, right? If you've got a lot of them, the 3rd level cure spell might be a good idea.
-blarg

Exactly! The orbs are very much the reason I went for CSW, rather than CCW.

Although Haste, Fly and Dispel Magic also require slots.


PS: If anyone can come up with something better than Heal for my next bonus spell, I'd be both impressed and surprised!

 

[Frostmarrow]

It is not an advantage, per se, to be able to cast cure-spells. Healing is a thankless, time-consuming task, that for most wizards is a waste of energy. (This is why the cleric is so powerful; healing is a disadvantage.) Because if you can heal healing is a duty.

By the way, in 3E it was possible for a conjurer to summon lots of formians and then tell them (in the correct language) to team up and cast cure light wounds or even mend. It was a bit awkward but it worked in a pinch.

 

[Jolly Giant]

It is not an advantage, per se, to be able to cast cure-spells. Healing is a thankless, time-consuming task, that for most wizards is a waste of energy. (This is why the cleric is so powerful; healing is a disadvantage.) Because if you can heal healing is a duty.

We tend to run pretty deadly campaigns in my group, so even if only prepare one CSW per day, it can easily turn out to be a lifesaver; for myself or for the other characters.

 

[RangerWickett]

Me, I'd pick cure light wounds, just so I can use wands.

 

[Nail]

Me, I'd pick cure light wounds, just so I can use wands.

....That's what I was thinking.

'Cause CSW won't help with that ultra-cheap wand of CLW.

 

[Jolly Giant]

Me, I'd pick cure light wounds, just so I can use wands.

Actually, that's a pretty good idea. But I don't think so. We've got two druids in the party , so there should be enough healing to go around (although one is a melee oriented barbarian 3/druid 7). I want to always have one spell prepared, though; one that can heal a decent amount of damage in one go, just in case I find myself or a comrade in need of instant help.