NEED HELP QUICK! (by 4:45 pm CST)

[gfunk]

Please help me choose an 8th level spell for my PC (Sorcerer 9/Alienist 7) [BTW, yes we have a house rule about Knowledge (Planes)]

Here are my relevant feats:
Energy Sub (Sonic)
Empower Spell
Sculpt Spell
Spell Focus (Evoc)
Spell Focus (Ench)
Greater Spell Focus (Evoc)

Cha is 25

Spells at 5th level and above:

5
Dominate Person
Wall of Force
Hold Monster
Cone of Cold

6
Summon Monster VI
Project Image
Anti-Magic Field

7
Limited Wish
Reality Malestrom (MotP)

8
???

Help me choose my first 8th level spell please! Valid sources include PHB, MotP, and all of WOTC splatbooks. (All polymorph spells hhave been banned!)

I was thinking about:

Summon Monster VIII
. . . because all monsters I summon have the pseudonatural template. 1-3 Bebiliths, Huge Elementals, or Elder Xorns would kick ass. Noble Salamanders are sweet too. A relevant pseudonatural ability is a +20 to hit on one attack 1/day. If used with special attacks, like the Bebilith's armor ripping or the Salamander's constriction, it is quite powerful and versatile.

Bigby's Clenched Fist
Would be DC 29 Fort save or be stunned with a +33 to hit. I was seriously considering this one, but now I'm torn.

Otto's Irresistable Dance
Combined with Project Image, this can be potent. I have several damaging spells that require Relfex saves (Fireball, Cone of Cold, Reality Maelstrom) along with Empower to increase damage.

Any other ideas?

BTW, we are playing the Dungeon adventure "The Harrowing." Funny thing is my Alienist phobia is spiders!

THANKS!

 

[gfunk]

Double post, please ignore!

 

[bret]

Mind Blank.

It is one of the best defenses you will find.

Don't need an attack here, you've got enough lower level attacks that you can metamagic up if need be.

 

[Corwin the Confused]

Otto's is a very powwerful spell against a BBEG. Symbol and Maze are worth a look too.

 

[shilsen]

I'd go for Summon Monster VIII. Not only does it fit perfectly with the Alienist PrC concept, it is extremely versatile. Besides the combat benefits, which are considerable in view of the True Strike ability each pseudonatural creature has, having access to the Summon Monster VII & VIII lists also allows you to summon a large number of monsters with spellcasting ability, which drastically improves your repertoire with a single spell.

 

[dkilgo]

I personally like these spells from the PHB:

Maze
Power word, blind
Trap the soul

these from MoF:

Nybor's wrathful castigation
Skeletal guard
Simbul's skeletal deliquescence

this from Tome and Blood:

Great Shout

these from the book of Vile Darkness:

Gutwrench
Steal Life
Bestow Greater Curse
Soul's Treasure Lost

I also like this corrupt spell:

Plague of Nightmares

Do with them what you will. These are the ones I really like. They really deal out a lot of nasty $!@%.

 

[gfunk]

THanks for your input guys, I appreciate it. I will let you know my choice after tonight's session.

 

[Al]

I would typically go with Symbol. It is a very useful and very versatile spell: the only problem is that the DCs are not going to be so great (due to lack of Spell Focus).

Horrid Wilting is a good standard assault spell, especially as the Fort save can hit those pesky rogues.

Maze is always a solid choice, as is Otto's Irresistable Dance.

It's a shame Polymorphs are banned: if they were not I'd be jumping up and down shouting 'Polymorph Any Object'. No spell in the game which does not cast XP can possibly hope to match it: it is a great offensive spell, an incredible buff spell and a phenomenal utility spell all rolled into one.

PS (Edit) I know that I should probably go out and buy the book, but could someone please tell me what Bestow Greater Curse does? I am hoping to introduce something like it into my game at some stage...

 

[gfunk]

Hey guys, thanks again for your advice. I caved and went with SMVIII. ACtually it worked out pretty well. Our high-level party got ambushed by a ton of spectres and two of our PCs were energy drained 14 negative levels and one was drained 8 (ouch!). I only had ~400 xp ove what was needed for 16th level so I could only use Limited Wish once to replicate Restoration. For the other two PCs, I summoned a Firre for them (SMVIII) who is able to cast spells as a 12th level cleric. My DM ruled that they had only one Restoration memorized each, so I had to cast it twice. But, in the end, it worked out okay.

 

[dkilgo]

Good to hear that it went well, and glad to be of service.