NEW: What 2nd-level spells should any Wizard prepare?

[dcollins]

Here's a poll I'm going to try to use to generate a "baseline" core Wizard's spell list. You can pick as many selections as you like.

Say you have a Wizard of about 5th level -- adventuring, PC or NPC, non-specialized, non-multiclassed, core rules only. He or she can prepare maybe 3 spells of 2nd-level. What spells should he or she prepare in those slots?

You can pick as many selections as you'd like -- I would suggest around 3.

Previously I posted a poll thinking I had to limit it to 20 entries. This time it's the full list, so feel free to vote for whatever you thought was missing the first time (and we'll see if opinions have changed any over a few months).

 

[Doug McCrae]

Surprised anyone's picked scorching ray. For a 5th level wizard, magic missile's much better.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Pyrotechnics is an awesome and often overlooked spell. Firstly, you can choose to target either the opponents fort save or will save. Secondly the fireworks effect has a HUGE area of effect, while the smoke effect is impenetrable to darkvision etc.

The limitation that you have to have a fire source to zap with the spell just adds to the role-playing fun you can have with it.

I'm surprised that it survived the 3.5e cull of spells with optional casting modes

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I picked alter self, false life, flaming sphere, and glitterdust

alter self provides flexibility--do you need to breathe water? got it. Need a swim speed? got it. It's also become the pre-eminent defensive spell in 3.5 Need natural armor? Got it. In many campaigns, you can also use it to gain limited flight and sharing it with your familiar opens up a lot of doors for the familiar (generally diminuitive to small magical beasts of <5hd).

False life has a good long duration at level 5 and provides a bit of insurance against surprise round kills.

Flaming Sphere is just about at its peak at 5th level. It's a good damage spell at 5th level (as good as scorching ray for a character without point blank and precise shot) that can help a wizard contribute through multiple rounds of an easy fight or can maximize the wizard's contribution in every round of a tough fight.

Glitterdust is a very good dual-purpose spell. It can reveal invisible foes (if you can make a good enough spot/listen to get the foe's location +/- 5 feet). It is also an area effect blindness spell that works on a will save (the worst save of a lot of level 4 powerhouses.

 

[Thanee]

Voted Invisibility, See Invisibility, Mirror Image, False Life and Glitterdust.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Eremite]

Alter Self: as mentioned, it really is the ultimate utility spell.
Mirror Image: love it! Fantastic defensive spell.
Web: ideal for escapes or dividing a large force into "bite sized" chunks.

 

[Thanee]

Heh. Two of the highest ranked spells were unavailable in the first poll.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Musrum]

Still missing is: Empty Slot.
The power to pull any spell of a certain level in 15 min is not insignificant.

 

[shilsen]

Pyrotechnics is an awesome and often overlooked spell. Firstly, you can choose to target either the opponents fort save or will save. Secondly the fireworks effect has a HUGE area of effect, while the smoke effect is impenetrable to darkvision etc.

The limitation that you have to have a fire source to zap with the spell just adds to the role-playing fun you can have with it.

I'm surprised that it survived the 3.5e cull of spells with optional casting modes

I love that spell. And for ready usability, all you need is someone in your party to fire a flaming arrow at the enemy

My three picks were Glitterdust, Alter Self and Pyrotechnics.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I picked four in the end:

Pyrotechnics (for reason given above)
See Invisible (there is no comparison to this spell from here on up, without it you are SOL against invisible foes. Decent duration too)
Scorching Ray (because it has become the new most-fun damaging spell
Detect Thoughts (because it starts to give you the capability to overcome encounters without combat)