Shadow Conjuration/Evocation

[Bront]

Am I missing something about these spells? Use a spell slot to cast a spell of a different school one or more levels lower as an illusion, and it is only 20% real if they fail a will save, and they still get a save vs the "normal" effects of the emulated spell too?

Now, I can see a few uses, like giving an illusionist or bard access to spells not normaly on their lists. Also, it does make a sorcerer a bit more flexable. And, it does bost the save number due to it being a higher level spell.

But, given that anyone gets an extra save, and summons only have 20% HP even if they are not saved against, seems a bit harsh, and for most arcanists, doesn't seem worth it.

Is there some hidden value to the spell I'm missing? Is it more usefull that it sounds to me?

 

[Thanee]

It's just the flexibility you get. You prepare one spell and have immediate access to a bunch of abilities.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Also, the higher-level versions have a higher percentage.

 

[saucercrab]

Also, there are at least two prestige classes & one feat dealing with [shadow] spells that can boost the percentage of the effects on a successful save. With the right character build, you can have a character with over 80% effectiveness for these spells when a target makes its saving throw.

 

[Thanee]

Which classes & feats are those? Havn't seen them yet.

Bye
Thanee

 

[saucercrab]

Shadowcrafter & shadowcraft mage are the PrCs, from Races of Stone & FR's Underdark (not sure which is in which, though). The feat, the name escapes me, is from a Dragon issue from a couple months ago, in a Class Acts article (for wizards, of course).

I can look them up later, if someone hasn't already, when I get back to my books.

 

[Thanee]

That would be nice, since I don't have access to the Dragon magazines.

A feat that makes the [shadow] spells more powerful might be a nice choice for a bard or sorcerer.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Rystil Arden]

That would be nice, since I don't have access to the Dragon magazines.

A feat that makes the [shadow] spells more powerful might be a nice choice for a bard or sorcerer.

Bye
Thanee

I built an epic NPC shadow lich who uses those abilities and some homebrewed version of shadow magics at all the levels between 2 to 9 so that he only ever casts his Shadow spells instead of either Evocation or Conjuration...of course, considering how much better his DC and Caster level are for Illusion, it sorta makes sense. And his best few Shadow spells are 100% real.

 

[saucercrab]

Whew, that was a long time.

Okay, shadowcrafter is from Underdark; it's a 10-level PrC. Twice in it's progression it increases shadow conjuration & shadow evocation (both regular & greater versions) by 10% each, so by 7th level each is at +20%. On top of that, the percentage increase seems to be every 5 levels, so it can progress in epic levels. And there are no FR-dependent requirements, so the PrC can be dropped into any campaign.

Shadowcraft mage is from RoS; it's a 5-level PrC for gnomes only (although that can be gotten around by using the stoneblessed PrC from the same book). At its last level, it adds a flat +20% effectiveness to most, if not all, standard shadow spells in the PHB (the above two, the greater versions, & shades are listed). On top of that, it adds five additional illusion spells, one of each level from 1st to 5th, that can be cast so as to mimic other spells like the shadow spells can. The spells can mimic up to one level below there normal level, being 10% effective per spell level on a failed save (ooh, Heighten Spell!).

The feat, Enhanced Shadow Reality, from #325, page 77, adds a flat +20% effectiveness again to all illusion [shadow] spells. Requirements are being an illusionist & having the proper Spell Focus.

All of the above works when the target succeeds on that additional Will save. Regular damage applies on a failed save.

If I wrote too much, moderators please delete the post then.

 

[Gez]

There's also the Penumbral Lord from Relics & Rituals, who increases the % of those shadow magic spells. Relics & Rituals also introduced lesser and greater versions of the existing shadow magic spells.