Shadow Conjuration/Evocation

[Thanee]

Thank you! I only really needed the feat from Dragon, tho. Got the other books.

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.

Nice, but only for Illusion Specialist Wizards then? Hmmm...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Timeboxer]

With the right character build, you can have a character with over 80% effectiveness for these spells when a target makes its saving throw.

With the right character build, you can have a character who is 120% effective when a target makes its saving throw, and 100% effective when a target fails its saving throw.

 

[TheGemini]

Even without getting too fancy, Shadow Evocation helps a Wizard make the most of the spell slot, like Thanee said. If you've got fixed slots (unlike the Sorceror) and you're about to assault the castle, it might be nice to have a few flexible spells like this. Loading up on Fireballs may be impractical, but having a single spell slot that allows Fireball, Lightning Bolt, or Wall of Fire? Well, that's pretty cool.

As usual with illusion spell, a lot depends on the DM.

Shadow Conjuration is sub-par, I think. As a DM I allow it for "summoned" creatures up to 4th level.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Even without getting too fancy, Shadow Evocation helps a Wizard make the most of the spell slot, like Thanee said. If you've got fixed slots (unlike the Sorceror) and you're about to assault the castle, it might be nice to have a few flexible spells like this. Loading up on Fireballs may be impractical, but having a single spell slot that allows Fireball, Lightning Bolt, or Wall of Fire? Well, that's pretty cool.

As usual with illusion spell, a lot depends on the DM.

Shadow Conjuration is sub-par, I think. As a DM I allow it for "summoned" creatures up to 4th level.

Its actually significantly better for sorcerers, even. Since they get so few choices of spells in their careers, this spell will let them duplicate spells that they would never be able to otherwise cast.

 

[silentspace]

With the right character build, you can have a character who is 120% effective when a target makes its saving throw, and 100% effective when a target fails its saving throw.

Better than that even. 90% (heightened illusion spell - shadowcraft mage) + 20% (shadowcraft mage) + 20% (shadowcrafter) + 20% (enhanced shadow reality) = 150%

Arguably, you could boost this even more with earth spell (races of stone).

Which proves that the best evokers and conjurers are actually illusionists

 

[Rystil Arden]

Better than that even. 90% (heightened illusion spell - shadowcraft mage) + 20% (shadowcraft mage) + 20% (shadowcrafter) + 20% (enhanced shadow reality) = 150%

Arguably, you could boost this even more with earth spell (races of stone).

Which proves that the best evokers and conjurers are actually illusionists

That's what my Shadow Lich did.

 

[silentspace]

If anyone wants to build one of these illusionist gnomes, I'd love to see it!

 

[silentspace]

That's what my Shadow Lich did.

nice. please post!

so you have an gnome illusionist if faerun. adding shadow adept for all those neat shadow feats you could go

illusionist 1-5
shadow adept 1
shadowcrafter 1
shadowcraft mage 1-5
shadowcrafter 2-7

at level 18 you're an illusionist 5/shadow adept 1/shadowcraft mage 5/shadowcrafter 7

banned schools: evocation and.... enchantment? (enchantment is also based on will saves so maybe that should go.)

 

[thorian]

Here is a build I posted a while back on these boards:

If you are interested in a powerful, versatile and flavorful build, try this:

Races
Arcane Gnome [Dragon 291]
Whisper Gnome [RoS 96]

Prestige Classes
Shadowcrafter [Und 43]: 8-10 levels
Shadowcraft Mage [RoS 121]: 5 levels
Shadow Adept [PGtF 72]: 1 level

Feats
1: Spell Focus (Illusion) [PHB 100]
3: Shadow Weave Magic [PGtF 43]: +1 DC & SR checks for illusion, enchantment, necromancy
5: Heighten Spell [PHB 95]
6: Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) [PHB 94]
9: Earth Sense [RoS 138]
12: Earth Spell [RoS 138]
15: Enhanced Shadow Reality [Dragon 325]
18: Easy Metamagic (Heighten) [Dragon 325]
Alternate: Tattoo Focus [DMG 194]: +1 DC and caster level to specialized school
Free: Scribe Scroll, Alertness

Variants from Unearthed Arcana
Illusion Domain (I prefer to create a custom Shadow Domain) [UA 56]
Illusion Specialist Substitution [UA 63]
1) Chains of Disbelief
1) Shadow Shaper – You’ll only get the 1st and 5th level abilities, but Hide as a class skill and adding Intelligence modifier to Hide checks is great.
1) Illusion Mastery

Gnome Illusionist Substitution [RoS 149]
1) Gnome Illusionist Spells – I like having silent image at 1 level lower. It makes the heightened Silent Images just that much better. I’d probably choose {Abjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Necromancy, Transmutation} to be cast 1 level lower.
5) Extended Illusions – I’d rather have the bonus feat and the two spells learned at that level, especially since the Shadowcraft Mage doubles the duration already
10) Insidious Illusions – Probably won’t make it to 10th level wizard, otherwise it is pretty cool, but similar to the insidious ?? gained by the shadow adept

Become a wizard specializing in illusions. Make liberal use of Heightend Silent Images which are transformed by your feats and class abilities into (shaodow) spells which can mimic the effects of Shadow Conjuration and Evocation. You will have no problem with SR due to the Earth Spell feat, and you can mimic tons of spells.

Here is a formula I use for figuring out how effective my heightened Silent Images are:
Heightened illusion (shadow) spells are x% real, where x = lvl*10% + { +20% Enhanced Shadow Reality, +20% Powerful Shadow Magic, +10%-20% for conjurations and evocations, +10% if standing on earth/stone }

Have fun!

 

[Bront]

I've never had a chance to use them before, but the flexibility seems nice. I might have to pick it up for one character, and point it out to the Gnome Illusionist in our party.

Keep going, glad I sparked something interesting to ponder.