Shadow Conjuration

[Olgar Shiverstone]

If a wizard casts a spell like Shadow Conjuration, which allows "the caster to replicate any sorcerer/wizard Conjuration spell of 3rd level or below", does the caster need to know the spell being replicated?

If not, this is a very powerful spell, as it gives the wizard access to a number of spells that he/she may not have learned or paid to scribe in a spellbook (albiet at 20% effectiveness).

OTOH, the Spellcraft skill essentially allows a caster to identify any spell as it is being cast, regardless of whether the spellcaster knows that spell or not, provided the DC is met.

Thoughts?

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

You don't need to know the spells to cast them. Otherwise, if your prohibited school is conjuration, you couldn't use this spell.

 

[Stalker0]

The whole point of the spell is that you can mimic any other spell. But the lack of effectiveness is the price you pay.

 

[Jens]

Imo, the question is whether the replicated spell needs to be specifically described in the PHB at all?

Ie. why should it not be possible to summon a common item like a non-magical weapon or a ladder with Shadow Conjuration?

As I see it, there is no reason why it needs to be:
1- why could it not be from an accessory that is used in the game (TaB, etc.)
2- why could it not be a spell specific to the campaign world? (the FRCS book or equivalent)
2½- why could it not be a metamagic version? An Extended Mount spell is in no way more than a 3rd level spell
3- why should it be required to be from any official book at all? Shouldn't it be sufficient that the spell is used in the campaign?
4- finally, why should the 'spell' need to be described anywhere at all? Ie. why shouldn't it be able to do *anything* that a 3rd level conjuration spell would be able to do if it was researched? The caster is, after all, weaving shadowstuff to create the desired effect and he doesn't need to know the spell. (When Summon Monster III can summon monsters with equipment, a 3rd level conjuration spell should surely be able to conjure a non-magical sword, right?)

Of these, I think 1-2½ are fairly obvious, but some may disagree, especially with 2½.

When I say that I can't see any reason not to allow these, I mean that I can't see any in-game reason. The spell is quite powerful if it allows spells to be spontaneously researched, so it should probably be restricted somehow. What if the max level of such spontaneous effects (ie. spell-effects the caster is not aware of a specific spell for) was 1 or 2 levels lower than the usual limit for the replicated spell itself? Then Shadow Conjuration would allow replicating yet-to-be-researched 1st/2nd level conjuration effects, such as summoning a non-magical sword for a limited duration.

Edit: 2½.