Suggestions for Favored Soul Spells

[SteveC]

Hi everyone!
I am helping out a player who is new to D&D with some of his spell picks. The character is a 2nd level Ranger, 6th level Favored Soul. He has Practiced Spell Caster, so he has caster level 8. The character is an archer who fills in as a backup to our group's cleric. We are doing a mixed dungeon/wilderness campaign which is centered around the Tomb of Abystor at the moment. We are using only "official" WotC sources for the game.

The question: what three third level spells should he pick? Here are my suggestions:
Magic Circle Vs. Evil
Dispel Magic
Prayer

Okay, there's nothing fancy there. The magic circle is a strong defensive buff that hedges outsiders and protects against mental control. Dispel magic is chosen because the module in question is FULL of clerics that our GM runs very effectively against us. Prayer is a buff spell that will keep our cleric from needing to cast it. I don't have a complete list of his other levels of spells, but his only healing spell is Cure Moderate Wounds, so I'm considering upgrading to Cure Serious. The spells I know he has are:

Lvl 1
Divine Favor
Prot From Evil
Bless
Shield of Faith

Lvl 2
Cure Moderate
Remove Paralysis
Resist Energy


What are your thoughts and suggestions?

 

[Crothian]

Dispel Magic, not all caimpaigns run into a lot of uses for it but I find when not selected it is greatly missed.

 

[SteveC]

Dispel Magic, not all caimpaigns run into a lot of uses for it but I find when not selected it is greatly missed.

No doubt! it seems like about 75% of our opponents are clerics, so all of those "make a will save or be X" effects need a counter...

 

[Liquidsabre]

I'd choose between one of the three:

Cure Serious Wounds
Dispel Magic
Magic Vestment

 

[FireLance]

Since you have Magic Circle against Evil, I would drop Protection from Evil from the spells known. I would replace it with Resurgence (Clr 1, Complete Divine, I think), which grants a second saving throw against most conditions and is thus a pretty good all-round counter.

I wouldn't get Prayer - wait a couple of levels and pick up Recitation (Clr 4, also from Complete Divine) instead.

I would also swop out Resist Energy as soon as possible. Mass Resist Energy (Clr 3, Complete Arcane) is more efficient.

If you have Resurgence, you might consider dropping Remove Paralysis.

If you expect to meet spellcasters, Silence (Clr 2) is probably a good choice, as is Dispel Magic (Clr 3). Spiritual Weapon (Clr 2) is a good offensive spell, especially if you get a weapon with a high critical multiplier. The favored soul of Bahamut in my game (favored weapon: heavy pick) loves it whenever he crits with his spiritual weapon - 4d8 + 4 x (Wis bonus + enhancement bonus) force damage.

 

[Jdvn1]

Actually, I'd avoid Dispel Magic. Go for Prayer or Magic Circle Against Evil. A Favored Soul isn't a primary caster and it probably shouldn't even be a secondary caster. The make better fighters -- even ranged fighters, but not casters. Leave the Dispelling to others.

 

[Thanee]

Vigor from Complete Divine is great for Favored Souls.
Stone Shape is also very good to have.

Bye
Thanee

 

[moritheil]

Dispel Magic, and also consider Mass Lesser Vigor or whatever it's called.

IIRC a Favored Soul has more slots/day than a cleric, so you should be able to keep neutralizing an enemy cleric for a while and still have enough left to heal the party after.

 

[SteveC]

Since you have Magic Circle against Evil, I would drop Protection from Evil from the spells known. I would replace it with Resurgence (Clr 1, Complete Divine, I think), which grants a second saving throw against most conditions and is thus a pretty good all-round counter.

I wouldn't get Prayer - wait a couple of levels and pick up Recitation (Clr 4, also from Complete Divine) instead.

I would also swop out Resist Energy as soon as possible. Mass Resist Energy (Clr 3, Complete Arcane) is more efficient.

If you have Resurgence, you might consider dropping Remove Paralysis.

If you expect to meet spellcasters, Silence (Clr 2) is probably a good choice, as is Dispel Magic (Clr 3). Spiritual Weapon (Clr 2) is a good offensive spell, especially if you get a weapon with a high critical multiplier. The favored soul of Bahamut in my game (favored weapon: heavy pick) loves it whenever he crits with his spiritual weapon - 4d8 + 4 x (Wis bonus + enhancement bonus) force damage.

These are some very good suggestions. I don't have the complete books with me at the moment, is Resurgence a "cast if after the fact" spell or a pre-buff? I think I'll suggest it if he can cast if afterwards, since the clerics we run into always toss at least 1-2 dispel magics at us. I think there's also a "mass resurgence" which I think is 4th level. I think I've started counting on losing all of my buff spells at least once in a combat...

Right now I'm thinking of the following:

Dispel Magic
Magic Circle Against Evil
Lesser Mass Vigor (drop prayer)

For other level spells, I am thinking of swapping out prot from evil for resurgence and making sure he has silence.

--Steve