Utility Magic: What's your favorite and why

[cdrcjsn]

Currently, I'm really liking Jump, the wizard utility 2 power. It's very unexpected when I use it since almost every other Wizard I run across prefers shield.

I've used it sometimes to move PCs out of areas I want to AOE. For the most part though, it's used to jump across obstacles/hindered terrain that normally would stymie a low str wizard.

 

[Henrix]

Prestidigitation - for fun and profit!

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Prestidigation, mage hand and dancing lights

 

[EroGaki]

On the magical items side of things, I think one of my favorites is a little gem from the 3.0 Magic of Faerun sourcebook: The Travel Cloak. This handy item provides constant protection from the cold (endure elements), keeps the wearer dry from the knees up, provides enough trail rations to feed the wearer three times a day from one of its pockets, produces a metal flask with cool water of sugared hot tea (two gallons worth) from another pocket, and finally, the cloak can transform into a one person tent! All of this for the low, low price of 1,200gp.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Not sure if it counts, but in 3e:

Stone shape.


That spell made bridges, hid doors, encased prisoners, made small idols, and so much more.

 

[Dross]

On the magical items side of things, I think one of my favorites is a little gem from the 3.0 Magic of Faerun sourcebook: The Travel Cloak. This handy item provides constant protection from the cold (endure elements), keeps the wearer dry from the knees up, provides enough trail rations to feed the wearer three times a day from one of its pockets, produces a metal flask with cool water of sugared hot tea (two gallons worth) from another pocket, and finally, the cloak can transform into a one person tent! All of this for the low, low price of 1,200gp.

One of my favourite items as well.
Had a PC in a military campaign in command of the group and she would often order a cold camp. Then I would act taking a cup of tea out of the travel cloak and blow the steam away while warming her hands.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'll take a page from Jack7 and talk about general categories.

#1: COMBAT LIRBARIAN magic: Runes, sigils, marks, circles, oragami soldiers, secret pages....all of them made the "book-toting wizard" a flavorful choice for me.

#2: Interior Decorating magic: Animate objects, move earth, mage hand, telekinesis, even prestidigitation: when you want a room just right

#3: Divinations. Though D&D divinations were usually pretty dry, the spellcaster as a lore-seeker, who knew the mysteries of the universe and could find out which ancient spirit to ask, was always a fun thing to play.

#4: Summoning. Forget about the (often underwhelming) combat potential, I want to call up devils from the nine hells and ask them questions about the weather, and to summon succubi for a night of passion, or to just call up an invisible servant or a low-level angel to drag my rickshaw around town...

#5: Shapeshifting. Not the battle-druid bear-shifting, more the "I'm going to turn into a bird and fly this message into town," and the "I'm going to turn into a fox and observe you from under this bush"...they utility potential of becoming an unobtrusive animal, or even a fairly fierce one.

All of those were lots of fun for me.

 

[EroGaki]

I'll take a page from Jack7 and talk about general categories.

#1: COMBAT LIRBARIAN magic: Runes, sigils, marks, circles, oragami soldiers, secret pages....all of them made the "book-toting wizard" a flavorful choice for me.

#2: Interior Decorating magic: Animate objects, move earth, mage hand, telekinesis, even prestidigitation: when you want a room just right

#3: Divinations. Though D&D divinations were usually pretty dry, the spellcaster as a lore-seeker, who knew the mysteries of the universe and could find out which ancient spirit to ask, was always a fun thing to play.

#4: Summoning. Forget about the (often underwhelming) combat potential, I want to call up devils from the nine hells and ask them questions about the weather, and to summon succubi for a night of passion, or to just call up an invisible servant or a low-level angel to drag my rickshaw around town...

#5: Shapeshifting. Not the battle-druid bear-shifting, more the "I'm going to turn into a bird and fly this message into town," and the "I'm going to turn into a fox and observe you from under this bush"...they utility potential of becoming an unobtrusive animal, or even a fairly fierce one.

All of those were lots of fun for me.

The use of a summon monster spell to broker information is a clever idea. I'll have to steal that one for use in the future. Thanks!

 

[Tuft]

#5: Shapeshifting. Not the battle-druid bear-shifting, more the "I'm going to turn into a bird and fly this message into town," and the "I'm going to turn into a fox and observe you from under this bush"...they utility potential of becoming an unobtrusive animal, or even a fairly fierce one.

Oooh! Yes!!!!

 

[Mikaze]

Prestidigitation. The medieval-fantasy griefer's best friend.