What's with these spells???

[Three_Haligonians]

My sorceror character has a feat that gave her extra, specific spells known. Some of them are great (Otto's Irresistable Dance, Wail of the Banshee), but there are a couple that I have had for months now, and have never once used. Sorcerors don't get many spells, as I'm sure you all know, so I'd like to find a way to use them more often.

Here they are:

Hallucinatory Terrain: I really can't find a single practical use for this spell. It takes ten minutes to cast, so it can't be used in combat (although I don't know how that would be useful either).

Sequester: What is the deal with this one? Is it a spell to use against enemies (Will save or rendered comatose) or is it a way to hide a person (can't be discovered through divination). When would you ever want both effects?

Am I missing something simple? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

R from Three Haligonians

 

[Bloodstone Press]

Hallucinatory Terrain: I've usded it most frequently as a DM. In fact, I don't know if I've ever used it as a player, and I don't think I'd take it as known spell if I was playing a sorcerer. It is most usful for laying traps, hiding the actual terrain, or causing people to get lost.

Sequester:the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/sequester.htm) says it effect one willing creature or object (up to a 2-ft. cube/level) touched.

It is a good spell for causing someone to disappear, though I can't say I've seen it used more than once or twice in 20+ years of gaming. Note the long durration as well.

 

[Delemental]

Hallucinatory Terrain: I really can't find a single practical use for this spell. It takes ten minutes to cast, so it can't be used in combat (although I don't know how that would be useful either).

This spell is one that you use to prepare an area well ahead of when the enemy arrives, t oset up ambushes or defenses. Make that fetid swamp look like a sunny forest. Make the cold mountain lake look like a wide open meadow. Create an illusionary ravine in the middle of hills. It's primary use is for battlefield control.

Sequester: What is the deal with this one? Is it a spell to use against enemies (Will save or rendered comatose) or is it a way to hide a person (can't be discovered through divination). When would you ever want both effects?[/QUOTE]

Mostly the spell is intended to be used on allies, if you really need to keep someone from being found and it's not that important that they be active (you know those adventures where you have to escort the Chosen One to the Eternal Mountain to place the Infinity Diamond in the mouth of the Unseen God, while the Chosen One's enemies are busy scrying on the Chosen One and launching attack after attack? Imagine how easy those adventures are if you could sequester the Chosen One, pack him in a box, and then wake him up once you get to the Eternal Mountain.)

And you don't use it against enemies; the target is "one willing creature or object" - only objects get a save (either it's own save, if it's intelligent, or the save of its owner, if the object is being held). The only way to use this offensively is if the BBEG is wielding some bad-a** magic item that you need to neutralize. If you can get through the Will save... poof goes the item.

In all reality, neither spell is an optimal choice for a sorcerer, IMO. They're spells that are very useful in specific circumstances, ones where you usually have advanced warning of when that situation will occur. They're great for wizards in that respect.

 

[Thanee]

They are very useful to swap out for other spells.

Well, Hallucinatory Terrain can be fun, but Sequester is really pushing it.

Bye
Thanee