why play a evoker since complete arcane?

[Shard O'Glase]

Seriously look at all the conjuration attack spells in complete arcane they stack up damage wise with equal level spells from the evoker school but since they are conjured energy there is no spell resistance. The orb spells and lesser orb spells, blast of flame(1 level higher than fireball so a bit weaker there) arc of lightning 5th level 15d6 cap(moronically continuing the tradition for druids getting better attack spells at 4th level), and vitriolic sphere at 5th up to 15d4 but with continuing damage. Sure evokers still get more including the essential 3rd level spells and the really high level spells but I'd probably rather go conjuration not have to deal with SR and just take empower to cover the gap. I'm missing something did the conjuration sphere really need to be boosted in power did it need to be competative with evocation in DD. Hey where is my 1d6 per level enachantment spell. Sphere of bad thoughts 3rd level: range long, area of effect 20' radius, will save 1/2. You think really mean thought about everyone in an area and they take 1d6 damage per level max 10d6.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, most 3rd party sources still favor the Evoker and Conjuration did lose a lot when 3.5 changed the Power Word spells.

Nothing states that an Evoker has to take Conjuration as an opposing school though. I know when I play an Evoker (which I am now), I usually take Enchantment and Illusion as my prohoibited schools.

 

[Psion]

I beleive that they are not as good as evocation spells in that they only affect a single target.

 

[KingOfChaos]

I don't know about you, but when I play an 'evoker' I load up on Evocation, Conjuration, and Abjuration spells...so I could care less which of those three schools has the best spells since they'll all end up in my spellbook eventually

 

[Davelozzi]

I hate the new trend to even out the schools of magic. Putting a bunch of direct damage dealing spells in Conjuration seems silly to me. In my opinion, a conjurer should be conjuring creatures, and an evoker should be shooting flames. I don't care if all the subclasses are perfectly balanced with each other, I'd rather see them stay within their flavor. If they play a specialist, I'd rather it be because they're interested in focusing on that school, not because they just want to get some extra spells while still using all kinds of spells. If that's what they want, they should just play a generalist.

My brother plays an evoker in my game and we still classify many of those "Conjuration" spells as Evocation anyway.

 

[Acid_crash]

I think there are too many schools of magic in D&D to begin with. If they cut down on the number, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Combine Enchantment and Illusion, split the Conjuration spells into two groups, give the Evocation school the direct damage spells and mold Abjuration with the rest. Leave Necromancy and Transmutation.

We don't need 8 schools...we only need 4 or 5.

 

[kilamanjaro]

I house rule that all evocation spells that do energy damage ignore spell resistance. It hasn't been a big deal yet.

 

[Aaron L]

I house rule that all evocation spells that do energy damage ignore spell resistance. It hasn't been a big deal yet.

Wow. That's quite a boost to spellcasters.

 

[Trainz]

I house rule that all evocation spells that do energy damage ignore spell resistance. It hasn't been a big deal yet.

Oh... OK.


... munchkin.

 

[fafhrd]

I house rule that all evocation spells that do energy damage ignore spell resistance. It hasn't been a big deal yet.

IIRC there was a similar option espoused in Unearthed Arcana that allowed any energy damage spell to ignore SR. The idea was that it would keep the damage dealing spells as viable alternatives to save or death at higher level. I tried it. But when the BBEG mindflayer got totally hosed by a call lightning, I decided to revoke.