Will all spells be attacks?

[FadedC]

I'd very much like to see those examples.

Easiest place to find them is the PHB lite under wizard

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~amwhit/4e_PrRC_v2.1.pdf

Note that in addition to utlity spells that buff, some "attack" spells don't involve attacking at all. For example wall of ice is an attack spell but doesn't involve attack rolls, while ottiliukes resilient sphere has an alternative use where you can use it on yourself for protection.

 

[Shroomy]

I'd very much like to see those examples.

I can't find a link to the galley pics from DDXP, but the powers were re-produced in the 4e Pre-Release Rules Compilation. There's also the Dispel Magic article from the DDI:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20080328

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

Here's a link to one of the photos. Slow connection warning: this image is 2816 x 2112! There are smaller images but I can't read any of the text with them.

 

[Rechan]

Those seem kind've... well, so short lasting. Unless you sustain them, I suppose.

But looking at those spells, it makes me wonder: What is the purpose of a Wizard, if you're not going to be getting into combat? Aren't wizards supposed to be about all kinds of things in a campaign world, not just blowing crap up? But there's not a lot of facilitation here.

 

[small pumpkin man]

I'd very much like to see those examples.

not dial-up safe

Also, if you go to the tiers article there's a description of when you get your powersm including utiliy powers. There's also a couple of martial utilities around, which aren't as impressive.

We don't realy have any information about rituals yet though.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Those seem kind've... well, so short lasting. Unless you sustain them, I suppose.

But looking at those spells, it makes me wonder: What is the purpose of a Wizard, if you're not going to be getting into combat? Aren't wizards supposed to be about all kinds of things in a campaign world, not just blowing crap up? But there's not a lot of facilitation here.

These aren't supposed to be non-combat magic, they're combat magic which isn't an attack. non-combat magic is rituals.

 

[Cadfan]

Those seem kind've... well, so short lasting. Unless you sustain them, I suppose.

That's a feature.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Those seem kind've... well, so short lasting. Unless you sustain them, I suppose.

longer lasting effects will be rituals, I guess.

But looking at those spells, it makes me wonder: What is the purpose of a Wizard, if you're not going to be getting into combat? Aren't wizards supposed to be about all kinds of things in a campaign world, not just blowing crap up? But there's not a lot of facilitation here.

Nope wizards are not (any more, I am going to miss the Raistlin archetype) the be all and end all able to do every type of magical effect. I guess there will be necromancers, illusionists, summoners, etc as core classes. A wiz may know some illusion spells but nothing like as good as an illusionist.
In 4E there is (supposedly) no over powered CoDzilla, no 'I can do anything you can do' Wizards and no 'I am OK at low levels but rubbish once the spellcasters get there 3rd level plus spells' fighters. At least that is the aim, we will see!

Oh and anybody can do rituals with the feat (Clr and wiz get it for free) IIRC

***Lest We Forget, ANZAC Day 2008***

 

[fnwc]

Here's a link to one of the photos. Slow connection warning: this image is 2816 x 2112! There are smaller images but I can't read any of the text with them.

Curiously, anyone notice that Bigby's Grasping Hands sustains minor with no limitation? Notice that Fly has a sustain minor for 5 minutes or until the end of the encounter.

Does this mean that a mage can cast his daily Bigby's Hands at the beginning of the day and have them all day?

Edit: After further examination I notice that the hands move back to their original square each turn. I suppose that "Range 10" for conjurations means "range from the origin of the casting square" rather than the caster.

I'm also curious about the wording on Otiluke's Sphere: as written, it seems as if a miss will not actually create a sphere (that can be damaged) but will instead simply immobilize the target.

 

[satori01]

In 4E there is (supposedly) no over powered CoDzilla, no 'I can do anything you can do' Wizards and no 'I am OK at low levels but rubbish once the spellcasters get there 3rd level plus spells' fighters. At least that is the aim, we will see!

Oh and anybody can do rituals with the feat (Clr and wiz get it for free) IIRC

If there is one edition of D&D where the Fighters are definitively not rubbish once the spell casters get 3rd level spells it is 3.X. 2 handed Power Attack never losses it effectiveness, we all know that attack bonuses outstrip AC, and at high level those 4 attacks never have to suffer a saving throw.

Wizards on the other had, can cast one spell for the most part, attack spells in 3.5 all have damage caps, their best Save Vs Death spells will for the most part not work at high levels due to the fact that most creatures have insane saves (Look at the Titan in the MM), which means Finger of Death is best use on Mooks than Bosses. This is why the Orb line of Conjuration spells are popular, no Save, no Spell Resistance...of course the damage output is never going to be the same as a Fighter.

Again I have to ask what game are people playing? Is this the parroting of conventional misinformation? Do people not play long running campaigns anymore, but more pickup style of game where everyone designs their character at a higher level, tailoring equipment and feats etc to some specific design plan that will have maximum effectiveness for the small time they expect to play? Where does this lack of knowledge of 3.x come from.

People go read Piratecat's campaign blog. I have not read it in years, but from cursory glance....no Wizard. It is fine to be a 4e supporter, booster, advocate, fanatic, but please do not be a spreader of false information.