Abusing Arc of Lightning [Archive] - Wizards Community

Abusing Arc of Lightning [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Caelic
02-16-04, 12:42 PM I really think Arc of Lightning is going to become, if not THE blaster spell of choice, certainly one of them.

Here we have a 1d6 per level damage spell that can affect multiple opponents (in ideal circumstances, a LOT of multiple opponents) and allows no SR. It's 5th level for arcane casters and 4th level for Druids.

That doesn't suck, but how can it be best used?

The only real limitation on the spell is that it creates an arc between two creatures. That's problematic if you're facing one Big Nasty, and the Big Nasties are the ones most likely to have high SR.

What if you have Energy Immunity: Electrical (or substituted energy of your choice) cast on yourself and use YOURSELF as the other anchor for the arc, though? Nothing in the spell says that the creatures specified have to actually be vulnerable to the damage.

At this point, what you have is basically a no SR super lightning bolt hitting everything in a straight line between you and the target.

Worth having? Yes? No?
Previn
02-16-04, 12:52 PM Sounds like a very useful spell. You could also anchor it on you and an ally to control it even more. Where's it from?
Stoned Golem
02-16-04, 12:57 PM How about if you're a Mechanatrix?:devil:
jensun
02-16-04, 01:09 PM Or shapechanged into a shambling mound.

Where is the spell from and what is the damage cap?
Snow Savant
02-16-04, 02:41 PM Arc of Lightning is totally boss, Caelic.

Blaster Conjuration spells like Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath (which is the same level as Fireball, but *much* better) make taking Evocation as a Specialist Wizard's opposed school that much more appealing.

Regarding tactical use, you can always use the spell as a follow-up to a Summon Monster spell where you call up a Demon (or Demons). Demons are immune to electrical damage. A simple SM III spell (Dretch) and Arc of Lightning combos well when facing a single monster. And both spells are from the same magick school to boot.

**

Because of 3.5's new breadth and power for Conjuration, I'm actually thinking of making my next character (we'll start soon at 10 the level) a Wizard Specialist Transmuter or Conjurer. Opposite schools - Evocation and Enchantment. Why Enchantment? Because I can now cast Suggestion via a Transmutation spell (Voice of the Dragon - Draconomicon) and Charm Person via a Necromancy spell (Kiss of the Vampire - MoF).

And with Evocation's superiority in blaster-type spells now being met (and in some ways, exceeded) by Conjuration, being a 3.5 Specialist who is *not* a Diviner finally has some flexilibity and teeth.

XO,
Snow :cloud9:
newblar32
02-16-04, 03:12 PM Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath

Which book are these spells in?
nachtmeister
02-16-04, 03:29 PM good question
Griff_Goodbeard
02-16-04, 03:39 PM Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath

Arc Lightning is from Mini's HB, Blast of Flame might be as well, although I'm not sure. Mestil's Acid Breath sounds like it would be from Magic of Faerun, but I haven't looked through that book in quite a while.

Griff
nachtmeister
02-16-04, 03:50 PM could someone give a page ?
Lord Arkhaven
02-16-04, 04:17 PM As a 4th level druid spell Arc of Lightning greatly enhances a druid's blasting abilities. Even as a 5th level wizard spell it is still a powerful choice.
Stoned Golem
02-16-04, 04:25 PM It's offical I guess, Druids are the new blasters. Between this, flame strike, and fire seeds it's hard to rival them for sheer spell-slot efficient damage potential.
horndgod
02-16-04, 04:47 PM I'd say team up with an allied psion with Greater Energy Conversion. Use them as an anchor, then let them blast away with the absorbed energy.
catharz
02-16-04, 04:53 PM Wow. Why would have thought that Mechanatrix and Druid went so well together :rolleyes:
Snow Savant
02-16-04, 04:58 PM Stoned G. said:
It's offical I guess, Druids are the new blasters. Between this, flame strike, and fire seeds it's hard to rival them for sheer spell-slot efficient damage potential.

Aye. Like the Druid really needed a high impact "power-up" 4th level offensive spell. :rolleyes:

The spell especially rocks for a Druid Summoner. Because he has to take Spell Focus: Conjuration anyway (pre-req. for Aug. Summoning feat).

And if the Druid's opponent is electric resistant or immune, he can always convert the AoL via "spontaneous cast" into SNA-4 to get a big-ass Brown Bear ... or a Unicorn to heal wounds better than a Cleric's CCW spell (while still getting a meat shield).

It's *good*.... to be a Druid.

XO,
Snow :cloud9:
ikkonoishi
02-16-04, 07:11 PM Originally posted by horndgod
I'd say team up with an allied psion with Greater Energy Conversion. Use them as an anchor, then let them blast away with the absorbed energy.

An allied psion using Fission with GEC as both anchors of the spell.

:D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Caelic 02-16-04, 12:42 PM	I really think Arc of Lightning is going to become, if not THE blaster spell of choice, certainly one of them. Here we have a 1d6 per level damage spell that can affect multiple opponents (in ideal circumstances, a LOT of multiple opponents) and allows no SR. It's 5th level for arcane casters and 4th level for Druids. That doesn't suck, but how can it be best used? The only real limitation on the spell is that it creates an arc between two creatures. That's problematic if you're facing one Big Nasty, and the Big Nasties are the ones most likely to have high SR. What if you have Energy Immunity: Electrical (or substituted energy of your choice) cast on yourself and use YOURSELF as the other anchor for the arc, though? Nothing in the spell says that the creatures specified have to actually be vulnerable to the damage. At this point, what you have is basically a no SR super lightning bolt hitting everything in a straight line between you and the target. Worth having? Yes? No?
Previn 02-16-04, 12:52 PM	Sounds like a very useful spell. You could also anchor it on you and an ally to control it even more. Where's it from?
Stoned Golem 02-16-04, 12:57 PM	How about if you're a Mechanatrix?:devil:
jensun 02-16-04, 01:09 PM	Or shapechanged into a shambling mound. Where is the spell from and what is the damage cap?
Snow Savant 02-16-04, 02:41 PM	Arc of Lightning is totally boss, Caelic. Blaster Conjuration spells like Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath (which is the same level as Fireball, but much better) make taking Evocation as a Specialist Wizard's opposed school that much more appealing. Regarding tactical use, you can always use the spell as a follow-up to a Summon Monster spell where you call up a Demon (or Demons). Demons are immune to electrical damage. A simple SM III spell (Dretch) and Arc of Lightning combos well when facing a single monster. And both spells are from the same magick school to boot. ** Because of 3.5's new breadth and power for Conjuration, I'm actually thinking of making my next character (we'll start soon at 10 the level) a Wizard Specialist Transmuter or Conjurer. Opposite schools - Evocation and Enchantment. Why Enchantment? Because I can now cast Suggestion via a Transmutation spell (Voice of the Dragon - Draconomicon) and Charm Person via a Necromancy spell (Kiss of the Vampire - MoF). And with Evocation's superiority in blaster-type spells now being met (and in some ways, exceeded) by Conjuration, being a 3.5 Specialist who is not a Diviner finally has some flexilibity and teeth. XO, Snow :cloud9:
newblar32 02-16-04, 03:12 PM	Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath Which book are these spells in?
nachtmeister 02-16-04, 03:29 PM	good question
Griff_Goodbeard 02-16-04, 03:39 PM	Arc of Lightning, Blast of Flame, & Mestil's Acid Breath Arc Lightning is from Mini's HB, Blast of Flame might be as well, although I'm not sure. Mestil's Acid Breath sounds like it would be from Magic of Faerun, but I haven't looked through that book in quite a while. Griff
nachtmeister 02-16-04, 03:50 PM	could someone give a page ?
Lord Arkhaven 02-16-04, 04:17 PM	As a 4th level druid spell Arc of Lightning greatly enhances a druid's blasting abilities. Even as a 5th level wizard spell it is still a powerful choice.
Stoned Golem 02-16-04, 04:25 PM	It's offical I guess, Druids are the new blasters. Between this, flame strike, and fire seeds it's hard to rival them for sheer spell-slot efficient damage potential.
horndgod 02-16-04, 04:47 PM	I'd say team up with an allied psion with Greater Energy Conversion. Use them as an anchor, then let them blast away with the absorbed energy.
catharz 02-16-04, 04:53 PM	Wow. Why would have thought that Mechanatrix and Druid went so well together :rolleyes:
Snow Savant 02-16-04, 04:58 PM	Stoned G. said: It's offical I guess, Druids are the new blasters. Between this, flame strike, and fire seeds it's hard to rival them for sheer spell-slot efficient damage potential. Aye. Like the Druid really needed a high impact "power-up" 4th level offensive spell. :rolleyes: The spell especially rocks for a Druid Summoner. Because he has to take Spell Focus: Conjuration anyway (pre-req. for Aug. Summoning feat). And if the Druid's opponent is electric resistant or immune, he can always convert the AoL via "spontaneous cast" into SNA-4 to get a big-ass Brown Bear ... or a Unicorn to heal wounds better than a Cleric's CCW spell (while still getting a meat shield). It's good.... to be a Druid. XO, Snow :cloud9:
ikkonoishi 02-16-04, 07:11 PM	Originally posted by horndgod I'd say team up with an allied psion with Greater Energy Conversion. Use them as an anchor, then let them blast away with the absorbed energy. An allied psion using Fission with GEC as both anchors of the spell. :D