Are shadowcasters any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are shadowcasters any good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Neratos
11-21-06, 06:29 PM Was looking at my tome of magic, and since i don't care for the truespeak. And have played a binder, i was wondering about the shadow caster. It seems a bit of an odd class, reminds me of a more limited warlock. Can a shadow caster be made into something to be feared? Also, are there any sweet builds for a Noctumancer?
GaffeR
11-21-06, 07:00 PM There was a guide running around here somewhere. However, as the author of that guide informed us, Shadowcasters are not all that hot.
Neratos
11-21-06, 07:06 PM Hrm, that is a bummer. It seemed like Noctumancer would make a good counterspeller.
GaffeR
11-21-06, 07:10 PM Seems ok. Hell, you could give it a shot anyways. Honestly though, I've never bothered to try and understand shadow magic. I just grabbed the Dark template and ran!

I like a Sorc/Archmage with Mastery of Counterspelling, Reactive Counterspell, Heighten spell and a cantrip of every school for counterspelling.
Neratos
11-21-06, 07:17 PM Well the goodness in Noctumancer is that you can counterspell 3/d as an immediate action. And if you are successful you get a spell slot back that you already used. Oh and does anyone else know where to find the shadow caster guide is? Hrm, i miss searching forums
pyro_cat
11-21-06, 07:26 PM Check Surreal's "handy links". It's in the sticky.

I was just looking at the handbook, if I hadn't closed the window you'd have a URL.
Telemon_Ajax
11-21-06, 08:21 PM http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=655556
Neratos
11-21-06, 08:48 PM Thanks for the reply, but I was looking for a guide for Shadow Casters, not crafters. I found the link in the sticky though.
megageek
11-21-06, 10:26 PM I had a thread on this a while back. The utimate answer is an emphatic "no!"
Zaxter
11-22-06, 12:57 AM Supposedly, Shadowcasters make fairly good gishes, with stuff like Umbral Touch and Flesh Fails. Other than that, though, they are considered weak in comparison to all other casting classes (alas, if only I had known the general opinion on them myself before I entered my Shadowcaster 20 into my friend's arena!). The original creator of the Shadowcaster thinks so as well, and has offered a suggested fix to the class, which you can read here (http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2957649&postcount=76).
zarzak
11-22-06, 01:35 AM Shadowcasters are playable 'if' there are very few encounters per day. They are very flavorful, something I personally like ... though in no way optimized. Definitely use the designer's recommended changes and follow the guide that has already been linked.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Neratos 11-21-06, 06:29 PM	Was looking at my tome of magic, and since i don't care for the truespeak. And have played a binder, i was wondering about the shadow caster. It seems a bit of an odd class, reminds me of a more limited warlock. Can a shadow caster be made into something to be feared? Also, are there any sweet builds for a Noctumancer?
GaffeR 11-21-06, 07:00 PM	There was a guide running around here somewhere. However, as the author of that guide informed us, Shadowcasters are not all that hot.
Neratos 11-21-06, 07:06 PM	Hrm, that is a bummer. It seemed like Noctumancer would make a good counterspeller.
GaffeR 11-21-06, 07:10 PM	Seems ok. Hell, you could give it a shot anyways. Honestly though, I've never bothered to try and understand shadow magic. I just grabbed the Dark template and ran! I like a Sorc/Archmage with Mastery of Counterspelling, Reactive Counterspell, Heighten spell and a cantrip of every school for counterspelling.
Neratos 11-21-06, 07:17 PM	Well the goodness in Noctumancer is that you can counterspell 3/d as an immediate action. And if you are successful you get a spell slot back that you already used. Oh and does anyone else know where to find the shadow caster guide is? Hrm, i miss searching forums
pyro_cat 11-21-06, 07:26 PM	Check Surreal's "handy links". It's in the sticky. I was just looking at the handbook, if I hadn't closed the window you'd have a URL.
Telemon_Ajax 11-21-06, 08:21 PM	http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=655556
Neratos 11-21-06, 08:48 PM	Thanks for the reply, but I was looking for a guide for Shadow Casters, not crafters. I found the link in the sticky though.
megageek 11-21-06, 10:26 PM	I had a thread on this a while back. The utimate answer is an emphatic "no!"
Zaxter 11-22-06, 12:57 AM	Supposedly, Shadowcasters make fairly good gishes, with stuff like Umbral Touch and Flesh Fails. Other than that, though, they are considered weak in comparison to all other casting classes (alas, if only I had known the general opinion on them myself before I entered my Shadowcaster 20 into my friend's arena!). The original creator of the Shadowcaster thinks so as well, and has offered a suggested fix to the class, which you can read here (http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2957649&postcount=76).
zarzak 11-22-06, 01:35 AM	Shadowcasters are playable 'if' there are very few encounters per day. They are very flavorful, something I personally like ... though in no way optimized. Definitely use the designer's recommended changes and follow the guide that has already been linked.