Best 1st-level spell [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best 1st-level spell [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jaerom Darkwind
02-12-07, 08:16 PM Okay, the situation is a powerful wizard operating in the first Ring of the Spire. Only spells up to 1st level function. He can apply MM feats to these spells as desired, but 1st level is the limit. What is a good spell to MM-up and use as the staple of his offense?
Seeker of Truth
02-12-07, 08:23 PM If forced to pick only one I guess I'd go with grease
mercury529
02-12-07, 08:28 PM Is this for purely offensive (i.e. damage dealing reasons)?

If not, I would recommend Ray of Enfeeblement. A maximized-empowered Ray of Enfeeblement reduces anyone with a strength of 17 or less to 1 strength.
temillion
02-12-07, 08:30 PM Charm Person: you can never have to many friends
OldManWinter
02-12-07, 08:37 PM I'd go with an Empowered Maximized En[make it last 50% longer meta-magic can't remember right now] Power Word Pain. It would give you something on the order of 9dmg a round for many many rounds.
The Jake
02-12-07, 08:39 PM Grease or Charm Person. Overall - probably grease. With metamagic, Heighten Charm Person. ;)
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer
02-12-07, 09:04 PM Hypnotism is pretty good, I wouldn't underestimate it when you cast it on a friendly target. ;)
Seeker of Truth
02-12-07, 09:16 PM Hypnotism is pretty good, I wouldn't underestimate it when you cast it on a friendly target. ;)

how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right?
Think0028
02-12-07, 09:21 PM how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right?

More like 8 HD when maximized, 2d4 otherwise. Also known as the amateur diplomancer's best friend. Get someone to friendly (easy) and then use hypnotism to make the suggestion "Listen to me and agree with me." They're effectively fanatic, et voila, you have your own yes-man. Once you get to the point where the limit is a problem, you should easily be able to get people to helpful, which will be perfectly fine for most situations.
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer
02-12-07, 09:43 PM how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right?

Hypnotism is still good, but I forgot about the rolling. Good Catch.
Jaerom Darkwind
02-12-07, 10:28 PM If forced to pick only one I guess I'd go with greaseYou don't gotta pick one, I suppose. Being a powerful wizard, he has lots of spell slots.

And while the stats aren't set in stone yet, his metamagic feat selection is currently Chain Spell, Fortify Spell, Quicken Spell, Transdimensional Spell, Twin Spell.
Holylolth
02-12-07, 10:43 PM There are 2 great spells at first lvl.

If i play wizard or sorc, i take Magic Missle. 1d4+1, no miss. At first lvl, most enemys dont have many hp.

If you go Warmage, with a 16 int., it is 1d4+4.

My other favorite is for a cleric. Heal Light Wounds.:D Keeps me alive!
PhaedrusXY
02-12-07, 10:51 PM Aren't the Lesser Orb spells 1st level? I don't think those could be Chained, though. Hmm...

I'd say move out one "ring", and use Chained Blindness. :D

There was a spell called Horizikaul's Boom in Magic of Faerun. It was 1st level, did a bit of sonic damage, and deafened the target if they failed a save (they still take damage). If you let Chained spells affect a target more than once, that could be decent.
The Jake
02-13-07, 01:17 AM I miss Chromatic Orb!!!
Surreal
02-13-07, 03:46 AM Unseen Servant lets you pinch the bottoms of important city officials all day long.
Bengal
02-13-07, 03:53 AM Is metamagic allowed or not?
Jaerom Darkwind
02-13-07, 01:08 PM Yes, metamagic is allowed--in fact, I'm especially looking for spells that get better with the right MM. This NPC has up to 9th-level spell slots for MM-enhanced spells.
BoSheck
02-13-07, 01:23 PM awww. no Fell Draining? Thats a fun metamagic feat to play with. Fell Draining Caltrops ftw. (It makes thunderhead fun, too.)

As for the 'boom' spell, there's a sonic snap, which is a cantrip. Target takes 1 sonic damage and must save or be deafened for 1 round. unmodified metamagic means it sits as a 3rd level chained spell. There's better stuff, but if you can reduce that cost to 1st level, we're talking something nice.

Really at higher levels some of the best spells for those kinds of feats are magic missile and ray of enfeeblement. You can disable fighters rather nicely, and the 'always hit' multiple target nature of magic missile makes it a good choice, despite allowing for SR.
Phoenix00
02-13-07, 01:40 PM Lesser Shivering Touch still works. Combine with metamgic you can still drop people, even if it isn't as good as the full shievering touch.
BomTrady
02-13-07, 01:47 PM There is a build around here somewhere for a magic missile specialist that absolutely owns. Something using stuff along the lines of Empower/maximize/fiery spell/arcane thesis/earth spell.....I'm not sure exactly. You might need a certain progression to do it, but i'm betting a character could make some version of it work. I would look stuff up but I'm AFB.
Phoenix00
02-13-07, 01:51 PM Wait how would Heighten Spell work with this plane? Is the shadowcraft gnome possible?
jameswilliamogle
02-13-07, 02:00 PM Grease. Kills small dragons at low level.
imneuromancer
02-13-07, 02:11 PM Grease:

1) balance checks AND reflex saves if used as a combat control
2) can increase chances to get out of a grapple for you or an ally
3) can get rid of pesky weapons or divine focuses for enemies -- that cleric with no DEX and low REF saves didn't need that holy symbol, did they?!

Add Heighten and even Sculpt and you have one nasty little spell.
Hyfigh
02-13-07, 02:16 PM That settles it. My 1st level characters are carrying 409.
Jaerom Darkwind
02-13-07, 02:18 PM Does lesser shivering touch stack with itself, or should it be paired with a ray of clumsiness? (That might not be a bad idea anyway, considering the fact that it deals more Dex damage than the other, even if it doesn't stack with itself.)
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer
02-13-07, 02:20 PM Shivering touch stacks with itself, it is Dex Damage
Jaerom Darkwind
02-13-07, 02:24 PM Heighten doesn't work. The Spire blocks all spells of a given level (in this case 2+). MM works because it doesn't increase the actual spell level (an intensified enhanced chained quickened twinned magic missile is still a 1st-level spell. Heighten actually increases a spell's level, and is therefore a no-go.
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer
02-13-07, 02:27 PM It might be funny if you could get some anti-metamagic feats that would actually reduce a spells effectiveness but grant you more space to use metamagic. Consider anti-Heighten, hehe.
altpersona
02-13-07, 02:55 PM 0 lvl prestidigitation

1st lvl silent image

1st lvl Summon monster with lots of MM
BoSheck
02-13-07, 02:57 PM Grease is a total golem-killer too. But seeing as this is an NPC, it would seem he's probably going to be going against a party. It's still a good spell, but where it really shines is utility in the hands of PCs because of the versatility.
catharz
02-13-07, 03:09 PM 1st level Core spells in 1st level slots:
Silent Image (the 'use your imagination' spell).
Protection gives a number of nice immunities and an AC boost.
Charm Person actually works as the Hypnotism suggestion above.
Every tank loves Enlargement.
Everbody mentions Grease.
Color Spray is like an AoE Stunning Fist (will save), but the DC is pretty low.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jaerom Darkwind 02-12-07, 08:16 PM	Okay, the situation is a powerful wizard operating in the first Ring of the Spire. Only spells up to 1st level function. He can apply MM feats to these spells as desired, but 1st level is the limit. What is a good spell to MM-up and use as the staple of his offense?
Seeker of Truth 02-12-07, 08:23 PM	If forced to pick only one I guess I'd go with grease
mercury529 02-12-07, 08:28 PM	Is this for purely offensive (i.e. damage dealing reasons)? If not, I would recommend Ray of Enfeeblement. A maximized-empowered Ray of Enfeeblement reduces anyone with a strength of 17 or less to 1 strength.
temillion 02-12-07, 08:30 PM	Charm Person: you can never have to many friends
OldManWinter 02-12-07, 08:37 PM	I'd go with an Empowered Maximized En[make it last 50% longer meta-magic can't remember right now] Power Word Pain. It would give you something on the order of 9dmg a round for many many rounds.
The Jake 02-12-07, 08:39 PM	Grease or Charm Person. Overall - probably grease. With metamagic, Heighten Charm Person. ;)
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer 02-12-07, 09:04 PM	Hypnotism is pretty good, I wouldn't underestimate it when you cast it on a friendly target. ;)
Seeker of Truth 02-12-07, 09:16 PM	Hypnotism is pretty good, I wouldn't underestimate it when you cast it on a friendly target. ;) how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right?
Think0028 02-12-07, 09:21 PM	how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right? More like 8 HD when maximized, 2d4 otherwise. Also known as the amateur diplomancer's best friend. Get someone to friendly (easy) and then use hypnotism to make the suggestion "Listen to me and agree with me." They're effectively fanatic, et voila, you have your own yes-man. Once you get to the point where the limit is a problem, you should easily be able to get people to helpful, which will be perfectly fine for most situations.
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer 02-12-07, 09:43 PM	how do you get past the HD cap ... anything 13 HD and above is immune right? Hypnotism is still good, but I forgot about the rolling. Good Catch.
Jaerom Darkwind 02-12-07, 10:28 PM	If forced to pick only one I guess I'd go with greaseYou don't gotta pick one, I suppose. Being a powerful wizard, he has lots of spell slots. And while the stats aren't set in stone yet, his metamagic feat selection is currently Chain Spell, Fortify Spell, Quicken Spell, Transdimensional Spell, Twin Spell.
Holylolth 02-12-07, 10:43 PM	There are 2 great spells at first lvl. If i play wizard or sorc, i take Magic Missle. 1d4+1, no miss. At first lvl, most enemys dont have many hp. If you go Warmage, with a 16 int., it is 1d4+4. My other favorite is for a cleric. Heal Light Wounds.:D Keeps me alive!
PhaedrusXY 02-12-07, 10:51 PM	Aren't the Lesser Orb spells 1st level? I don't think those could be Chained, though. Hmm... I'd say move out one "ring", and use Chained Blindness. :D There was a spell called Horizikaul's Boom in Magic of Faerun. It was 1st level, did a bit of sonic damage, and deafened the target if they failed a save (they still take damage). If you let Chained spells affect a target more than once, that could be decent.
The Jake 02-13-07, 01:17 AM	I miss Chromatic Orb!!!
Surreal 02-13-07, 03:46 AM	Unseen Servant lets you pinch the bottoms of important city officials all day long.
Bengal 02-13-07, 03:53 AM	Is metamagic allowed or not?
Jaerom Darkwind 02-13-07, 01:08 PM	Yes, metamagic is allowed--in fact, I'm especially looking for spells that get better with the right MM. This NPC has up to 9th-level spell slots for MM-enhanced spells.
BoSheck 02-13-07, 01:23 PM	awww. no Fell Draining? Thats a fun metamagic feat to play with. Fell Draining Caltrops ftw. (It makes thunderhead fun, too.) As for the 'boom' spell, there's a sonic snap, which is a cantrip. Target takes 1 sonic damage and must save or be deafened for 1 round. unmodified metamagic means it sits as a 3rd level chained spell. There's better stuff, but if you can reduce that cost to 1st level, we're talking something nice. Really at higher levels some of the best spells for those kinds of feats are magic missile and ray of enfeeblement. You can disable fighters rather nicely, and the 'always hit' multiple target nature of magic missile makes it a good choice, despite allowing for SR.
Phoenix00 02-13-07, 01:40 PM	Lesser Shivering Touch still works. Combine with metamgic you can still drop people, even if it isn't as good as the full shievering touch.
BomTrady 02-13-07, 01:47 PM	There is a build around here somewhere for a magic missile specialist that absolutely owns. Something using stuff along the lines of Empower/maximize/fiery spell/arcane thesis/earth spell.....I'm not sure exactly. You might need a certain progression to do it, but i'm betting a character could make some version of it work. I would look stuff up but I'm AFB.
Phoenix00 02-13-07, 01:51 PM	Wait how would Heighten Spell work with this plane? Is the shadowcraft gnome possible?
jameswilliamogle 02-13-07, 02:00 PM	Grease. Kills small dragons at low level.
imneuromancer 02-13-07, 02:11 PM	Grease: 1) balance checks AND reflex saves if used as a combat control 2) can increase chances to get out of a grapple for you or an ally 3) can get rid of pesky weapons or divine focuses for enemies -- that cleric with no DEX and low REF saves didn't need that holy symbol, did they?! Add Heighten and even Sculpt and you have one nasty little spell.
Hyfigh 02-13-07, 02:16 PM	That settles it. My 1st level characters are carrying 409.
Jaerom Darkwind 02-13-07, 02:18 PM	Does lesser shivering touch stack with itself, or should it be paired with a ray of clumsiness? (That might not be a bad idea anyway, considering the fact that it deals more Dex damage than the other, even if it doesn't stack with itself.)
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer 02-13-07, 02:20 PM	Shivering touch stacks with itself, it is Dex Damage
Jaerom Darkwind 02-13-07, 02:24 PM	Heighten doesn't work. The Spire blocks all spells of a given level (in this case 2+). MM works because it doesn't increase the actual spell level (an intensified enhanced chained quickened twinned magic missile is still a 1st-level spell. Heighten actually increases a spell's level, and is therefore a no-go.
Bill Bisco: Average Adventurer 02-13-07, 02:27 PM	It might be funny if you could get some anti-metamagic feats that would actually reduce a spells effectiveness but grant you more space to use metamagic. Consider anti-Heighten, hehe.
altpersona 02-13-07, 02:55 PM	0 lvl prestidigitation 1st lvl silent image 1st lvl Summon monster with lots of MM
BoSheck 02-13-07, 02:57 PM	Grease is a total golem-killer too. But seeing as this is an NPC, it would seem he's probably going to be going against a party. It's still a good spell, but where it really shines is utility in the hands of PCs because of the versatility.
catharz 02-13-07, 03:09 PM	1st level Core spells in 1st level slots: Silent Image (the 'use your imagination' spell). Protection gives a number of nice immunities and an AC boost. Charm Person actually works as the Hypnotism suggestion above. Every tank loves Enlargement. Everbody mentions Grease. Color Spray is like an AoE Stunning Fist (will save), but the DC is pretty low.