Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-24-07, 09:35 AM	My group has been playing Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave. This last session we encountered shadow creatures that were able to drain Weave-users of their spell slots just by being near them! Now, being a low level wizard, I hardly have spell slots, and then this stupid adventure throws things that drain magic, and give no saves or any other method of resisting?! I'm seriously considering dropping this character and play a grunt if this crap continues. I have a large hunch that at some point, we will be stuck entering the a dead magic zone (one of the lamest PC nerf invented), and I KNOW that there will be Shadow Weave users. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I wouldn't put it past the to do that. I'm sorry, but am I wrong to feel extremely annoyed that we are encountering anti-weave user monsters who can deplete our precious resources so easily? No save? No nothing? And then the super cheesy "we will have to enter dead magic and fight people who can use magic (Shadow Weave)," which I would bet my left foot will happen at some point. Why is it that evil gets all the powers and abilities and exceptions, but we the heroes don't? If this adventure continues along this vein, I'm gonna be very upset. Sorry for ranting, but I had to get this off my chest. I hate Dead Magic, I think it was made for no other reason than to screw PC's. Any now we have the Shadow Weave... which is magic, but uber-super magic that works in dead magic, but you can't use. I doubt Shar would allow people trying to stop her use it, so that leaves me, along with our Cleric and Spirit Shaman screwed. Arrrgggg!!
Suin Bahhar 11-24-07, 09:46 AM	If you can't beat them, join 'em. Join Shar's clergy and take the shadow weave magic feat and let those shadow-fireballs toast those pesky intruding adventurers.
selunatic2397 11-24-07, 10:27 AM	Dude, I had to pretty much toss the entire 3 books just to get something that sorta kinda worked for my players...I did get thankyous for my efforts...then we all played out the deaths of Shar and Cyric in our campaign! :w00t: :dancin: :cloud9: It really sucks to have it all mean nothing as whatever you do to save the weave, it and Mystra still die next year :censored:
Fingoldfin 11-24-07, 11:51 AM	If you can't beat them, join 'em. Join Shar's clergy and take the shadow weave magic feat and let those shadow-fireballs toast those pesky intruding adventurers. Shadow magic is the most broken game mechanic ever. When 3e first came out I ran an evil campaign. It was a lot of fun, but one of my players was a Sorcerer/ Shadow Adept. The upside of shadow magic is great illusion, necro, and darkness spells. The downside was a wisdom loss and you're not very good at evocation and conjuration. Then they came up with shadow evocation and shadow conjuration spells. Think about how ridiculous that was for a sorcerer. Now you "know" every evocation spell and conjuration spell below a certain level? WTF! His spells "known" list was effectively tripled. The DC saves for his spells got so high that a PC with double his CR would have trouble saving. His PC got so powerful that he could have wiped out the rest of the party by himself if he wanted. Shadow Adepts, shadow conjuration, and shadow evocation are banned in my home games.
johnkretzer 11-24-07, 12:54 PM	Then they came up with shadow evocation and shadow conjuration spells. To be fair Shadow Evocation and Shadow Conjuration have always been part of the game. This just goes and shows you though the quality of their playtesters(who are probably the designers themselves and their groups) is very low. And people tell me to have faith in 4th edition because they have great playtesters...yeah right. :rolleyes: Anyway...back to the OP. Yup that does suck...I don't have the adventure so I don't know if your DM is making a mistake or not so I would bring it up with him/her.
18DELTA 11-24-07, 01:42 PM	Well Baboon King IT ONLY GETS WORSE IN THOSE ADVENTURES! Its one big nerffest for Weave users, get ready for Shadow Weave users galore. So just take some levels in Warblade or Swordsage(Bo9S) and you are all set. Or take levels in OMG I dont believe that I am going to say this, fighter!:P
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-24-07, 06:48 PM	Well Baboon King IT ONLY GETS WORSE IN THOSE ADVENTURES! Its one big nerffest for Weave users, get ready for Shadow Weave users galore. That is because Shar is WotC's favorite deity.
18DELTA 11-24-07, 11:21 PM	That is because Shar is WotC's favorite deity. :rolleyes:
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-25-07, 03:49 AM	Well, I am glad to see that I am not simply overreacting on this. Does anyone have any ideas on how to even things up? I don't wanna waste my time taking fighter levels, seeing as all that will do is make me less of a mage, while still being a very lame warrior. I need to figure out a method of using magic in dead magic areas...
Sol_Odlanier 11-25-07, 04:02 AM	Psionics, Incarnum?
The_Shaman 11-25-07, 04:46 PM	Psionics shouldn't work as iirc Faerun has magic-psionics transparency. A cleric of mystra or azuth can take an initiate feat that lets them try to cast in a dead magic zone... But I'd advise you to be creative with going around them. Consider learning the Rend Shadow Weave spell. It takes a minute to cast, which makes it useless in combat, but you can prepare traps or safe havens with it. It's in Champions of Valor.
Lord Karsus 11-25-07, 08:24 PM	If you can't beat them, join 'em. Join Shar's clergy and take the shadow weave magic feat and let those shadow-fireballs toast those pesky intruding adventurers. -Can't cast Fireballs using the Shadow Weave, I don't think. The light thing, and all.
Dark Wizard 11-25-07, 10:04 PM	I have no idea of the specifics, but if this adventure really does railroad all magic users so hard that they become completely useless then this is a really poorly designed adventure. However, I don't think WotC would have such a huge oversight that utterly wrecks half of all potential character classes. It goes against their latest hyped trend of everyone in the party contributing. Can you post some of the specifics or stats for this Weave Drain ability? There has to be some way around it.
Green Elven Vampire 11-25-07, 10:08 PM	The downside was a wisdom loss and you're not very good at evocation and conjuration. Then they came up with shadow evocation and shadow conjuration spells. Evocation and Conjuration could be up to par if you just picked the Spell Focus feats for those schools. And btw... Shadow evocation and Shadow conjuration are spells that have been around since 1ED when they were in the spell list for Illusionists. (which was a separate spell casting class).
Green Elven Vampire 11-25-07, 10:12 PM	-Can't cast Fireballs using the Shadow Weave, I don't think. The light thing, and all. Nope, you can cast any fire based spells you'd like... just no "light" spells at all.
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-25-07, 10:13 PM	I don't have the specific stats on the monsters, but they where some type of undead Lizardfolk. When ever a weave user came within ten feet of the things, we automatically lost one of our lowest level slots, with no save allowed. This effect happened each round. Later on, we encountered more of the things, and there was even a half-dragon lizardfolk version of one of these undead. I've never heard of such a creature before, so I assume that the cheese monkeys who wrote this adventure path decided to create them out of the blue.
Dark Wizard 11-25-07, 10:17 PM	I guess you'll have to stock up on range spells and stay away from them like they were plagued. I'm intrigued now, I'll try to look up the adventure, see what kind of mess they ended up writing. Btw, psionics might work in spite of magic-psionic transparency. Sure certain spells and effects affect both, but unless the creature's stat block states they drain power points too or if the DM house rules they affect psionics characters too, then psionics should be fine.
Green Elven Vampire 11-25-07, 10:20 PM	I have no idea of the specifics, but if this adventure really does railroad all magic users so hard that they become completely useless then this is a really poorly designed adventure. However, I don't think WotC would have such a huge oversight that utterly wrecks half of all potential character classes. It goes against their latest hyped trend of everyone in the party contributing. Can you post some of the specifics or stats for this Weave Drain ability? There has to be some way around it. You have too much faith in WoTc.... just take a look at 4ED in FR and what they're doing. FR is being completely rearranged in a VERY sloppy and poorly thought out way. Take some levels of Spellblade or Shadow Adept. You know you don't have to be evil or follow Shar to use the SW.
Lord Karsus 11-25-07, 11:51 PM	Nope, you can cast any fire based spells you'd like... just no "light" spells at all. -Oh, I thought it was any spell that produced light (in which case, Fireball does indeed create light). Btw, psionics might work in spite of magic-psionic transparency. Sure certain spells and effects affect both, but unless the creature's stat block states they drain power points too or if the DM house rules they affect psionics characters too, then psionics should be fine. -I've always ruled that Psionics and Magic were two seperate things. Treating them as the same thing takes the "fun" out of Psionics. But, that's just me. Take some levels of Spellblade or Shadow Adept. You know you don't have to be evil or follow Shar to use the SW. -In the end, everyone winds up bowing down to the Lady of Secrets.
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-26-07, 12:05 AM	You don't need to be evil, but Shar ultimately controls who has access to the Shadow Weave, and she can cut anyone off of it. I doubt that she would let me use her own power to mess up her plans for long.
18DELTA 11-26-07, 01:00 AM	-In the end, everyone winds up bowing down to the Lady of Secrets. That is sigged!:D
18DELTA 11-26-07, 01:04 AM	You don't need to be evil, but Shar ultimately controls who has access to the Shadow Weave, and she can cut anyone off of it. I doubt that she would let me use her own power to mess up her plans for long. Wisdom 15 is what you need to be a Shadow Weave User, if you are not a follower of EVERYBODYS FAVORITE DARK GODESS!;) :P :D :rolleyes:
The_Shaman 11-26-07, 07:33 AM	Hey, don't nobody bring Beshaba into this!
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 09:18 AM	-In the end, everyone winds up bowing down to the Lady of Secrets. All too true.
Suin Bahhar 11-26-07, 09:51 AM	-Oh, I thought it was any spell that produced light (in which case, Fireball does indeed create light)..Indirectly I guess. But GEV is right. -I've always ruled that Psionics and Magic were two seperate things. Treating them as the same thing takes the "fun" out of Psionics. But, that's just me.Seperating psionics makes it no less fun IMO. A supernatural effect created by psionics is "magical" so in a dead magic zone it winks out of existance. So a dispell psionics is just as versatile as a dispell magic. Makes fights between psions and mages more interesting. -In the end, everyone winds up bowing down to the Lady of SecretsShadow weave magic users don't HAVE to sell their souls to Shar if they are guilefull enough to know how to hide it from Shar somehow (i.e. wis 15). And Shadow evocations themselves are not evil. I thought Beshaba has nothing to do with dead magic zones? Or does Beshaba's luck portfolio even effect areas in dead magic zones? Are luck feats ex abilities?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 11:23 AM	I thought Beshaba has nothing to do with dead magic zones? Or does Beshaba's luck portfolio even effect areas in dead magic zones? Are luck feats ex abilities? I think maybe you missed the point of that comment.;) My comment wasn't really about the Shadow Weave, either...
Suin Bahhar 11-26-07, 01:07 PM	You must have said that in a different thread then. Care to point me in the right direction?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 01:48 PM	You must have said that in a different thread then. Care to point me in the right direction? Not necessary. It seems that recently, Shar has been "one-upping" deities and mortals alike, so I've said (with tongue in cheek) that Shar has no weaknesses and she is WotC's favorite deity. Hence my agreement that everyone will bow down before Shar.:)
Suin Bahhar 11-26-07, 02:20 PM	Are there many novels concerning Shar? Or are you mostly pointing at the the new superadventures and 4ed? I like the fact the realms has creator and destruction godesses. Mystra's removal feels as if a creator godess is swiped away. But I like Shar too and she gets her way for a little while and things go boom. :) But Shar doesn't live in a vacuüm so I think a new female creative god needs to step into the fearunian pantheon. It's a small sliver of hope because I think they will give Selune a greater role. With Eilistraee as her agent I could see that duo as a new formidable foe for Shar.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 03:51 PM	Are there many novels concerning Shar? Or are you mostly pointing at the the new superadventures and 4ed? All of the above. I will say, though, that Paul Kemp's current series is very, very good in spite of the content involving Shar (not that stories about Shar can't be good, it's just that they feel ubiquitous nowadays).
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 03:55 PM	Are there many novels concerning Shar? Or are you mostly pointing at the the new superadventures and 4ed? All of the above. I will say, though, that Paul Kemp's current series is very, very good in spite of the content involving Shar (not that stories about Shar can't be good, it's just that they feel ubiquitous nowadays). It's not just about Shar defeating the forces of goodness--it's also about how she's the mastermind behind all other plots now too (ie. Cyric killing Mystra, Karsus trying to take Mystryl's place). PS: Before someone complains about me talking about Shar again...I was asked to explain myself.
Fingoldfin 11-26-07, 06:23 PM	All of the above. I will say, though, that Paul Kemp's current series is very, very good in spite of the content involving Shar (not that stories about Shar can't be good, it's just that they feel ubiquitous nowadays). It's not just about Shar defeating the forces of goodness--it's also about how she's the mastermind behind all other plots now too (ie. Cyric killing Mystra, Karsus trying to take Mystryl's place). PS: Before someone complains about me talking about Shar again...I was asked to explain myself. I won't complain. I agree with you. Shar seems to be at the center of every plot now. :rolleyes:
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 11-26-07, 07:08 PM	I won't complain. Well, thank you.;)
Lord Karsus 11-26-07, 11:42 PM	Seperating psionics makes it no less fun IMO. A supernatural effect created by psionics is "magical" so in a dead magic zone it winks out of existance. So a dispell psionics is just as versatile as a dispell magic. Makes fights between psions and mages more interesting. -In my reasoning, if you are going to make Magic and Psionics transparent, why bother with Psionics. If you want to be "versatile", be a Sorcerer. Shadow weave magic users don't HAVE to sell their souls to Shar if they are guilefull enough to know how to hide it from Shar somehow (i.e. wis 15). -The Lady of Secrets know's everyone's secrets. There is no hiding from her. And Shadow evocations themselves are not evil. -That? No. I was talking about the Shadow Weave.
Sol_Odlanier 11-27-07, 12:09 AM	I agree With Master LK regarding the psionics and magic debate (at least for the purpose of this particular adventure) and I will like to ad incarnum in the equation.and for ME IMO Warlock invokations and Eldrich Blast even though mechanically make sense (they ARE Spell-like Abilities) I like to thing Favour -wise that they tap Raw magic (or "Mana" for a lack of a better word) directly. BTW I have NO love For Warlocks:) just my:twocents:
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-27-07, 12:57 AM	Sadly, my DM isn't allowing psionics in this particular campaign... probably because he can't screw me over if I was a psion...
Lord Karsus 11-27-07, 03:12 AM	Sadly, my DM isn't allowing psionics in this particular campaign... probably because he can't screw me over if I was a psion... -That's too bad. I think the Psionic system is fun, what, with the points, and the augmentations and all.
Stigger 11-27-07, 03:34 AM	Can't convince any of my players to ever go with psionics... mostly the result of the artwork rather than some problem with the fluff or mechanics. :\
Lord Karsus 11-27-07, 03:47 AM	Can't convince any of my players to ever go with psionics... mostly the result of the artwork rather than some problem with the fluff or mechanics. :\ -Heh. That's the main reason me and my group never picked up any of the "Swords and Sorcerery" books. My Step-Father/DM-at-the-time picked the S&S Monster Manual up, along with a few other D&D books, when I first expressed interest in playing D&D, a few years back (Crap...2003 was like, almost five years ago!). We never picked up any other products in that line not because of the quality of the book (though, there were too many creatures that were setting specific, and hard-to-impossible to 'port over to other campaigns), but because of the bad artwork.
Stigger 11-27-07, 03:53 AM	I won't go into sitting in a cafe, blithely pouring over the 2e FRCS boxed set with a buddy of mine in the late 80's if 2003 is upsetting you then... :blink:
Lord Karsus 11-27-07, 03:57 AM	I won't go into sitting in a cafe, blithely pouring over the 2e FRCS boxed set with a buddy of mine in the late 80's if 2003 is upsetting you then... :blink: -Well, you're supposed to be old. I'm not! :D ;)
Stigger 11-27-07, 04:02 AM	Life is terminal, deal with it. :P :D
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 11-27-07, 04:04 AM	Heh heh.
Lord Karsus 11-27-07, 04:13 AM	Life is terminal, deal with it. :P :D -The mortal vessel I concieve myself in is mortal, yes. Am I, as a concept, mortal? :) -No need to respond, as there isn't a right or wrong answer. Just something to think about. Why are you awake at 4 in the morning, anyway?
Stigger 11-27-07, 04:26 AM	Only 1:30am here actually... :P Yes, you are mortal as a concept... ideas are certainly capable of death.
The_Shaman 11-27-07, 11:41 AM	As are anthropomorphic personifications of said ideas... Sorry, couldn't resist.
MaskedOne 11-27-07, 02:13 PM	PGtF separates Psionics from any known Weave. Yes they're magic but as they aren't Weave based, they operate just fine in Dead Magic Zones (holes in the Weave, they don't operate in anti-magic which just shuts down magical energy not strong enough to break through it.
Fingoldfin 11-28-07, 01:53 AM	I am getting ready to start a new game that will venture into Myth Drannor. It has dead magic zones and wild magic zones. Does anyone know if there are 3e rules for wild magic zones? :)
johnkretzer 11-28-07, 02:02 AM	I am getting ready to start a new game that will venture into Myth Drannor. It has dead magic zones and wild magic zones. Does anyone know if there are 3e rules for wild magic zones? :) Page 55 of the FRCS and Page 10 of the Magic of Faerun
Fingoldfin 11-28-07, 01:13 PM	Page 55 of the FRCS and Page 10 of the Magic of Faerun Thanks John:)
johnkretzer 11-28-07, 03:23 PM	Thanks John:) Not a problem. Anytime.
The_Shaman 11-29-07, 01:42 AM	PGtF separates Psionics from any known Weave. Yes they're magic but as they aren't Weave based, they operate just fine in Dead Magic Zones (holes in the Weave, they don't operate in anti-magic which just shuts down magical energy not strong enough to break through it. But they have their own wild - and probably dead - zones, as detailed in the recent character class articles. I thought that made them weave-related, but I could be wrong.
Phelf_Der_Zemit 11-29-07, 05:02 PM	Well, dead magic... hm.. stay out of there and hurl instant conjurations in there. Are orb spells instant conjurations? cant remember. If the orb spells work then the lizard guys become more of an issue, Just try to stay away from them and always keep a nifty necromancy spell handy like cause fear, so if they fail their save they run away from you. if that doesnt work, use expidious retreat to get the hell out of dodge. EDIT: oh and if your worried about being snuck up on try casting detect thoughts, concentrait on the spell every round, and it should reveil the pressence of the enemies mind (if they're the least bit intelligent). EDIT2: nevermind, detect undead works some much easier.
MaskedOne 11-29-07, 05:07 PM	But they have their own wild - and probably dead - zones, as detailed in the recent character class articles. I thought that made them weave-related, but I could be wrong. Haven't read the articles in question and can't comment. I'll be annoyed as hell if they've linked psions to a Weave but I'm already annoyed as hell because WotC got the bright idea to murder Mystra for reasons that are largely illusionary so I doubt that the designers actually care about my opinion on the topic. To my knowledge, Dead Magic Zones in the Weave have no effect whatsoever on psionic characters.
Murmur Maelstrom 11-30-07, 04:42 AM	-I've always ruled that Psionics and Magic were two seperate things. Treating them as the same thing takes the "fun" out of Psionics. But, that's just me. You can thank the genius of Skip Williams *hack, hack, cough, cough* for deciding that Magic and Psionics are now similar...... *sorry, very, very old gripe, but stirred up occasionally*
Lord Karsus 11-30-07, 04:48 AM	You can thank the genius of Skip Williams *hack, hack, cough, cough* for deciding that Magic and Psionics are now similar...... *sorry, very, very old gripe, but stirred up occasionally* -Well...a sarcastic "thank you", then.
The_Shaman 12-01-07, 01:22 PM	Haven't read the articles in question and can't comment. I'll be annoyed as hell if they've linked psions to a Weave but I'm already annoyed as hell because WotC got the bright idea to murder Mystra for reasons that are largely illusionary so I doubt that the designers actually care about my opinion on the topic. To my knowledge, Dead Magic Zones in the Weave have no effect whatsoever on psionic characters. No, it's not quite like that. IIRC psionics can work in wild/dead magic zones, but it's suggested that it might have wild/dead psionic zones of its own. So they're not Weave-based... whether the dead-psi zones come from something like a psionic Weave (arguably a psionic Weave makes no less sense than a magic one) or just from large presence of psi-inhibiting minerals, creatures, or residue of epic-level powers is for the DM to decide.
Butterface 12-01-07, 01:36 PM	Well, I am glad to see that I am not simply overreacting on this. Does anyone have any ideas on how to even things up? I don't wanna waste my time taking fighter levels, seeing as all that will do is make me less of a mage, while still being a very lame warrior. I need to figure out a method of using magic in dead magic areas... Actually, you are overreacting, at least in my opinion. Shadowslain Lizardfolk have an ability called "Weave Drain." "This ability affects spellcasters who use the Weave. At the beginning of her turn, if a spellcaster is within 10 feet of a shadowslain, she loses access to one spell as if she had cast her lowest-level, currently available spell. (If she has more than one remaining spell at her lowest level, she chooses which she loses). When she next prepares spells or regains spell splots, she regains her full normal complement of spells. If the subject loses a spell of at least 1st level, the shadowslain heals a number of hit points equal to 5x the level of the spell. This ability does not affect spellcasters who use the Shadow Weave, those who use divine magic, or creatures that do not cast spells." So yeah, all you had to do was stay away from the things. And even if they do get close, you're going to lose your cantrips before anything worthwhile. These creatures were never a problem for the arcane casters in my game. But if it bothers you so much, you should probably switch characters now before you go much further, because yes, it does get much worse for Weave users in this adventure. But honestly, that's part of the appeal of the adventure. The Weave, the thing that your character uses to access his magical powers, is under attack. Many spellcasters would welcome the challenge to "man up" and defeat this attack despite things going against them. Seriously, if you don't enjoy this kind of challenge, you may not even want to play Shadowdale, or Anauroch. My home group just finished Cormyr: ToW. In the end fight against Despayr, Conjuration, Evocation, and Alteration schools of magic were impeded as a result of Despayr attuning the Weave against them. But you know, they really felt they had accomplished something when they killed him and restored the Weave back to normal for the area.
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 12-01-07, 04:52 PM	What's really a shame about these adventures is that the PC's really won't accomplish anything. Mystra will get killed soon anyway.
selunatic2397 12-01-07, 06:08 PM	In response to all this pointlessness my group of merry gamers have finished off their requested "The Death Of Shar And Cyric" campaign arc... If you don't like what they are doing...switch back to 1ED...the waters fine! :D
Stigger 12-01-07, 07:39 PM	Were it not for the ruleset... couldn't stand pre-3e rules to be honest. Though I kinda sorta maybe have timeline-wise, with the new campaign starting in 1308DR using the Storyteller ruleset.
The_Shaman 12-02-07, 11:09 AM	In response to all this pointlessness my group of merry gamers have finished off their requested "The Death Of Shar And Cyric" campaign arc... If you don't like what they are doing...switch back to 1ED...the waters fine! :D You know, that gives me an interesting idea. In less than a century, the Realms saw the rise of several deities from among the ranks of mortals: Cyriic, Mystra, Kelemvor and Finder Wyvernspur are only the most recent ones. Mystra and Azuth certainly have a large following, and their followers include a great many powerful beings (mages, for example). Now, bringing a deity back should be easier than becoming one - so shouldn't it be quite possible to resurrect Mystra? Her latent divine energy that is invested in the Chosen should make this fairly easy. The harder part would be to restore the Weave, or at least something like it...
Sylock 12-02-07, 12:48 PM	I don't have the specific stats on the monsters, but they where some type of undead Lizardfolk. When ever a weave user came within ten feet of the things, we automatically lost one of our lowest level slots, with no save allowed. This effect happened each round. Later on, we encountered more of the things, and there was even a half-dragon lizardfolk version of one of these undead. I've never heard of such a creature before, so I assume that the cheese monkeys who wrote this adventure path decided to create them out of the blue. Wow, it might be me, but that doesn't sound bad at all. You lose your lowest level slot / spell every round. There are spells (pro-mage)out there that don't allow saving throws, why wouldn't there be other powers out there that don't require sving throws that are anti-mage. Plus it only affects you if you are within 10 feet? Sounds good, mages shouldn't be up close anyway ... even though they have spells that make them fight as good as fighters (wraith strike makes your melee attacks touch attacks at 2nd level. And if you are 6th level it's basically permanant since it would have a 24 hour duration). There should be monsters, NPCs, that challenge a mage, there are tons that challenge melee/missile already. Unless there is something you forgot to mention from your above post, I see nothing even remotely un-balanced.
Baboon_King_Zabimaru 12-02-07, 09:17 PM	Well, I declared to my DM that for every weird Shadow Weave cheese that I encounter, I shall create a spell that does the same thing. I'm going to create my Drain Shadow Weave spell as soon as I get some down time. It will of course offer no save. He is okay with it.
Dark Wizard 12-03-07, 12:34 AM	You're probably better off just staying away from the lizardfolk and blasting them or buffing your allies to take them down quicker. Perhaps you should consider specializing in something (not a specialist wizard since it's probably too late for that, though you do get more spell slots). Just pump up an effective strategy up to counter the penalties laid on by the Shadow Weave stuff. Worried about running out of Spell slots, consider going into Ultimate/Enlightened Magus, (or even Mystic Theurge). Double your lower level spell slots and because of the funny way Ultimate Magus is setup if you set up your character right you have spells to spare and maintain upper level spells.