4th level defensive spell... choices? [Archive] - Wizards Community

4th level defensive spell... choices? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sullaz
08-03-07, 11:54 PM Hey all,

I'm trying to pick a fourth level defensive sell for the mage I'm currently playing. We normally stick to SRD, with negotiability on non-srd sources and I was wondering if folks thought that some non-srd spells were either good picks or a bit unbalancing.

The current options are:

1. Minor Globe of Invulnerability (consider this sort of a baseline).
2. Resist Energy, Mass (Complete Arcane)
3. Otiluke's Supressing Field (Complete Mage)

All are abjuration, and I would love to get the impression from people who have played with the second and third spell if these are balanced or worthwhile.

Which of these three would you pick? Is there something else worth picking at this level?

Thanks!
runestar
08-04-07, 12:16 AM Stoneskin. Well worth the benefit, despite its expensive material component.
jaelis
08-04-07, 12:47 AM I really like greater mirror image from the PHBII. Improved invisbility is also a good spell.

I haven't seen LGI be so generally useful. Depends how many opponents you run into that have spells and SLAs... we don't have so many I guess.
Kuroimaken
08-04-07, 01:41 AM Never, EVER underestimate a Globe of Invulnerability. It can be extremely crippling to a caster, and we all know casters are primary on the list of Annoying Things That Kill Your Character Fast.
Jaxgaret
08-04-07, 01:49 AM Never, EVER underestimate a Globe of Invulnerability. It can be extremely crippling to a caster, and we all know casters are primary on the list of Annoying Things That Kill Your Character Fast.

Only for a short period. At higher levels it becomes much less useful.

The OP didn't state that they were playing a Sorcerer, but it seems as if they are due to the fact that they are worrying about picking a single 4th-level defensive spell - which is not so much of a worry for a Wizard who can always add more spells known, unlike the Sorc.

So that spell known slot becomes precious, and using one slot on a spell that will eventually become nigh-useless can be wasteful.
Kuroimaken
08-04-07, 01:52 AM Only for a short period, character time-wise. At higher levels it becomes almost useless. Well no DUH, at higher levels you're going to have something more appropriate, like an item conferring spell resistance.
Jaxgaret
08-04-07, 01:54 AM Well no DUH, at higher levels you're going to have something more appropriate, like an item conferring spell resistance.

Read the rest of my post.

Also, SR isn't always generally useful; it can be too easily overcome, and prevents your party members from casting beneficial spells on you without your taking a Standard action to drop it.
sullaz
08-04-07, 04:57 AM Thanks for the thoughts so far.

The character isn't a sorcerer, but the party is currently away from town, about to go on an extended dungeon crawl, and everyone just went from 6th to 7th.
Fabius Maximus
08-04-07, 06:22 AM Wait until level 8 and get Greater Blink... ;)
kjenks
08-04-07, 07:39 AM Greater Invis.
MikeyP
08-04-07, 09:28 AM If you can pick from the Spell Compendium, check out Ray Deflection.

My PCs just found out about that spell, though I've known about it for some time (been waiting to bust it out). They tend to think that I nerf too many spells, but for the first time that I can think of they actually asked me to nerf that spell.
Nezkrul
08-04-07, 11:57 AM If you can pick from the Spell Compendium, check out Ray Deflection.

My PCs just found out about that spell, though I've known about it for some time (been waiting to bust it out). They tend to think that I nerf too many spells, but for the first time that I can think of they actually asked me to nerf that spell.

right after you nerf it, send a gauth or beholder at them. then take a picture of their faces after you tell them that the non nerfed version would have prevented their demise 100%. :D
Razefire
08-04-07, 12:01 PM "Greater Resistance" confers a +3 bonus to all your saving throws for 24 hour duration. Extend it for good times. 4th level arcane spell. Who needs a cloak of resistance?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sullaz 08-03-07, 11:54 PM	Hey all, I'm trying to pick a fourth level defensive sell for the mage I'm currently playing. We normally stick to SRD, with negotiability on non-srd sources and I was wondering if folks thought that some non-srd spells were either good picks or a bit unbalancing. The current options are: 1. Minor Globe of Invulnerability (consider this sort of a baseline). 2. Resist Energy, Mass (Complete Arcane) 3. Otiluke's Supressing Field (Complete Mage) All are abjuration, and I would love to get the impression from people who have played with the second and third spell if these are balanced or worthwhile. Which of these three would you pick? Is there something else worth picking at this level? Thanks!
runestar 08-04-07, 12:16 AM	Stoneskin. Well worth the benefit, despite its expensive material component.
jaelis 08-04-07, 12:47 AM	I really like greater mirror image from the PHBII. Improved invisbility is also a good spell. I haven't seen LGI be so generally useful. Depends how many opponents you run into that have spells and SLAs... we don't have so many I guess.
Kuroimaken 08-04-07, 01:41 AM	Never, EVER underestimate a Globe of Invulnerability. It can be extremely crippling to a caster, and we all know casters are primary on the list of Annoying Things That Kill Your Character Fast.
Jaxgaret 08-04-07, 01:49 AM	Never, EVER underestimate a Globe of Invulnerability. It can be extremely crippling to a caster, and we all know casters are primary on the list of Annoying Things That Kill Your Character Fast. Only for a short period. At higher levels it becomes much less useful. The OP didn't state that they were playing a Sorcerer, but it seems as if they are due to the fact that they are worrying about picking a single 4th-level defensive spell - which is not so much of a worry for a Wizard who can always add more spells known, unlike the Sorc. So that spell known slot becomes precious, and using one slot on a spell that will eventually become nigh-useless can be wasteful.
Kuroimaken 08-04-07, 01:52 AM	Only for a short period, character time-wise. At higher levels it becomes almost useless. Well no DUH, at higher levels you're going to have something more appropriate, like an item conferring spell resistance.
Jaxgaret 08-04-07, 01:54 AM	Well no DUH, at higher levels you're going to have something more appropriate, like an item conferring spell resistance. Read the rest of my post. Also, SR isn't always generally useful; it can be too easily overcome, and prevents your party members from casting beneficial spells on you without your taking a Standard action to drop it.
sullaz 08-04-07, 04:57 AM	Thanks for the thoughts so far. The character isn't a sorcerer, but the party is currently away from town, about to go on an extended dungeon crawl, and everyone just went from 6th to 7th.
Fabius Maximus 08-04-07, 06:22 AM	Wait until level 8 and get Greater Blink... ;)
kjenks 08-04-07, 07:39 AM	Greater Invis.
MikeyP 08-04-07, 09:28 AM	If you can pick from the Spell Compendium, check out Ray Deflection. My PCs just found out about that spell, though I've known about it for some time (been waiting to bust it out). They tend to think that I nerf too many spells, but for the first time that I can think of they actually asked me to nerf that spell.
Nezkrul 08-04-07, 11:57 AM	If you can pick from the Spell Compendium, check out Ray Deflection. My PCs just found out about that spell, though I've known about it for some time (been waiting to bust it out). They tend to think that I nerf too many spells, but for the first time that I can think of they actually asked me to nerf that spell. right after you nerf it, send a gauth or beholder at them. then take a picture of their faces after you tell them that the non nerfed version would have prevented their demise 100%. :D
Razefire 08-04-07, 12:01 PM	"Greater Resistance" confers a +3 bonus to all your saving throws for 24 hour duration. Extend it for good times. 4th level arcane spell. Who needs a cloak of resistance?