Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shadezeta 02-24-08, 07:57 PM	I have my own thoughts about what are the most useful 1st level spell but I wanted to get a second opinion on the subject so I'd like to ask the question: In your opinion what are the most useful 1st level spells from any spell list in either the PHB or the Spell Compendium? Valid, bard, cleric, ranger, paladin, sorcerer, wizard, warmage, and assassin. Feel free to post your reasons why you like the spells or strategies that you use with then.
jaelis 02-24-08, 08:53 PM	Bless weapon - generally a nice combat buff, particularly when fighting evil outsiders. Enlarge person - an excellent combat buff at any level of play Grease - the need for a balance check means it can make even high level monsters flat-footed Lesser vigor (for wands) - best healing for the buck Longstrider - I think moving faster is always good, and getting it as a long-term buff is great Lesser restoration (paladin) - always a handy spell, it's special that paly's get it as level 1 Lesser orbs - the best general purpose damaging spells at level 1 Resist energy (ranger) - a good defensive spell, and it's fancy that rangers get it as level 1 Swift invisibility - until everyone can see invisibility, this is a life saver for a mage
Roivas 02-24-08, 08:58 PM	That depends on what you're trying to do and level. The most useful spell in any scenario is Grease as a flat 10 balance check can topple even the oldest most powerful dragon if it rolls 9 or less, while at 1st level daze is much more useful since you can effectively stop an enemy in their tracks [and if they carry a weapon they just dropped it]. So spells are too situational to truly say which spell [or even spells] are the best. Though grease and animate rope are particularly awesome. But then my group has figured out how to use delay poison and prestidigitation as deadly spells so maybe we're a somewhat odd group.
Shadezeta 02-24-08, 09:10 PM	I understand the importance of the situation when it comes to a good spell like using mage hand to apply poison to a weapon without risking the 5% chance of being poisoned or using a fabricate spell to create a barrier between you and your pursuers in a cramped dungeon out of the stone that makes up the floor and walls. Thus if you would please include that situation that your favorite spells are useful in then I can get a better idea of why they're the best.
runestar 02-24-08, 09:23 PM	Colour spray is not bad, even at higher lvs, since it can stun on a failed save. Sleep would have been a strong contender, if not for its 1-round casting time...:(
LordTarmos 02-24-08, 09:31 PM	when you just need damage now lesser orbs (no save, No sr.) before combat nerveskitter need to run now expedious retreat,swift.works best with help of grease need to stop demon from beating the crap out of my meat shield(ray of enfeeble Need a hit bad (true strike) all in all it really depends on your need there are many great first level spells that was just a quick few for sorcerer.
VulcanStormwrath 02-24-08, 09:44 PM	Colour spray is not bad, even at higher lvs, since it can stun on a failed save. Sleep would have been a strong contender, if not for its 1-round casting time...:( I agree. In fact at low levels I refer to Color Spray as "A round of Coup-de-Grace for all my friends"
StruckingFuggle 02-24-08, 10:09 PM	How can it have gone on this long before someone mentioned the effectively-Save-or-Dies of Level 1, Sleep and Color Spray? Edit: apparently I left this window open for far too long before answering...
CryoSilver 02-25-08, 12:50 AM	Protection from Evil is amazing. +2 AC, +2 saves, immune to mind control, and can't be touched by summoned creatures, for a long duration.
Chrono Nexus 02-25-08, 01:29 AM	Entangle is one of the most powerful first level spells I've ever seen.
mtbOgre 02-25-08, 01:33 AM	I have my own thoughts about what are the most useful 1st level spell but I wanted to get a second opinion on the subject so I'd like to ask the question: In your opinion what are the most useful 1st level spells from any spell list in either the PHB or the Spell Compendium? Valid, bard, cleric, ranger, paladin, sorcerer, wizard, warmage, and assassin. Feel free to post your reasons why you like the spells or strategies that you use with then. First level spells for what level of play? At low levels Sleep is da bomb but after about 3rd level it's usefulness rapidly diminishes. Unseen Servant - Mentioned first because it's highly underrated. Long duration servant that can do any number of potentially dangerous things without risk to anyone in your party. If nothing else have it carry that coin with continual light cast on it. Nerveskitter is a great do unto others before they can do unto you spell. If you have Imp Init then you almost always go first in the round. This means before anyone on your side or their's starts mucking up the battlefield you get to do your thing. Mage Armor... duration is so great that it makes Bracers of armor just silly. I suppose if your DM spams you with Dispel magic this will be the first to go but until then it's the first thing my mage does after he brushes his teeth in the morning (good hygiene is important to him). Benign Transposition - why this is first level is beyond me. Swap the bleeding dying guy across the battlefield with the healthy one next to you. Use Summon Monster early in combat just for this purpose the summon can also act as a screen/ meat shield for your wizard. Silent Image - Simple illusions can be life savers. Move walls, hide doors, make that pit seem 5' further away. This spell is useful well into the high levels. Grease is great cheap battlefield control. Once they are prone your fighters have +4 to hit them then get an AoO when they stand up. It's also great on stairs and amazing on ropes. If someone in your party gets grappled you can boost their escape artist checks. I'll have to check out swift invis it sounds great, I can't believe I missed it. Incidentally if you have Complete Mage the reserve feats have darn near obsoleted almost all of the first level offensive spells once you get to third level. For non-mages, Longstrider, Entangle, Lessor Vigor, Prot from Evil (also good for wizards but not as good as above stuff. If you get 2 levels of Abjurant Champion then suddenly this and Shield are awesome because they are swift).
tyrecian 02-25-08, 04:20 AM	all those mentioned, of course. I will throw in my 2cents for CLWounds, yeah baby. Also Obscuring Mist is a nice one, great BC, and offerring miss chances for low levels can definately help out the party. Truestrike is pretty nice as well, can be very useful in gish's and spell storing rings for your friendly tank, but especially that charging mounted pally with all those riding feats, ouch 168 :) Entangle is one of the most powerful first level spells I've ever seen. /agree :schemes: Ray of enfeeblement in a debuff caster is very nasty. There is somewhere, maybe libris mortis? that has a metamagic feat that deals 4 str damage for 1 level increase, and stacks with RoE... I ended up with a wizard i DMed who had that on his 0 lvl cantrips... :( incredible debuffing with RoE even at higher levels. Sactuary is also a very nice spell for the Healbot :) If you have any way to buff your DCs it can be devestating as it can cause loss of actions by creatures :D for 1st lvl all the AC enhancers, SoF, Shield, but MArmor has the hour/lvl duration :)
Avenger314 02-25-08, 10:39 AM	The ones mentioned are great. I also am a big fan of Shield and True Strike
Legdiwena 02-25-08, 01:04 PM	Protection from Good. :schemes: :hides:
Shadezeta 02-25-08, 01:11 PM	I'd just like to chime in with one of my favorite spells being Divine Favor. It's kinda like having a bard who does their bardic music thing by providing the bonus to attack and damage and incidentally if you happen to have a bard the the bonus from bardic music stacks with the Divine Favor spell.
toucanbuzz 02-25-08, 03:29 PM	I consider Color Spray the most dangerous spell out there for low level encounters as it has the potential, if used by an enemy, to wipe the entire party with one fell swoop (and vice versa). A quickened True Strike also has great potential. Could go on and on as every spell can have its day in the spotlight...
mtbOgre 02-25-08, 04:12 PM	I consider Color Spray the most dangerous spell out there for low level encounters as it has the potential, if used by an enemy, to wipe the entire party with one fell swoop (and vice versa). A quickened True Strike also has great potential. Could go on and on as every spell can have its day in the spotlight... Well quickened true strike isn't a 1st level spell anymore. My only complaint about Color spray is you have to be right up in their face to use it :( My wizards like to have a couple meat shields between them and harms way. Once you can sculpt spell it's a lot better but then it's a second level spell. For a Gish type it's pretty good though since they don't mind getting in harms way.
Shadowhowler 02-25-08, 04:28 PM	Can not argue with whats been said already... What is the Nerveskitter spell and where is it found? I have not seen that one.
Malchius 02-25-08, 04:43 PM	I Know it's a very controversial(sp?) spell but I think Power Word: Pain is incredibly useful, however it should never be used on the party. It's good for getting back at those peasants when they burn you at the stakes or just for intimidating people after you demonstrate your power. Also handy for interrogations, if you know what you're doing you can't possibly kill the person unless they have someway to stay conscious at lower than 0hp.
mtbOgre 02-25-08, 04:57 PM	Can not argue with whats been said already... What is the Nerveskitter spell and where is it found? I have not seen that one. It's in Spell Compendium. I don't know where it was published originally.
StruckingFuggle 02-25-08, 06:48 PM	I Know it's a very controversial(sp?) spell but I think Power Word: Pain is incredibly useful, however it should never be used on the party. People actually play like that? Ooooh, I wanna join that game! Me and a quiver of Shivering Touch Spellstoring Arrows. :D
Shadowhowler 02-25-08, 11:16 PM	It's in Spell Compendium. I don't know where it was published originally. Too bad. I doun't have the spell Compendium, and it sounds as tho it's a spell I would like to have. :weep:
mtbOgre 02-26-08, 12:14 AM	Too bad. I doun't have the spell Compendium, and it sounds as tho it's a spell I would like to have. :weep: I'll sell you mine ;) 970 spells you'll never use and 30 that are decent. Nerveskitter is one of the 30 :)
Malchius 02-26-08, 02:58 AM	People actually play like that? Ooooh, I wanna join that game! Me and a quiver of Shivering Touch Spellstoring Arrows. :D Hey, if it makes the game funner for (all) the players that's cool. Besides the more powerful the party the are, the less sympathy I need when I send wave after wave of Goblin at them(typically about six Gobbo's a fight really, and actually only two or three fights with one round to spare inbetween, lets them get a quick buff or heal while keeping the tension). I second Mage Armour, +4 AC is nice for an otherwise squishy mage, plus it's the equivalent of über chain shirt. Arrow Mind is a must have for any Ranger archer, I think Sorceror/Wizard get it aswell. In the same vein, Ghostly Reload for the mage who likes to shoot people.
Shadowhowler 02-26-08, 10:39 AM	I'll sell you mine ;) 970 spells you'll never use and 30 that are decent. Nerveskitter is one of the 30 :) Heh... :P Isn't that always the way of it with books like that? A whole buncha crap and a few gems.
Shadowhowler 02-26-08, 10:41 AM	Ghostly Reload for the mage who likes to shoot people. Have not seen this one either... is it another SC spell? Sounds like it might duplicate the effects of the rapid reload feat.
Nephlite 02-26-08, 11:30 AM	I have my own thoughts about what are the most useful 1st level spell but I wanted to get a second opinion on the subject so I'd like to ask the question: In your opinion what are the most useful 1st level spells from any spell list in either the PHB or the Spell Compendium? Valid, bard, cleric, ranger, paladin, sorcerer, wizard, warmage, and assassin. Feel free to post your reasons why you like the spells or strategies that you use with then. For Bard: Improvisation: (was 5th level in CAv, but 1st in spell compendruim): You get luck points = 2x caster. Can only spend 1/2 your caster on a attack, skill, ability checks. But that means 4 full uses at least. Really, makes Bard a decent melee user if need be. Or use UMD with higher level stuff than normally able or Truename is he has those.
Sildatorak 02-26-08, 11:57 AM	I have to say that ray of enfeeblement and ray of clumsiness are good at low levels and amazing at mid to high levels. Using a first level spell to give an opponent -3 (or more) to attack and damage with no save (who misses on ranged touch attacks?) or -3 to AC is pretty good. They're also a good candidate for metamagic since they are low level.
Malchius 02-26-08, 04:09 PM	Have not seen this one either... is it another SC spell? Sounds like it might duplicate the effects of the rapid reload feat. In essence yes, it replicates Rapid Reload but only a few times depending on caster level, but I'd highly recommend getting a Wand of it. Unfornately it's not in Spell Compendium, it's my favourite book, Races of Dragon, it's useful but a niche spell really, useful for those mages who don't have feats to spare.
Josheva 03-01-08, 06:42 PM	Personally, I am quite fond of the spell Backbiter. At low levels it usually does more damage than other damage spells, and it denies enemy attacks at the same time. You can overcome opponents without the help of the party fighter this way.
Nathreet 03-01-08, 07:49 PM	First level spells for what level of play? At low levels Sleep is da bomb but after about 3rd level it's usefulness rapidly diminishes. Unseen Servant... Nerveskitter... Mage Armor... Benign Transposition... Silent Image... Grease... Bless weapon - generally a nice combat buff, particularly when fighting evil outsiders. Enlarge person... Grease... Lesser vigor (for wands)... Longstrider ... Lesser orbs... Swift invisibility... Sleep rocks. Swap it out at higher levels though. Benign transportation, grease, lesser vigor and longstrider rock. I'd guess that swift invisibility would too. Enlarge person sucks royally. In the end you've spent an entire round to get +0 AB, +2 to +5.5 damage (depending on weapon), and -2 AC. Letting creatures hit you 20% more often (assuming it normally takes a 10 to hit) is just too great a loss. Might kinda sorta work at level 1, but even then you're probably better off firing a crossbow or magic missile or sleep or etc. Unseen servant, silent image and bless weapon belong on scrolls. You barely use them but they're very handy when you do. So the scrolls won't cost you much and it'll free up spell slots. Might want to put other low level spells on scrolls too once you're at a high enough level to make them cost next to nothing.
JamesMaissen 03-02-08, 12:54 AM	My only complaint about Color spray is you have to be right up in their face to use it :( My wizards like to have a couple meat shields between them and harms way. Once you can sculpt spell it's a lot better but then it's a second level spell. Even when you can sculpt it you still have to be up in their face.. it doesn't change the range of the spell which is only 15ft. -James
Shadowhowler 03-02-08, 02:44 AM	Enlarge person sucks royally. In the end you've spent an entire round to get +0 AB, +2 to +5.5 damage (depending on weapon), and -2 AC. Letting creatures hit you 20% more often (assuming it normally takes a 10 to hit) is just too great a loss. Might kinda sorta work at level 1, but even then you're probably better off firing a crossbow or magic missile or sleep or etc. The big benifit to Enlarge Person that you didn't mention, and why most people use it, is to grant reach to the target.
mtbOgre 03-03-08, 11:48 AM	Even when you can sculpt it you still have to be up in their face.. it doesn't change the range of the spell which is only 15ft. That's a great point which makes me even less keen on this spell. However you can at least use the sculpted version from behind the meat shields while the non-sculpted version originates from you in a cone.
Rederik 03-03-08, 12:22 PM	One one has even mentioned Magic Missle... I just love that spell... Maybe I am just old school, but I have never played an arcane spell caster that didn't have magic missle as one of their starting spells...
Shadowhowler 03-03-08, 12:52 PM	One one has even mentioned Magic Missle... I just love that spell... Maybe I am just old school, but I have never played an arcane spell caster that didn't have magic missle as one of their starting spells... It's VERY useful, even at low levels when its damage is crap, becuase it does not require an attack roll and has decent range (medium) and no saving throw. It remains at least somewhat useful at later levels becuase it does force damage... so it does not suffer from Energy Resistances. However... I don't think to many people would put magic missle on the TOP of their list as a favorite first level spells. It's decent, dosn't suck, but is not awesome.
Ekko 03-03-08, 02:18 PM	Extended Prestidigitaion. The only cantrip worth applying a metamagic feat on.
JamesMaissen 03-03-08, 03:29 PM	That's a great point which makes me even less keen on this spell. However you can at least use the sculpted version from behind the meat shields while the non-sculpted version originates from you in a cone. You can take some benefit from using a mount here, but yeah the spell has it's downsides. Were sculpt written in a clearer, more complex form (with set templates and ranges based on the base spell) then it would be a decent use. -James
mtbOgre 03-03-08, 03:45 PM	You can take some benefit from using a mount here, but yeah the spell has it's downsides. Were sculpt written in a clearer, more complex form (with set templates and ranges based on the base spell) then it would be a decent use. Eh... Sculpt is probably the best bang for the loss of spell power metamagic out there, it doesn't need any help.
Thane26425 03-03-08, 04:10 PM	One of my favorites is a Second edition "fluff" spell from the Complete Wizard's Handbook. It is called Protection from Hunger and Thirst. It removes the need to eat or drink for one day per level. It comes in handy sometimes especially at higher levels when it lasts longer.
mtbOgre 03-03-08, 04:15 PM	One of my favorites is a Second edition "fluff" spell from the Complete Wizard's Handbook. It is called Protection from Hunger and Thirst. It removes the need to eat or drink for one day per level. It comes in handy sometimes especially at higher levels when it lasts longer. Goodberry. 2-8 pts healing (yawn) or each berry can be used to replace a meal. Berries last 1 day/ level.
Shular 03-08-08, 10:24 AM	No love for Charm Person? Really? And I've always liked Featherfall. Somebody mentioned Arrowmind. Awesome spell. My archer/sorcerer gish uses it all the time. Immediate action means you can cast it when it's not your turn (and thus make attacks of opportunity with your bow), and it will last for at least the full combat. Reduce person has some nice advantages for a wizard/sorcerer who doesn't need strength. But yeah, Benign Transposition is very powerfull for a first level spell.
Devilkiller4e 03-08-08, 12:07 PM	Warmage - Hail of Stones is great at low levels. It can hit up to 4 enemies for 5d4 damage with no SR, no save, and no attack roll. This is great for clearing out hordes of goblins and such. It even compares well with Fireball early on. Sor/Wiz get this spell too, but without warmage edge the damage is a little feeble. Abjurant Champion - Shield! Ok, you're far from being a 1st level character when you use this, but +9 AC as a swift action from a 1st level spell sounds pretty great. Cleric - Divine Favor has already been mentioned but deserves to be mentioned again. Druid - Faerie Fire is a great druid spell. Snake's Swiftness is also a great 1st level spell, especially if you make a wand. Giving a barbarian or beefy animal companion an extra attack is often a good option. Even at higher levels when Haste is available this is great for when somebody can't full attack. Bard - Inspirational Boost is a must have for bards who inspire courage. Add in a badge of valor and you're singing for +3 at 2nd level. Paladin - Rhino's Rush gives you double damage on a charge. Combined with charging smite this can produce horrific damage totals.