Best Illusion, Conjuration, and Enchantment Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Illusion, Conjuration, and Enchantment Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Half_Dragon_Infernal
03-06-08, 09:49 AM Hi, i'm going to start a gnome illusionist focusing on these spells, and i'm not sure what spells are good. I'll be using Chain of Disbelief (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#chainsofDis belief). I want mostly Conjuration and Illusion though, enchantment is a side dish. Include the level and book with the spell. Check my signature for books.
RobbyPants
03-06-08, 10:15 AM Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head:

Conjuration:

Level 1:

Wall of Smoke (SC) - make a small wall of smoke that forces anyone inside to make a Fort save or be nauseated for one round.
Grease (PHB) - anyone with less than 5 ranks in Balance is flat-footed while balancing. The party rogue will love you!
Mage Armor (PHB) - great duration.
Lesser ___ Orb (SC) - most of these are pretty good. They completely ignore Spell Resistance and there's no save (ranged touch attack to hit).

Level 2:

Web (PHB) - Wonderful crowd control for its level. Even if they make their save, they still need high Str or Escape Artist rolls to move.
Baleful Transportation (SC) - Swaps the location of two creatures, but each gets a Will save. If it works, you can put the BBEG right next to your fighter, and the BBEG's henchman in the back ranks!

Level 3:

Nauseating Breath (SC) - All in the cone must make a Fort save or be nauseated for 1d6 rounds.
Bands of Steel (SC) - Similar to Hold Person, but conjuration instead, and targets Reflex instead of Will.

Level 4:

Dimension Door (PHB) - Get out of grapples now! Only a verbal component.
Evard's Black Tenticles (PHB) - Good at the level you get it, and for a while afterward. Great crowd control.
Solid Fog (PHB) - Nice crowd control. Stacks on others like Evard's Black Tenticles and Web. Pop out this and a Quickened Web, and they're going nowhere!

Illusion:

Level 1:

Color Spray (PHB) - great Will-save-or-lose for it's level. Not as good at higher levels.

Level 2:

Mirror Image (PHB) - Helps keep you from getting hit.
Phantasmal Assailants (SC) - Weaker version of Phantasmal Killer. Will negates. If they fail, they must make a Fort save. Take 8 Dex and Wis damage (not a penalty, so it stacks!), or 4 damage on a successful Fort save.
Invisibility (PHB) - good for defensive and utility purposes, or for setting up an attack.

Level 4:

Greater Invisibility (PHB) - Actually useful in combat.
Phantasmal Killer (PHB) - One of your earliest Save-or-dies. Sadly, they get two saves!

PHB - Player's Handbook
SC - Spell Compendium
skywyze
03-06-08, 10:23 AM What level will you be, and were you looking for any particular types of advice? Spells to choose, feats, etc?
Half_Dragon_Infernal
03-06-08, 10:43 AM Mostly just spells to choose. We are starting at level 1, but I like to plan ahead. I think spells up to level 5 will do.
skywyze
03-06-08, 10:49 AM I'd go for Web, Invisibility and above all: Silent Image. I cannot stress enough how useful this spell is. The ability to create anything you'd like on the spot is uncanny. I've used it to scare away whole tribes of giants at level 5 - giants who'd kill us all in a single hit. It's one of those spells that are only as powerful as its user is creative - if you're creative, it's practically god-mode.
Half_Dragon_Infernal
03-06-08, 07:13 PM Thanks. I was thinking of using a combination of illusion and conjuration spells to look like I have a bunch of minions.
RobbyPants
03-08-08, 10:07 AM Here's a great link I can point you toward: Being Batman: the Logic Ninja's Guide to Wizards (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500). In addition to being a good wizard guide overall, he lists some of the really good spells, separtated out into those found in the PHB and those found elsewhere.

They aren't sorted by school, but you can figure it out pretty eaisly. Anyway, I think all the ones I listed above are on there, and you'll find more goodies too.
Arminel
03-08-08, 03:25 PM In addition to the already mentioned:

(2) Glitterdust (PHB): Save-or-blind AoE. Doesn't get much better than this.
(2) Blinding Color Surge (PHB2): Save-or-blind single target, plus 1 round / level invisibility.
(2) Cloud of Bewilderment (SpC): Small area Stinking Cloud. Wicked effects.
(3) Stinking Cloud (PHB): Great effects. They lose actions = win. Combine with Web to keep them in there for maximum effect.
(3) Slow (PHB): Transmutation, but good nonetheless. AoE save-or-massively suck.

Also, if you are going Conjuration, get Sculpt Spell. Best metamagic in my book, period.
RobbyPants
03-09-08, 10:06 AM Also, if you are going Conjuration, get Sculpt Spell. Best metamagic in my book, period.
Good point. This one works great with grease, as one of the choices is a 20 foot radius, which matches the shape of may other great conjuration spells.

A sculpted grease and a web is a prett low level way to keep things stuck in an area for a little bit.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Half_Dragon_Infernal 03-06-08, 09:49 AM	Hi, i'm going to start a gnome illusionist focusing on these spells, and i'm not sure what spells are good. I'll be using Chain of Disbelief (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#chainsofDis belief). I want mostly Conjuration and Illusion though, enchantment is a side dish. Include the level and book with the spell. Check my signature for books.
RobbyPants 03-06-08, 10:15 AM	Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head: Conjuration: Level 1: Wall of Smoke (SC) - make a small wall of smoke that forces anyone inside to make a Fort save or be nauseated for one round. Grease (PHB) - anyone with less than 5 ranks in Balance is flat-footed while balancing. The party rogue will love you! Mage Armor (PHB) - great duration. Lesser ___ Orb (SC) - most of these are pretty good. They completely ignore Spell Resistance and there's no save (ranged touch attack to hit). Level 2: Web (PHB) - Wonderful crowd control for its level. Even if they make their save, they still need high Str or Escape Artist rolls to move. Baleful Transportation (SC) - Swaps the location of two creatures, but each gets a Will save. If it works, you can put the BBEG right next to your fighter, and the BBEG's henchman in the back ranks! Level 3: Nauseating Breath (SC) - All in the cone must make a Fort save or be nauseated for 1d6 rounds. Bands of Steel (SC) - Similar to Hold Person, but conjuration instead, and targets Reflex instead of Will. Level 4: Dimension Door (PHB) - Get out of grapples now! Only a verbal component. Evard's Black Tenticles (PHB) - Good at the level you get it, and for a while afterward. Great crowd control. Solid Fog (PHB) - Nice crowd control. Stacks on others like Evard's Black Tenticles and Web. Pop out this and a Quickened Web, and they're going nowhere! Illusion: Level 1: Color Spray (PHB) - great Will-save-or-lose for it's level. Not as good at higher levels. Level 2: Mirror Image (PHB) - Helps keep you from getting hit. Phantasmal Assailants (SC) - Weaker version of Phantasmal Killer. Will negates. If they fail, they must make a Fort save. Take 8 Dex and Wis damage (not a penalty, so it stacks!), or 4 damage on a successful Fort save. Invisibility (PHB) - good for defensive and utility purposes, or for setting up an attack. Level 4: Greater Invisibility (PHB) - Actually useful in combat. Phantasmal Killer (PHB) - One of your earliest Save-or-dies. Sadly, they get two saves! PHB - Player's Handbook SC - Spell Compendium
skywyze 03-06-08, 10:23 AM	What level will you be, and were you looking for any particular types of advice? Spells to choose, feats, etc?
Half_Dragon_Infernal 03-06-08, 10:43 AM	Mostly just spells to choose. We are starting at level 1, but I like to plan ahead. I think spells up to level 5 will do.
skywyze 03-06-08, 10:49 AM	I'd go for Web, Invisibility and above all: Silent Image. I cannot stress enough how useful this spell is. The ability to create anything you'd like on the spot is uncanny. I've used it to scare away whole tribes of giants at level 5 - giants who'd kill us all in a single hit. It's one of those spells that are only as powerful as its user is creative - if you're creative, it's practically god-mode.
Half_Dragon_Infernal 03-06-08, 07:13 PM	Thanks. I was thinking of using a combination of illusion and conjuration spells to look like I have a bunch of minions.
RobbyPants 03-08-08, 10:07 AM	Here's a great link I can point you toward: Being Batman: the Logic Ninja's Guide to Wizards (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500). In addition to being a good wizard guide overall, he lists some of the really good spells, separtated out into those found in the PHB and those found elsewhere. They aren't sorted by school, but you can figure it out pretty eaisly. Anyway, I think all the ones I listed above are on there, and you'll find more goodies too.
Arminel 03-08-08, 03:25 PM	In addition to the already mentioned: (2) Glitterdust (PHB): Save-or-blind AoE. Doesn't get much better than this. (2) Blinding Color Surge (PHB2): Save-or-blind single target, plus 1 round / level invisibility. (2) Cloud of Bewilderment (SpC): Small area Stinking Cloud. Wicked effects. (3) Stinking Cloud (PHB): Great effects. They lose actions = win. Combine with Web to keep them in there for maximum effect. (3) Slow (PHB): Transmutation, but good nonetheless. AoE save-or-massively suck. Also, if you are going Conjuration, get Sculpt Spell. Best metamagic in my book, period.
RobbyPants 03-09-08, 10:06 AM	Also, if you are going Conjuration, get Sculpt Spell. Best metamagic in my book, period. Good point. This one works great with grease, as one of the choices is a 20 foot radius, which matches the shape of may other great conjuration spells. A sculpted grease and a web is a prett low level way to keep things stuck in an area for a little bit.