An interesting spell with a discouragingly tongue-wrangling name, this ninth level number lets the caster conjure one 'magic absorbing sphere' per caster level, each with the ability to negate any spell or spell-like ability, regardless of level, that directly targets the caster (or any other character affected by the spell, as you can shift its effects 1/round as a standard action).
This seems to me a pretty effective magical protection, even if ninth level spells are normally expected to deliver more spectacular results. I haven't seen it recommended as a spell anywhere in the handbooks, and was wondering what your opinions were regarding this spell.
I've never been good with magical defenses, sorcerers are my line of caster and I've always been steadfast in my belief that it's best to turn your opponent into a greasy smear before they get the chance to blast you straight into your next character sheet. However, I've become painfully aware of the need to adequately defend yourself against enemy spellcasters, and have taken steps to improve my sorcerer's defences, such as taking Wings of Cover and purchasing an item of constant Ray Deflection (SpC, pg 156). Still, I'm looking for a capstone defensive ability and wondered if Effulgent Epuration might be what I'm looking for, so if anybody has any opinions concerning this particular spell, or any other protective spells that might come in handy, please feel free to share.
-LI
The ability to shift it to other people--that'd be better if you didn't have to shift all of them. If you could distribute the spheres it'd be worthwhile.
-LI
Cheers for the input.
-LI
Effulgent Epuration (Originally Elminster's Effulgent Epuration): Spell Compendium, pg 78. An interesting spell with a discouragingly tongue-wrangling name, this ninth level number lets the caster conjure one 'magic absorbing sphere' per caster level, each with the ability to negate any spell or spell-like ability, regardless of level, that directly targets the caster (or any other character affected by the spell, as you can shift its effects 1/round as a standard action). This seems to me a pretty effective magical protection, even if ninth level spells are normally expected to deliver more spectacular results. I haven't seen it recommended as a spell anywhere in the handbooks, and was wondering what your opinions were regarding this spell. I've never been good with magical defenses, sorcerers are my line of caster and I've always been steadfast in my belief that it's best to turn your opponent into a greasy smear before they get the chance to blast you straight into your next character sheet. However, I've become painfully aware of the need to adequately defend yourself against enemy spellcasters, and have taken steps to improve my sorcerer's defences, such as taking Wings of Cover and purchasing an item of constant Ray Deflection (SpC, pg 156). Still, I'm looking for a capstone defensive ability and wondered if Effulgent Epuration might be what I'm looking for, so if anybody has any opinions concerning this particular spell, or any other protective spells that might come in handy, please feel free to share.
I don't know if you're still playing 3.5 five years later, but we are (my current campaign started in 2002 using 3.0) and I just wanted to point out that like spell turning and absorb, effulgent eupration affects only spell that have "Target" in the lines above the spell description, and only if they're not touch spells, but doesn't affect tough spells with "Target" or "Effect" spells, or "Area" spells. So it would affect a greater dispel magic targeted at you (or the spell itself) but not an area dispel. Since all ray spells are "Effect" spells rather than "Target" spells, ray spells igore effulgent eupration, so it's not nearly as effective a protection against spells as it might seem at first.