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Just a few observations I've made recently.



Furthermore, there is a definite lack of a good ranged attack at the second circle. Yes, melf's acid arrow is amazing, however this is unaccessible to an evoker... someone who focuses on blowing things up.

Since we can't add spells easily (though I understand it is technically possible in NWNX), I would suggest that the two ranged offensive evocation spells at this level, be given a range buff. Therefore Cloud of Bewilderment (no damage) would be given a long range, and Gedlee's Loop (moderate damage) would be given a medium range.

Yes, these spells are powerful, but it must also be remembered that they effect party members as well. With Cloud of Bewilderment being a Poison save, there is no good way to protect your own party from it's effects (mind immunity blocks the stun, not the blindness). Gedlee's Loop can be mitigated with Elemental Protection, but the stun is still there that will effect party members and, to my knowledge, cannot be blocked, only saved against.

Therefore, since both can be detrimental to the party (potentially causing more harm than good), I believe that their ranges should be increased so that they can act more as buffers against oncoming mobs or archers.

Third Circle - Fireball and Scintillating Sphere are essentially identical. The only difference should be flavor. However, Scintillating Sphere has a reduced range for no good reason. It does the same damage as a fireball and offers no other perks. I say it needs increasing, or else some other bonus. But really, just the increased range would suffice.

That's about all for now.

As you can tell, i am, as always biassed in favour of wizards and sorcerers, howver think i can still add some constructive critisism.

Firstly, for ice dagger, seeing the damage can be bloqued or at least greatly reduced by a level 1 spell, i'd say it should be considerably stronger than magic missile, yet magic missile always does 5 more damage. I agree with Heart to remove the cap. But also increse the range the point is to severly harm and posibly kill the enemy before your fighters are harmed, with such a low range either you get harmed or the fighters do.

As for level 2, remember we have comburst. It is a very strong spell, the only singe-targer offensive spell worth using in EFU:A IMO. I'd like variety though, have geedle's do a similar damage (2d6+1 per caster level) and give it some range, it won't do too much damage against a single target because there will be no subsequent damage, but it has the chance of dealing it to several enemies. In order for this to work though, the enemies must not be close to your party members so a long casting range would be needed, if the AoE would be slightly increses too, it would help.

Cloud of bewilderment is too risky to use IMO. And besides sometimes enemies don't even make a saving throw. Increse the range.

As for fireball and the electric fireball, they should be the same with diferent elemental damage, i agree, just adjust therange.


I'd also like the server to have some variety in spells, for example, ice dagger will be more used if the change is implemented, but you could make horizakul's boom be the similar so mages would chose between one or another and some would use one, some the other.

Horzikul's boom is already a pretty potent spell against another caster. Deafness causes spell failure.

Yes, however the saving throw is Will. Most spellcsters will be able to resist it with ease.

I admit i hadn't think of it PvPwise though, in a quest a chane to silence a spellcaster does nothing really, on a player...

you have a point, i take back the suggestion of horizakul's boom

Quote from: Drakill Tannan;138249As for level 2, remember we have comburst. It is a very strong spell, the only singe-targer offensive spell worth using in EFU:A IMO.

Try Acid Arrow some time. Medium range 3d6 dmg on hit, 1-3 rounds of unsaveable 1d6 dmg. Less initial damage, yes, but the range and total lack of save makes up for it. It is Conjuration though so an Evoker can't use it. That's the price you pay for speccing.

Cloud is fine, you just need to aim it. And the *point* of a save is that sometimes things make it. It might be better with Medium range, possibly but Long range on that would be rediculous. It would make it better than Gust of Wind! I've always found Short range fine if you treat it as a "landmine" or "artillery". The best use of it is to drop it in front of an advance. Then, some get stunned, some dont, but your party faces fewer at a time, as some are stuck in the Cloud. It also kicks the ass of mages in a duel. Oh, and, get your party to use Ironguts to up their fort saves vs it.

The point of Gedlee's isn't damage. It's got 1-5d6 dmg, reflex for half but it also applies a 1 round stun if the targets fail a will save. It's not a great spell TBH but the wands of it are handy if aimed right against low Reflex/Will targets. Mid range, sure, it would help to aim it into the back of a group.

Scint Sphere really should be buffed to the same range as Fireball. They are identical, and with Wild Orc Fire Immunity, it's nice to have something that works.

The most important trick with offensive spells though is a simple one. The stuff you can't protect against easily is GOLD, because the enemy can't either. However, it all comes down to the one key skill in offensive casting. Learn To Aim.

Quote from: Egon the Monkey;138310Try Acid Arrow some time. Medium range 3d6 dmg on hit, 1-3 rounds of unsaveable 1d6 dmg. Less initial damage, yes, but the range and total lack of save makes up for it. It is Conjuration though so an Evoker can't use it. That's the price you pay for speccing..

Which is, as stated, rather silly considering an Evoker is meant to be blowing things up. Don't you agree?

The main problem I find with Cloud of Bewilderment, however, is that in order to aim it well (you admitted yourself it's too risky to use) requires you to go out in front of your front line in order to aim it without hitting your own party. Thus potentially drawing in more monsters than would have even aggroed in the first place, putting you in grave danger, and putting your party in worse danger than if you had simply stood still.

If the range is not increased, then party members should at the very least be made immune to it, as is suggested in the spell's description.

Also, I know the point of Gedlee's isn't damage. Once again, it's an issue of causing your party more damage than you're preventing. It has a short range and short AoE. It also has the nasty habit of stunning your front line, as well as some, but potentially not all of the monsters attacking them. Meaning they are taking more damage (no dodge bonus, flat footed) for a round, and could potentially miss drinking a life saving potion. There is no such thing as aiming this one right without putting yourself in a oneshotdead situation. It's range is too limited to not effect your own party.

With a longer range, it could be used to stop an advance, or disable archers or casters temporarily. It simply changes it's tactical use. Right now it is a risky crap shoot.

Acid arrow is fine, as is comburst. Let's not discuss something that doesn't need a fix. Unless any of you disagree.

Gedlee's does need a change. It's not practical to use in party because either you need to be at the fronline so it does't affect your allies, in wich case the fragile wizard is greatly endangered and since the enemies are not to close to each other, chances are you'll hit one or two if you are lucky, or you risk of putting in serious risk your own allies.

I actually once killed a party member using it, i casted it while the enemies were about to hit him and it bounced to him. He got something like 9 damage, was stunned and while stunned got hit twice, so he died.

If the range is incresed you can use it on the enemies before they get to your allies. But unless the AoE is incresed you'll hit one or two, and therefore acid arrow is simply better.

My suggestion is to retain the low range but increse the AoE, and make it similar to chain lightning: it bounces on 1 enemy per two caster levels after it strikes the first enemy.

I've been noticing so many of these suggestions are about spellcasters and various suggested imbalances in PvP.


I really see no issue here, there is one spell in particular that counters all buffs and is readily accessible.


Not being prepared with the right spells is the Wizard's fault, not the game's. Blaming your being unprepared because this or any spell wouldn't be as useful on a quest you're going on is not only a bad excuse, in my opinion, but metagaming.


I'm not accusing anyone, but myself, and others i'm sure, have seen similar trends.

Sobe: I'm speaking in pure generalities here. Magic Missle/Ice Dagger is a simple argument. They are both damage spells, they are both equal level. They should both do similar damage. Especially since the one that currently does less damage by default, also has more counters. Variety is good. This would provide some.

As for Cloud and Gedlees, I just feel that they are not very useful in their current forms. Are they powerful? Yes. But they are just as likely to kill you as to turn the tide. In fact, I'd almost say they are more likely to harm you and your party than to help. Not talking about PvP. Hell, hold person, haste, Magic Missle spam will kill most unprepared characters. Invis/PhK too. If your only concern is making these spells too powerful for PvP, I doubt you have very much to worry about. I rarely ever see them used.

Making them better would just mean more variety. Variety is good. I like variety. Bad enough we are limited to so few spells when DnD has such a rich spell selection. Even worse that we use so few of those that we are limited to in order to maximize our effectiveness. Would a little variety really break PvP that badly?

I think not.

Cloud is quite good, but most of the affects can be mitigated by good saves/gear, so I do not see a problem with its limited range.

Gedlee's indeed should get a range increase. Simply compare it against Sound Burst and the ways in which it is lacking are numerous indeed!

Scint Sphere really should have the range of a fireball.

I'm sorry, since you're just moving past one of my favourite spells I feel like I need to intervene. It's important to study the progression of an early spell as much as its effect from a higher level mage, to understand exactly why it exists the way it does.

So, in this post I'll be discussing Ice Dagger.

According to NWNWiki (//%22http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Ice_dagger%22), Ice Dagger deals 1d4 damage per caster level, to a maximum of 5. As we all know, Magic Missile deals 1d4+1 damage every two caster levels after the first, to a maximum of 5d4+5 in total damage. This may seem uneven at first, with Ice Dagger dealing 20 damage and Magic Missile dealing 25, typically irresistible as Magic-type damage. However, there are two things your conclusion has overlooked:

Firstly, the elemental damage should not be seen as a weakness, but a bonus. Consider that some creatures have a vulnerability to Cold, in which case this spell does additional damage. You'll see this use of elemental spells quite often throughout the early spells, such as Fireball and Scintillating Sphere. The former has a higher range than the latter, but S.S. offers an Electricity-based alternative to the Fireball that is very useful. My own Evoker often prepared Lightning Bolts and Scintillating Spheres when she intended to explore underwater, knowing that water conducts electricity (this is included in a custom script on EfU:A as a damage vulnerability to Electrical damage while underwater).

Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, you must pay attention to the spell progression as well. Do not consider a level 9 mage casting Magic Missile and Ice Dagger; the comparison cannot stand favourably for the Ice Dagger. As I wrote in-character in the DSM-II article The Manipulation of Kinetic Energy For Its Anti-Hostility Properties (//%22http://www.escapefromunderdark.com/forums/showpost.php?p=102645&postcount=3%22), "As a wizard becomes more powerful, the magic missile will become more effective in a direct and measurable way. In the school of Invocation, it is said that a wizard is only as powerful as their magic missile spell."

My point in this instance is that at a lower level, wizards and sorcerers have fewer spell options. Starting at caster level 2 until caster level 7, ice dagger actually does more damage on average than the Magic Missile. A level 2 wizard will deal 2d4 damage with the ice dagger, and only 1d4+1 with a magic missile. A level 5 character deals 5d4 damage with ice dagger, but only 3d4+3 with magic missile. For low level characters, which this server has plenty of, the ice dagger is clearly the superior choice.

I would also like to discuss the range. In my experience, Short (8m) range spells are dangerous for a fragile mage to get off, but not impossible. You need to familiarize yourself with spell ranges, to get a feel of where you can position yourself on a battlefield to do the most good while taking the least risk. It may seem easier to snipe with magic missiles from their longest range, but there are three problems with this: First, you often don't see new enemies until they are already upon your lines; Second, at such a distance it can be difficult to manuever the camera during a highly populated melee to safely target specific enemies; Third, and most important, sniping from a distance typically leaves a mage vulnerable, as there are many enemies that are scripted to attack from stealth and wizards can only cross-class the Spot and Listen skills.

QuoteMy own Evoker often prepared Lightning Bolts and Scintillating Spheres when she intended to explore underwater, knowing that electricity damage vulnerability is applied to all creatures when underwater.

I thought underwater applied 100% spellfail too though?

50% I think

Quote from: Thomas_Not_very_wise;13840550% I think

Less, if you don't breathe.

Next, I would like to address your comments regarding Cloud of Bewilderment and Gedlee's Electric Loop. Your primary issue seems to again be with range, considering that both these spells are Short (8m). I think perhaps you're being preoccupied with range; if the range is short, then simply get closer.

Cloud of Bewilderment is an excellent example of something I touched on earlier, when I said that it's important to familiarize yourself with spell ranges. In truth, each spell is unique despite there being only a few set ranges. Cloud of Bewilderment, however, is an area-of-effect (AoE) spell, and very dangerous to rogues, mages, and bards in particular because it affects the Fortitude save. Being a cloud, its range points to the furthest point at which you can create the center of the effect. This can be dangerous to a novice Evoker, but with good practice you can virtually close off an entire part of the battlefield.

This leads into my second point on CoB, which is its actual effect. I believe you must be comparing it to the Stinking Cloud, which is a third circle Conjuration with a very similar effect. However, the effect is not the same at all. Stinking Cloud creates a Daze effect, which, although it effects the Fortitude save in this spell, is in fact a mind-affecting spell. This means that in the case of creatures immune to mind-affecting spells (such as many vermin), Stinking Cloud is useless. Furthermore, when Dazed you may still move (at a reduced speed), and even drink potions. I believe in this case, a potion of Clarity sound defeats the entire thing.

Cloud of Bewilderment, despite being one circle lower as a spell, is greatly superior. A stun completely stops a character in their tracks, preventing them from moving at all, or even drinking potions. Furthermore, according to its relevant NWNWiki entry, "Targets that are immune to mind-affecting spells can still be blinded by the cloud, though they will not be stunned." What this means is that all creatures that do not specifically have the very rare Immunity: Blindness or Immunity: Poison effects will be influenced by this spell.

Next, Gedlee's Electric Loop. In this part, I will address your concern of a lack of ranged attack spells available to a specialized Evoker. There are three spells I would like to suggest first as exceptions to your point, which is quite true as you've stated it; with the exception of Melf's Acid Arrow, there's no spell that deals damage at a range higher than Short in the second circle.

Blindness/Deafness is a fortitude-affecting spell that handily disrupts casters and warriors alike. Its range is and its type is Enchantment, making it available to all save Illusionists (which really have no right to complain ever). Lesser Dispel is an abjuration, and available to all mages (along with Necromancy and Evocation spells). It is infinitely useful at all levels, especially against NPC casters and bosses that like to buff up. Finally, Darkness is a tried-and-true Evocation spell that can be used both offensively and defensively; casting from Darkness is a great way to be protected, and combining it with Ultravision increases AB and makes enemies flatfooted for sneak attacks.

Again, to your point on range: although Gedlee's is a short-range spell, it is also an AoE. Mind you, the area is quite small, and it can affect allies as well as enemies. The Rat Arcanist uses this spell in its arsenal, which can be dangerous for your side of the battle unless you position it correctly. However, consider what other spells the Rat Arcanist uses: blur, negative energy ray, and electric jolt. What we see from its preferred spell-list is an example of using multiple spell circles to their best effect.

First circle spells carry many important, basic buffs like Mage Armour, PvE/PvG, Magic Weapon, and Shield. It also carries staple attack spells like Neg. Energy Ray, Magic Missile, Color Spray, and yes, even Ice Dagger. The second circle seems to lack these attack spells outside the Acid Arrow, but it heavily increases the number of buff spells. Blur exists here, along with Invis/See Invis, the 6 Transmutations, and the ever-useful Flame Weapon. Its close-range spells are also top notch. The second circle spell carries perhaps the most popular touch-range spell, being Combust.

My point here is that just because you've attained the second circle, does not mean that the first is obsolete. Early spells increase rapidly to keep the wizard effective until third and fourth level spells become available, and even then they still have their uses. Many people swear by Cantrip wands, being a cheap and effective way to stay in the battle. If you are still concerned about a lack of effective damage from your level 3-4 wizard, I return to my earlier point: a wizard is only as powerful as their magic missile spell.

You get a free Wizard feat at level 5; consider Silent Spell or Empower Spell, to include more Magic Missiles in your arsenal.

To retort to Scotty's cunning defence of ice dagger...
 
While ice dagger's average damage does exceed magic missile's within a certain lvl range, it's main comparative weakness is the reflex save.
 
Enemies can save to take half, or even zero, damage.
With this in mind, ice dagger is only more effective assuming enemies with little chance of making the save.
 
Compare with burning hands, however, and you have the same reflex save, the same dmg progression and the same issue of elemental strength/weakness.
So what makes burning hands a viable alternative to magic missile?
 
Area of Effect!
This is a big plus that, in many situations, more than compensates for the reflex save.
 
There is a trade off with using burning hands over mm.
All ice dagger brings to the table is elemental damage, making it vastly inferior to both spells except in the hypothetical battle against clumsy fire monsters.
 
Wouldn't it be reasonable to make the spell comparable to either magic missile or burning hands?
 
Imo, either removing the save or altering the spell to include an aoe would bring the spell to the point where it is worth the memorising.
 
Or add more clumsy fire monsters to the mod!

Funnily enough, some spells are better than others. I don't see why DMs should have to edit the spells to make them all 'equal'. If you prefer to use some of the less-powerful spells as a matter of style, than that's what makes you stylish; especially if you can succeed with them.

I greatly disagree with you Caddies, having some spells better than others just makes people use the same spells over and over. Maybe you enjoy purposely nerfing your own character, in the same way i've seen players take dirty fighting, snake blood and thug on a PW with high level and virtually no poison just for the taste, but in my experience people doesn't like to nerf their character for style.

As for love the suit's post:

The problem about cloud of bewilderment and gedlee's electric loop is still there: the AoE and low range. Surely with a right placement you can make them effective, but what are you risking for the right placement?

Casting gedlee's against the enemies that haven't started to run is pointless. the damage done is a joke and the 1 round stun will not help much unless it is done to several enemies, however the AoE is so small it will harm only 1 enemy, or 2 if they are very close, in any case it won't do much if you can't target 3 enemies at least, but then even if you could do so it's highly unlikely you can do so from behind the frontline, the enemies would have to be blind and the fighters not at all eager to fight, otherwise you are at the front, since you won't stun all enemies with a single spell something is going to come after you before the others can save you. On low level quests you can escape, on high level quests likely 2 hits will take you down unless you are buffed with stoneskin.

THe other way to target more than a single enemy with gedlee's is to wait untill the enemy is over your fighters and then cast it, in wich case it will affect 3 or more, but will damage your caster, only in very few ocacions will you be able to pull it off without targeting the fighter and that is completly dependent of the enemy AI, only if a certian patern is met your skill actually comes into game.

What i propose changes it, if it acts as a chain lighing you can cast it when the enemies are surrounding your fighters, it might save his life and even if not, save him a lot of trobule the range woudln't have to be changed, and it wouldn't depend on where the monsters step to be pulled right, not as much at least. With slightly greater AoE it will allow you to help 2 fighters at once even, if the right circumstances are given, however in order not to become imbalanced for each 1d6 damage it stuns 1 enemy.

As for cloud of bewilderment, i agree with the right knowledge and placement it can change a fight, but it also depend on how randomly the enemy choses the targers, there are some times were it simply can't be pulled without provoking an AoO or luring an archer, at times it is too risky. Slighly farther range is all i ask, 2m say would allow some flexibility since you wouldn't have to go in front, but would still require the right placement for good effect.

Magic missile can't asolve the firepower issue either, the damage it does is far too low compared to the high HP of the average enemy, at level 9 it takes 2-3 hits with average to high damage to kill the average enemy, in the OCs at such low levels the average enemy has 15-20 life or so, perfectly killable with a lucky rolled ice dagger, or a good magic missile, that is because the spells were meant to be effective against mobs with such HP, in EFU:A the average non fodder enemy has 50 life or more, even if you can dobule your magic missiles, it won't do a thing. While this could be fixed by incresing the AC and lowering the HP of monsters that is a change too big for i to dare to propose, so i won't, the thing is, we need spells with "other usefull" effects that raw damage OR AoE damage spells for them to be worht using instead of a summon.Or spells that simply do damage comparable to the HP of monsters, such as comburst.

As for fireball and Scintillating Sphere they should have the same range, the damage type should be the only diference, especially with orcs being resistant to fire as they are.

I'd also like to add, ultravision does not counter darkness, acording to the mechanical changes page here in EFU:A, therefore having a mage who casts ultravision on an ally and darkness on the mobs is really not as effective, unless the fighter has blind fight in wich case it will be only half as effective. I greatly disagree with this change, but there it is. I suppose it's a PvP balance issue like hold person.

Lastly but not least, casting offensive spells underwater is stupid less you consider yourself very lucky. For underwater adventures it's either buffing, self buffing or both.

Quote from: Caddies;138421Funnily enough, some spells are better than others. I don't see why DMs should have to edit the spells to make them all 'equal'. If you prefer to use some of the less-powerful spells as a matter of style, than that's what makes you stylish; especially if you can succeed with them.

This.

Quote from: Caddies;138421Funnily enough, some spells are better than others. I don't see why DMs should have to edit the spells to make them all 'equal'. If you prefer to use some of the less-powerful spells as a matter of style, than that's what makes you stylish; especially if you can succeed with them.

Think this nails it here.

In much the same way as using any of the 'poor' alternative weapons to the usual staple of bastard sword, longsword, shortsword and greataxe, there are 'poorer' alternative spells.

However, the STYLE bonus from killing an enemy with an ice dagger to the face is priceless, and DM's nooooticce these thinnnngs...

Signature spells are cool.

Pssh.
After blasting through a staff full of magic missile and getting hell of bored of the animation, I used ice dagger tons of times.
Nobody noticed except a Stygian with an ice fetish.
 
Admittedly, it's satisfying when you do manage to kill something with it.  
Like nailing somebody in the head with a grenade in Call of Duty.

@Drakill

Darkness and Ultra have been reverted to their standard forms, it's the webpage that's out of date. Believe me on this, I have used it on numerous quests recently to give excellent concealment especially in boss fights.

Quotein my experience people doesn't like to nerf their character for style.

I really wouldn't argue that against a player (caddies) whose last PC used a shortsword and spear on his fighter rather than a longsword and greataxe.

QuoteMagic missile can't asolve the firepower issue either, the damage it does is far too low compared to the high HP of the average enemy, at level 9 it takes 2-3 hits with average to high damage to kill the average enemy

You don't have enough magic missiles to waste them on average enemies anyway. Reserve them for bosses and critically important stuff. Against a high AC or very deadly target, unstoppable damage is handy. For your average goons, hit the lot with a Colour Spray and let your team clear up the stunned mess.

Also, the vast majority of your problems can be solved by, and I'm going to hammer this home a bit:

Learning.
To.
Aim.

Gedlee's and Cloud can both be cast at the floor. It is perfectly possible to aim them and even fireballs to clip the front of a group of mobs and miss your frontline. Providing nobody rushes into the AoE, you're fine. You can aim ahead of an enemy, predicting where he'll end up. You can aim to the side, to catch the mobs in the Gedlee's Small AoE without hitting your guys. And if you can't strafe a goon with a colour spray cone whils missing your guy, I suggest going and practicing on a campaign or action server (that's what I did).

Now, go back and read LTS's rant. Much as improvements would be nice, he makes a good case for why not. I'm convinced.

Finally, ScottyB has NOT contributed to this discussion AT ALL. To those of you looking at the avatar, not the name....
Lovethesuit has you well and truly conned, simply by swapping his avatar for a copy of ScottyB's.
Bravo, LTS. Bravo.

Quote from: Anonymous Bosch;138419To retort to Scotty's cunning defence of ice dagger...

That is not SCOTTYB. LTS really needs to change his avatar, I'm tired of people confusing him for a DM.

Quote from: FleetingHeart;138436That is not SCOTTYB. LTS really needs to change his avatar, I'm tired of people confusing him for a DM.

:) Good cause I care alot about what you're tired of so I'm just gonna go ahead and fix it thx for volunteering

Caddies hit the nail on the head. Making all the spells samey is nothing more than a useless time sink that sucks the fun and variety out of magic.

As for the Ice Dagger save, I would counter with the fact that Shield, a 1st circle abjuration available to any sorcerer/wizard, -completely- counters Magic Missile for 1 turn/level.

Why would Fleeting Heart quote what he just posted?

Quote from: lovethesuit;138437:) Good cause I care alot about what you're tired of so I'm just gonna go ahead and fix it thx for volunteering

Caddies hit the nail on the head. Making all the spells samey is nothing more than a useless time sink that sucks the fun and variety out of magic.

As for the Ice Dagger save, I would counter with the fact that Shield, a 1st circle abjuration available to any sorcerer/wizard, -completely- counters Magic Missile for 1 turn/level.

Ice dagger still has more going against it than magic missiles.
Ice Dagger:
[LIST=1]

• Reflex save for half/no damage depending on feats
• Blur
• Any one of three elemental resistance spells that last for long durations

Magic Missiles
[LIST=1]

• Shield, short duration block
• Blur, long duration block

Really, the main reason I want to see the range increased on Ice Dagger is that it is extremely easy to get stuck in situations where you can't cast it at all or at least, not where it would help most (like taking down an enemy spellcaster rapidly). Especially in tight corridors.

If the damage stays, fine. I just thought I'd toss it in there. It makes sense to me. Even if the damage scaling of Ice Dagger were matched identically to Magic Missiles (1d4+1 per 2 levels), it would still average less damage due to the reflex save.

As for Scint Sphere and Fireball? Both have advantages in certain places. Sure, a Scintillating Sphere will do more underwater, but a fireball will do more versus fire weak mobs. Not that I know of any, but I also can't think of any situations where I would be likely to actually cast Scintillating Sphere underwater. Wand it? Sure, but to risk the spell failure is too much.

Cloud and Gedlee's I stand by. Their short ranges make them extremely situational. Extremely. Are they powerful in those situations? Yes. No doubt of that. But those situations come up so rarely that they aren't the types of spell you can justify memorizing regularly without metagaming some information. And yes, I know that Cloud can be cast behind monsters to avoid your front line, but doing so often puts you in the thick of things where maneuvering is unpredictable or impossible. It also can very easily put you in perception range of mobs that have not yet run forward, causing them to lock onto you first. God forbid they be archers. A bump to their range would just mean more mages choosing to cast them. Again, variety. You all worry about the loss of variety, but I'm trying to introduce some by making these spells more versatile.

As for the comments about cantrip wands, this was always my intention and now that I've reached a level where I can make them, I am carrying several around with me at all times. Two and a half gold per charge is a no brainer to keep yourself in the game and doing damage on a long tough quest. But this doesn't solve the fact that the spells I choose to use for flavor (primarily Cloud, but also Gedlee's) are so rarely useful without putting my party in grave danger. I'm honestly considering still spell next level for the sole purpose of having more ice daggers or burning hands to toss around instead of clouds.

Also, I don't care if you copy my forum avatar. My voice carries little to no weight around here and I accept that. Impersonating a DM is an entirely different issue and I've seen far too often where your opinion is taken as gold because people think you are a DM. It's bad form and abusive. You shouldn't need to be told this.

Quote from: FleetingHeart;138441Also, I don't care if you copy my forum avatar. My voice carries little to no weight around here and I accept that. Impersonating a DM is an entirely different issue and I've seen far too often where your opinion is taken as gold because people think you are a DM. It's bad form and abusive. You shouldn't need to be told this.

You're cute. I had that avatar for like 5 posts. You don't get to say what's "bad form and abusive", either; that's for the DMs to decide. Grow up.

I am deeply offended that you thought LTS was posting as me. His post didn't even begin with, "this suggestion is not possible"! He was so obviously not me.

On that note:
[INDENT]This suggestion is not possible.[/INDENT]

Specifically, changing the range of a spell requires 2DA modification. When range and certain other fields of a spell's 2DA row are changed then the player needs the same change as the server or else they can't prepare the spell (sometimes they can prepare it but then it greys out). Doing this to default spells is undesirable.

As for changing the damage values/pattern... that is possible, but I'm not sure it's necessary. I'd much rather revamp the entire spell list to include a balanced selection of "sets" rather than the incoherent shotgun-pattern of spells we have; such a drastic improvement would require a hakpak, though.

Wizards are fine, Haks for the win.