Warding Weapon

Just woundering if warding weapon has a miss print or not? The spell says that it last 1round/level. It is a Magus level 1 wiz/sorc level 2.
If it is a level one spell for magus then its useless untill atleast level 2. My thoughts are on the duration of effectiveness not lasting untill the next round as a level one magus. Meaning, that you could not even cast one additional spell under its protection till level 2.
Any thoughts?

You know, I'm fine with it not being effective at level 1 so for the other 95% of levels, it's not taking up a higher spell level.

Returning weapon lasts a full min per level and thats a level one spell that acts like a weapon enchantment. Would lossing a round to cast this spell really be worth the ability not to roll concentration check (accept against disruptive feat holders)?
Or just cast sheild and go for the aoo at first level since the dc to cast defensively is 17 and your armor class is (with a dex say 16 and a chain shirt is worn) 21 after shield?
The spell seems under powered as far as other level one or level 2 spells are concerend.
If you use the spell creation guildlines it's way at the bottom of the power curve being one round per level, exspecially for wizards and sorcerers.

Returning weapon lasts a full min per level and thats a level one spell that acts like a weapon enchantment. Would lossing a round to cast this spell really be worth the ability not to roll concentration check (accept against disruptive feat holders)?

Or just cast sheild and go for the aoo at first level since the dc to cast defensively is 17 and your armor class is (with a dex say 16 and a chain shirt is worn) 21 after shield?
The spell seems under powered as far as other level one or level 2 spells are concerend.
If you use the spell creation guildlines it's way at the bottom of the power curve being one round per level, exspecially for wizards and sorcerers.

I think it is fine as it is. I can't really be compared to returning weapon as there isn't any weapon enhancements allowing you to ignore casting defensively.

It might not be that useful at low levels, but later on it can be, although it is situational.
Comparing it to spending a feat on +4 to casting defensively, allowing a spell to ignore defensive casting measures in minutes would be too much.
At higher levels, I would have no problem spending some low level spell slots if it lasted for minutes, casting it in advance. As it is, I might choose to use it, if we are up against enemies forcing me to make checks for casting defensively.

Von Marshal wrote:

{edit} compares: Returning weapon (duration). Shield (AC).

The spell seems under powered as far as other level one or level 2 spells are concerend.
If you use the spell creation guildlines it's way at the bottom of the power curve being one round per level, exspecially for wizards and sorcerers.

I think it is fine as it is. I can't really be compared to returning weapon as there isn't any weapon enhancements allowing you to ignore casting defensively.

It might not be that useful at low levels, but later on it can be, although it is situational.
Comparing it to spending a feat on +4 to casting defensively, allowing a spell to ignore defensive casting measures in minutes would be too much.
At higher levels, I would have no problem spending some low level spell slots if it lasted for minutes, casting it in advance. As it is, I might choose to use it, if we are up against enemies forcing me to make checks for casting defensively.

(old thread...)

My question is the wording of the spell implies that melee attacks automatically miss you or that your AC should go up by at least 2 (as in Aid Another).
The spell only states, "you can cast spells without provoking attacks of opportunity, without the need to cast them defensively." Then backtracks on Disruptive feat.
So we are left with an argument based on absence, aka "it doesn't say that". So poor flavor text.

All in all I'd stick with Illusion of Calm at Dur:CL min. If an opponent sees through the illusion he's the first to get hit with your weapon(Magus) or the Blindness spell that takes the slot of Warding Weapon(Sor/Wiz).

In a home game for Warding Weapon I'd add;
at Caster Level 3+ the spell grants a +2 deflection bonus to your AC.
Weapon falls into your grasp (free action) or the ground at the end of the spell duration.

so more like Shield of Faith, but not as good as you get the negation of normal AoO while casting and a short short duration.
Note - the weapon CAN be sundered as it just has a 10AC.