Miss Disaster's page

There's lots of threads on the Read Magic cantrip and how it's rarely used at mid-to-high levels for deciphering magical inscriptions due to Spellcraft optimization.

But I'm curious if any of you have found the Read Magic cantrip to be useful at mid-to-high levels specifically for its Symbol & Glyph indentification benefits

I'm asking because my prior DM rarely has ever used Symbol & Glyph spells. Yet my new DM *will* be using them a lot in our current campaign.

A wizard has limited cantrip slots per day. And Read Magic is low on that cantrip priority ladder for a 10th level wiz.

So yeah, I'm kinda looking for testimonials from players who've found Read Magic to be worth its salt ... in certain symbol/glyph-heavy campaigns ... and worthy of its 0th level preparation slot.

Thanks!

If you apply the Reach Spell feat to any of the spells that give multiple touch attacks (converting them to ranged touch attacks), does that in any way limit the number of total ranged touch attacks you can use for a given spell combo?

For example, Reach Spell applied to the 2nd level spell Elemental Touch should still give me as many ranged touch attacks as I want to attempt due to the 1 Round/Level Duration?

Or Reach Spell applied to the 1st level spell Chill Touch ... allowing me to range touch attack up to 1 / CL?

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I'm just trying to understand if the conversion from Touch Attack to Ranged Touch Attack does any significant alteration to the spell's mechanics besides range.

Thank you!

Are the skill ranks imparted upon a wizard via a Headband of Vast Intelligence usable by her familiar?

I would say yes ... but I wanted to confirm with y'all. Granted, it would mean losing access to the master's skill ranks if she took her magic Headband off.

Thanks for your help in advance!

I guess I'm looking for a clarification as to what constitutes a "reprepare or recast" of a given spell. RAW or RAI.

And if that applies to an already echoed spell ...

Could my Sylph Wind Listener wizard use the Echoing Spell feat on a spell ... and then as a follow-up use her Spontaneous Divination class ability to "convert" that echoed-back spell into a divination spell?

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The feat's specific verbiage here:

"No effect that allows you to reprepare or recast a spell can affect the echoed spell.

If you prepare spells, this second casting does not require you to prepare it in another spell slot. "

.... leads me to believe that she could not convert that echoed-back spell into a different Divination spell. But I'd like another set of rules-savvy eyes to confirm that. Thanks!

Ah! Perfect. Thank you, Fuzzy. I forgot about the Class Skills bonus for animals.

The Perception score on the PRD Viper is +9.

This is due to:

+4 Racial (listed under Racial Mods)
+1 Wisdom Bonus (of 13)

So where does the other 4 points of Perception come from?

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To note, I am trying to reverse engineer how many skill ranks a Viper has (*1*, I believe) and to what skill it is allocated.

Thank you!

Thanks, Fuzzy. That's an excellent & informative confirmation on how I thought it worked. :-)

Thank you all for your input!

I especially love that custom Wondrous Item, MichaelCullen. I think I can work with my DM on introducing such a thing .... with a good bit of collaboratively-created storyline fluff.

Hey Folks,

Beyond the customary 2 beginning traits & possible 3rd trait (paid for via the acquiring or a Drawback) ... is there a Paizo-published or reputable 3PP method to acquire yet *another* trait via Magic Item or Spell?

I'd especially like to acquire a Trait via a magic item.

While it's possible to collaborate with a DM to craft a Wondrous Item that does this, I don't have that luxury in my current gaming group.

Thank you!

I'm looking at the Resilient Illusions feat and noticing that its key emphasis is how it's used with Illusion spells that have a *Disbelief* component to the saving throw(s).

So let's assume we have a scenario where a wizard has the R.I. feat and decides to cast both Major Image and Shadow Evocation spells. Please tell me if I'm interpreting this properly below:

1. MAJOR IMAGE = The Caster Level Check actually *becomes* the spell's Saving Throw.

2. SHADOW EVOCATION (emulating a Fireball spell) = The Caster Level Check is substituted for the Disbelief (Will Save DC normally) component of the spell. But the Reflex Save for the actually Fireball doesn't use the R.I. feat's Caster Level Check ... and instead uses the Shadow Evocation's DC.

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Please note, I find this feat very compelling but very confusing. So any way you could explain this feat in super-simple terms would be greatly appreciated by me!

One of my favorite uses for Resilient Illusions is boosting spells like shadow conjuration and shadow evocation, since it changes the DC for the entire spell once they attempt a save to disbelieve.

For the Shadow Conj/Evoc spells, I think Resilient Illusions only applies to the Disbelief save (for Will). Not any additional saves that the simulated spell requires.

On the other hand, I think you're right in regards to using Resilient Illusions with an illusion spell like Silent or Major Image.

Hey Folks,

For an upcoming 11th level human wizard diviner [Foresight Archetype], I'd like to optimize the build around the arcane discovery/feat Resilient Illusions. Please don't recommend other races or classes as both are already set in stone with the GM. Restricted schools are Enchantment & Evocation.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/arcane-discoveries/arca ne-discoveries-paizo/resilient-illusions/

I really like Resilient Illusions, so I'm trying to find as many feats, spells, traits, magic items & alchemical items/reagents that will have synergy with this arcane discovery. In essence, maximizing CL on my illusion spells will be key (such as the Varisian Tattoo: Illusion feat). Any recommendations you may have on structuring this build will be quite helpful!

Thank you.

Hey All,

I saw on these forums that some people like to use the Threatening Illusion metamagic feat attached to the Ghost Sound cantrip (along with a metamagic reducer for keeping the combined spell for unlimited cantrip use). After perusing this feat + spell .... I can't see how it would work via RAW. As Ghost Sound doesn't have an "area" - only a range and an effect.

1. Could any of you confirm that this combo works?

2. And if so, does a metamagic reducer (like the Wayang Spellhunter trait) keep the combo as a 0th level cantrip?

Just used Boneshaker and Horrific Doubles. These really were key to winning the encounter. Great suggestions!!

These are all terrific suggestions. Thank you, everyone!

I especially like a number of these suggested spells in that they have multiple utility uses.

Hello Everyone,

This upcoming week I'll finally have access to all of Paizo's recent Occult & Horror books (the hardcover main books & softcover supplemental books).

My 12th level Wizard will have some significant campaign downtime to add new spells from all those Paizo publications to her main spellbook. So I'm curious what the consensus is on the the most popular, the best (and even the worst) Wizard spells from all those books. Any info on any of the idiosyncratic spells would be helpful too.

I've been poking around the online descriptions of some of these spells, but it will be a lot handier to peruse them in paper book form.

Thanks for your help and Happy Gaming!

- Tina

Thank you for all the help, folks!

Also, Cevah, that's a great find. Although per the wiki, the last Paizo-published info on Elf Gates/Portals came in 2012 (Distant Worlds/Elves of Golarion).

I coulda swore that a recent Paizo-published came out in 2016 or 2017 that covered this topic. Anyone have knowledge of such a thing?

Hi Everyone,

I believe Paizo recently published a sourcebook or 2 that detailed some campaign information (for Golarion, I assume) and game mechanics related to Elf Gate Magic or Portal Magic.

Except I can't seem to locate these specific books! Perhaps any of you can help me with this? I'd like to create a campaign that combines Golarion Elf Gates and Forgotten Realms portal magic and I need as much game mechanic information on this stuff that I can find.

Thanks for your help!

This is a terrific combo thread.

Just curious if anyone has found any additional arcane spells with the [Fear] descriptor from recent sourcebooks.

Any good ones from 3PP sources are welcome as well ....

You wouldn't need Umbral as Shadowmind negates darkvision

Not according to the Shadowmind spell. My scenario I listed is to get the enemy to experience Supernatural Dark from the current Dim Light conditions. 2 steps needed. One from the spell and one from the metamagic feat. My concern is the sequential way that both affect the target(s).

Let's say we have a combat area that is entirely in *Dim Light*.

A wizard casts the Shadowmind spell with the Umbral Spell metamagic feat attached to it ... against 4 Orcs who all have Darkvision.

By my interpretation, a failed saving throw by these Orcs will have them experiencing Supernatural Dark (meaning their Darkvision is useless). I'm assuming that I can chose the order in which the spell and the feat affect my foes. And by doing so, I would chose for the Umbral Spell feat to first affect them with Darkness (lower the light level one level, although can't dip into Supernatural Dark) ... and then have the Orcs affected by the Shadowmind spell (lower the light level one level via illusory effects, and *CAN* dip into Supernatural Dark).

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Am I accurate on interpreting this combo? Please advise on any missing details if I am off. Thank you!

Haven't seen it in use - counterspelling is rare enough IME that counter-counterspelling is not a good use of resources.

Agreed. Doing some more research on this feat last night ... I determined that it's pretty much a stinker for PCs. But could have specialized NPC value for certain tactical types (like a DM's counterspelling foe).

Too bad. As I love the deception mechanic concept. This feat needs more "teeth" to be viable for frequent PC use.

Hm. Perhaps this is a highly unpopular feat? Lol.

It certainly is one that requires a tremendous amount of school/subschool/descriptor comparisons .... across a wide swath of sourcebooks to maximize your deception options.

Anyhoo, any good examples or testimonials are still welcome!

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/stylized-spell-metamagic

I realize how difficult it is to cloak spellcasting in Pathfinder compared to 3.5 rules (I've read all the Paizo Forum threads talking about the deception controversies and RAW/RAI issues).

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That all said, my Wizard is 11th level and will eventually end up around 18th level eventually. She'll be facing a rather high number of enemy spellcasters from here on out (Drow especially). She was given a minor artifact (which she must keep) that grants her use of the Stylized Spell feat. Since she fears that some of her future spellcaster foes will be counterspellers and abjuration dispellers, I'd like to find some cunning and savvy uses of this feat. Complicating things further, she's an illusionist. So this feat will greatly help her complicate enemy Spellcraft checks for disbelief checks.

So to all of you who are interested in this feat, do you have some specific examples of smart uses of it? Any testimonials on how you've seen it used effectively in a real game?

The forums only mention the feat a few times with no super-substantive discussion. So any detailed help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Wow. Shadowmind. That's terrific! Thank you.

Also, I'm gonna see about doing spell research to get the Mental Block spell added to the Wiz/Sorc spell list. The target loses all Extraordinary abilities like Darkvision (as Link2000 pointed out) until it makes a save [target gets 1 save per round].

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mental-block

Ah yes. Deeper Darkness is already part of my wizard's schtick via a spell-list addition (custom PrC). Sorry I didn't mention that, Link2000.

Is there perhaps a spell that specifically targets an enemy, or a group of enemies, or an area-effect that effects beings (not objects) ... that neutralizes/diminishes Darkvision? Maybe even as a side-effect?

Hi All.

I was curious if there are any Wizard spells that either temporarily or permanently diminish or neutralize an opponent's Darkvision capability. I hoping there's a spell solution that's from 1st to 6th level that can accomplish this (for a 11th level wizard).

Paizo spells from any book are preferred. But I'm also open to Pathfinder 3PP spells. If the latter, please advise what book-&-publisher they come from ..... or if they are linked on d20pfsrd.

Thanks so much!

Thank you, Slithery D! I just ordered this book - so I'll especially zero-in on those spells you mentioned.

Since Shadow Stencils are not a magic item, the Use Magic Device: Emulate a Race function should not allow a non-Wayang to benefit from them. So how does, say, a human or dwarf ... "activate" Shadow Stencils for a DC benefit?

For those of you who have had an opportunity to analyze the new spells in this book ..... do any of you have any insights as to which ones are the most intriguing in regards to added utility, combat performance, etc.?

Thank you, Belafon!

Hi Everyone.

I have a question about the Emulate a Race option of the Use Magic Device skill.

Let's say my human PC rolls for a successful Emulate a Race (DC 25) to use an "always on" Orcish-race-only magic item ... when does she have to make another successful emulation roll to continue gaining its benefits?

In essence, what is the duration of a given *successful* UMD: EaR roll for a given "always on" racially-restricted magic item outside of my race?

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Thank you!

Hi Paizo Friends,

My high-level (13th) wizard has an Imp familiar which she adores. But I'd like to find a way to possibly customize my Imp if the cost to do so is reasonable. My main issue is, I'd like to swap out the Imp's 1/day Suggestion (Sp) (DC 15) for another more useful 3rd level wizard spell such as Collaborative Thaumaturgy or Channel the Gift. At 13th level, Suggestion at DC 15 just doesn't have any viable offensive use in my campaign and unnecessarily exposes him to being attacked in retribution.

There's no game mechanic in the Pathfinder or 3.5 rules that I know of that will allow me to change or "swap out" this Suggestion (Sp) for a familiar. I was hoping there'd be the equivalent of 3.5's Dark Chaos Shuffle (which does feat-swapping) for (Sp)'s, but there is none. {sigh} ...

So I'm coming to all of you to see if you have any possible ideas I can float to my DM to accomplish this task. Yes, this is houseruling territory. And my DM prefers mission goals like these to be sensible and use existing game mechanics and resources as much possible to make it come to fruition. Perhaps using a Wish spell in some capacity would work? I'd love some creative opinions from any of you fine folk. :-)