devlear's page

You are probably right. Even though the "in addition" linking phrase is used, it is broken into a separate sentence so that was probably the intended target phrase. It would be clearer if the condition was re-iterated like it is in the Shield spell, by saying "When blocking spells or magical effect in this way..."
It is a little confusing, I know quite a few people who took my initial reading as the way it operates.

Does the hardness increase apply to all shield blocks or only shield blocks from magical effects?
When I initially read it, I used the linking phrase (In addition) to join the circumstance bonus and the ability to block magical effects together, and then I applied the "When blocking damage in this way" to the main thought of the paragraph "When you're in Arcane Cascade stance with your shield raised".
However, it seems most people read the "When blocking damage..." clause as applying to the 2nd sentence.
Which one is the intended effect for the class feature?

Sparkling Targe

When you're in Arcane Cascade stance with your shield raised, your circumstance bonus to AC from your shield also applies to your saves against spells and other magical effects. In addition, damage you take as a result of a spell or magical effect while you're in Arcane Cascade can trigger your Shield Block reaction, even if the damage isn't physical. When blocking damage in this way, increase your shield's Hardness by an amount equal to the extra damage from Arcane Cascade

devlear wrote:

Augment Summoning, Spell Penetration, Spell Focus and all +effects from the various school abilities all work with scrolls because

Quote:

Determine Effect: A spell successfully activated from a scroll works exactly like a spell prepared and cast the normal way.

Even baring that it doesn't work due to DM caveat Infernal Healing is a Conjuration(healing) spell so it would also let you qualify to take the feat.

That's... the first I've heard of any kind of argument of that nature for scrolls. Do you have a greater rules source to back this up than "it works like casting"? Because that's very open to interpretation-- the fact that it works like casting pretty much means by definition that it's not casting.

It's interesting, don't get me wrong, and I'm not trying to dismiss it out of hand. But I would like to see more evidence than a statement that can easily be read either way on the matter.

I did find it. It appears as though there were two different threads with differing answers from Jason and SKR and at the end of the thread someone states that it was put in the FAQs but I cannot find it there either. The thread is here. I had read the thread from Jason before where he said Augment Summoning works with scrolls but not wands and potions but it is no longer available.

Battlefield Healer, you need more than the scroll. Scrolls are not casting. And given that I've literally never heard of a Wizard taking the feat, I'm not concerned about your average Wizard taking it (heck, even assuming an active Stoneskin is a stretch unless you're Mythic to soak the costs).

Determine Effect: A spell successfully activated from a scroll works exactly like a spell prepared and cast the normal way.

Even baring that it doesn't work due to DM caveat Infernal Healing is a Conjuration(healing) spell so it would also let you qualify to take the feat.

I remembered wrong, it is +2 instead of +3 like I was thinking.

Magical Knack: +2 Caster Level so long as it does not go above your Hit Dice

It is a story feat but Battlefield Healer is incredibly useful and actually very easy to get.
DC 21 Use Magic Device to "Cast a spell" from a scroll of Cure Light Wounds

As a conjurer you should also use rings of Friend Shield with your summons or Planar Ally.

Either of those combine with the various forms of Damage Reduction, negation and spell resistance available would probably prevent being staggered more often than not.

The Phase Locking special states it affects a create as though by the Dimensional Anchor spell, which allows Spell Resistance. Does that mean Phase Locking hits require a roll to overcome Spell Resistance? Edit: Found the answer in another thread.

Edit: Poo, that is +2 to Caster Level only :|

devlear wrote:

kestral287 wrote:

I would love to see how you consistently make a concentration check of 55-- or 59, if you want to summon big guns; 55 was assuming a Wall.

25 (Caster Level w/ Karma Beads) + 13 (Int, it can get higher than that) + 2 Focused Mind + 2 Arcane Focus Elvish Racial + 4 Combat Casting + 2 Uncanny Concentration + +2 Spellguard Bracers +5 Gloves of Elvenkind = +55 Concentration plus I can take 10s Perfect Center. There are more that I didn't add in, those are just the basics.

...

i think you May have to break that number up even further, for dimwits like me. And i dont think you can take 10, with out a special power that let you, since it is a stressfull situation.

Edit: how do you get 5 permanent summoned creatures?

Added to above.

Superior Summoning + summoning from 1 list lower will give you the possibility of summoning between 2-4 creatures. As Conjuration school just keep summoning until you get max and set it as your Permanent duration summon.

Use Greater Planar Binding for the 5th. You could probably also take VMC Summoner to gain an kick-butt Eidolon using the Magic Affinity trait to only have CL-1 Eidolon instead of CL-4.

You don't get to act in the surprise round if there is no surprise round to act in. Either way, VMC Oracle can still act in the surprise round if Wizards must have that to compete with this build.

Edit: I actually didn't take into account the lingering pain, I was only looking at Casting Defensively. Warrior Priest would be really useful if Wizards had the ability to cast Divine spells...

I would love to see how you consistently make a concentration check of 55-- or 59, if you want to summon big guns; 55 was assuming a Wall.

25 (Caster Level) + 13 (Int, it can get higher than that) + 4 Trait + 6 Feats + 7 Items = +55 Concentration plus I can take 10s. There are more that I didn't add in, those are just the basics.

Summons aren't happening due to Staggered, unless you can pull off multiple massive Concentration checks for damage taken as the Kensai merrily throws a half-dozen attacks at you as you try to cast.

Summons have already happened. With spells and abilities wizards should ALWAYS have at least 1, probably more like 5 summoned creatures at Permanent duration depending on their build.

I assume the Whip is treated as Adamantine to bypass stoneskin effects and that you have True Sight active to nullify Illusions?

Also a Concentration check of 55 is not difficult to make. Maybe there is a way you can increase that even more? Unless the 55DC was lowballing the estimate

This character wrecks most spell caster types. I still think there is the two 18HD summons and the familiar to deal with if you can't take out the wizard on turn one.

Am I missing something with the Surprise round attacks? Are we assuming you are hunting them down and they will never perceive you because you are good enough at stealth?

Dimension Door is a Standard Action, and thus useable with Spell Combat.

You are right. I was thinking a different ability that has a swift action as the casting time.

What does the "as though affected" text mean in Phase Locking? Do Phase Locking weapons still force caster level checks to beat spell resistance?

If you take Spell Combat's feat description that literally then you cannot cast dimensional door because it has a casting time of 1 swift action and the feat specifically states it must have a casting time of 1 standard action.

We are assuming the Kensai catches Wizards when they have their pants down? No prep spells or other defenses that wizards would have in place at all times, like Contingency?

How would he fair against a Teleportation School Wizard specializing in summons and saveless control spells?

*Edit*
Also, unless you put a couple of the Dimension Savant feats into the build, how do you deal with Dimension Doors disorienting effect?

So I am really late to the party but I agree that Arioth has a valid point. A lot of the rules are oddly written or are not written clearly. Legendary Item and Channel Power path abilities are both things my group had to talk out and agree how to work with. Many other people also agree that the book could have been edited better and Paizo seems like it is ignoring the Mythic rulebook all together.

I do agree with Cap though. My wizard always goes first, in every encounter. If I wanted to I could abuse action economy with Quickened spells, time stop, the amazing initiative ability to get another standard and activate a wand, or another use activated item. Heck, if I wanted to I can spend a swift action & standard action to summon 2+ creatures and have them all cast different spells with their actions.

But I don't do that because I want the rest of my party to feel like I need them :)