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I'm thinking of picking up the Spell Compendium. Anyone out there have it? What do you think?
I'm going to be playing my first Cleric so I'm looking for new spells ... I assume there are lots of new Cleric spells in there right?
What about new Domains? I though I heard there were also new Domains in the Spell Compendium. True?
Thanks everyone!
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I'm thinking of picking up the Spell Compendium. Anyone out there have it? What do you think?
I'm going to be playing my first Cleric so I'm looking for new spells ... I assume there are lots of new Cleric spells in there right?
Gobs of them. Some of them, such as Close Wounds and Lesser Vigor, are poised to be 'new staples,' while others are a bit overly specific. Many, if not most, are reprints from other sources, but updated to be more clear, or less powerful.
What about new Domains? I though I heard there were also new Domains in the Spell Compendium. True?
68 standards Domains, 8 'planar' Domains.
As far as I know, all are reprinted from diverse other sources (Forgotten Realms Campaign setting, Stormwrack, etc.).
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Revive (Clr 5) (which I understand is a reprint from Mini's Handbook) is a DM's best friend when players tend to get themselves killed, alot, in stupid plans.
There are quite a number of aplhabetizing and editing errors, as well as renaming "named" spells to make them "setting neutral." Only have two beefs (so far) with spell modification, but as those are sor/wiz they're not relevant here.
Overall, the book might contribute to power creep of casters over none casters, but I feel its a good investment as far as consolidating "spellbooks" is concerned.
Overall, the book might contribute to power creep of casters over none casters, but I feel its a good investment as far as consolidating "spellbooks" is concerned.
I don't know if I'd consider it "power creep" as much as option creep. This book gives PHB/DMG spellcasters alot more options. You have alot more options and alot more ways to have a spellcaster to have signature spells/types of spells.
Highly Recommended.
I honestly consider the Spell Compendium, Magic Item Compendium, and Rules Compendium core books. If you're using any non-core WOTC books in your game, you owe it to yourself to count the Spell Compendium and Magic Item Compendium as the first two.
Is it perfect? No. Belker Claws, for example, is exceedingly powerful, and spell lists aren't provided for non-core casting classes (such as Wu Jen, Shugenja, Duskblade, Beguiler, etc.). What really bugs me is that, as near as I can tell, there aren't any unofficial expanded lists, either; if you're playing a duskblade, you'll have to look through the wizard spells for likely candidates, because nobody else has put up a list, official or otherwise.
Hmm... maybe I should do that. Would anybody use it or care?
I don't know if I'd consider it "power creep" as much as option creep. This book gives PHB/DMG spellcasters alot more options. You have alot more options and alot more ways to have a spellcaster to have signature spells/types of spells.Highly Recommended.
I will say it feels like there are a lot more raw damage dealing spells for clerics than normal. The cleric/stormlord in my STAP game deals out decnt damage with spells from the Spell Compendium.
The Spell Compendium is great.Yay! ^_^
it always makes me happy when I see somebody say that as well :)
and I concure with that assesment.
If I was to buy 3.5 material all over again, this is one of the few books I would buy.
I honestly consider the Spell Compendium, Magic Item Compendium, and Rules Compendium core books. If you're using any non-core WOTC books in your game, you owe it to yourself to count the Spell Compendium and Magic Item Compendium as the first two.
Second this.
If all you have are the PHB and the Spell Compendium, you can make any PHB caster a highly versitile and memorable member of the party.
MrsCharlie loves her Spell Compendium.
I know it has the sin and virtue domains that Dragon magazine came out with a bit back (Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Humility, etc. as domains).
The Vigor spells are a Cleric's best friend...
The Spell Compendium is great.
Really? As a DM I've killed at least two characters because they got a vigor spell instead of a cure spell.
Also a TPK was had, in part, due to close wounds being used over cure mod.
If I could only have core (PHB, DMG, MM) and ONE other book, I would think very, VERY seriously about making the spell compendium that book. And I expect it would win out in the end. (And there are a *lot* of 3.5 books that I really like).
Is that a ringing endorsement?
Really? As a DM I've killed at least two characters because they got a vigor spell instead of a cure spell.
Also a TPK was had, in part, due to close wounds being used over cure mod.
That reflects poorly on your party cleric's sense of judgment, not on the spells. Vigor spells are buffs, not healing. (As an aside, both Vigor and Lesser Vigor have greater net healing than their Cure equivalents, and thus are better for out of combat healing.)
I honestly consider the Spell Compendium, Magic Item Compendium, and Rules Compendium core books. If you're using any non-core WOTC books in your game, you owe it to yourself to count the Spell Compendium and Magic Item Compendium as the first two.Second this.
If all you have are the PHB and the Spell Compendium, you can make any PHB caster a highly versitile and memorable member of the party.
Thirded, although the Spell Compendium is less useful for a Cleric than say, a Druid.
But the book is well worth it. I would call it a must have - if allowed.
The Spell Compendium is indeed a great book. In our AoW game, our paladin almost always has a rhino's rush prepared, and with him mounted and using a lance.... Well, let's just say that many a foe has been splattered across the battlemat because of it...
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The Spell Compendium is indeed a great book. In our AoW game, our paladin almost always has a rhino's rush prepared, and with him mounted and using a lance.... Well, let's just say that many a foe has been splattered across the battlemat because of it...
our AOW game the monk would delay until the druid cast the spell that gave him 4 arms.... devastating with flurry of blows/rend or the grapple mod on solo (or small group) humanoid BBEG
That reflects poorly on your party cleric's sense of judgment, not on the spells. Vigor spells are buffs, not healing. (As an aside, both Vigor and Lesser Vigor have greater net healing than their Cure equivalents, and thus are better for out of combat healing.)
I'll have to re-read the vigor spells again since I thought when I read them the first time they only heal the damage taken during the spells duration. Thus they are a before combat buff or a first couple of rounds buff. I'm probably wrong so I need to go back and read them. Still a very good spell for a smart player, since the overall healing is still better than the cure spells.
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I'll have to re-read the vigor spells again since I thought when I read them the first time they only heal the damage taken during the spells duration. Thus they are a before combat buff or a first couple of rounds buff. I'm probably wrong so I need to go back and read them. Still a very good spell for a smart player, since the overall healing is still better than the cure spells.
The 3.0 versions were called 'Regenerate Light (etc) Wounds', and they did, indeed, only heal damage taken after the casting and before the end of the duration.
Which is why the duration was so long (10 rounds, plus 1/level?). Since you may not get injured straight away, so may only get a fraction of the potential.
They were still great spells, though. If only because they automatically stabilised anyone who dropped between -1 to -9 hp. So they were great insurance, especially for PCs who fight at the edge of a combat, like rogues. Most DMs would rather send a monster after a new opponent than 'make sure' of a downed one.
There is a good argument for reinstating that old restriction, since, as it stands, Vigors are effectively Maximised Cures, with no level adjustment. Mass Lesser Vigor is also much lower level than Mass Cure Light. There really is no reason not to buy scrolls/wands/potions of Vigor, rather than Cures, except for the possibility it may not be on some classes' spell lists.
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Quick side note: I picked up the Rules Compendium yesterday and really like it. I can see using it a lot at the table ...
Back to the Spell Compendium. So, are the spells from the Players Handbook etc reprinted here? I'm still trying to get a handle on if this is a collection of all (or most) of the spells from various sources all in one book or if it is primarily mostly new spells.
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Quick side note: I picked up the Rules Compendium yesterday and really like it. I can see using it a lot at the table ...
Back to the Spell Compendium. So, are the spells from the Players Handbook etc reprinted here? I'm still trying to get a handle on if this is a collection of all (or most) of the spells from various sources all in one book or if it is primarily mostly new spells.
It is indeed a collection of all (i might be mistaken, since I didn't try to compare the SC with the spell sections in my other sourcebooks) spells from the various WotC sourcebooks - some redone, some renamed (to be setting neutral). I does however not contain sells that appeared exclusively in the book of vile darkness or the book of exalted deeds, nor does it contain the spells from the players handbook.
I Highly recommend this book for all layers and Dungeon Masters!
Quick side note: I picked up the Rules Compendium yesterday and really like it. I can see using it a lot at the table ...
Back to the Spell Compendium. So, are the spells from the Players Handbook etc reprinted here? I'm still trying to get a handle on if this is a collection of all (or most) of the spells from various sources all in one book or if it is primarily mostly new spells.
The SC does not have the PHB spells in it.
The Spell Compendium is great.Yay! ^_^
I never realised that you worked on that great book. How much of the book is your material ?
Cheers !