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Basic Request:
I'm working on a Cavalier/Wizard with an eye for Eldritch Knight, and I need help finding a good list of buff style spells with a swift casting time.
Expanded Explanation:
The purpose of spells for this character are mainly buffs to help take advantage of martial combat [mounted or melee] and control of the battlefield either through environment (think Web and Grease) or by manipulating the combatants (spells that aid others)
The problem is, I have a DM for whom combat is almost always an ambush situation with the PC's on the receiving end. So my martial character never gets to cast preparatory spells and is constantly finding himself on the front lines of melee with wizard level armor class. Casting standard action spells during combat means he's spending his standard actions "preparing" to mow down mooks with his lance instead of actually accomplishing anything. OR he has to abandon the spells altogether which destroys the character concept and why would anyone want to play an Eldritch Knight style character this suxxorz.
Does anyone know of some really good buff type spells with swift action casting times? I have an extensive library, I just don't have the time to search through all the material. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Spell Compendium for 3.5 is your best source. If your DM will allow it, swift invisibility is a first level spell that is simply awesome, especially for a F/MU.
Also, consider making your wizard a diviner. Then you get to act in all those surprise rounds, as well.
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Spell Compendium for 3.5 is your best source. If your DM will allow it, swift invisibility is a first level spell that is simply awesome, especially for a F/MU.
Also, consider making your wizard a diviner. Then you get to act in all those surprise rounds, as well.
I'm looking at it right now for second level spells. I've built up a pretty good swift cast list for first level [critical strike, nerveskitter, and Karmic Aura (out of complete mage), but second level is notorious for Spock-Blocking me no matter the build.
This may be why every spellcaster seems to have Invisibility and Scorching Ray, two spells I swore I wasn't going to take....
One, admittedly unsatisfying, option is to use the 2nd level spell slots for first level spells. Also, if your DM allows it, there is a feat from the Forgotten Realms called Netherese Adept that allows higher level spell slots to be broken down into lesser spell slots, i.e. two firsts for a second.
Swift Invis, not to push it or anything, allows you to get a full attack, go invis, and then take a 5' step, making you (almost) immune to retaliatory attacks.
Oh, and swift flight is a second lvl spell IIRC. It can be very handy. You might also want to try and convince your DM to adapt some other 3rd level spells to follow the swift flight template. Swift Displacement, for example, would be a 2nd level spell (down from 3rd), but only lasting for one rd.
Do you have access to 3.5 prestige classes? If so, let me suggest the Abjurant Champion from Complete Mage before Eldritch Knight. Would be relatively simple for a Cavlier/Wizard to get into, and gives some amazing benefits, such as all abjurations being extended, and low level (1-3) abjuration spells being automatically quickened. The shield spell also gets a nice boost to its AC bonus, eventually raising to a +9 shield bonus and castable as a swift action, as well as being extended. I'd also point out that it gets full BAB but takes no caster level loss over its 5 levels.
Oh, also a single level of Spellsword from Complete Warrior will reduce arcane spell failure by 10%, meaning that a Mithral Chain Shirt would have no arcane spell failure. And for the single level it gives +1 BAB and +1 spellcasting.
If you plan on wearing heavy armors though, you probably should look into the arcane armor training feats.
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let me suggest the Abjurant Champion from Complete Mage before Eldritch Knight.
That's actually where I'm going with it, I just figured it was easier to say Eldritch Knight as it was more self-explanatory.
The character is fairly armor-less. It's a desert campaign anyway and metal armor is a bad idea (Endure elements aside). Besides, between Mage Armor, Shield (with AbCh bonuses), rings of protection, etc etc etc, the wearing of physical armor becomes less essential.
The DM is also fairly adamant that mage armor was supposed to be abjuration and not conjuration, so I'm going to hold him to it when it comes to AbCh bonuses!
I know Spellsword is on/off as far as spellcasting. I don't have it in front of me, does he get spellcasting at odd or even levels? I *would* like to carry a shield at some point.
Spellsword gets spells on the odd levels (1st, 3rd, etc..). First level gives +1 BAB, good Fort and Will saves, +1 spellcasting, and -10% ASF, which is enough to negate the ASF for a Mithral Chain Shirt. Probably not worth it to take more levels than 1st; best to go on into Eldritch Knight if thats where you are heading to minimize spellcasting loss.
A shield won't stack with the shield spell, and you'll be hard pressed to find a shield that gives a +9 AC bonus like the AbChamp's shield spell would give. (Only a +5 tower shield, which would be ridiculous for a spellcaster to use.) Using a shield would also occupy one of your hands, which could pose issues for somatic spells if you have a shield and a weapon in each hand. Also raises issues if you like to use metamagic rods or wands...you've only got so many hands. Although you could wield a shield for purposes of benefitting from its armor/shield enhancements, such as energy resistance or what not. Probably best to rely on the shield spell though, which as a swift action casting and being auto extended shouldn't be a problem.
Now if you're DM is giving the AbChamps bonus to Mage Armor, then you will be set with that, so no point in worrying about armor or shields. Still, one level of Spellsword doesn't hurt at all even if you aren't going to make use of the reduced ASF. +1 BAB and +1 Spellcasting is good all by itself, and can actually be a good way to help get into AbChamp faster.
I was playing a Paladin 2/Sorcerer 4/Spellsword 1/AbChamp 3, but then we stopped to start playing the PF campaign I'm running. The Spellsword helped me get into AB Champ a level faster without losing caster level or BAB. (I could have gone Paladin 2/Sorcerer 6 or Paladin 3/Sorcerer 4.) And the guy is actually a Saracen/Moorish/Arabian Knights type of character from a desert land where the Sun (Pelor) is the primary deity. He does where a mithral chain shirt, but its so light it is hardly noticeable at all (think of Frodo from LotR.) The guy is pretty tough though. Hes got one 4th level spell (Greater Mirror Image) which really ups his survivability in melee. His other spells are Fireball, Fly, Whirling Blade, Gust of Wind, Resist Energy, Enlarge Person, Shield, Ray of Enfeeblement, magic Missile, and Protection from Evil. For feats he has Power Attack, Combat Reflexes (for use with Enlarge Person), Arcane Strike, Practiced Spellcaster, and Combat Casting. Even without benefitting from the AbChamps bonus with Mage Armor, hes got the best AC in the party with his +1 Mithral Chain Shirt and beefy shield spell. If we ever keep playing this campaign, I'll finish out his AbChamp levels then go into Sacred Exorcist.