As came up in another thread, the wording of Shades differs from Shadow Conjuration and Greater Shadow Conjuration in that it says it 'mimics conjuration spells of 8th level or lower.' instead of the expected 'duplicates any sorcerer or wizard conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell of 8th level or lower.'
Does this mean Shades can whip out any 8th or below conjuration spell regardless of class or type?
Or is it an oversight in the rules?
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There shouldn't be any reason that you think this doesn't work like regular shadow conjuration. You quoted everything except the important part for your question.
"This spell functions like Shadow Conjuration, except that it mimics conjuration spells of 8th level or lower. The illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) damage to nonbelievers, and nondamaging effects are 80% likely to work against nonbelievers."
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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There shouldn't be any reason that you think this doesn't work like regular shadow conjuration. You quoted everything except the important part for your question.
"This spell functions like Shadow Conjuration, except that it mimics conjuration spells of 8th level or lower. The illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) damage to nonbelievers, and nondamaging effects are 80% likely to work against nonbelievers."
The interesting part of the question is when you compare your quoted part to greater shadow conjuration:
"This spell functions like shadow conjuration, except that it duplicates any sorcerer or wizard conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell of 6th level or lower."
The distinct difference in the wording, where shades does not have the sorcerer/wizard and subschool stipulations, and GSC does, is where the question arises.
I persoanlly think that RAI, it's just as you say. But perhaps I am wrong, it is a 9th level spell.
I would think that including all conjuration spells would lead to to many problems.
A shadow teleport has the relatively easy to adjudicate possibility of leaving non-believers behind, but what about a shadow resurrection? It's a 9th level spell, but it also sidesteps a 10,000gp component cost.
Or a shadow planar ally? Who exactly makes the save? The creature you summon? Your Diety?
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Yeah, allowing shades to mimic ALL the conjurations in the level range provided leads to a lot of dubious rules issues such as the aforementioned resurrection and planar ally.
I'm inclined to believe that it follows the same progression as the other shadow conjuration spells, providing spells of similar nature at a higher level (and greater effect even when disbelieved). Also, consider the idea of something like a shadow heal. Can the recipient forgo his Will save in order to get 100% of the healing from it? Even if the recipient BELIEVES the hit points are real, they truthfully are NOT (or at least 20% aren't) so... what happens to his "shadow HP?" That makes my brain hurt.
If I followed your interpretation I would at very least houserule to limit it to sor/wiz conjurations.
Shades is kind of a sucky spell otherwise. But giving it heal is too much. Because I doubt shadow heal or shadow resurrection were intended, I doubt that the lack of similar wording was intended at all and it is, RAI, supposed to work just like the lesser shadow spells.
Giving it all conjurations (but just from the sor/wiz list) seems like an ok fix for a bad spell, though. Shadow Maze I could get behind. Shadow Resurrection not so much.
Belatedly, I looked up the same for 3.5 and found that the spells are worded the same.
I googled and found a few other old 3.5 threads that ran into the same issue we see here. No solid answer in sight.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Belatedly, I looked up the same for 3.5 and found that the spells are worded the same.
I googled and found a few other old 3.5 threads that ran into the same issue we see here. No solid answer in sight.
Pun intended?
I think limiting it to all conjurations of 8th level or less is RAI, after all it is a 9th level spell, and Wish allows you to throw any arcane spell of 8th level or lower, or divine spell of 7th or lower.