Best Spells for Spell Expertise

[Brian Kovich]

1st level and 5th level... What nets you the best bang for your buck(Feat)

For first I'm looking at Mage Armor. at 7th level it pretty much saves you from buying a +4 bracers of armor.

or

Vanish 5 rounds of invisibility 2/day is nice.

Not really hit 5th level choices yet, but interested in feedback.

Brian

[Orannis]

Dotting.

No suggestions yet, need to put on my thinking cap...

[Corlindale]

I'm not sure Mage Armor is really worth it, as you can just as easily prepare and cast it normally. It's not worth a feat if it only amounts to 1 or 2 extra 1st level spell slots (that are locked into something particular, to boot!)

Remember that one of the key benefits of spell-like abilities is that they have neither somatic nor verbal components. I would choose a spell that takes advantage of this - ie. one that you either want to cast unnoticed (silent image, charm person, etc), or one that could get you out of a tight spot (if your GM sometimes puts you in very disadvantaged situations, like bound and gagged, or simply grappled).

5th level has a lot more interesting choices, of course. But still keep in mind the special advantages.

Teleport/dimension door could be handy spells, but the benefit gained is not *so* great, because they already have no somatic components.
Telekinesis might also be a fun choice - it's a very versatile spell, and it might be useful to be able to cast it unnoticed.

Also, don't take anything that relies heavily on save DCs if you're not a Cha-based class.

[Muser]

Remember, if you are not doing this for PFS, then a GM can grant you access to the Bestiary feat Quicken SLA. It's...handy.

[Brian Kovich]

Bump

[TClifford]

Mage Armor would definately be a waste. By the time you can get the feat, you would be able to cast it for 7 hrs normally. It would be rare in most campaigns where you would have to cast it twice in one day. If you are worried about protecting yourself, think about Shield to go along with your already cast Mage Armor.

Ultimately, I would look for something that you use every day, but doesn't require a save or have to worry about SR, because again it is only a 1st lvl spell. Vanish would be nice, but I feel that it is situational. I would pick something that enhances other abilities, like True Strike and such.

[Nipin]

TClifford wrote:

Mage Armor would definately be a waste. By the time you can get the feat, you would be able to cast it for 7 hrs normally. It would be rare in most campaigns where you would have to cast it twice in one day. If you are worried about protecting yourself, think about Shield to go along with your already cast Mage Armor.

Ultimately, I would look for something that you use every day, but doesn't require a save or have to worry about SR, because again it is only a 1st lvl spell. Vanish would be nice, but I feel that it is situational. I would pick something that enhances other abilities, like True Strike and such.

Here are a few suggestions.

Buffs
Enlarge Person
Gravity Bow
Shield
Shocking Shield
Moment of Greatness
Infernal Healing(not core rules)

Damage Dealing
Magic Missile
Shocking Grasp
Corrosive Touch(not as good as Shocking Grasp)
Burning Hands

Utility
Disguise Self
Obscuring Mist
Unseen Servant
Adjuring Step
Vanish (could consider a buff spell due to the bonuses of invisibility)

[hogarth]

Ideally...

• It should be a spell you'd like to cast twice a day, every day.
  
• It should scale with level (otherwise a 25 gp scroll would probably be just as good).
  
• It should be useful in situations where you can't cast a normal spell.

Maybe Liberating Command? Vanish or Magic Missile would probably be fine, too.

I'm not sure it would be worth spending a feat on, though.

[Wiggz]

Brian Kovich wrote:

1st level and 5th level... What nets you the best bang for your buck(Feat)

For first I'm looking at Mage Armor. at 7th level it pretty much saves you from buying a +4 bracers of armor.

or

Vanish 5 rounds of invisibility 2/day is nice.

Not really hit 5th level choices yet, but interested in feedback.

Brian

Don't underestimate the value of Expeditious Retreat from time to time, especially when dealing with difficult terrain. I'd probably lean towards Vanish as well though. That or Ray of Enfeeblement.