My Bard is planning on taking Improved Arcane Eldritch Heritage at level 11, and I'm looking ahead to see what spells I might want to take with it.
I'm what might be considered a "caster bard," so my DCs are pretty high and I'm not afraid of spells with saving throws. The game is Carrion Crown and I am a Sound Striker Dirge Bard, so I can already grab Necromancy spells, I can use mind-affecting effects freely on Undead, and my Weird Words does plenty of damage (so I'd rather not take a blast).
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I'm pretty lost--I don't even know where to begin, as there are just so many spells to choose from.
Maybe one of the Shadow Conjurations to increase versatility? Wall of Stone since there's so many uses for it?
Summoning is really no good, as my spell levels are behind and the summons would be even more behind the curve than they already are. I don't know, I'm open to any suggestion.
if you can effect undead with mind effecting spells maybe color spray.
if you can effect undead with mind effecting spells maybe color spray.
Even at 11th level? I'll definitely be taking Confusion to take advantage--not sure I need a short range 1 round stun, too.
So, at 11th level, I'll be able to cast level 4 spells. Turns out I had a brain fart and Bards can already cast Shadow Conjuration, but I totally forgot about Black Tentacles, the ultimate "win a combat" spell. Is there anything better at 4th level or lower that I should go for instead that isn't on the Bard list?
Or are 5th level spells better enough that I should delay taking the feat until 13th?
i would take a look at these and see how they fit your character/party makeup. im a huge fan of telekinetic charge.
4th level:
telekinetic charge
acid pit
greater infernal healing
5th level:
teleport
constricting coils if it would work on undead for you (is just ok)
hungry pit
wall of force
baleful polymorph
permanency
Is Telekinesis really that good? It seems like Caster level + Casting stat is woefully ineffective when you consider others will have size/racial/feat bonuses. The violent thrust seems no better than Weird Words. I'm not saying your wrong, I'm just trying to see how to justify this spell's awesome reputation.
I'm not really a blaster at all, but I can understand and appreciate the benefits of having something like Dragonbreath, which would let me choose a damage type on the fly in the rare case where one is called for. Still, I think Weird Words can do this acceptably.
Contingency is awesome, but since I can only have one on at a time and each casting is likely to last quite a few days. Plus, I lack spells to really take advantage of it. Is Contingency considered good for a Spontaneous caster or should I staff it/hire someone for it?
Again, no blaster, but Cold Ice Strike is so good--anything that breaks the action economy is. Tempting.
Battlemind Link seems like it literally does not work as written due to timing issues. If the spirit of the rules is followed instead, it's totally amazing, but not really for me due to party composition--I'm very unlikely to be doing the same thing as anyone else in my party, as I built my character specifically to support the group and fill in the gaps.
True Seeing, I like. There is a Cleric in the group though, so if we need something like that, he might be able to pull it out. Hmm. Worthy of consideration for sure.
Planar Binding is good, but I could do that with a Masterpiece if I wanted to.
Anti-Magic Field would cause a lot of problems for me. I would be utterly useless--I couldn't even Inspire Courage. I used to love it before they changed Selective Spell to only affect Instantaneous spells, but now, it's just too dangerous.
I really appreciate the suggestions, though. Keep them coming :D
Ooh, I do like the feel of Telekinetic Charge! Reminds me of playing a Warlord in 4e. Oh, you use a Greatsword? I use my party's Barbarian.
Acid Pit and Hungry Pit seem too small and too easily beaten--climb speed or flight. Black Tentacles feels like the better choice. Any reason I should consider the Pits to be better?
I already get Cure spells on my list, so I doubt I need Infernal Healing.
I was just thinking about Teleport--plus, I'd have something to Contingency. However, the party has a Cleric, so I think his prepared casting makes it easier for him to cast it than me.
I wish Constricting Coils hit more than one target. Almost awesome, though.
I always thought Wall of Stone was more useful than Wall of Force because it can be used for so much more than just blocking people and can even trap enemies for a Reflex Save or Lose. What am I missing?
Hmm, I feel like Baleful Polymorph was not as good in 3rd as it is in Pathfinder. Maybe I just remember it poorly. Pretty good choice.
I can't cast very many of the Permanency capable spells, and frankly, if I do make of my spells permanent, then knowing it becomes useless and I've wasted a resource. I think I should just pay for this spell to be cast. I might consider it, though, if nothing else looks better.
Ooh, I do like the feel of Telekinetic Charge! Reminds me of playing a Warlord in 4e. Oh, you use a Greatsword? I use my party's Barbarian.
note giving a rogue a full attack on the first round against someone who hasn't acted yet. also note that adding reach metamagic feat gets any square within 200 feet or so for you.
Acid Pit and Hungry Pit seem too small and too easily beaten--climb speed or flight. Black Tentacles feels like the better choice. Any reason I should consider the Pits to be better?
no, i just like them :) and black tentacles had already been mentioned(im just offering ideas)
I already get Cure spells on my list, so I doubt I need Infernal Healing.
note an extended greater infernal healing is 80 hp for a 5th level spell, if that makes a difference to you.
I was just thinking about Teleport--plus, I'd have something to Contingency. However, the party has a Cleric, so I think his prepared casting makes it easier for him to cast it than me.
well then you probably don't need it
I wish Constricting Coils hit more than one target. Almost awesome, though.
I thought it might be good considering you can affect undead, but i'm not a fan of the 'save every round' spells.
I always thought Wall of Stone was more useful than Wall of Force because it can be used for so much more than just blocking people and can even trap enemies for a Reflex Save or Lose. What am I missing?
wall of stone MUST be connected to pre-existing stone. wall of force works anywhere.
Hmm, I feel like Baleful Polymorph was not as good in 3rd as it is in Pathfinder. Maybe I just remember it poorly. Pretty good choice.
just offering one of the save or die spells you wouldn't normally have access to
I can't cast very many of the Permanency capable spells, and frankly, if I do make of my spells permanent, then knowing it becomes useless and I've wasted a resource. I think I should just pay for this spell to be cast. I might consider it, though, if nothing else looks better.
I would like to point out you don't need to cast the spells from your spell list, a scroll/wand would do, and i'm sure your UMD must be decent.