. . .
I think that is part of why they are inaccessible trough potions. Personal spells are (often) more powerful then others - and yes, you can get access to them trough various ways - but those ways all demand some investment. You either sink a few skills into it and UMD a scroll or a wand, spend talents/feats on it or befriend an alchemist. Potions are just too cheap, and gives access too early.
. . . .What?
Scrolls are cheaper than potions. First level scrolls are 25 gp. Wands are cheaper than potions. Wands are 15 gp per charge for a first level wand. Wizards have scribe scroll at 1st level, so scrolls pop up sooner than potions.
Just saying...
Yes, but for our warrior type to use either a scroll or a wand, he would need to invest in UMD - and reach a modifier of about +10 before he can do so reliably. Either he sinks ~10 ranks into it, or he uses feats/traits. Thus, it costs him resources that could be used for other things, and are a great deal more scarce then gold.
TL:DR There are other prices to pay then simple gold, as I said in the quoted post : )
Solution to personal potions:
Have your character conduct spell research on "personal" spells that have a target of "touch." When I've done this, the DM bumped the level up by one. So Reflected Image was a third level spell of Mirror Image with a target of touch instead of personal. Now it's potionable. A bit more expensive, but works within the rules. It also delays it's creation for two levels so enemies are more powerful and have a bigger array of options so they're still a threat without having to use them, too.
People rarely research their own spells; it's kind of a shame, really.
OP's "If potions went up to 9th level . . ." I've created two additional feats to allow this:
Improved Brew Potion (levels 4 - 6) and
Greater Brew Potion (levels 7 - 9)
Although I've allowed this for a while in games that I run and even though I've had bad guys make use of these feats, my players are generally loathe to burn three feats to potion up high level spells. Go figure.
If you are going to do spell research then you can make a 1st level spell that has the benefits of shield, but the target and scaling of shield of faith.
Which, IMHO is how shield should have been written in the first place. Same with Mage armor. Actually, mages should just be able to use light armor. Mages using light armor and Mage armor scaling like magic vestment would be a great thing for the game.
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You mean like a vastly more expensive magic item that is not available anywhere near level 1 presuming even marginal adherence to WBL, which provides a lower shield bonus (without tower shield penalties), and which does not apply to incorporeal attacks unless vastly greater sums of money are spent on it?do you really want the low level 2-h fighter baddie to down a Potion of Shield, getting his huge Armor AC & a Shield bonus without actually using a Shield?You mean like with an animated sheild?
Yes, a vastly more expensive magic item the can be used time and time again and only takes a move action to use.
Alternatively, invest in a ring of spell storing and have your local Arcane Caster cast shield into it. Still spendy of course, but extra slots are available to contain other spells.
Ring of Spell Storing is for Righteous Might! For something as minor as a Shield spell there are cheaper alternatives. You can use the cracked vibrant purple prism or the cloak of the hedge wizard.
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Ring of Spell Storing is for Righteous Might! For something as minor as a Shield spell there are cheaper alternatives. You can use the cracked vibrant purple prism or the cloak of the hedge wizard.
The first item you mention costs 36,000 gp. The cloak, for only 2500 gp, works 1/day and might be worthwhile for the occasional shield.
Were it possible to buy potions of Personal spells, everyone who cared would load up on 50 gp potions of Shield. This would also have the side effect of invalidating the martial sword-and-board approach, since a Two Handed Weapon fighter with the Shield spell would have comparable AC.
You misread my post. The cracked ioun stone costs 2000 gp, not 36 000 gp.
And yes, that means that anyone with 2000 GP and a wand can cast personal-range spells such as Shield or Gravity Bow as long as someone can use the wand - either via UMD or the traditional way.
Ring of Spell Storing is for Righteous Might! For something as minor as a Shield spell there are cheaper alternatives. You can use the cracked vibrant purple prism or the cloak of the hedge wizard.The first item you mention costs 36,000 gp. The cloak, for only 2500 gp, works 1/day and might be worthwhile for the occasional shield.
Were it possible to buy potions of Personal spells, everyone who cared would load up on 50 gp potions of Shield. This would also have the side effect of invalidating the martial sword-and-board approach, since a Two Handed Weapon fighter with the Shield spell would have comparable AC.
Except that the party's alchemist can, in effect, make potions of personal spells for free...