Samsaran & Mystic Past Life

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Hi there.

I've been messing with the concept of a Samsaran Winter Witch and while I like the boost from Shards of the Past, a bug in the back of my head makes me think I'm missing out from not using Mystic Past Life instead. It's just the list of spells you can choose from is a bit overwhelming and I'm having issues deciding.

For those that don't know;

Mystic Past Life (Su) You can add spells from another spellcasting class to the spell list of your current spellcasting class. You add a number of spells equal to 1 + your spellcasting class's key ability score bonus (Wisdom for clerics, and so on). The spells must be the same type (arcane or divine) as the spellcasting class you're adding them to. For example, you could add divine power to your druid class spell list, but not to your wizard class spell list because divine power is a divine spell. These spells do not have to be spells you can cast as a 1st-level character. The number of spells granted by this ability is set at 1st level. Changes to your ability score do not change the number of spells gained. This racial trait replaces shards of the past.

So, with a 20 INT, I can grab 6 potential spells from other classes to learn with my familiar later (except fire-based, can't use fire). But as I said, I really have no idea.. there is just so much out there. I look forward to hearing people's responses!

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Still hoping for some views. Please and thanks. =)

[Inviktus]

Go read a guide on an arcane class, likely one on sorcerers since they have small spell picks and have to choose carefully, then steal a few of those suggested spells for your witch.

[Claxon]

Well, being a witch you can access any arcane spell casting list.

The obvious choice is the sorcerer wizard list. As Inviktus suggest, go read any guide that provides direction on what spells are best to select.

I would look more at higher level spells (depending on where you think your campaign will end) which will be more powerful.

Spells like Mage's Disjunction and Time Stop would be good potential choices. Contingency is another.

[andreww]

The best choice is the Summoner list. This will let you grab useful things like level 2 Haste, level 4 Teleport and level 6 Summon Monster VIII.

[Inviktus]

andreww wrote:

The best choice is the Summoner list. This will let you grab useful things like level 2 Haste, level 4 Teleport and level 6 Summon Monster VIII.

Oh my, that's right. Witch nine level spell progression access to the shortened summoner list. That's so good it hard to believe it's legal!

[Claxon]

andreww wrote:

The best choice is the Summoner list. This will let you grab useful things like level 2 Haste, level 4 Teleport and level 6 Summon Monster VIII.

I forget about the cheesiness of the summoner spell list. Stupid full caster progression masquerading a 6th level spell progression.

As a GM this provides untold consternation to me. I would also probably tell my players that they cannot get access to a spell earlier than what their own class would provide it as. So if you have the spell on your list, you couldn't pick it up earlier from the summoner list. Mind you, that isn't technically the way the rules are set to work, I am only talking about what I would do as a GM.

[Gregory Connolly]

Bard, Sorcerer/Wizard and Summoner all have things worth stealing. Time Stop and Limited Wish are the two gems off Sorcerer/Wizard, Summoner gets some nice early access, and Bard gets some gems like Modify Memory and Sympathetic Vibration.

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Oh wow, I didn't know about the Summoner's list being like that.. o_o I'll have to ask the GM to see how he feels about it, even though it is a legal move. This is why I ask forums when I can't figure it out myself XD Cuz I was just looking at Shield... and Shield... and, had no idea.. kinda went blank since I've not played many casters past Lv4 <.>

Always open to anyone with any more ideas. I'll go through them and see what's what.

[David knott 242]

Inviktus wrote:

andreww wrote:

The best choice is the Summoner list. This will let you grab useful things like level 2 Haste, level 4 Teleport and level 6 Summon Monster VIII.

Oh my, that's right. Witch nine level spell progression access to the shortened summoner list. That's so good it hard to believe it's legal!

Does that work with spells that are already on your main class's spell list? If not, then the utility of this option is greatly reduced.

[Azten]

Well, there isn't anything in Mystic Past Life saying you can't grab spells that are already on your class list...

[David knott 242]

But does it do any good? If the spell is already on your list at a higher level, do you actually have that spell on your spell list twice, or does the original spell on the list have its level reduced?

[SpiritWolfFenris]

@David; It ends up listing the spell twice. One for the level you can obtain it and another for the level from the Past Life. What did you have in mind?

[Suichimo]

Currently, that completely depends on your DM. I needed Phantom Steed to qualify for Knight Phantom in the game I'm currently playing. My DM said that if I pull the Phantom Steed spell from the Summoner list with Mystic Past Life, it is a second level spell for me.

There are definitely arguments that make sense both ways.