Witch - will i stiil be decent at using conjuration or transmutation spells?

[Thormind]

My witch got the Elements patron. For my patron spells, my DM allowed me to replace fireball by dragon breath (i know, it's normally a 4th lvl spell). I plan to focus heavilly on that spell, taking spcialization, greater specialization and spell perfection.

I am currently lvl 5 and last game i discovered how much fun it was to use spells like thorny entanglement, web and stinking could. What i plan to do now is keep those kind of spell on my prepared list and replace them by spontaneous dragon breath when needed.

Are those spells effective even if i dont have any feat for them?

[The Dragon]

Sure. The only school that needs feats for its spells to be any good is evocation.

The others vary by spell. Either the spell is good enough for you to bother with without feats, or it isn't good enough to bother with with feats either.

Spell focus and improved help conjuration spells along, and extend spell is nice for many transmutation things, but overall, you'll be fine.

Just keep that intelligence as high as you can.

Edit: I must admit I prefer intensified fireball over dragon's breath, but that's just me.

[Dafydd]

Gonna note that Illusions take almost as many feats as evocations.

However, conjuration and transmutation spells do not really require feats. There are feats that enhance them, but if they are not your focus, I would not worry about it.

[The Dragon]

Dafydd wrote:

Gonna note that Illusions take almost as many feats as evocations.

However, conjuration and transmutation spells do not really require feats. There are feats that enhance them, but if they are not your focus, I would not worry about it.

I wasn't aware of this.

Expand?

[Thormind]

The Dragon wrote:

Edit: I must admit I prefer intensified fireball over dragon's breath, but that's just me.

It was replaced because in our previous game the melees felt useless when the sorcerer was kiling everything by himself and from distance. I deliberately chose to gimp myself. In exchange i got versatility and hability to bypass more SR types. Plus i can use rime spell with dragon breath for added crowd control.

[The Dragon]

Ehh, if your melee types dislike AoE mages, I think you should ask to retrain into something other patron.

[Dafydd]

Illusions tend to be longer duration type effects, but once someone saves, they have no effect. This is a lot worse then the evocations which often do 1/2 effect, even on saves made.

Additionally, Shadow spells have a greatly reduced effect if the save is made. Such as Shadow Evocation and Shadow Conjuration, the common damage source spells on an Illusionist.

There is also Phantasmal Killer, one of the best illusion attack spells in the game (instant death on failed save, and damage on a made save).

Standard evoker takes 4 feats to pump their spell DCs, plus the usually meta magics.

Illusionist needs the 2 spell focuses, Metamagics, and would do well with the Tenebrous line of metamagic for shadow spells.

One feat the OP should defiantly grab if their patron spells have DCs, Witch Knife. It gives a +1 DC to patron spells.