Best spells for finding and apprehending / executing bandits?


Advice


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

My character, Riva Sarjenka (6th-level arcanist), is setting out on an expedition (a mix of PCs and NPCs) to find and eliminate a number of disorganized bandit bands that have been plaguing refugees entering our nation.

I was wondering what spells might best be suited to such a task. I want to make sure I have the right ones prepared. Riva knows every Core Rulebook wizard spell of 3rd-level and lower as well as a handful of others, as noted on her sheet above.

Anyone have any good suggestions on what I should prepare for this journey?


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

This takes place in the River Kingdoms? I'd break it down to three functions: Search, Capture/Eliminate, Interrogate. The first two are clear, but if you can catch the thugs, then you might be able to get details on other thugs, where they think the other bands are, etc., using Suggestion, Detect Thoughts, and Charm Person. I'd assume they're a bit territorial...

For the 3rd level spell, it's a tossup between Haste, Sleet, or Stinking Cloud. I'd want to avoid single-target spells for my only 3rd-level slot, so something that could affect multiple allies (depending on who I've got) or impede multiple enemies would be more appealing. If your group can consistently set ambushes, then sneaking a perimeter on a bandit camp and popping the storm or cloud would be very satisfying. I wouldn't want to drop either spell without knowing allies are or have some way of being on the other side - the spell impedes them a bit, as well. Otherwise, fireball go boom.

For 2nd, again, if the group is good with ambushes, I'd lean toward Pyrotechnics and Hypnotic Pattern. Wait til night, then target the bandits' campfire and grab who's left with the pattern. Locate Object would be good if the bandits tend to use certain sorts of weapons or gear your group doesn't have. Otherwise, Web is a good control spell in general if there are a lot of trees and such, so definitely that one, and probably Glitterdust to again limit the enemies.

And for 1st, I'd go with Grease, Color Spray, Sleep, and Magic Missile. For ambushing, I'd probably replace Sleep with Hypnotism. If the bandits are too high for HD spells, then maybe Animate Rope? They're likely to have that lying around. Really, Grease and MM are what I'd always want on - the other two are gravy (so Mage Armor and Shield, or whatever you prefer).

If you have downtime and money, maybe prep signs of Sepia Snake Sigil or Explosive Runes? If you can buy scrolls, then copies of whatever you don't end up preparing (say Sleet Storm specifically, since there are no saves involved) plus Flame Arrow, Fireball, Darkvision, and other niche spells as needed would give more options.


Haste or expeditious retreat is useful to have someone pursue fleeing bandits successfully. The former is so much more efficient that you'd have to get it.

Dancing lights is handy for signalling if your group divides up for some reason; arrange codes in advance.

Detect thoughts is probably more useful for intelligence gathering than locate object. Outside cities, if you know you're close enough to cast locate object then you probably don't need to. Actually finding out what the person you're talking to is thinking can tell you far more.

Pyrotechnics is perfect for ambushes, as Cussune says. I'd take that and web, then get grease and color spray and pack out the rest of the list with defences and utility.


Legend Lore - Keep asking the universe about your quarry, getting more and more information each time until you know everything you need to find them.

It will be a few levels before you can cast it, but if you haven't gotten the answer by that time this spell can probably remove the need for any other work.

For lower level stuff....teleport to help you reach places quickly and efficiently. Anything that adds to your diplomacy (especially gather knowledge).

Commune with Birds would allow you to recon a large area.

A wand of Find Quarry spell could be useful if you can afford it.

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