How do you use Echean's Excellent Enclosure?

[Lakesidefantasy]

Echean's Excellent Enclosure

How do you use this spell?

It's a touch spell but the description indicates the effect is called into being around you the spell's caster. If it is called into being around you then wouldn't it cripple you as well as anyone else trapped inside with you? Would I want to do that to myself? Is it risky?

I may just attribute this to a bit of bad wording in the description and just consider the spell a touch spell with the target being one creature. However, if it's a touch spell then wouldn't you, the spell's caster, get trapped inside the area of effect with whoever you touched?

Is this spell meant to be something of a cage battle between two lightweights? Is that a funny thought? Are you meant to bring an ally with you into the area of effect? Wouldn't they be crippled too? Wouldn't your allies be cut-off from your services while you're trapped inside?

I might be missing the point.

How do you use this spell?

[Avoron]

Best way to use this spell: be an arcane archer. It is now a completely incapacitating effect with no save, no SR, and fantastic range.

Second best way to use this spell: use a greater reach metamagic rod. It is now a completely incapacitating effect with no save, no SR, and close range.

Main intended way to use this spell: yeah, basically an antimagic cage battle.

So in Answer to Your Questions
See above.
Yes, to some extent.
Depends how good you are at fighting without magic.
Yes.
Yes.
For the most, yes. Also, see above.
Yes, depending on your sense of humor.
If your allies are cool enough, go for it.
Yes, to some extent.
Yes, to the extent that your services are magical.
See above.

[Lakesidefantasy]

That's a pretty good response, and humorous as well. Thanks.

[Lakesidefantasy]

Next question.

Should I give Echean Ansolandi from the Rival Guide one of these reach metamagic rods?

[MaxAstro]

I think the intended, non-cheesy way to use the spell is to be friends with a fighter and a rogue and get nice and comfortably close with an enemy wizard.

Sure, you are just as shut down as they are, but Joe Platemail and Mr McStabby are quite a lot more dangerous suddenly...

[Philo Pharynx]

I rule it that your touch defines the outer edge of the radius. You are not enclosed unless you want to be.

[My Self]

MaxAstro wrote:

I think the intended, non-cheesy way to use the spell is to be friends with a fighter and a rogue and get nice and comfortably close with an enemy wizard.

Sure, you are just as shut down as they are, but Joe Platemail and Mr McStabby are quite a lot more dangerous suddenly...

Relatively speaking, and only against gear-dependent enemies. Your allies will also be relatively weakened by this (Think -6 to important physical stats, -5 to hit/damage, -5 or more to saves) Most outsiders will still be able to fight, even if a little disabled.

Don't every try this on a dragon.

[Avoron]

I think giving Echean the rod would be reasonable, considering that he invented the spell and is a genious and all. It would fit nicely into his gear budget if you gave it in exchange for those metamagic gems.

If you'd prefer to avoid changing his gear, a similar result could be achieved with the spell Spectral Hand.

[Lakesidefantasy]

MaxAstro wrote:

I think the intended, non-cheesy way to use the spell is to be friends with a fighter and a rogue and get nice and comfortably close with an enemy wizard.

Sure, you are just as shut down as they are, but Joe Platemail and Mr McStabby are quite a lot more dangerous suddenly...

True, and that seems to be the intent in the Rival Guide; but that leaves the wizard, the fighter, and the rogue safe inside with the opponents' mage while the cleric is outside with the opponents' cleric, fighter, and rogue. It's almost like in chess when you give up a bishop for a queen.

However, what if your whole party were inside with the opponents' mage? Oh my...that's just evil.

[Lakesidefantasy]

Oh gosh. I just noticed that Echean has prepared mage's lubrication. Nice...real, nice.

[Nigrescence]

Lakesidefantasy wrote:

Oh gosh. I just noticed that Echean has prepared mage's lubrication. Nice...real, nice.

It's spelled Mage's Lucubration.

lucubration

[voideternal]

Avoron wrote:

If you'd prefer to avoid changing his gear, a similar result could be achieved with the spell Spectral Hand.

Spectral Hand wrote:

...For as long as the spell lasts, any touch range spell of 4th level or lower that you cast can be delivered by the spectral hand....

Spectral Hand can't deliver 9th level spells.

If you don't mind getting your familiar killed, your familiar can deliver the enclosure for you.

[Avoron]

Nice to know about Spectral Hand, I've never used it myself.

If you're using a familiar to deliver this spell, you'll probably want Improved Familiar for either an earth elemental, to hide underground in the enclosure, or an arbiter inevitable, to just sit there and take it without dying as long as it doesn't take chaotic damage.

A far more practical method would be the use of Proxy Summoning to send unfortunate Mounts to their death in the noble cause of helping you trap enemies in a giant sphere. This tactic would actually be surprisingly effective.

Finally, the simplest method is just getting a reach of 15 feet or more, so you can deliver the spell yourself, but from safely outside of its radius.

[Lakesidefantasy]

Nigrescence wrote:

Lakesidefantasy wrote:

Oh gosh. I just noticed that Echean has prepared mage's lubrication. Nice...real, nice.

It's spelled Mage's Lucubration.

lucubration

No, he actually has mage's lubrication prepared.

Yeah, scary thoughts.