I see this spell as being pretty good at caster level 3, how do you guys use it? Do you start by vomiting say 20-25 ft away from opponent and letting the swarm move in a straight line on its own to engage the enemy? Or do you concentrate on the swarm and guide it where you want it to go (although wouldn't I rather spend my turn misfortune'ing enemies? Lastly, is this spell basically best against enemy casters forcing concentration checks? If so couldn't I accomplish the same thing just by casting lipstitch or something similar?
A better question would be, could your familiar be in charge of controlling the swarm if you cast the personal spell through it with share spells? That way you could misfortune them, cackle, and have the swarm directed by the familiar with a word (free action) of direction from you.
Share spells can't help, it works on spells with a target of 'you', not on those with a range of personal specifically. Vomit swarm does not have such a target.
Its advantages over lipstitch are that it can hit multiple targets, it can reach a greater range over time, others in the party it can possibly bull rush or otherwise manoeuvre enemies into the swarm, and it effectively prevents people going into some area - few will voluntarily walk into the area and force a save which can nauseate them for a round.
I would usually rely on the swarm going on autopilot, you're right that a witch will often have better things to do. Usually isn't always though.
Eh, personal spells effect you, but you are right, they (some) don't have a target of you. I looked into the Core Book and most (I say most, but mean all, allowing for human error of course) personal spells have a target of you. Maybe the editors missed it in the Advanced players guide? Seems counter intuitive but thems the rules. I can't argue with it.
EDIT: Found a small amount of spells in APG that were range: personal but were different from the other range: personal spells. Each seemed to lack the target line entirely.
Aura of Greater Courage
Light Lance
Vomit Swarm
Advanced Class Guide: personal spells missing target text
Unbearable Brightness (though this says personal and 30ft see text)
Ultimate Magic: personal spells missing target text
Aura of Doom
Exquisite Accompaniment
Horn of Pursuit
After all that looking, I have one conclusion: These spells ARE RARE. Rare enough to be mistakes to be missing the target tags. I'd let someone share the spells with their familiar, in a home game.
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It would probably be a great ice-breaker at parties.
Share spells can't help, it works on spells with a target of 'you', not on those with a range of personal specifically. Vomit swarm does not have such a target.
Its advantages over lipstitch are that it can hit multiple targets, it can reach a greater range over time, others in the party it can possibly bull rush or otherwise manoeuvre enemies into the swarm, and it effectively prevents people going into some area - few will voluntarily walk into the area and force a save which can nauseate them for a round.
I would usually rely on the swarm going on autopilot, you're right that a witch will often have better things to do. Usually isn't always though.
Ahh I see so its not a bad spell at all. But nauseate? I didn't know it did that? I just thought they poison and distract?
Distract is nauseate.
Distraction
A Creature with this ability can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living Creature that takes Damage from a Creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 creature's HD + creature's Con modifier) negates the effect.
Ahhh I see thank you that's pretty awesome along with forcing concentration checks is this a spell I should be memorizing or too situational?
Even if there is not caster to bother you can use it to chip away at a melee they'll make most of their saves but should fail eventually and particularly at low levels probably have no answer to swarms at all(and will die eventually) so no I wouldn't say it was too situational
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It's a useful battlefield control spell, and battlefield control is pure tactical power. You can use it to "divide and conquer" enemies, cut off escape routes, prevent enemy movement, block pursuers, force enemies to move, and create hazards.
As a result, you can save your comrades-in-arms from being flanked or outnumbered, create opportunities for them to focus their attacks, etc. All this will enable everyone in your party to extract victory from the mangled corpses of your enemies, with far greater success, and at lower risk. Your party will love you, and your enemies (those who survive) will fear you.
It's a good spell.
If you want a tasty "one-two combo", consider spells or actions or affects which prevent enemies from escaping the swarm, such as Wall of Ice, or Grease... or even Silent/Minor/Major Image (an illusory "wall of stone") to limit which way the victims exit the swarm. Funneling weakened and damaged enemies into the eager clutches of the party butchers (warrior types, et al) is great stuff.
Also, something that also makes this spell fun is that it's only Somatic, so you can use it without making any noise.
Also, because all you're doing is creating a swarm, you can cast it as a non-offensive spell (puke it up in unoccupied space) and thus cast it while invisible and remain invisible.
Also, as a Conjuration (summoning) spell, it is susceptible to various feats such as Augmented Summoning (which increases distraction DC and poison DC by +2, and adds +2hp/HD).
Good spell.
nothing says "Do NOT screw with me" like puking a bunch of very small biting stinging vermin on someone, near someone, or better yet, on a dinner table full of your foes.
Alas, not the best first date spell...in fact, maybe THE worst first date spell for budding spell casters looking for romance ;).
(on the what you can do note, puke the swarm into a jar or barrel, then hit the jerkiest foe you have ATM with beguiling gift...bonus points if you get them to scream like that housewife in Tom and Jerry when she sees Jerry)