Spells for a storm based arcanist

[Sagiso]

I'm re-making one of my old 3.5 characters in preparation for an upcoming campaign, but the guides tend to be a few years old, and who knows what's come out since, so I figured I'd check if anyone have any fun tips on spells.

I've played the game long enough to know about the basic utility spells, so no suggestions on things like dispel magic or haste please. For this thread I'd rather focus on wind, electricity and maybe some water spells for the purposes of blasting and battlefield control.

[avr]

Dunno if it fits 'storm' exactly but an aqueous orb is a water spell which does useful battlefield control. Aggressive thundercloud (& greater AT) is a spell which might fit better but just does damage without the BFC and isn't as good IMO. Rope tornado and river of wind are barely-acceptable wind-based BFC.

Storm step will certainly fit, and is likely useful. It's a short range L3 teleport which also does a little damage to those along its path.

Sorry, there's a lack of good storm-themed spells at a decent level.

[Sagiso]

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I'll look into storm step and the others, and aqueous orb is too fun not to put on the list. Good ol' katamari theme orb.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Cantrips: Drench, Breeze, Flare, Ray of Frost, Spark, Ghost Sound, Touch of Fatigue, Jolt, Prestidigitation

Level 1: Endure Elements, Shock Shield, Stunning Barrier, Winter Feathers, Icicle Dagger, Obscuring Mist, Snowball, Summon Monster I, Unseen Servant, Hypnotism, Sleep, Ear Piercing Scream, Flare Burst, Floating Disk, Gentle Breeze, Hydraulic Push, Magic Missile, Shocking Grasp, Thunderstomp, Auditory Hallucination, Chill Touch, Alter Winds, Body Capacitance, Feather Fall, Windy Escape

Level 2: Communal Endure Elements, Gird Ally, Resist Energy, With the Wind, Cloud of Seasickness, Euphoric Cloud, Fog Cloud, Returning Weapon, Slipstream, Summon Monster II, Elemental Speech, Aggressive Thundercloud, Contact Entity I, Defensive Shock, Elemental Touch, Frigid Touch, Frost Fall, Gust of Wind, Gusting Sphere, Ice Slick, Shatter, Sonic Scream, Haunting Mists, Hypnotic Pattern, Minor Image (if storm based), Twilight Haze, Unshakable Chill, Air Step, Glide, Levitate, Steal Breath, Telekinetic Volley, Thunder Fire, Whispering Wind

Ok, so that's through level 2 spells. Obviously I took some liberties; hypnotic effects for example were thrown in because you could simulate flashes of electricity or the calming effect of rain as the distraction that fascinates your foes. Even still, taking out the fringe spells you've still got a good list here.

Of course, there's even further you could go. For example, any spell that moves objects in some way other than instant teleportation, you could re-flavor these as storm spells by suggesting that the movement is wind-assisted. In this manner you could take Expeditious Retreat for example. Another re-flavor would be for Light based spells, texturing the light generated as electrical sparks or rainbow effects and such.

My point is: get creative. "Storm" isn't a specialization like Fire, Necromancy, or Void. You may have to work with your character and also the GM to add spells you'd like and re-flavor them to a "Storm" theme.

Incidentally that's why I kept Prestidigitation on there. Having a Familiar that has this spell at will could add non-game affecting "special effects" that help to re-flavor spells into a "Storm" theme. For example casting Cat's Grace on someone, with the Familiar adding a Prestidigitation of tiny, crackling bolts of electricity that "supercharge the nervous system" of the recipient so that they are now more dexterous.

These are just opinions, take them or leave them.

[SheepishEidolon]

If you want storm related powers, stormborn bloodline is a very thematic one. And it's not restricted to sorcerers: An arcanist with blood arcanist archetype gets full progression on bloodline powers, as well as the arcana. You basically exchange an exploit for a power.

With these powers there should be less pressure to pick up thematic spells.

[Sagiso]

Wow, I guess I didn't put that in the first post after all. The character in question is actually a stormborn blood arcanist. Guess I must be doing something right then!