Best Spells for Spell Mastery

[Operation Shoestring]

It is a prereq for Uncanny foresight, so if taking it, what are the best spells to master?

[Captaincurran]

I've only taken it once, for a VoP Wizard/sorcerer who was gonna focus on Magic Missle. The spell chosen was indeed Magic Missile.

[wackodraco]

Teleport.
Locate Object.
Polymorph.

Basically, you can cover your butt in case you lose your spellbook. Keeping a spare copy in a safe place is good, too. Polymorph is great in case you're captured somewhere away from it, you can use your alternate form to access it- pixie to fit through the bars, fire giant to break them down, etc.
Any higher level versions of these are good too; Greater Teleport, Shapechange, PAO, etc.
If Invoke Magic lets you cast in an AMF, I'd say that, too. Captured in an AMF prison? Invoke Magic to teleport out.
Anything that will save you in emergencies after the fact is useful in spell mastery.

[Negative Zero]

Choosing a spell that lets you get back your lost spellbook (like Evacuation Rune).

[Operation Shoestring]

Teleport.
Locate Object.
Polymorph.

Basically, you can cover your butt in case you lose your spellbook. Keeping a spare copy in a safe place is good, too. Polymorph is great in case you're captured somewhere away from it, you can use your alternate form to access it- pixie to fit through the bars, fire giant to break them down, etc.
Any higher level versions of these are good too; Greater Teleport, Shapechange, PAO, etc.
If Invoke Magic lets you cast in an AMF, I'd say that, too. Captured in an AMF prison? Invoke Magic to teleport out.
Anything that will save you in emergencies after the fact is useful in spell mastery.

Hmn, locate object is DIV right?  I can cover it with Spont Div.

Polymorph probably won't be allowed.  Greater Teleport was one of my first choices.  I was also thinking Mage's Lucubration, Chain Dispel, and Major Creation.  Maybe throw in Knock?  Any other ideas?

What books are Invoke Magic and Evacuation Rune from?

[Bloody Initiate]

Prerequisite: Arcane Disciple (Spell)

Would Anyspell and its greater brother be viable candidates if you could get your DM to waive the Domain slot text?

If so, mimic Divine Insight to make an Autohypnosis check to memorize your spell book and not need it anyway.

[Negative Zero]

Last I checked, a spellbook was magical and there was more to it than seeing what's on the page. Otherwise, you wouldn't have to spend money on special inks to get spells added to it. You could just write it down in coffee on your tunic and be good to go.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Last I checked, a spellbook was magical and there was more to it than seeing what's on the page. Otherwise, you wouldn't have to spend money on special inks to get spells added to it. You could just write it down in coffee on your tunic and be good to go.

Special, but nonmagical.

Just like a hard drive that has no batteries.

[Runestar]

Spontaneous spell (the non-epic feat) lets you cast a mastered spell spontaneously. So you might want to consider a more utilitarian spell you think you will be casting fairly often, such as your favoured attack spell of choice. Or maybe some protection spell such as mirror image.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

It is a prereq for Uncanny foresight, so if taking it, what are the best spells to master?

Building Lelouch, I take it?

Full round Geass!

[Operation Shoestring]

My build is:

1) Factotum 1 - (Able Learner, Extend Spell)
2) Diviner 1 - [ACF-> Martial Wizard: Improved Initiative]
3) Diviner 2 - (Invisible Spell)
4) Diviner 3
5) Diviner 4
6) Unseen Seer1 - (Insightful Divination)
7) Unseen Seer2 - {Divine Insight}
8) Diviner 5 - Spontaneous Divination
9) Unseen Seer 3 - (Practiced Spellcaster)
10) Unseen Seer 4
11) Unseen Seer 5 - {Hunter's Eye}
12) Divine Oracle 1- (Craft Contingent Spell)
13) Divine Oracle 2
14) Divine Oracle 3
15) Unseen Seer 6 - (Persist Spell)
16) Unseen Seer 7
17) Unseen Seer8 - {Greater Status/Find the Gap}
18) Loremaster 1 - (Spell Mastery) {Applicable Knowledge: Uncanny Foresight}

at present.

Looks like I'll have 7 mastered spells.

[Tshern]

Limited Wish?

[Operation Shoestring]

Limited Wish?

The XP cost is pretty painful.  But it does have good versatility.

Still hoping someone will point me at sources.

Hmn.. Shades is probably a good one.

[KellKheraptis]

Shades wouldn't be bad, or if you're an SCM, Silent Image if it's not already mastered.

[lans]

Have you considered uncanny forethought?

[Operation Shoestring]

See build.  Already have Uncanny Foresight.

[Endarire]

Plane shift, teleport, mind blank- spells that you want to cast quite frequently, or spells that you rarely cast but are quite useful when you do.  If you'd save a scroll or few of it, strongly consider mastering it.

[PhaedrusXY]

So Shapechange is out too, I take it (You said polymorph likely was)?

How about Invisibility, Anticipate Teleportation, Overland Flight, True Seeing, and Gate? I agree with many of the other suggestions, also. I'd pick things that you could use to escape from whatever situation landed you without a spellbook. Things that are versatile would be obvious choices, also.

Plane Shift and Greater Teleport should be good enough to "escape" in many situations, but I'd plan for the ones where they aren't, also. And if Shapechange is banned, Gate is another way to get a grab bag to temporarily gain whatever ability you want. You can also use it to summon something really powerful, if needed. The travel function could replace Plane Shift as a mastered spell, also.

Also, Celerity and Timestop.

[snakeman830]

I would reccommend staying away from spells with expensive material components.  Most of the situations I could forsee where you lack your spellbook would also deprive you of those.

[PhaedrusXY]

I would reccommend staying away from spells with expensive material components.  Most of the situations I could forsee where you lack your spellbook would also deprive you of those.

Very true. I always forget to check that. Material components are annoying as hell...