Author Topic: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?  (Read 14868 times)

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reddir

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Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« on: November 24, 2010, 05:05:46 PM »
I've been allowed to make a specialized character for a game - one who primarily buffs. I'd like to know the best spells/powers to use for buffing. I tried to find a pre-existing thread for this, but had no luck.

One critical rule change for this character: All "Personal" spells are now "Range:Touch", and all spells are "Target:Other Only"

Spells can be from any list, at all. Only the living may be affected.


That said, I think a list of good buff effects would be good for everyone.

Thanks for your help. I'll edit this first post as I find (or am told of) good buff spells. Feel free to critique those I list - all info welcome :)

==============================================================

Highly Recommended:

Creature Combat Buffs:
[spoiler]--Spell/Power Level 1--
Bite of the Wolf
Claws of the Beast
Compression
ConvictionSpC
Expansion
Fist of stoneSpC
Grease, Psionic, coating only
Grip of Iron
Hammer
Inertial Armor
Precognition, Defensive
Precognition, Offensive
Vigor
--Spell/Power Level 2--
Alter Self
Animal Affinity
Concealing Amorpha
Detect Hostile Intent
Energy Adaptation, Specified
Fell the Greatest FoeSpC
Hunter's EyePHB2
Hustle
Psionic Lion's Charge
See Invisibility
Strength of My Enemy
Wings of CoverRotD
WraithstrikeSpC
--Spell/Power Level 3--
Claws of the Vampire
Concealing Amorpha, Greater
Conviction, MassSpC
Empathic Feedback
Energy Retort
Haste
Righteous FurySpC
Share Pain, Forced
Shield of WardingSpC
Touchsight
--Spell/Power Level 4--
Claw of Energy
Control Body
Energy Adaptation
Freedom of Movement, Psionic
Immovability
Intellect Fortress
Metamorphosis
Polymorph
RecitationSpC
Righteous AuraSpC
Schism
Steadfast Perception
--Spell/Power Level 5--
Blink, GreaterSpC
Contingency, Psionic
Dispelling Buffer
FiendFormSpC
Oak Body
Righteous Wrath of the FaithfulSpC
Second Chance
Valiant FurySpC
--Spell/Power Level 6--
Eyes of the OracleDM
Form of Doom
Null Psionics Field
Temporal Acceleration
--Spell/Power Level 7--
Body Outside BodyCA
Energy Conversion
Fate of One
Fission
Giant SizeCA
Mental PinnacleXPH
--Spell/Power Level 8--
Bend Reality
Fusion
Iron Body, Psionic
Moment of Prescience, Psionic
Shadow Body
True Metabolism
--Spell/Power Level 9--
Metamorphosis, Greater
Reality Revision, duplicate power and inherent bonus only
Shapechange
Timeless Body
Visage of the Deity, GreaterCD

Bite of the Were[blank]SpC (2,3,4,5,6)
[/spoiler]

Creature Utility Buffs:
[spoiler]--Spell/Power Level 1--
Catfall
Chameleon
Detect Psionics
Sense Link
Skate
Synesthete
--Others--
Feat Leech (2)
Invisibility (2)
Levitate (2)
Sense Link, Forced (2)
Ectoplasmic Form (3)
Escape Detection (3)
Glibness (3)
Invisibility, Greater (4)
Psychic Reformation (4)
Adapt Body (5)
Overland Flight (5)
True Seeing, Psionic (5)
Co-Opt Concentration (6)
Mind Blank, Personal (6)
Overland Flight, Psionic (6)
Astral Seed (8)
Invisibility, SuperiorSpC (8)
Minute FormCA (8)
Metafaculty (9)
Psychic Chirurgery, transfer knowledge only (9)
[/spoiler]

Equipment/Area Buffs:
[spoiler]Metaphysical Weapon (1)
Keed Edge, Psionic (3)
Vampiric Blade (3)
Weapon of Energy (4)
Matter Manipulation (8), strengthen only
[/spoiler]

Illusions:
[spoiler]Disguise Self (1)
Displacement (3)
Mirror Image, GreaterPH2 (4)
[/spoiler]

(thank you Prime32, Endarire, Echoes, Cru, raith0, Templario, skydragonknight, Lycanthromancer)

==============================================================

All:

Player's Handbook:
[spoiler]
Creature Buffs:
[spoiler]
--Spell Level 0--
Guidance
Know Direction
Message
Read Magic
Resistance
Virtue
--Spell Level 1--
Bless
Comprehend Languages
Divine Favor
Endure Elements
Enlarge Person
Entropic Shield
Expeditious Retreat
Feather Fall
Goodberry
Longstrider
Mage Armor
Hide from Animals
Hide from Undead
Jump
Magic Fang
Pass Without Trace
Protection from Chaos/Evil/Good/Law
Reduce Person
Resist Energy
Sanctuary
Shield
Shield of Faith
Speak with Animals
True Strike
Undetectable Alignment
--Spell Level 2--
Aid
Alter Self
Barkskin
Bear's Endurance
Blur
Bull's Strength
Cat's Grace
Darkvision
Eagle's Splendor
False Life
Fox's Cunning
Heroism
Invisibility
Levitate
Owl's Wisdom
Protection from Arrows
Rage
Reduce Animal
See Invisibility
Shield Other
Speak with Plants
Spider Climb
Tongues
Tree Shape
--Spell Level 3--
Arcane Sight
Blink
Displacement
Fly
Gaseous Form
Gentle Repose
Glibness
Good Hope
Haste
Invisibility Sphere
Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law
Magic Fang, Greater
Meld into Stone
Nondetection
Prayer
Protection from Energy
Water Breathing
Water Walk
Repel Vermin
--Spell Level 4--
Air Walk
Animal Growth
Death Ward
Divine Power
Enlarge Person, Mass
Fire Shield
Freedom of Movement
Giant Vermin
Globe of Invulnerability, Lesser
Imbue with Spell Ability
Invisibility, Greater
Legend Lore
Modify Memory, recall only
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
Polymorph
Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer
Reduce Person, Mass
Spell Immunity
Stoneskin
Tree Stride
Zone of Silence
--Spell Level 5--
Awaken
Heroism, Greater
Overland Flight
Permanency, applied to buffs
Plane Shift
Rary's Telepathic Bond
Righteous Might
Shadow Walk
Spell Resistance
True Seeing
--Spell Level 6--
Bear's Endurance, Mass
Bull's Strength, Mass
Cat's Grace, Mass
Eagle's Splendor, Mass
Find the Path
Fox's Cunning, Mass
Globe of Invulnerability
Liveoak
Mordenkainen's Lucubration
Owl's Wisdom, Mass
Repulsion
Tenser's Transformation
Transport via Plants
--Spell Level 7--
Arcane Sight, Greater
Ethereal Jaunt
Invisibility, Mass
Sequester
Spell Turning
StoneTell
Vision
Wind Walk
--Spell Level 8--
Cloak of Chaos
Iron Body
Holy Aura
Mind Blank
Moment of Prescience
Polymorph Any Object
Protection from Spells
Shield of Law
Spell Immunity, Greater
Temporal Stasis
--Spell Level 9--
Etherealness
Foresight
Freedom
Shapechange
Time Stop
[/spoiler]
Item and Location Buffs:
[spoiler]
Light (0)
Bless Water (1)
Bless Weapon (1)
Curse Water (1)
Goodberry (1)
Magic Stone (1)
Magic Weapon (1)
Obscure Object (1)
Shillelagh (1)
Align Weapon (2)
Consecrate (2)
Snare (2)
Spike Growth (2)
Flame Arrow (3)
Keen Edge (3)
Magic Vestment (3)
Magic Weapon, Greater (3)
Secret Page (3)
Shrink Item (3)
Holy Sword (4)
Spike Stones (4)
Disrupting Weapon (5)
Hallow (5)
Leomund's Secret Chest (5)
Transmute Mud to Rock (5)
Unhallow (5)
Fire Seeds (6)
SpellStaff (6)
Changestaff (7)
[/spoiler]
Illusions with Buff Effects
[spoiler]
Silent Image (1)
Nystul's Magic Aura (1)
Leomund's Trap (2)
Minor Image (2)
Mirror Image (2)
Silence (2)
Major Image (3)
Sculpt Sound (3)
Illusory Wall (4)
Zone of Silence (4)
False Vision (5)
Mislead (5)
Persistent Image (5)
Permanent Image (6)
Project Image (6)
Veil (6)
[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]

Spell Compendium: (wip, completed through "F")
[spoiler]
Creature Buffs
[spoiler]
--Spell Level 1--
Accelerated Movement
Appraising Touch
Arrow Mind
Aspect of the Wolf
Aura Against Flame
Babau Slime
Beast Claws
Beastland Ferocity
Blessed Aim
Blood Wind
BloodHound
Branch to Branch
Breath Flare
Buoyant Lifting
Camouflage
Cheat
Claws of the Bear
Clear Mind
Cloak of Dark Power
Conviction
Corrosive Grasp
CrabWalk
Critical Strike
Cutting Hand
Deep Breath
Delay Disease
Detect Favored Enemy
Divine Sacrifice
Easy Trail
Ebon Eyes
Ectoplasmic Armor
Embrace the Wild
Enrage Animal
Expeditious Retreat, Swift
Find Temple
Fist of Stone
Focusing Chant
Foundation of Stone
--Spell Level 2--
Absorb Weapon
Aiming at the Target
Align Fang
AngelSkin
Augment Familiar
Avoid Planar Effects
Balancing Lorecall
Balor Nimbus
Battle Hymn
Blade of Pain and Fear
BladeWeave
Blood Frenzy
Body Blades
Body of the Sun
Burrow
Camouflage, Mass
Chain of Eyes
Claws of Darkness
Cloak of Bravery
Cloud Wings
CounterMoon, willing only
Create Magic Tattoo
DagerSpell Stance
Death Armor
Decomposition
DemonHide
Discern Shapechanger
Disguise Undead
Divine Insight
Divine Interdiction
Divine Protection
Earthen Grace
Ectoplasmic Feedback
Extend Tentacles
Fearsome Grapple
Fell the Greatest Foe
Fins to Feet
Fly, Swift
Fuse Arms
--Spell Level 3--
Aid, Mass
Air Breathing
Align Fang, Mass
Allegro
Amorphous Form
Anticipate Teleportation
AntiDragon Aura
Anyspell
Arrow Storm
Attune Form
Blacklight
Blade Storm
Blessing of Bahamut
Blindsight
Burrow, Mass
Charge of the Triceratops
Clarity of Mind
Conviction, Mass
Corona of Cold
Darkfire
Deeper Darkvision
DragonSkin
Enhance Familiar
False Gravity
Fangs of the Vampire King
Favorable Sacrifice
Find the Gap
Fire Wings
ForestFold
Fortify Familiar
--Spell Level 4--
Armor of Darkness
Aspect of the Earth Hunter
Assay Spell Resistance
Blinding Breath
Cacophonic Shield
Consumptive Field
Contingent Energy Resistance
Darkvision, Mass
Delay Death
Displacer Form
Draconic Might
Dragon Breath
Enhance Wild Shape
Essence of the Raptor
Favor of the Martyr
Fire Stride
Flame Whips (4)
Flight of the Dragon
ForceWard
--Spell Level 5--
Acid Sheath
AntiCold Sphere
Aura of Evasion
Blink, Greater
Bolts of Bedevilment
Breath Weapon Substitution
Cloak of the Sea
Crawling Darkness
Dance of the Unicorn
Death Throes
Dispelling Breath
Divine Agility
DragonSight
DuelWard
Enlarge Person, Greater
Ethereal Breath
FiendForm
Fire Shield, Mass
Fly, Mass
--Spell Level 6--
Anticipate Teleportation, Greater
Anyspell, Greater
Aura of Terror
Awaken Undead
Cloud-Walkers
Dirge
Dream Sight
Energy Immunity
Fires of Purity
Death Dragon
Elemental Body
Emerald Flame Fist
Evil Glare
Field of Ghouls
Fortunate Fate
--Spell Level 7--
Aura of Vitality
Body of War
Consumptive Field, Greater
--Spell Level 8--
Awaken, Mass
Crown of Glory
Death Pact
Death Ward, Mass
--Spell Level 9--
Absorption
Awaken Construct
Breath Weapon Admixture
Cast in Stone
Cloak of Bravery, Greater
Enervating Breath
[/spoiler]
Item and Location Buffs
[spoiler]
Amplify (1)
Anarchic Water (1)
Animate Fire/Water/Wood (1)
Axiomatic Water (1)
Blades of Fire (1)
Bless Weapon, Swift (1)
Cold Fire (1)
Deafening Clang (1)
Energized Shield, Lesser (1)
Familiar Pocket (1)
Brambles (2)
Bristle (2)
Burning Sword (2)
Checkmate's Light (2)
EarthFast (2)
Easy Climb (2)
Energized Shield (2)
Exacting Shot (2)
Flame of Faith (2)
Align Weapon, Msss (3)
Blade Thirst (3)
DiamondSteel (3)
Dolorous Blow (3)
Entangling Staff (3)
Cursed Blade (4)
FoeBane (4)
Echo Skull (5)
Animate Snow (6)
Arrow of Bone (7)
Brilliant Aura (7)
Brilliant Blade (7)
Energy Transformation Field (7)
[/spoiler]
Illusions with Buff Effects
[spoiler]
Cloak Pool (2)
Discolor Pool (2)
Decoy Image (3)
[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]

All Psionics: (wip)
[spoiler]--Power Level 1--
Bite of the Wolf
Catfall
Chameleon
Claws of the Beast
Compression
Detect Psionics
Expansion
Grease, Psionic, coating only
Grip of Iron
Hammer
Inertial Armor
[spoiler]Metaphysical Weapon
Precognition, Defensive
Precognition, Offensive
Sense Link
Skate
Synesthete
Vigor
--Power Level 2--
Animal Affinity
Bestow Power
Concealing Amorpha
Detect Hostile Intent
Energy Adaptation, Specified
Feat Leech
Hustle
Levitate
Psionic Lion's Charge
Sense Link, Forced
Strength of My Enemy
--Power Level 3--
Claws of the Vampire
Concealing Amorpha, Greater
Ectoplasmic Form
Empathic Feedback
Energy Retort
Escape Detection
[spoiler]Keed Edge, Psionic
Share Pain, Forced
Touchsight
Vampiric Blade
--Power Level 4--
Claw of Energy
Control Body
Energy Adaptation
Freedom of Movement, Psionic
Immovability
Intellect Fortress
Metamorphosis
Psychic Reformation
Schism
Steadfast Perception
Weapon of Energy
--Power Level 5--
Adapt Body
Contingency, Psionic
Dispelling Buffer
Oak Body
Second Chance
True Seeing, Psionic
--Power Level 6--
Co-Opt Concentration
Form of Doom
Mind Blank, Personal
Null Psionics Field
Overland Flight, Psionic
Temporal Acceleration
--Power Level 7--
Energy Conversion
Fate of One
Fission
Mental PinnacleXPH
--Power Level 8--
Astral Seed
Bend Reality
Fusion
Iron Body, Psionic
Matter Manipulation, strengthen only
Moment of Prescience, Psionic
Shadow Body
True Metabolism
--Power Level 9--
Metafaculty
Metamorphosis, Greater
Psychic Chirurgery, transfer knowledge only
Reality Revision, duplicate power and inherent bonus only
Timeless Body
[/spoiler]
« Last Edit: December 04, 2010, 12:40:04 PM by reddir »

Prime32

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2010, 05:17:38 PM »
One critical rule change for this character: All "Personal" spells are now "Range:Touch", and all spells are "Other Only"
Transcend mortality. On your enemies. Then dismiss it. :smirk

More seriously...

Combat:
Alter Self (2), Polymorph (4)
Bite of the Were[blank]SpC (various)
Body Outside BodyCA (?)
Giant SizeCA (?)
Haste (3)
Mental PinnacleXPH (6)
Minute SizeCA (?)
Shapechange (9)
See Invisibility (2)
Wings of CoverRotD (2) - especially if you have the dragonblood subtype

Utility:
Disguise Self (1)
Glibness (3)
Invisibility (2)
Overland Flight (5) - requires multiple castings to be useful for travel
Teleport (5)


The ability score boosters don't stack with magic items which do the same thing, so they're not always useful.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2010, 07:04:08 PM by Prime32 »
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

Endarire

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2010, 06:49:15 PM »
Wraithstrike is Sor/Wiz2 and is on Spell Compendium 243.  It's so important, it even has a picture!
Hood - My first answer to all your build questions; past, present, and future.

Speaking of which:
Don't even need TO for this.  Any decent Hood build, especially one with Celerity, one-rounds [Azathoth, the most powerful greater deity from d20 Cthulu].
Does it bug anyone else that we've reached the point where characters who can obliterate a greater deity in one round are considered "decent?"

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2010, 02:58:01 AM »
I was debating whether to include the Alter Self/Polymorph/Shapechange line, since they are more transformational than buffing...but the distinction is actually kind of weak, so I put them in.


Lycanthromancer

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2010, 03:01:17 AM »
Considering the massive offensive/defensive/utility boost that alter self alone can provide, and that polymorph is infinitely better (and not at all out of line in power for an 8th level spell), I'd say they're pretty damned good buffs, myself.

I'd give a really good list of psionic buffs, but I don't have time right now. My apologies.
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reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2010, 03:12:09 AM »
Considering the massive offensive/defensive/utility boost that alter self alone can provide, and that polymorph is infinitely better (and not at all out of line in power for an 8th level spell), I'd say they're pretty damned good buffs, myself.

They are great buffs, it was just the concept of how they buffed that gave me pause. But I'm over that and now they are listed with the others :)

I'd give a really good list of psionic buffs, but I don't have time right now. My apologies.

I have no familiarity with Powers, like at all.

At one point, I was debating with trying to use Green Ronin's Psychic concept of psi -> feats + skills. It seems like a cool system, but I stopped when I realized I lacked the understanding to port a 'buffer' functionality into it.

Any info you can post re psi would be welcome, now or later :)


Echoes

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2010, 07:33:47 AM »
Recitation (SpC, Clr 4) is amazing, esp. if your party worships the same god as you. +3 (+2 if they don't worship your god) luck bonus on attack rolls, ac, and saves? Hells yes.

Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (SpC, Clr 5) is great as well. A +3 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls and an extra attack a la haste? Sign me up.

Shield of Warding (SpC, Clr 3) gives you a +1/5 levels (max +5) sacred bonus to AC and reflex saves so long as you wield the affected shield. Yet more AC-stacking, and with an uncommon bonus type.

Conviction and Mass Conviction (SpC, Clr 1 and 3, respecitvely) gives a +2 (plus +1 per six levels, max +5 at 18th) morale bonus on saving throws. Very handy.

Greater Mirror Image (PHII, Sorc/wiz 4) is awesome. Same basic functionality as mirror image, except that you regenerate images each round so long as you have at least one left. Oh, and immediate action casting so you can toss it up reactively.

Greater Blink (SpC, Sorc/wiz 5) works just like blink, except that you never suffer the downside since you control the blinking. You can also ready an action to blink and cause any normal or magical effect to automatically miss unless it also affects ethereal targets. That combos well with ...

... Eyes of the Oracle (DM, Clr and Sorc/wiz 6), which gives you a +2 insight bonus to AC and reflex saves, and gives you a "free" readied action. If you take the action, the spell ends, but it's a great way to never get caught with your pants down.

Superior Invisibility (SpC, Sorc/wiz 8) renders you completely immune to almost all senses other than true seeing, which mind blank conveniently covers. Assuming you can fly, you are now undetectable for 1 min/level. Have fun.

That's all that I can think of for now.
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cru

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2010, 08:05:55 AM »
1 Fist of stone: +6 enhancement bonus to strength for 1 minute
3 Righteous fury: +4 sacred bonus to strength, up to 50 temporary hp
5 Valiant fury: +4 morale to strength and con, +2 will; +1 attack on full attack (does not stack with haste)

Edit: with range:touch, Righteous Aura (lvl4) becomes an interesting spell for summoned monsters (up to 40d6 vs undead at caster lvl 10)

(all Spell Compendium)
« Last Edit: November 25, 2010, 08:13:53 AM by cru »

raith0

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2010, 10:08:22 AM »
Fist of Stone is worded wierd you only get the bonus to attack and damage if you use the weak slam attack so its not good to cast on others.

I hope your DM knows what they are getting into.  These house rules just broke the War Weaver even more than it was before.  im not sure on powers either.   

Also Fell the greatest Foe from the spell compendium is a good one (paladin spell)

ohh with these house rules are you playing an archivist as well?

Templario

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2010, 06:08:47 PM »
As you wanna write this small 'handbook', may I suggest you to put the spells in order of spell level instead of only alphabetically? And, for Wizards/Beguilers/etc, the spell school too (Abj, Ench, Trans). :)
Ah, and if it's divine or arcane too
« Last Edit: November 25, 2010, 06:10:36 PM by Templario »

Endarire

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2010, 09:46:39 PM »
What about using War Weaver (Heroes of Battle 112) with this?
Hood - My first answer to all your build questions; past, present, and future.

Speaking of which:
Don't even need TO for this.  Any decent Hood build, especially one with Celerity, one-rounds [Azathoth, the most powerful greater deity from d20 Cthulu].
Does it bug anyone else that we've reached the point where characters who can obliterate a greater deity in one round are considered "decent?"

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #11 on: November 26, 2010, 01:40:43 AM »

I took out Disguise Self, since its more illusion than buff.

I took out Teleport, since its not really a buff.

I didn't list Greater Mirror Image because it is illusion, not buff.

Havok4

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2010, 01:47:08 AM »
A agree that teleport is utility not a buff. But disguise self is a buff, it gives an effective +10 to disguise, if that is not a buff than half the skill boosters are not buffs. The same with mirror image, it vastly reduces the ability for melee or archer characters to hit you and is a great defensive buff. 

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #13 on: November 26, 2010, 02:00:27 AM »
Fist of Stone is worded wierd you only get the bonus to attack and damage if you use the weak slam attack so its not good to cast on others.

I read it as a Str buff, plus a slam atk.

I hope your DM knows what they are getting into.  These house rules just broke the War Weaver even more than it was before.  im not sure on powers either.

The game is mostly story-based, with heavy rp being the core. I think powergaming is expected to be a non-issue. This particular character is going to have an unusual progression, so War Weaver (or any PrC) won't be available for a long time.

Part of the intent here is moving away from the Cleric who self-buffs and makes the other party members secondary in their own specialties. In this context, the War Weaver would be a natural expansion of a buffing character's functionality -> class features allowing spells to be cast as "Mass" versions. (still, I can see that it is overpowered in relation to the spell slot economy.)

ohh with these house rules are you playing an archivist as well?

Its more of a custom concept, without much relation to the standard classes. Basically, the only spells available are Animal-based, Buffing, Healing - but all of them are available, regardless of source. And nothing can be cast upon self.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2010, 02:02:36 AM by reddir »

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #14 on: November 26, 2010, 02:08:55 AM »
As you wanna write this small 'handbook', may I suggest you to put the spells in order of spell level instead of only alphabetically? And, for Wizards/Beguilers/etc, the spell school too (Abj, Ench, Trans). :)
Ah, and if it's divine or arcane too

You are absolutely right about listing by spell level. I'm getting on that now.

As for Spell School and Divine/Arcane, I will wait on that until I have a full listing. I want to focus on at least getting the spells listed.

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #15 on: November 26, 2010, 02:56:35 AM »
A agree that teleport is utility not a buff. But disguise self is a buff, it gives an effective +10 to disguise, if that is not a buff than half the skill boosters are not buffs. The same with mirror image, it vastly reduces the ability for melee or archer characters to hit you and is a great defensive buff. 

I guess it is the nature of the benefit that is throwing me. I fully acknowledge that these spells help, but they are clearly illusions, no real change involved. (For something similar that is a buff, consider the Changeling ability. It is an actual change.)

For similar reasons, I am removing Body Outside Body from the list. Its not really a buff, the duplication seems like something else to me.

skydragonknight

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #16 on: November 26, 2010, 03:09:11 AM »
What about using War Weaver (Heroes of Battle 112) with this?
I hope your DM knows what they are getting into.  These house rules just broke the War Weaver even more than it was before.
+1 to both.
It always seems like the barrels around here have something in them.

cru

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #17 on: November 26, 2010, 06:25:20 AM »
Basically, the only spells available are Animal-based, Buffing, Healing ...
Can you perhaps use animal-only buffs on other targets? This would give you access to lots of great druid/ranger buffs. An interesting can of worms to open...

reddir

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #18 on: November 26, 2010, 06:41:10 AM »
Can you perhaps use animal-only buffs on other targets? This would give you access to lots of great druid/ranger buffs. An interesting can of worms to open...

My understanding is that most of the 'Animal only' spells are intended to be used on Animal Companions and the like. And that, since the rules for Animal Companions make them almost useless for combat, they were made over-powered (compared to normal buff spells) to compensate.

If this is in fact the case, I think removing the type restriction would lead to problems.

If this is not the case, please let me know. I've never given serious thought to removing type restrictions from any game mechanic, so this is out of my scope.

AndyJames

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Re: Best Buffing Spells/Powers?
« Reply #19 on: November 26, 2010, 08:05:21 AM »
Why isn't Greater Visage of the Deity not in the "good buffs" category?