Poll: What would you Choose? Shadowcraft Mage or Malconvoker

[Dragonamedrake]

Like the question asked. I was considering which to play next game. Both Tier 1, Both have 9th lvl spells, and both bring alot of utility to the table from different sources.

Ive toyed with a Shadowcraft mage before as a cohort and he was almost more fun then my main. I havent played a Malconvoker but I have a friend who has and he raves about it. Plus I read TreantMonk20's Guide and it really looks fun.

Here are my biggest points of interest:

1. UTILITY - I hate a character that doesnt have options. I like having answers for most situations. Not so much from a power standpoint but more of a problem solver sort.

2. CC - I like being the Battle Field controller/Crowd Controller. I like being able to think outside the box when it comes to encounters.

3. Fun - Simple enough... I want to play something that keeps me interested and is fun from 1 - 20.

Thanks for any reply's in advance.

[weenog]

I would need to know what I was getting into before I made the choice.  In a campaign that doesn't favor or penalize one more than the other, I would probably go with Shadowcraft Mage.  Illusions more powerful than reality itself reminds me a lot of the powers of the possessed in The Night's Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton, and I always thought those were really cool.

[Endarire]

A major image can seem to make the room spin, requiring those who believe the illusion to fall prone and be nauseated for the spell's duration.

At this power level, the main distinction is whether you want to rely on illusions (some of which mimic summonlings and Conjuration (creation) spells) or on real summonlings.

From a bookkeeping perspective, a Shadowcraft Mage is probably less work.  See also my COnjurer Summoner.

[emaNsdrawkcaB]

I voted Shadowcraft, although, in an evil, long lasting, lots of downtime game I'd be likely to change my mind. 9 times out of 10, id say Shadowcraft Mage.

[Senevri]

SCM.
Shadow Dragon Ally, Shadow Major Create CR 10 mechanical traps....

[Dragonamedrake]

wow I thought the Malconvoker would win honestly but Id never played one. I know when I had one as a cohort he was a hoot. Anyone going to defend the Malconvoker lol?

[Bozwevial]

...nah. Shadowcraft Mage.

[Senevri]

It's not that Malconvoker is bad, it's just that shadowcrafting is so sweet. It's like a wizard prestige class competing against an incantatrix.

[dna1]

incantrix > all

[PhaedrusXY]

Eh, for versatility the SCM is actually better, I'd say. Incantatrix is like a normal wizard, with more oomph. SCM is like being a gestalt wizard//sorcerer with a gigantic list of spells known on the sorcerer side.

[Bozwevial]

Eh, for versatility the SCM is actually better, I'd say. Incantatrix is like a normal wizard, with more oomph. SCM is like being a gestalt wizard//sorcerer with a gigantic list of spells known on the sorcerer side.

Plus, there's the attraction of being able to cast fake spells that are more real than the real thing, all wrapped in a gnome-sized package. Because it's always worse to get your ass handed to you by a gnome.

[JohnnyMayHymn]

I voted for the Malconvoker, I'm not saying it's more powerful; but I would choose the Malconvoker more often, usually as an Archivist

it could get interesting with invisible spell....

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Man, invisible shadowcraft illusions.  So fun.


Almost as good as invisible shadowcraft pre-SpC dragon allies

[Shadowhunter]

I went Malconvoker, just because I like it better than SCM. It's not as powerful, but that's rarely a problem for me.

[BeholderSlayer]

SCM for me.

[snakeman830]

Shadowcraft mage has tons of versatility from a single spell and can access probably a thousand spells as a standard action.  I don't know if any other PrC printed (no matter who it's intended for) can match that kind of versatility.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Shadowcraft mage has tons of versatility from a single spell and can access probably a thousand spells as a standard action.  I don't know if any other PrC printed (no matter who it's intended for) can match that kind of versatility.

Possibly rainbow servant.

[fuinjutsu]

Eh, SCM's are cool, but I like the flavor of "Focused Abyssal Wizard/Malconvoker" (Ban Evocation and Necromancy, you'll need Enchantment to get through the lower levels.)  It forces you to be creative, too.  But I never make my characters as optimzied as they could be.

SCM has more power, but Malconvoker is more complex to play, which is more fun for some people.

[Hallack]

Voted SCM becuase I loves me some SCM fun, both divine or arcane.  Just a solid fun prestige class.  Sure there are some abuses that can be had too but even without milking for every last reality % it is awesome fun.

[KellKheraptis]

incantrix > all

My TBS Oozaru disagrees, though he shamelessly uses both   Incantatrix amplifies the power of the wizard, SCM magnifies it's scope.  Together, the two are unstoppable.