[karlosovic]

well not quite, but I've recently come to a new appreciation of the 1st level spell Chromatic Orb. I'd previously written it off as useless compared to MM for a level 1 mage spell, but playing the druid avenger (who has access to a few mage spells) caused me to give it another go. After being impressed by this spell's effectiveness against trolls in the druid grove, I decided to keep 1 memorised in my solo game.

The character is a female elven lvl 12/13/15 f/m/t. I decided to pay off the thieves a bit earlier than I normally would and go rescue Imoen already. While clearing out a certain nest of Vampyres, I cleared out the bottom section and came back up to the nasty spike room to take on Lassal. Being that I'd used several spells already downstairs, the only quick offensive spell I had left was Chromatic Orb. Opting to have a quick blast at him before joining melee and flailing his ass, I was most suprised when Bodhi's Lieutenant turned into a ghost as soon as my little Orb hit.

"what, that all you got ?!"

The stun and instant death features of this spell seem to work a lot more than I'd expected from reading the description. Most trolls I've hit with it die instantly, and umber hulks were all being frozen solid for me to pick apart at leisure. Not a bad alternative to good 'ol Magic Missile, pity they're both Evocation. The description says save=negate, surely that many enemies can't all be totally failing their saves ? I'd say it works >50%