What spell (lvl 9) to choose ?

[Merlin from Amber]

Hi,
there are two things that I'm wandering on. From one side it is power word kill - nice spell with no saving throw or in other words when an enemy hp becames lower than 60 it is instantly killed - the spell affects one creature and is cast instantly, but I think that the enemy Magic resistance prevents it. On the other side it is Wail of the banshee - it works in radius and will kill any enemy who don't save vs death. I would like to hear your opinions.
There is no spoiler tag because all this can be read from the game's pdf file.

[Xen]

Well IMHO when these are very good spells:
Wish
Spellstrike
Spell Trap

[Rataxes]

None of them are very good compared to some of the better spells on that level IMHO. PWK only affects creatures with less than 60 HP, a creature that low on life is as good as dead anyway. Wail of the Banshee allows a normal save, which is not very good at all, since most high-level creatures have very good saves.

If you're a mage there's no reason not to get both of them, but if you're a sorcerer I'd stay away from either. Good lvl 9 spells are Time Stop, Chain Contingency, Wish, Shapeshift, Spellstrike, Spell Trap and Imprisonment (too good!). I'd strongly recommend you to at least get the three first on that list.

[ 04-10-2003, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]

[Morgeruat]

the problem with wail of the banshee is that it gives a save, against most enemies you'll be facing by the time you get to cast the spell their saves are good enough to stop it cold, if you only have that and PW:K go with wail, as greater malaison can help make the spell work for you. or PW:K if you know you're going into a mage heavy area (no mage can have more than 60hp in SoA (by the rules, I'm sure there are alot with more due to buffing them so they'll survive) you can also write a script to fire off the spell when an opponents is reduced to s certain hp total, IIRC

[daan]

IMHO, Dont bother with spell trap ( ehr .. SotM has a version that lasts 8 hours ... ), spell strike isnt very good either ( most mages have chain contingencies that fire after that, Khelben's wharding whip and Ruby Ray of Reversal are just as good ).
Besides, you'll probably be using area-effect spells anywayz ( ADHW, Skull trap, sunfire ).

So:
Timestop ( must )
Chain contingency ( great )
Wish ( undescribable )
Shapeshift ( suck int. during a timestop, shapeshifted PI's *can* attack )
Imprisonment ( The people immune to this I cant count on 1 hand *easily* )

[Dundee Slaytern]

My list is the same as daan, in descending order of priority

1) Time Stop

I can count the number of enemies immuned to this on one hand with an amputated thumb, and this includes ToB. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

2) Wish

Your days of resting... are over. Use once a day items multiple times! Decimate entire areas by yawning!

3) Chain Contingency

If only for the infamous CC-Bomb.

4) Shapeshift

Braaaaiiiins... braaaaiiiins... ...

[Rataxes]

Not really that versed in the finer details of spellcasting tactics, but I was under the impression that the Spell Trap-infinite-spells was not doable with merely the staff, is this not true?

[Dundee Slaytern]

Originally posted by Rataxes: Not really that versed in the finer details of spellcasting tactics, but I was under the impression that the Spell Trap-infinite-spells was not doable with merely the staff, is this not true?

Mages use the Spell Trap-Infinite-Spells Tactic, Sorcerers use the Wish-Infinite Spells Tactic.

This is due to the different way they cast their spells. Having Spell Trap is absolutely wasted on a Sorcerer, because Wish can be used easily to recharge the SotM. Mages do not have this luxury unless they want to screw up their level 9 Spell Slots.

[Rataxes]

Ah yes, I was actually assuming a mage. Odd, since I didn't in my first post

[Merlin from Amber]

Ok my next question is if you have to choose between Power word kill and Wail of the banshee what will you choose ?

And there are two spells that I won't use Disintegrate and Inprisonment - they destroy the enemy, but also all enemy artifacts as well. I prefer to use maze to temporary decrease enemy num, because I have the effect of the inprisonment and I don't need freedom to continue the battle.