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Well, here's a fun topic over which to argue.

Which Wizard spell is the best one for defensive purposes? Explain your answer and show your work.

-Vek
"There might be a right answer."

For limitless overall effect, Sanctuary. For a more mundane solution Immobilize. Both of these leave all the attackers unharmed.
For combat, Armour Bizarre, due to the horror factor of 16.

Invulnerability (limited)
Immune to non magical heat/fire/cold/poisons/toxins/drugs, gases and disease. Magic damage does half damage.
You get form fitting armour of 25 sdc per level of caster also +4 save vs magic, hf and psionics.
All for 25 ppe.

kiralon wrote:Invulnerability (limited)
Immune to non magical heat/fire/cold/poisons/toxins/drugs, gases and disease. Magic damage does half damage.
You get form fitting armour of 25 sdc per level of caster also +4 save vs magic, hf and psionics.
All for 25 ppe.

or River of lava (most opponents just die)

I think it depends in part on the situation and the magic category.

Invisibility: Simple (or Superior) OR Shdaowmeld can make you hard to hit and allow one to just walk away.

If terms of "offense is the best defense" then Flames of Lictalon(or whatever that Spell of Legend is called that eats the souls of those that enter).

Float in Air. No saving throw, no weight limit, you weak your enemy.
Increase Weight. Hey your armor or boots now weighs 100 lbs (.45 kg) per level of experience.
No save.
Air Warlock Thunder clap (2 points)
Air Warlock Levitate. No save. 200 lbs (90 kg) per level of experience. No horizontal movement.
You're stuck.

Well, I'm pretty sure I specified wizard spells so I'm ignoring any Warlock only spells. What I was thinking of was Energy Field. I used to think it was useless, until I asked about it on the board and people explained that the AR of 4 meant that rolls above 4 did damage to the field, not that they passed through it. So, for 10PPE, you get to protect a small group of people up to 60 SDC. It's not a lot, but you can always recast it. Now, this doesn't protect against gas or clouds, but I like it regardless.

-Vek
"If you think the 4 AR is provided to the people inside the field, then it's worthless."

Veknironth wrote:Well, I'm pretty sure I specified wizard spells so I'm ignoring any Warlock only spells. What I was thinking of was Energy Field. I used to think it was useless, until I asked about it on the board and people explained that the AR of 4 meant that rolls above 4 did damage to the field, not that they passed through it. So, for 10PPE, you get to protect a small group of people up to 60 SDC. It's not a lot, but you can always recast it. Now, this doesn't protect against gas or clouds, but I like it regardless.

-Vek
"If you think the 4 AR is provided to the people inside the field, then it's worthless."

Invulnerability is better and scales with level and only cost 25 PPE. Not to mention all the additional bonuses and resistances. You can cast it on others without negatively effecting their combat performance. Even if depleted of SDC you still get the resistances and bonuses.

Well, I do love me some Limited Invulnerability, no joke. But I went with the smaller PPE cost and the ability to cover more people. It also can work as a make-shift wall.

I wonder what the coefficient of friction is for the Energy Field. Could someone climb up it?

-Vek
"Energy Jungle Gym."

Veknironth wrote:Well, I do love me some Limited Invulnerability, no joke. But I went with the smaller PPE cost and the ability to cover more people. It also can work as a make-shift wall.

I wonder what the coefficient of friction is for the Energy Field. Could someone climb up it?

-Vek
"Energy Jungle Gym."

Doubtful that you could climb it. It is energy after all. Can you hold or climb any energy? Nope, because it is energy and not matter. If you could climb a magnetic field I suppose you could climb it. Otherwise I would say nah.

Well, it's magic energy. If it's just regular energy it wouldn't stop anything or have any SDC. It would essentially be a cool special effect with no defensive value. This is what I used to think the spell was.

-Vek
"I still agree with you that you shouldn't be able to climb it."

Veknironth wrote:Well, I'm pretty sure I specified wizard spells so I'm ignoring any Warlock only spells. What I was thinking of was Energy Field. I used to think it was useless, until I asked about it on the board and people explained that the AR of 4 meant that rolls above 4 did damage to the field, not that they passed through it. So, for 10PPE, you get to protect a small group of people up to 60 SDC. It's not a lot, but you can always recast it. Now, this doesn't protect against gas or clouds, but I like it regardless.

-Vek
"If you think the 4 AR is provided to the people inside the field, then it's worthless."

I have always thought Energy Field was useless because I interpreted that with an AR of 4, anything over that would simply penetrate the shield. Where can I see something regarding this alternate interpretation?

Torval wrote:

Veknironth wrote:Well, I'm pretty sure I specified wizard spells so I'm ignoring any Warlock only spells. What I was thinking of was Energy Field. I used to think it was useless, until I asked about it on the board and people explained that the AR of 4 meant that rolls above 4 did damage to the field, not that they passed through it. So, for 10PPE, you get to protect a small group of people up to 60 SDC. It's not a lot, but you can always recast it. Now, this doesn't protect against gas or clouds, but I like it regardless.

-Vek
"If you think the 4 AR is provided to the people inside the field, then it's worthless."

I have always thought Energy Field was useless because I interpreted that with an AR of 4, anything over that would simply penetrate the shield. Where can I see something regarding this alternate interpretation?

The AR 4 reference was just dumb and creates confusion. It is more like a Natural A.R. but rolls under 4 normally miss, anyways so again stupid reason to even mention it. Since obviously it isn't a useless spell with no benefits (why would they create a spell that did nothing?). It takes all damage until depleted of SDC.