Default/Sample Spell Sets

[Puppies72]

Hi all,

My friends and I want to get stuck in and have our first game (tomorrow) but don't want to spend ages agonising over spells until we get a better handle on the system, so my question is

Has anyone created standard quick start spell lists?

[Calmdown]

I havent exactly, though I will be suggesting some on my blog in the next couple of days when I finish writing. If it helps, though, here are my notes from my initial thoughts on spell schools (I went with enchanter in the end)

Note that most of the Strike Deads are just to have something to put on a scroll , you could choose many things in those last slot.

Enchanter

Telekinesis
Enchant Weapon
Embed Enchantment
Write Scroll
Elemental Bolt
Brew Potion
Dispel
Strike Dead


Illusionist

Monstrous Form
Invisibility
Transpose
Mind Control
Write Scroll
Dispel
Leap
Brew Potion


Elementalist

Elemental Bolt
Elemental Shield
Wall
Leap
Telekinesis
Petrify
Write Scroll
Spell Eater


Chronomancer

Decay
Fleet Feet
Petrify
Spell Eater
Elemental Bolt
Mind Control
Write Scroll
Brew Potion


Thaumaturge

Dispel
Heal
Blinding Light
Mind Control
Create Scroll
Transpose
Leap
Brew Potion


Summoner

Leap
Possess
Imp/Summon Demon
Elemental Bolt
Brew Potion
Spell Eater
Heal
?


Necromancer

Spell Eater
Bone Dart
Bones of the Earth
Brew Potion
Fleet Feet
Leap
Absorb Knowledge
?


Sigilist

Absorb Knowledge
Write Scroll
Create Grimoire
Dispel
Telekinesis
Monstrous Form
Elemental Bolt
?

[Darkson71]

Pick the spells at random (obviously keeping to the limits). 
You never know, you might find a completely overlooked but great combo by blind luck.

[JamWarrior]

I'd start by just make the 8 choices with the lowest casting numbers if I wanted a really quick pick.

[Philhelm]

Thaumaturge:

Heal:  The obvious first choice.
Restore Life:  With a casting value of 20, it is best to take early in order to reduce the casting value as you progress.
Shield:  A good way to provide added armor for your wizard (who can't wear armor) and his soldiers.
Wizard Eye:  You can cast spells while remaining hidden from enemy marksmen.
Absorb Knowledge:  Since the Thaumaturge isn't an offensive caster, he will likely receive fewer XP.
Teleport:  To help your wizard escape if necessary.
Enchant Weapons:  In case you encounter creatures immune to mundane weapons.
Familiar:  Two additional Health for your wizard.

[darthgus]

Have you considered the advantage one player could have by taking all the spells he can that grant you extra fighters on the table... Animal Companion, Raise Zombie, Illusionary Soldier, and Animate Construct.

Potentially and extra 4 bodies on the table, giving a sizeable psychological advantage.

[Westfalia Chris]

Have you considered the advantage one player could have by taking all the spells he can that grant you extra fighters on the table... Animal Companion, Raise Zombie, Illusionary Soldier, and Animate Construct.

Potentially and extra 4 bodies on the table, giving a sizeable psychological advantage.

Note, though, that Animal Companion and Animate Construct count as a soldier re: maximum warband size, and that by a strict interpretation, you may at the earliest field them in the second game of a campaign (the spells do not specify if you can cast them BEFORE a game, and by default, this would mean you would have to cast them between two games). Nonetheless, considering the respective base casting numbers, this is a rather interesting option for a Witch.

[JamWarrior]

From the FAQ and the battle report on Joe's blog, you can cast Animal Companion/Animate Construct before your first game, but you must buy your warband first.  All out of game spells can be cast before a game unless otherwise specified.  They'd be useless in one-off games otherwise.

Your calculations seem to forget that apprentices can cast most of these as well.

Throw in Imp and Summon Demon for a potential 4 more bodies to the table mid-game!  Well the imp isn't under your control but I'm sure you'll be able to summon it somewhere that won't be an issue.

Thought experiment:
Inn
Dog Kennel
Zombie x 2
Illusory Soldier x 1
Summoned Demon x 2

I make it a maximum controlled warband size of 17 before you start controlling random monsters or members of the opposing band.  Any advances?

[Ddogwood]

Thought experiment:
Inn
Dog Kennel
Zombie x 2
Illusory Soldier x 1
Summoned Demon x 2

I make it a maximum controlled warband size of 17 before you start controlling random monsters or members of the opposing band.  Any advances?

Only 1 zombie per warband, according to the spell, but otherwise it sounds reasonable. Summon Demon has to be cast in-game and has a significant risk, so I'm not sure this is the best possible strategy, but it's certainly possible.

[Darkson71]

Only 1 zombie per warband, according to the spell,

Good call, we missed that in the game at the club - guess that means JamWarrior owes his opponent an apology.

[JamWarrior]

Oops!  How does one say sorry for an extra zombie?  Best I hope manage to summon one next game against him so I can then not take it!

[drfunk]

No sample ideas for the Soothesayer?

[Calmdown]

No sample ideas for the Soothesayer?

I don't really consider Soothsayer playable for anything but fluff reasons. It's the weakest primary after the almost-completely-pointless Chronomancer.

If I was going to play it though, I'd probably use

Mind Control
Awareness
Reveal Secret
Dispel
Fleet Feet
Transpose
Absorb Knowledge
Telekinesis/Leap/Raise Dead

[JamWarrior]

A tad hyperbolic a reaction there for the poor Soothsayer.

Mind control is a beast.  You gain a soldier, they lose a soldier, net gain of 2 men on the ground for you.  Plus cast it at someone just about to escape with loot and the loot is now yours!

Reveal secret is practically a free treasure and turns what would be a 3-3 draw into a 4-3 victory for you.

Combat awareness not only makes your troops hefty fighters but also makes them harder to hit at range.

[Magos Kasen]

The problem with the Chronomancer, as far as I can see, is that most of its 'power' spells involve sacrificing an action... to gain an action. Take Time Walk - the hardest to cast spell, with extra damage for failure (making it nearly suicidal until you can put 4+ levels into dropping the dificulty). Yet all it gets you is... a chance to move again and cast another, different, spell. Which you could just have cast the first time.

Actions are a precious resource for wizards - you can only cast one spell each turn, so setting up elaborate chains of spells will be difficult to pull off. The chronomancer doesn't really do this any better than anyone else.

The Soothsayer I think has some value. Certainly, he has some awesome utility spells like Wizard Eye that would be valuable to a lot of other wizards as a starting spell. He just has quite a few 'specialised' spells like Reveal Invisible that are pretty corner case.