Shadow Conjuration

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What does this spell do? The in-game description says that it casts a shadow version of one of a list of spells. What does that mean? What is a "shadow version" of magic missile? I assume to mut be good given that the spell is 3 levels higher than the original versions.

 

It's actually a level 9 "Magic Missile". Five missiles are cast doing standard 1d4+1 damage each, and spells like Ghostly Visage or Shield still cancel them. The same is applicable to the rest of the spells available via Shadow conjuration.

The main advantage of Shadow Conjuration is the versatility. In one single slot, you have potential access to five different low-level spells, as you choose which one to use when casting, not when memorising.

 

How have I managed to play this game so long without having ever heard of this spell. When I saw the spell name, I thought it was a spell to conjure a shadow (i.e. a summoning spell)

 

It does that, too. Along with it's higher level counterparts.

In D&D, you can emulate all spells of a certain level or lower with shadow evocation and shadow conjuration. It's quite handy, although the victim has a to make a will-check. If it wins, it disbelieves and the spell is without effect.

 

Cool. I did not know that one either.

 

I don't much like it, but it works really well with a shadow adept since the DC's for shadow spells increase, making shadow versions of spells much harder to shrug off.

 

So, is the bottom line that the Shadow Conjuration spells are quite cool then and better than the normal versions? I'm still not sure I 100% understand the concept.

 

I don't understand it 100% either, but I can tell you, that unless you're shadow specialist, they're only decent spells, because they have will saves like illusions to be ignored/half-ignored depending on the spell.

They do offer versatility in the NWN game I guess, even though it really shouldn't, but I guess that makes it better than some spells, even though the ones you can cast are of much lower level.

 

HB: if I understand correctly, there are pros and cons:

The pros: it offers some flexibility as to the actual spell you can cast.

The cons: occupies a higher level spell slot, and it is nullified if the enemies make a will save (for example, normal Magic Missile does not allow a save, while the shadow variant does).

I wonder if the will save applies to the buffing variants too (for example, the shadow Mage Armor, or stoneskin).

All in all, it does not seem very useful. It really does not offer you such a great selection of spells to choose from. The buffing spells last long enough that you should have them on at all times anyhow, while using a spell slot three levels higher in order to be able to choose between fireball and cone of cold does not seem worth it (to say nothing of the extra will save allowed).

 

The worth is, (I dont remember if NWN let's you choose Shadow Adept or not), if you're a shadow adept, the DC of the spell is increase a lot, by 3 or more iirc.

 

also it would give a sorceror the ability to take one spell but get 3 or more spells because shadow spells give you multiple choices.

 

I think there's a hidden catch with all the shadow spell variants. It's basicaly another Weave, without Mystra and her meddling, with Shar as it's master of sorts.

I'd prefer if someone confirms this, but IIRC, all shadow spells ignore spell resistance.


Provided this is true, it might be possible to fashion a decent spellsword, concentrating on shadow spells to make up for the lack of caster levels when determining whether the spell pierces enemies spell resistance or not. The drawback of the shadow spells being lesser one is a major one, though, probably wouldnt really be worth all the trouble to cast an utterly terrifying spell such as Web on a lvl40 monk with Improved Spell Resistance feats

 

NWN doesn't implement the Will save for shadow spells so you don't have to worry about that.