Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

So I was reading some posts earlier and came across an ability given by at least one of Mystra or Azuth's domains in the server. I believe it is called "Spell Shield", and it grants 50 SR for 1 round/CL, I think...?

My question is about whether or not 50 SR is actually good vs PVE mages up to epics, and also is it enough to resist powerful pvp casters? I'm just curious about this as my friend may be interested in playing a cleric of mystra. So any suggestions for a build with that in mind are welcome, as well as any clarification/explanation on that spell shield ability.


Thanks!

The spell 7th level cleric, Azuth's Spell Shield. Only clerics of Azuth or Mystra can cast it. It does not require a domain, simply Azuth or Mystra (clerics of other deities CANNOT cast it whatsoever).

It grants 50 SR, -3 SR per creature affected (it can buff a party). The maximum SR you can acquire is 47 because the caster counts as a -3, and it only goes down from here the more allies you affect.

The duration is 1 round/CL, -3 rounds per ally affected. It can be extended. It cannot be scribed to a scroll.

To give you a comparison to the cleric buff Spell Resistance, a level 30 pure cleric will get 42 SR from that spell. Azuth's Spell shield grants 47 as a base from level 13. So yeah, it's pretty darn good for a short fight against (multiple) spellcasting mobs. Most of them will probably stop casting and just engage you in melee (AI metagames SR; if they can't beat it they just give up and attack you in melee). 47 SR requires a roll of 17 or higher on a d20 from a level 30 spellcaster to beat it (not including Spell Penetration feats or debuffs that lower SR), so it retains its strength even against epic level spellcasters. It is a very good spell.

If your friend needs any help with Mystran RP or would like to take over the Mystran guild page, just let me know. I am happy to help, having played one for ~3 years.

Oh, that's awesome! Thank you, Tsidkenu. I will definitely make sure he reaches out to you if he ends up playing a Mystran cleric. So it's a 7th level spell, and not an ability granted by any one domain. So, do you have any recommendations on a good build for a Mystran cleric? IE which of Mystra's domains would be best mechanically, or most fun for rp? Or should I make a new post for that? It's related, technically

You'll have to decide early what kind of cleric your friend wants to play, as you can go for something melee focused (easier) or something spellcasting/DC focused (harder), because Mystran clerics can go either way.

I'll make up a few builds soonish while you decide which way to go.

Thank you. Tbh I don't know which one, but seeing as melee clerics are easier let's say a melee cleric who primarily buffs himself.

I think you will want to have the 'Spell' domain as it grants: Anyspell, and Greater Anyspell.

The first lets you cast Mirror Image and the second Haste, if I am not mistaken. For a melee cleric these are very good things.

As for the other domain, you could pick 'Knowledge' for that +10 to Spot, 'Law' for free Iron Will feat, or 'Magic' for possible empowered Spell Mantle. The choice here does not really matter.

But if you want to take the 'Protection' for the Divine Protection ability it grants, then I would recommend sticking as a single class cleric. The ability should act as a get out of jail free card with a DC of 40+ for monster to hit you... Never used it though.

Comments Only wrote:I think you will want to have the 'Spell' domain as it grants: Anyspell, and Greater Anyspell.

The first lets you cast Mirror Image and the second Haste, if I am not mistaken. For a melee cleric these are very good things.

As for the other domain, you could pick 'Knowledge' for that +10 to Spot, 'Law' for free Iron Will feat, or 'Magic' for possible empowered Spell Mantle. The choice here does not really matter.

But if you want to take the 'Protection' for the Divine Protection ability it grants, then I would recommend sticking as a single class cleric. The ability should act as a get out of jail free card with a DC of 40+ for monster to hit you... Never used it though.

I was under the impression that the Anyspell... er... spells are currently not working unless the recent updates fixed them?

Unless there has been an undocumented fix it's best to assume anyspell / greater anyspell (and by extension the spell domain) are not working/useless. Last thread there was it didn't appear to be an issue, but no one has picked it up to fix it.

Essentially Anyspell allows a Cleric to cast 1st and 2nd level wizard defensive spells so basically shield and mirror image, plus mage armor until their magic vestment gets to +4. Also should be able to cast Invisibility which has it's uses obviously. Greater Anyspell can only be used for offensive spells up to level 5 so no IGMS or disintegrate or any of the ultra powerful mage spells. I went in to the closed thread to see if it can be reopened/addressed.

Oh... Thus for now it would be better to choose something else. But I do find the current domain choices for Mystra a bit on the lackluster side to be honest when it comes to melee. Thus in a way you are not losing much by picking the 'Spell' domain and waiting it to be fixed. You know, it could save some time and effort by not forcing you through a RCR process to get the better domain at some later point.