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

I was SO sure that Enchanted Bow would be a conjuration spell, that I picked it and plopped the spell right into my spellbook without even reading about it. When I tried casting it and discovered it was not working for me, I naturally assumed it was a bug.
Well it turned out to be an Evocation spell, which is my oppositions school.
My first reaction was: "huh, that does not make sense."
I lost a 7th level spell pick - and its my fault for making an assumption.

But, I think that first reaction is still valid.

You summon the bow.
Then maybe you can argue that the bow, not its user, evokes the magic arrows. Or maybe even, the bow conjures the arrows. Regardless, it is the bow that does the creation of the damage causing magical missiles.

Once you summon the 'conjured' bow you then use it, without further use of magic. It is the bow that creates and the magical arrows, which are launched by operating the bow itself. The magical arrows are released from the bow only when the caster pulls the (conjured) string of said bow.

I have since realized I do not really need this spell after all. I thought it would go well with shapechange. Maybe it does..I am not sure but since it has been irritating me, I thought I would scratch that itch.

The Enchanted Bow seems to be entirely home brewed spell, but the 'Bane Bow' and 'Prismatic Bow' that exist in PnP are both Evocation spells. Prismatic Bow is a level eight spell, enchanted bow is a level seven spell, and both are fairly similar to each other.

So yeah...

If you look at Enchanted Blade, you'll notice the entire thing is supposed to be made of raw energy.

Enchanted bow/blade are about taking the raw energies of the world around you, bending them to your will and shaping them into shape of your desire. That's the definition of evokation.

For it to be conjuration, the bow would already need have existed elsewhere. There IS the creation subschool, but for conjuration that is always something simple and elemental.

Hmm..I was hoping I could put up a bit more of a debate on this matter but if it is ALL the same manipulated energy then...

I suppose if it is being created out of manipulated energy and that same energy is part of the arrows aw well, then it would Evocation. -If the bow and arrows are part of the same energy.

Sort of like Hank the Rangers, bow.

Mechanically, I guess the argument is probably that conjuration is one of the most useful if not the most useful schools on this server, while evokation is shafted. Even conjuration blasts better and more reliably.

Hoihe wrote:Mechanically, I guess the argument is probably that conjuration is one of the most useful if not the most useful schools on this server, while evokation is shafted. Even conjuration blasts better and more reliably.

I disagree with this statement. In the specific, I‘d argue there are at least two schools in no way inferior to Conjuration, while maintaining Evocation has a few extremely powerful spells you cannot find anywhere else in an arcanist‘s arsenal.

I don‘t know what gave you this impression, but I am fairly certain that is NOT the mechanical reason behind it.

Invoker wrote:

Hoihe wrote:Mechanically, I guess the argument is probably that conjuration is one of the most useful if not the most useful schools on this server, while evokation is shafted. Even conjuration blasts better and more reliably.

I disagree with this statement. In the specific, I‘d argue there are at least two schools in no way inferior to Conjuration, while maintaining Evocation has a few extremely powerful spells you cannot find anywhere else in an arcanist‘s arsenal.

I don‘t know what gave you this impression, but I am fairly certain that is NOT the mechanical reason behind it.

(before the school rework) picking evokation blocked access to conjuration, thus blocking access to summons, to 6 AC, to a number of SR piercing spells with no saves and also to teleportation.

Well...that has nothing to do with the status quo, and additionally, I feel as though you might overrate Conjuration a fair bit. While it's an excellent school, it is by no means as crucial as you seem to believe:

Hoihe wrote: (before the school rework) picking evokation blocked access to conjuration, thus blocking access to summons,

Partly. Summons are not necessary at all, and besides that, Necromancy offers better ones.

to 6 AC

Make it 2. Mage Armor would still be available in some form, aside from +4 Armor equipment being mainstream. 2 AC more or less isn't a big deal on a mage with access to Illusion.

to a number of SR piercing spells with no saves

Situational. Proper high CL mages with a simple Spell Penetration feat (to qualify for Frost Mage) or Belt of Raumathar have zero issues beating SR all the time. For the occasional SR freak (event, PvP vs SR Monk, high CL Spirit Shaman with Blood Magic casting SR...) there is Mordenkainen's Disjunction.

and also to teleportation

Far from being necessary, and Illusion offers Shadow Walk as alternative.

You described some perks of Conjuration and some past situation...yet, I don't see what's wrong with Evocation itself, and where did it get "shafted", nor how come that you rate Conjuration as the top school right now.