The Sorcerer's Companion: Essential Resources for the Ultimate Magic Wielder

The art of magic has fascinated and enchanted human beings for centuries. From ancient sorcerers to modern-day illusionists, magic has captured our imaginations and transported us to a realm where anything is possible. But in the realm of magic, there exists a special breed of individuals who are considered the ultimate magic wielders. These individuals are not your ordinary magicians or wizards. They possess a deep understanding and mastery of the mystical arts, allowing them to bend reality itself to their will. They can create illusions that are so intricate and lifelike that they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

When you say mage, it's important to understand what exactly you mean and who is allowed or not allowed to be included on the list.

The opening chapter of Ultimate Magic jumps immediately into the nittiest of gritties with new classes, archetypes, and abilities for each of the spellcasters in Pathfinder. Lots of feats dumped into a single school are expected, and even specializing in a single spell is a very good path to go with for this sort of limited greatness.

They can create illusions that are so intricate and lifelike that they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. They can produce lightning bolts with a flick of their wrist or summon powerful elemental forces to do their bidding. They can even manipulate time and space, altering the very fabric of the universe.

Dragonsfoot

As each of these spells rocks (except maybe succor), I'm expecting some healthy debates here!

Edit: I know that time stop in particular is subject to a lot of rules arguments as to how it is supposed to work. When I vote, I use my definition:

Anything frozen in time cannot directly be affected by the magic-user. A magic-user could cast a spell like web though, which will catch frozen individuals when the time stop duration ends. A delayed blast fireball is also an effective way to damage them if it is delayed to go off until just after the spell duration ends. While time stopped, the magic-user may cast spells in rapid succession; for example if the duration of the spell is 11 segments the magic-user could cast any combination of spells adding up to 11 segments.

Edit 2: should we have done top 5?

Edit 3: Switched to 5, though the old votes remain.

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

Heaf Meato Personal Avatar of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 1297 Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:15 pm Location: Walking calmly away from an exploding helicopter

Re: Top 10 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by Heaf Meato » Fri May 15, 2009 5:54 pm

I am dissing the following. Astral Spell is better accomplished by some other device or method than by using up a 9th. Clerics' Plane Shift is only 5th and both cleric and illusionist get Astral Spell as a 7th level spell. Bigby's does a lot of damage, but it takes too long to ramp up and most powerful creatures will have a way out. Meteor Swarm just does damage, and if you have very good saving throws it doesn't do very much unless it hits you head on. Monster Summoning 7 is just weak compared to Gate and Temporal Stasis is a poor version of Imprisonment.

Re: Top 10 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by ken-do-nim » Fri May 15, 2009 6:08 pm

Heaf Meato wrote: I am dissing the following. Astral Spell is better accomplished by some other device or method than by using up a 9th. Clerics' Plane Shift is only 5th and both cleric and illusionist get Astral Spell as a 7th level spell. Bigby's does a lot of damage, but it takes too long to ramp up and most powerful creatures will have a way out. Meteor Swarm just does damage, and if you have very good saving throws it doesn't do very much unless it hits you head on. Monster Summoning 7 is just weak compared to Gate and Temporal Stasis is a poor version of Imprisonment.

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by phantasm72 » Fri May 15, 2009 6:44 pm

Honestly, I dont think I have enough experience with 9th level spells to actually vote, so I wont.
Sure I can go and read the spell descriptions, but I actually havent used them enough to find how useful they actually are in gameplay. A lot of spells sound great on paper, but have some serious limitations that affect its over all use, and other spells, which perhaps look a bit dull and mundane, with a little experience and imagination can truly shine.
All I can say for sure is that crystalbrittle sucks, and if you wanted us to pick the worst spell in the lot, that would be it. Its like a very limited version of polymorph any object thats a few spell levels higher.

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by ken-do-nim » Fri May 15, 2009 7:24 pm

Okay, I turned on 'allow revoting' so that those who picked 10 can drop down to 5.

My 5 are:
- prismatic sphere: the ultimate defense, and the magic-user can move in and out freely. Only drawback is that it is stationary.
- time stop: if you get enough segments, you can dramatically improve your defenses or activate items
- bigby's crushing hand: against the right opponent, they are just toast. Obviously if you all come into contact with are teleporting demons & devils, this isn't a good choice
- shapechange: the uses are endless
- meteor swarm: the target of the spell takes 40-160 no save for half. It also has other, less obvious uses critical to high levels like battering down a cube of force.

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

Nazim Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 5727 Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:51 pm Location: Philadelphia Contact:

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by Nazim » Fri May 15, 2009 7:45 pm

Ack! THIEF! It's mine! Give it back! Where are the admins when you need them?

My only odd vote out is Meteor Swarm. I just like it. I know even Power Word Kill is more potent, but Meteor Swarm is more flexible.

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by ken-do-nim » Fri May 15, 2009 7:58 pm

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

chris107 Greater Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 12071 Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:06 pm Location: Yorkshire

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by chris107 » Fri May 15, 2009 8:41 pm

With due respect (and I did vote) I think with all the hard work Nazim has done, it should have been left to him.

And I still don't use the UA abominations!

garhkal Titan of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 79349 Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:39 pm Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus ohio Contact:

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by garhkal » Fri May 15, 2009 8:44 pm

shimrod Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 3611 Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:42 am Location: now in Dallas, TX

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by shimrod » Fri May 15, 2009 8:49 pm

1. Temporal Stasis: No touch required, no saving throw. Automatically takes out any foe without magic resistance, and by the time you get level 9 spells even a fairly high MR will be no match. Unlike PW:K, foe's hit points are irrelevant. Totally unsure why this is getting so little love. Unfamiliarity perhaps?
2. Prismatic Sphere: Best defensive spell, hands-down. Essentially impossible to bring down w/o Rod of Cancellation. Great duration too!
3. Shape Change: Change into ANYTHING! Titan, Iron Golem, Troll, you name it. So versatile.
4. Time Stop: Buying some time to get off a spell is the best thing that can happen to a mage.
5. Wish: Since it can duplicate any other spell, I don't see how this could not be Top 5.

Others:
- Astral Spell: Let the cleric take it, or use of the many devices out there
- Bigby's: Meh.
- Crystalbrittle: Yawn. Situational, and redundant after Polymorph Any Object (while not permanent, who cares? Plenty of time to do what you need to do). Must touch the object in question too. Boo!
- Energy Drain: Far more useful to an NPC mage, since the effects really only hit home in the long-term. Requires a To Hit roll too! Except for goth-kids who dream of being some Dark Uberl33t Necromancer, I can't imagine anyone getting excited if this was their only Level 9 spell.
- Gate: Love this spell, but would rather the cleric take it to free up the mage for more useful stuff.
- Imprisonment: Again, requires a touch. Why would a mage be ANYWHERE near touch-distance for a creature powerful enough to require this spell, even if he could actually make the touch with his wretched Thaco? Plus, you have to spend a round of casting time. Yech.
- Meteor Swarm: He has plenty of nuclear weapons from lower level spells, he doesn't need another.
- Monster Summoning VII: Only marginally more powerful than the ones that came before - and he'll have more slots to use on the lower-level ones.
- Mordenkainen's Disjunction: Yay, let's destroy all the loot on purpose!
- Power Word: Kill: Almost picked this one, but decided Temporal Stasis was better for taking out a baddie. 60 hp minimum is tricky. Can take out multiples, but only if they have 10 or less HP. Yawn.
- Succor: Word of Recall given to others? Very nice actually, but takes a day for each casting. Again, I'd rather have the cleric do this.

genghisdon Elder Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 30788 Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:17 am Location: Canuckistan

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by genghisdon » Sat May 16, 2009 2:21 am

astral spell is vastly better than planeshifting, you get to adventure with almost no risk of death. It's in my top 5, I couldn't care less about clerics also getting it. I have played in large VHL parties without clerics L16+/18+ wisdom, I wouldn't count on them being around ever & prefer to be in charge of my own spell rather than a religous zealot.(Unless I'm playing the religous zealot of course ) Shapechange is far & away the #1 spell, it is so good it shatters the game into tiny pieces. No aging spell makes my list, casting a wish or gate gets you killed sooner or later, though they would enter after #5

Who watches the watchmen?

"DIE FOR THE DOW"

garhkal Titan of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 79349 Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:39 pm Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus ohio Contact:

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by garhkal » Sat May 16, 2009 5:42 am

I thnk why there is not as much love for time stop is some rule that while it is active you cannot affect those under the influence it.

Madalch Lesser Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 3444 Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:59 am Location: Vancouver Island

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by Madalch » Sat May 16, 2009 6:37 am

Crystalbrittle and energy drain are the worst ninth level spells around. With crystalbrittle, you get to make an object fragile enough to break- why not just disintegrate the thing and be done with it? With energy drain, you run the risk of losing one of your own levels- sod that!

My next character will be nicknamed "The Gazebo", as he will be hated and feared by paladins everywhere.
Never try to talk sense to someone whose favorite character is a kendar.

PaladinesAngel Greater Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 15791 Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:54 pm Location: Wellington UK

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by PaladinesAngel » Sat May 16, 2009 7:39 am

Imprisonment. Sure its a touch spell, but we discount armour as its literally touching someone, not hitting them where it hurts. PLUS no save and lasts forever. And i have always loved it since kelek got bitten by Venger in the D&D cartoon.

Prismatic Sphere. Totally any wizards first choice. Completely secure, can be made permenant, only you can enter and exit safely, can cast you spells without fear of interruption just by sticking your hand through. NICE.

Succor. This spell is AMAZING! A: you dont have to memorize it so it doesnt take up a spell slot. B: its like a word of recall for whoever. C: potentially Everyone could have one, even the magicuser himself set to his home sanctuary, even into his permenant prismatic sphere in his tower where his permenant unseen servant waits with a potion of life or healing or whatever, Love it.

Temporal stasis. Another fab no save lasts forever spell. Not looking as dramatic but still a bloody good thing all told.

Wish. Ultimate life saver, but with the aging not something any mage would use willy nilly. Same with gate. The aging and chance of instant death isnt something very versatile. But its a must just in case.

Astra De Silver 2nd Lvl Human Monk (Initiate)
Orcanus Sunfoot 9th Lvl Halfling Magic-User (Sorcerer)
Tempus Moonstone 4th Lvl Gnome Illusionist (Master Trickster)

"I viewed the illusionist as a very special sort of magic-user, one using magic to simulate magic as it were. Gary Gygax."

zarathustra Personal Avatar of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 1073 Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:19 pm Location: Canberra, Australia

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by zarathustra » Sat May 16, 2009 11:06 am

I've never cast a 9th level spell as player or dm but the one I covet is wish. Its versatility is obvious and it plays fun in the sense that casting it right (wording etc) is a little sense of achievement in itself.

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by ken-do-nim » Sat May 16, 2009 11:18 am

PaladinesAngel wrote: Succor. This spell is AMAZING! A: you dont have to memorize it so it doesnt take up a spell slot. B: its like a word of recall for whoever. C: potentially Everyone could have one, even the magicuser himself set to his home sanctuary, even into his permenant prismatic sphere in his tower where his permenant unseen servant waits with a potion of life or healing or whatever, Love it.

I never thought of it like that. Huh. I guess I always felt the magic-user has contingency for emergencies, but giving a succor to everyone in the party is mighty handy.

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

genghisdon Elder Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 30788 Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:17 am Location: Canuckistan

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by genghisdon » Sat May 16, 2009 12:18 pm

Madalch wrote: Crystalbrittle and energy drain are the worst ninth level spells around. With crystalbrittle, you get to make an object fragile enough to break- why not just disintegrate the thing and be done with it? With energy drain, you run the risk of losing one of your own levels- sod that!

Who watches the watchmen?

"DIE FOR THE DOW"

genghisdon Elder Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 30788 Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:17 am Location: Canuckistan

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by genghisdon » Sat May 16, 2009 12:35 pm

PaladinesAngel wrote: Succor. This spell is AMAZING! A: you dont have to memorize it so it doesnt take up a spell slot. B: its like a word of recall for whoever. C: potentially Everyone could have one, even the magicuser himself set to his home sanctuary, even into his permenant prismatic sphere in his tower where his permenant unseen servant waits with a potion of life or healing or whatever, Love it.

I never thought of it like that. Huh. I guess I always felt the magic-user has contingency for emergencies, but giving a succor to everyone in the party is mighty handy.

It is very good, a 1 shot magic item essentially. I prefer 18+ mages to make their items via item creation, however. This is more UA non-goodness, though I have much experiance w the spell from 1.5e to TETSNBN. It really IS useful (& anoying). The cleric version is better & the reverse of the spell saw more use. The only good thing I can say, is that it makes a good reward for players from powerful NPC's/Monsters, esp the reverse again. Being able to bring His Venerable Reverance Hazen to the party for aid & "succor" is a sweet reward for those deserving heroes.

Who watches the watchmen?

"DIE FOR THE DOW"

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by ken-do-nim » Sat May 16, 2009 6:38 pm

PaladinesAngel wrote: Succor. This spell is AMAZING! A: you dont have to memorize it so it doesnt take up a spell slot. B: its like a word of recall for whoever. C: potentially Everyone could have one, even the magicuser himself set to his home sanctuary, even into his permenant prismatic sphere in his tower where his permenant unseen servant waits with a potion of life or healing or whatever, Love it.

I never thought of it like that. Huh. I guess I always felt the magic-user has contingency for emergencies, but giving a succor to everyone in the party is mighty handy.

It is very good, a 1 shot magic item essentially. I prefer 18+ mages to make their items via item creation, however. This is more UA non-goodness, though I have much experiance w the spell from 1.5e to TETSNBN. It really IS useful (& anoying). The cleric version is better & the reverse of the spell saw more use. The only good thing I can say, is that it makes a good reward for players from powerful NPC's/Monsters, esp the reverse again. Being able to bring His Venerable Reverance Hazen to the party for aid & "succor" is a sweet reward for those deserving heroes.

Last I checked, Hazen is still suffering from the effects of a temporal stasis spell cast by Tul-Oc-Luc on the Mitrik Commons. Ah, the memories

My Games
Pbp - DMing 1E in the Borderlands
Discord/Roll20 - player in Marvel
Live - player in 5E game, player in 1E Greyhawk (on hiatus)

genghisdon Elder Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 30788 Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:17 am Location: Canuckistan

Re: Top 5 best level 9 magic-user spells

Post by genghisdon » Sat May 16, 2009 8:01 pm

Not for long, once the gallant heroes call him up with the R succor spell he gave um!

I'll bite: who is Tul-Oc-Luc?

Who watches the watchmen?

"DIE FOR THE DOW"

Nazim Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 5727 Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:51 pm Location: Philadelphia Contact:

Chapter 3: Feats

But what sets these ultimate magic wielders apart is not just their incredible power, but also their unwavering dedication to their craft. They have spent years, if not decades, honing their skills and delving into the darkest secrets of the arcane. They have sacrificed their time, their energy, and even their sanity in pursuit of unlocking the true potential of magic. These individuals have also faced countless challenges and obstacles along their journey. They have battled mythical creatures, delved into treacherous dungeons, and overcome powerful adversaries in order to obtain ancient artifacts and sacred knowledge. They have endured physical and emotional pain, and have made sacrifices that most could never fathom. But despite all of this, the ultimate magic wielders continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. They are constantly seeking out new challenges and pushing themselves to reach even greater heights of power and mastery. For them, magic is not just a hobby or a means to an end, but a way of life. It defines who they are and gives them purpose and meaning in a world that can sometimes be chaotic and unpredictable. The ultimate magic wielder is a force to be reckoned with. They command respect and awe from those around them, and their mere presence can inspire both fear and admiration. But perhaps the most awe-inspiring thing about them is their ability to make the impossible seem possible. They remind us that there is still magic left in the world, and that with enough dedication and perseverance, anything is possible..

Reviews for "Becoming a Channel for the Supernatural: The Pathway to Ultimate Magic Wielding"

1. John - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "The ultimate magic wielder", but I found the plot to be predictable and unoriginal. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult for me to connect with their stories. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me feeling detached from the magical aspects of the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

2. Emily - 3 stars - While "The ultimate magic wielder" had an interesting concept, I felt that the execution fell flat. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow development followed by rushed and unsatisfying conclusions. The dialogue also felt stilted and unnatural at times, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Although there were moments of potential, the overall experience left me wanting more from the book.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The ultimate magic wielder" to be overly formulaic and lacking in originality. The plot followed a predictable pattern, and the characters felt like stock tropes rather than unique individuals. The writing style was also underwhelming, with repetitive descriptions and a lack of descriptive language that failed to bring the magical world to life. Overall, I found this book to be uninspiring and would not recommend it to fans of the fantasy genre.

4. Michael - 1 star - "The ultimate magic wielder" was a disappointing read for me. The story lacked coherence and failed to explain certain key elements of the magical system, leaving me confused and frustrated. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their journey. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies throughout the book, which further detracted from my reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-crafted and engaging fantasy novel.

5. Laura - 2 stars - I was excited to dive into "The ultimate magic wielder", but ultimately found it to be a letdown. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked a clear direction. The world-building, while initially intriguing, fell short and left many unanswered questions. The romance subplot felt forced and underdeveloped, adding little to the overall narrative. This book had potential, but it failed to deliver on its promises. I would not recommend it to fellow fantasy readers.

Quest for Power: The Epic Journey to Becoming an Ultimate Magic Wielder