Comparison of Spell Lists by Caster

CANTS @ TIER 1 (Anathema/Benedictions=A, Corpus=C, (Base) Deity=D, Universal = U, Wards=W)

ATTACK: Castigate (A), Smite Heretic (C), Eye for an Eye (A)
BUFF: Benediction of the Gods (A), Brittle Bones (C),
CONTROL: Awe (D), Seal Portal (W)
ESPIONAGE: Alter Appearance (C), Detect Unnatural Creatures (D), Blessings of the Faithful (U)
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTION: Benediction of the Gods (A), Immune to Adverse Climates (A), Sanctify Ground (A), Ward of Protection (W), Ward of Shielding (W), Ward vs. the Unnatural (W), Alarm (W), Elemental Ward (W), Inertial Shield (W), Nether Shield (W)
RESTORATIVE: Stabilize (A), Cure Affliction (C), Diminish Fatigue (C), Restore Senses (C), Remove Curse (D), Channeling (D), Purification (D)
SUMMON: – – –

CANTS @ TIER 2

ATTACK: Bleed (C), Retributive Ward (W), Righteous Strike (D), Shared Sacrifice (C)
BUFF: Sanctify Weapon (A), Blessed Pledge (A)
CONTROL: Enveloping Ward (W), Numb (C), Forced Reverence (D)
ESPIONAGE: – – –
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTION: Conviction (A), Heretic Shield (A/D), Runic Ward (W), Stalwart Presence (D), Ward of Denial (W)
RESTORATIVE: Vindication (A), Stabilize (C), Rejuvenation (C), Revitalization (C), Healing Embrace (W)
SUMMON: – – –

CANTS @ TIER 3

ATTACK: Elemental Aura (W)
BUFF: Righteousness (D), Corona of Glory (D)
CONTROL: Censure Heretic (A), Shatter Bone (C), Smell of Death (C)
ESPIONAGE: – – –
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTION: Stalwart Presence (A), Righteousness (D), Corona of Glory (D)
RESTORATIVE: Stalwart Presence (A), Cleanse the Blood (C), Mend Wounds (C), Resurgence (C)
SUMMON: Blessed Protector (D)
. . . . . SPECIAL: Banishment (W) Spd 12. Eliminates summoned Infernals.

ELDRITCH @ TIER 1 (Battle=B, Creation=C, Elemental=E, Illusion=I)

ATTACK: Arc of Lightning (B), Whirling Blade (B), Storm of Knives (C), Elemental Bolt (E), Heat Wave (E)
BUFF: Quicken Step (B), Ghostly Adversary (I)
CONTROL: Force Push (B), Black Ice(C), Entangling Web(C), Flash(C), Gale Force Winds(C), Confound (I), Dome of Shadow (I), Enemy of my Enemy (I), Fog Cloud (C/I)
ESPIONAGE: Quiet (C), Dome of Shadow (I), Personal Illusion (I)
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTION: Earthen Shield (E), Inertial Shield (B), Misdirect Fire (B)
RESTORATIVE: – – –
SUMMON: Call to Arms (C)

ELDRITCH @ TIER 2

ATTACK: Far Strike (B), Serpent’s Strike (B), Arc of Lightning (C), Elemental Tempest (E), Spontaneous Combustion (E), Brittle Steel (E), Twister (E)
BUFF: Ghostly Legion (I)
CONTROL: Binding Chains (C), Disorient (I), Illusory Object (I)
ESPIONAGE: Illusory Messenger (I), Quiet (C)
MOBILITY: Dolphin Chant (E), Solidify Water (E), Advantageous Positioning (B)
PROTECTION: Alarm (B), Elemental Ward (E)
RESTORATIVE: – – –
SUMMON: Summon Steed (B/C), Manufacture (C), Illusory Beast (I)

ELDRITCH @ TIER 3

ATTACK: Brittle Steel (E), Ring of Fire (E), Retributive Ward (B), Lightning Strike (C), Earth Strike (E), Suffocate (E)
BUFF: Spell Matrix (C), Illusory Doubles (I), Celerity (B)
CONTROL: Ring of Fire (E), Iron Ramparts (B/C), Suffocate (E), Captivating Melody (I)
ESPIONAGE: Scrying Inscription (I/C)
MOBILITY: Not Where You Think (I)
PROTECTION: Illusory Doubles (I), Runic Ward (E), Not Where You Think (I)
RESTORATIVE: – – –
SUMMON: – – –

PSIONIC @ TIER 1 (Control=O, (Base) Heritage=H, Kinetic=K, Transmutation=T)

ATTACK: Mental Scream (O), Empathic Link (O), Concussive Wave (K), Whirling Blade (K), Brittle Bones (T)
BUFF: Silent No Longer (H), Body of the Warrior (T)
CONTROL: Confound (O), Halt (O), Chains of Mental Might (K), Force Push (K), Delusions of Grandeur (O)
ESPIONAGE: Alter Appearance (T), Heighten Senses (T), Mind Link (O)
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTION: Voice in the Silence (H), Mind Ward (O)
RESTORATIVE: Refresh the Body (T)
SUMMON: Telekinesis (K), Gladius of Light (H)

PSIONIC @ TIER 2

ATTACK: Hurl (K), Kinetic Bolt (K), Pyrokinesis (K), Violent Growth (T), Mind Spike (O)
BUFF: Quicken Step (T), Infuse with Confidence (O), Weaken Material (K/T)
CONTROL: Compel Animal (O), Enemy of My Enemy (O), Mental Disruption (O), Suppress Psionics (O),
ESPIONAGE: Clairvoyance (O), Deeper Understanding (O), Share Senses (O)
MOBILITY: Advantageous Positioning (T), Hurl (K)
PROTECTION: Conviction (H), Rebuke Lesser (H), Ward of Shielding (K), Misdirect Fire (K), Inertial Shield (K)
RESTORATIVE: Master Thy Self (T)
SUMMON: Manufacture (T)

PSIONIC @ TIER 3

ATTACK: Synaptic Shock (O), Mind Spike (H), Life Leech (T), Rattle (K), Blood to Ashes (T)
BUFF: Shape Change (T), Channel Kinetic Force (K)
CONTROL: Mental Block (O), Puppet Master (O), Synaptic Shock (O), Captivating Melody (O), Mind Spike (H), Enveloping Ward (K), Force Barrier (K), Rattle (K), Force Upon the Mortal Coil (T)
ESPIONAGE: Chameleon (T)
MOBILITY: Shape Change (T)
PROTECTION: Channel Kinetic Force (K)
RESTORATIVE: – – –
SUMMON: – – –
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPECIAL: Banishment (H)

SPECIFIC DEITY SPELLS (Al=Altheris, An=Anshar, B=Belisarda, Be=Beltine, Ca=Cadic, F=Fire Dragon, Hu=Hurrian, Il=Illiir, La=Larissa, Ne=Neroth, Ni=Nier, Sa=Saluwe, Ya=Yarris, Y=Yig)

TIER 1

ATTACK: Anshar’s Caress (A), Crushing Weight (B), Slash the Soul (Be), Breath of the Dragon (F), Vampiric Touch (Ne), Elemental Bolt (Ni/Ya), Shared Sacrifice (A), Tear at the Flesh (Ne)
BUFF: Chink in the Armor (Al), Skin of Thorns (A), Precognition (La), Bloodlust (S), Expedite Poison (Y), Weaken Material (Al)
CONTROL: Grey Mists (Be), Dome of Shadow (Ca), Word of Command (Il), Nature’s Embrace (S), Fog Cloud (Hu), Twisted Fate (La)
ESPIONAGE: Dome of Shadow (Ca), Light in Truth (Il), Whispered Prayers (Ca)
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTIVE: Ghost in the Machine (Al), Scales of the Dragon (F), Vestments of the Lady (La), Protection from Fire (Ni)
RESTORATIVE: Life’s Blessing (B)
SUMMON: Manipulate Shadows (Ca), Grave Blight: Skeletons (Ne), Call of the Wild (S)

TIER 2

ATTACK: Blessed Radiance (Il), Arc of Lightning (Al), Unending Pain (A), Flaying Darkness (Ca), Lightning Strike (hu), Return to Thy Rest (B, Be, Ne), Elemental Aura (Ni)
BUFF: Zealot’s Fervor (Ni), Brittle Bones (A), My Honor is My Strength (Il), Luck of Fools (La), Blessings of Plenty (S),
CONTROL: Force Upon the Mortal Coil (Be), Captivating Melody (Ca), Dragon’s Roar (F), Bestow Curse (Il), Sultry Whispers (La), Neroth’s Embrace (Ne), Compel Animal (S)
ESPIONAGE: Deeper Understanding (Al)
MOBILITY: Skyward (Hu), Dolphin Chant (Ya)
PROTECTIVE: Nether Ward (Be), Protection from Fire (F)
RESTORATIVE: Revitalize (B), Mend the Spirit (Be), Blessings of Plenty (S), Healing Waters (Ya)
SUMMON: Radiant Falcon (Il), Resplendent Bow (B), Wooden Asp (Y), The Blade of Our Lord (Ni)

TIER 3

ATTACK: Whirlwind of Blades (Hu), Inferno (Ni), Breath of Yarris (Ya), Coils of Flame (F)
BUFF: Hammer & Anvil (Al), Dragon’s Fury (F), Perfect Human Form (Il),
CONTROL: Just Torment (A), Waves of Exhaustion (B), Exorcism (Be), Larissa’s Fickleness (La), Serpent Hiss (Y), Coils of Flame (F)
ESPIONAGE: Scrying Inscription (Ca)
MOBILITY: – – –
PROTECTIVE: – – –
RESTORATIVE: – – – (see also Exorcism)
SUMMON: Mark of the Thrall (Ne), Swarm of Locusts (S), Deep Lord’s Trident (Ya)

I would put the tier II heritage spell, “aspect of the beast” under a mobility spell as well, since it is the earliest form of good flight that allows spell casting while in effect. Very powerful heritage spell in that role.

I would put the tier II heritage spell, “aspect of the beast” under a mobility spell as well, since it is the earliest form of good flight that allows spell casting while in effect. Very powerful heritage spell in that role.

Good catch. You can tell I don’t play val’Dellenovs. Going to be a popular spell for Shamans though in Tier 3!

As a player of a shaman I can say it is THE spell I am waiting for in tier III. But that’s because I love spells that increase options/opportunities rather than damage. I’m still in awe of (and thankful for) your use of clairvoyance in Savona….

I’ve always thought of Debuff as a category of spells separate from Buffs. Debuff would be offensive spells that don’t directly do damage to a target, but reduce their effectiveness or increase the effectiveness of your ally’s targets against them. The main reason I consider these separate is that they typically have an attack roll or saving throw, whereas straight “Buff” spells are cast on allies and don’t usually require any type of roll to succeed in casting.

I also wouldn’t necessary consider Buff / Protection as two categories, as Buffs/Protection are spells cast on allies to improve their abilities or protect them from harm.

Good examples are “Diminish Senses”, “Ghostly Legion” and “Brittle Bones”.

John

I hear what you are saying. To me Debuff equals Control. Diminish Senses is a classic Control spell … “Haha! You can’ see me, I’ve just limited your options!” But you could tweak the names of the Categories and in doing so it might influence what spells get listed where.

While I think Diminish Senses is a (classic) Control Spells (it inhibits your ability to attack) … i think Ghostly Legion and Brittle Bones are both Buffs. Though I admit the flavor text is a little weird, what they do mechanically is (GL) give you Tactical Edge (and maybe a small boost to damage) and (BB) gives you an extra die of damage (which can be very useful in fishing for massive damage to cause wounds).

While I do agree that protective spells are also “Buffs” if find it useful to split them out into a separate group. There are enough spells that grant offensive benefits (to indirectly cause more damage) and defensive benefits (that directly reduce the amount of damage you take) that its worth it to break them apart into two different categories.

TMK the first gaming aid/book to address the divisions in spells by function was the Complete Wizards Handbook for the 2nd Edition of AD&D. (they did a series of Handbooks for each of the classes…I think I’ve still got my copy gathering dust on a Bookshelves somewhere) Anyway it was a little clunky as a first effort and it had four of its categories listed as “Attack 1,” “Attack 2,” “Defense 1” and “Defense 2” (in addition to some better named categories like mobility, divination and healing).

Attack 1 was for spells that did direct damage (eg. Magic Missle or in A:RPG Elemental Bolt)
Attack 2 was for spells that helped indirectly to do more damage (eg. Bless, Enlarge Person, Haste or in A:RPG some versions of Benediction of the Gods and Celerity). These days we call these Buffing spells.
Defense 1 was hard defense that either raised your AC/Defenses or made you resistant to damage (eg. Shield, Protection from Arrows or in A:RPG some versions of Benediction of the Gods or Ward of Shielding)
Defense 2 was soft defense that inhibited the opponent from attacking you at all. (eg. hold person, blindness/deafness, grease or in A:RPG Chains of Mental Might or Enemy of My Enemy). These days we call these spells Control.

My categories of Buff, Control and Protection come directly out of their old effort.

I should also add that the “REAL” purpose of breaking spells down this way is to aid “Sanity Checks” when you are building your caster to make sure your spell selection reflects the capacities you want your “ideal” spell caster to have. In Arcanis you get (a lot) fewer spells than D&D and as a result you may need to pay more attention.

Tukufu will be casting Tier 3 spells at some point soonish. I’ve had a copy of this on my laptop for awhile. I dusted this off in preparation to add Tier 3 spells to the list.