EVOCATION!

[Redeemer of Ogar]

Yes, I said it.   

I've been having a lot of fun with my blaster wizard, and yes I am more effective with my conjurations most of the time.  I am transitioning into the mid-levels though, and discovering one more insidious effect of the fact that 3.5 creators HATE magic.  It seems that damn near every spell in the books that used to cap at 15d6 has been dumbed down to a 10d6 cap (or, in the case of Ball Lightning, given a "save NEGATES" clause which is just astoundingly craptastic). 

What evocation has always been good at is casting a wide net for damage.  Is there anything left other than Cone of Cold in the lvl 4 to lvl 6 spell range that does area damage and has a higher cap than 10d6?  (Please don't bring up Wings of I'mNotASorcererSoIDon'tGiveADamn).  I've been focusing on the generic and FR wizards books. I'm not really interested in 3rd party or Drag Mag material, as they are forbidden from our game.

[KellKheraptis]

Yes, I said it.   

I've been having a lot of fun with my blaster wizard, and yes I am more effective with my conjurations most of the time.  I am transitioning into the mid-levels though, and discovering one more insidious effect of the fact that 3.5 creators HATE magic.  It seems that damn near every spell in the books that used to cap at 15d6 has been dumbed down to a 10d6 cap (or, in the case of Ball Lightning, given a "save NEGATES" clause which is just astoundingly craptastic). 

What evocation has always been good at is casting a wide net for damage.  Is there anything left other than Cone of Cold in the lvl 4 to lvl 6 spell range that does area damage and has a higher cap than 10d6?  (Please don't bring up Wings of I'mNotASorcererSoIDon'tGiveADamn).  I've been focusing on the generic and FR wizards books. I'm not really interested in 3rd party or Drag Mag material, as they are forbidden from our game.

4th
Dragon Breath: caps at 10d8, varied energy type and shape of the blast.
Explosive Cascade: 10d6, but a semi-shapable area, and that's a LOT of area.
Force Missles:

5th
Cyclonic Blast: 15d6 cap. 120' line, completely untyped.
Firebrand:Just like explosive cascade, only it doesn't have to be in one continuous area.  Think of it as wizardly artillery strikes.
Fireburst (Greater):15d10, everyone within 10'.  Get the BBEG and his lieutenants around your buffed ironbody self, then swift action DD or Tele out after dropping the goods.
6th
Howling Chain: Godly defensive spell, pwns anything that gets near you.

Just from Spell Compendium.  Might not be exactly what you want, but those are a bit more flexible than plain old fireball and cone of cold (though CoC has secondaries doesn't it?  and if nothing else a hell of a blast pattern).

[Generic_PC]

I can vouch for the greatness of Cyclonic Blast and Firebrand. Firebrand is actually a really good way to end a mass battle.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

I can vouch for the greatness of Cyclonic Blast and Firebrand. Firebrand is actually a really good way to end a mass battle.

Firebrand is what really got me pissed off, actually.  Per Spell Compendium, it is now capped at 10d6.  I'd totally been planning to pick it up.

Cyclonic Blast is worth considering... though I'd probably have to invest in Sculpt Spell to make it worth while.  How often does a line hit multiple opponents anymore?

[bkdubs123]

I am transitioning into the mid-levels though, and discovering one more insidious effect of the fact that 3.5 creators HATE magic.

HAHAHAHA  HAHAHA

Oh. Man.

[Rymosrac]

HAHAHAHA  HAHAHA

Oh. Man.

+1

Seriously. My morning needed that. Thanks. 

[PhaedrusXY]

You might say they hate direct damage, but they certainly don't hate magic.

[woodenbandman]

Well what are your banned schools? Abjuration has Maw of Chaos, there's Polar Ray from Evocation. Those two are both uncapped. Chain Lightning holds metamagic well. Empowered or Of the 3 thunders chain lightning is great.

[Negative Zero]

Well what are your banned schools? Abjuration has Maw of Chaos, there's Polar Ray from Evocation. Those two are both uncapped. Chain Lightning holds metamagic well. Empowered or Of the 3 thunders chain lightning is great.

Polar Ray is an 8th level slot. For 1d6 per level. Compare to, say, Maze. Yeah, blasting is pretty bad unless you metamagic it up.

[Tonymitsu]

Yeah, blasting is pretty bad unless you metamagic it up.

+1.

Seriously, no by-the-book spell is really going to compare to a Lesser [insert energy] Orb, substituted for Electricity, Born of Three Thunders to make it half sonic, Admixed for more sonic, Twin Spelled, Split Ray-ed.

Or even a simple Maximized Empowered, Twin-Spelled, Split Ray Enervation.

[KellKheraptis]

One feat+one spell tacked onto a Dragonborn (heart aspect) using the planar apocalypse trick will get you all the firepower you'll ever want.  Polymorph with Assume Supernatural Ability into something with a breath weapon, then use the infinite area trick to cover the whole plane/planet.  You'll never have the ability to breath again with that breath weapon, but...oh yeah, it's from a spell that will expire soon anyhow   Burninate!

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Lightning leap caps at 15d6.  Sculpt it into four 10' squares for added utility.

ED: Oh, but it's transmutation

[PhaedrusXY]

Lightning leap caps at 15d6.  Sculpt it into four 10' squares for added utility.

ED: Oh, but it's transmutation

Ok, let's rephrase it again: Wotc hates evokers.