My bard is hitting 10th level tonight, and after agonizing over it for awhile, I've decided not to take Dominate Person: as powerful a spell as it is, it's got those icky slavery connotations to it, and that's just not fitting for this character. He's all about finesse, not about brute mental force.Instead, I'm considering taking Shadow Conjuration, so that in fights against undead and similar creatures I have some options. Fog Cloud and Sleet Storm are great vs. undead, and Stinking Cloud will be wonderful against hordes of living opponents, especially when those living opponents have low fort saves.
And then I noticed another spell that qualifies under Shadow Conjuration: Sepia Snake Sigil.
If I'm reading this right, with this fourth-level spell I can create an unlimited number of SSS's (one per casting) without paying the 500gp/sigil cost that's normally associated with it. The casting time is reduced from 10 minutes down to one standard action. They're permanent until discharged. And the only drawback is that a victim gets two saves (a Will save and then a Reflex save) to avoid the effect (naturally the will save only avoids the effect 80% of the time).
So, two questions:
1) Is this correct?
2) If this is correct, am I being a munchkin to take advantage of it, or is it a reasonably-powered tactic for me to end every day on which I've still got fourth-level spell slots by casting another SSS on a scrap of paper, ready to brandish in a fight?
Oh, and a third question, for kicks:
3) Do folks have alternate favorite fourth-level bard spells? I'm pretty good now at enchantments (suggestion, charm monster, tasha's hideous laughter), and I've got a few illusions and grease and glitterdust, but don't have any fort-save attack spells.
Daniel
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