Foresight: Worst 9th Level Spell?

[Drew]

You'll forgive me if this has been brought up before, but I don't think it has. Am I missing something, or is the Foresight spell not in any way worth a 9th level spell? Its one I've glossed over since 2000, but looking at it now I'm not sure I'd value it as a 5th level spell. +2 to AC and reflex saves for 10 min/lvl and you're never surprised. I think this one should have disappeared with the revision.

Foresight
Divination
Level: Drd 9, Knowledge 9, Sor/Wiz 9
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal or touch
Target: See text
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: None or Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No or Yes (harmless)
This spell grants you a powerful sixth sense in relation to yourself or another. Once foresight is cast, you receive instantaneous warnings of impending danger or harm to the subject of the spell. You are never surprised or flat-footed. In addition, the spell gives you a general idea of what action you might take to best protect yourself and gives you a +2 insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves. This insight bonus is lost whenever you would lose a Dexterity bonus to AC.
When another creature is the subject of the spell, you receive warnings about that creature. You must communicate what you learn to the other creature for the warning to be useful, and the creature can be caught unprepared in the absence of such a warning. Shouting a warning, yanking a person back, and even telepathically communicating (via an appropriate spell) can all be accomplished before some danger befalls the subject, provided you act on the warning without delay. The subject, however, does not gain the insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Arcane Material Component: A hummingbird’s feather.

 

[Droid101]

You'll forgive me if this has been brought up before, but I don't think it has. Am I missing something, or is the Foresight spell not in any way worth a 9th level spell? Its one I've glossed over since 2000, but looking at it now I'm not sure I'd value it as a 5th level spell. +2 to AC and reflex saves for 10 min/lvl and you're never surprised. I think this one should have disappeared with the revision.

It is a 9th level spell, and therefore the DM should adjucate it as such. The player who cast it should be constantly updated with mental warnings such as: "If you turn this corner, you will be in danger in 4 minutes." "Duck in 10 seconds." "Look above you in 1 minute, 25 seconds and prepare for the worst." "Don't go down that tunnel, there will be no way out."

Sure, if the DM doesn't do this, then yes, the spell is worth about 5th or 4th level at best. This spell's worth most definitely depends on the DM.

 

[Piratecat]

I normally disagree with most rules complaints, but this is one I can get behind. As written, it's astonishingly weak. If interpreted as Droid101 suggests, it's much cooler but a pain in the butt for the DM to adjudicate. Bleck.

 

[ARandomGod]

I normally disagree with most rules complaints, but this is one I can get behind. As written, it's astonishingly weak. If interpreted as Droid101 suggests, it's much cooler but a pain in the butt for the DM to adjudicate. Bleck.

Yea, this is a carryover spell. In it's original incarnation it was a basically a powerful "spidy sense". You get to know things substantially before they happen. And not just of danger, but of things in general. In this they've downplayed the sixth sense part and written out some mechanics that it grants... but it's not what it used to be, at least not as written.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I agree with Droid101 and Piratecat.

 

[Thanee]

Once foresight is cast, you receive instantaneous warnings of impending danger or harm to the subject of the spell. In addition, the spell gives you a general idea of what action you might take to best protect yourself ...

The above is the main effect of the spell.

In many cases, this spell will avoid any unexpected dangers, since you will get an idea about the best possible action to perform in defense.

You are never surprised or flat-footed and it gives you a +2 insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves. This insight bonus is lost whenever you would lose a Dexterity bonus to AC.

That here is just a bonus.

At least this is how I'd see the spell as a DM.

Besides, to never be surprised is a pretty big bonus at high levels, when the surprise round is like half the combat sometimes.

Bye
Thanee

 

[ForceUser]

Moment of prescience is a level lower and far superior as a "spidey sense." To put it bluntly, foresight sucks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Moment of prescience is a level lower and far superior as a "spidey sense." To put it bluntly, foresight sucks.

Eh?

Moment of Prescience provides it's bonus against a *single* attack, roll, etc.

Granted, the bonus is (potentially) much higher, but it's still a single-shot.

 

[Paragon]

Agreed!!!!!

 

[ForceUser]

Eh?

Moment of Prescience provides it's bonus against a *single* attack, roll, etc.

Granted, the bonus is (potentially) much higher, but it's still a single-shot.

How often does one get surprised, anyway? In other words, every once in a while an enemy gets the drop on you in a major way, and if you have moment of prescience up, you survive.