Whispercast ... Any good examples of using it?

[Craiconn]

I'm looking at the 2nd level Whispercast spell (in Lords of Madness).  And I really want to like it for my high level Wizard.  But I'm not seeing the bang-for-the-buck for using a 2nd level slot for this spell.

As per the spell text ... "Tsochari spellcasters use this spell to permit spellcasting while they inhabit other creatures. It is also useful for grappled spellcasters."

Grappled spellcasters have a lot of Verbal Component escape spells for anti-grappling situations.  And I see the use of the Still Spell feat being more valuable to a frequent user of the Magic Jar spell and what-not.  I was hoping this spell would have some value in the prevention of counterspelling, but I don't see the supporting game mechanics for that.

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So does anybody advocate the use of this spell?  Does anybody have any play testimonials with Whispercast?

[Craiconn]

Heh. I'm going to guess that everyone finds this spell to be rather sucktastic.

[Garryl]

Being a purely mental action means you can do it while paralyzed, which is nice. It's generally a lot cheaper to spend an extra 2nd-level spell slot than to use a slot 1 level higher and spend a feat on Still Spell. If you use Silent Spell so that Whispercast is also purely mental, you can cast while all but paralyzed (you still need to be able to whisper, which probably isn't waived with Silent Spell). With no verbal or somatic components, a whispercast spell can't be identified with Spellcraft as its being cast, so opposing spellcasters can't counterspell it without randomly guessing. It completely removes cheap material components from the equation, so you can save on Eschew Materials if your DM is the type to steal your component pouch all the time. It's situational, but it has its uses, no doubt.

[Craiconn]

Thanks, Garryl.

Yeah, to get Whispercast to be a value spell, it really, really needs to be Silent Spelled. Sadly, that makes Whsipercast a plus spell only as a 3rd level slot or using scant & valuable MM reduction resources.

And that necessary bump-up is what makes Whispercast poor bang-for-the-buck. It shoulda had no verbal components in the first place ..... and been refluffed to eliminate all the whispering crap.

[phaedrusxy]

Some necromancy to go with my necromancy...

I'm thinking that using this plus Eyes of the Zombie on a small, flying undead (animated bat zombie, etc) might be a fun way to make a combat drone in D&D.

[Craiconn]

So you are looking at Whispercast as a synergetic combo in the way that it could essentially remove the onerous somatic components (self eye gauging) of Eyes of the Zombie?  Interesting.  Although the way I'm parsing the actual written RAW, I'm not sure the combo works that way ... or has the quality level of benefit that you think it does.

For example, the EotZ spell text that states "The caster's body remains motionless and is subject to harm normally." is not affected by Whispercast.

Or am I not seeing something that you are?  :-P  Believe me, I'd love to see Whispercast, as written, be better or more useful than it actually is.