Jump

[zztophat]

It's a fairly useless spell, that gives a bonus to jump (if you didn't know that already or you could not guess from the name of the spell). For giggles I switched out a level 1 spell that I wasn't using and instead of getting nightshield I got jump. On paper Jump adds nothing of real value so for stat boosting it is utterly worthless. But after I got Jump I realized how much of a difference mobility makes in a real time game.

Before, my primary means of dealing with mobs (I'm level 9) was to cast firewall, block and hope my stoneskin lasts or the healer keeps me from dying because all the aggro is suddenly on me (100 dmg per second ensures that). This worked well, I would leave dungeons alive and with more than half of the party's kills to my credit but stone skin is costly to cast and I don't have the life to tank like that. I could cast a wall and run but the baddies always follow and leave the burning wall area.

Now, I jump. Like some bizarre arcane bunny I hop about the area of the wall and suddenly I'm taking less hits, far less hits. In the same encounter (pack of wights) I went from nearly dying (pre-jump spell) to escaping while only having my stone skin worn down by half. Trapped in a corner? Jump, flanked? Jump. Drill Sergent saying jump? ask how high. I've jumped over fire balls, rays, projectiles and of course traps.

I'm not saying everyone should get jump or that is has magical powers that will make you an uber-sorc, I'm just sharing my personal experiences with the Jump spell. You may want to give it a try, if nothing else it's fun.

[xanvar]

I keep jump loaded as well. I even cast it in town just to make running around easier. I love the spell more than any other level 1 spell.

[vainangel]

Load it. Your cleric and Fighter will love you.
It is needed at random times and is a great boon in some fights.

[tinyelvis]

My only concern is that you dumped a more important spell (night shield) for it. You cant out jump a mm.

[DoctorWhofan]

I took jump on my sorcerer, but later on when I can give up a space or two. Shield or Night shield should not be subsituted for it, however.

But later on, it is very useful, and as most of your low level spells are not used, its a good one to have. My clerics will thank you.

[tinyelvis]

ITs very poor advice to advise against taking shield or night shield. Nightshield protects you completely from mm and will give you up to a +3 bonus on all saves.

You can easily take both jump and night shield.

[SquelchHU]

ITs very poor advice to advise against taking shield or night shield. Nightshield protects you completely from mm and will give you up to a +3 bonus on all saves.

You can easily take both jump and night shield.

This. Both are very useful even at high levels. How many other level 1 spells can you honestly say this about?

[SimVerg]

This. Both are very useful even at high levels. How many other level 1 spells can you honestly say this about?

RoE and maybe Hypno. Conveniently, that works out to 4 spells.

edit: Oh no! I forgot Grease(the ultimate party buff) and Merfolks!

[zztophat]

I didn't drop nightshield, I just never picked it up. The spell I wasn't using was hypnotism. That said, I still plan on getting nightshield.

[Arlith]

Jump rocks. You stated one of the reasons. Another is to get to places that mobs can't. At which time you can firewall to your heart's delight. Another is the fact that clerics just cannot jump (wizking crumbling floors). Fighters love it, too. And don't let the rogues fool you, they pretend not to care, but they do.

I am sure there are casters out there who do not take jump. But for me, it is a must have.

[Majere_Aumar]

I'm not saying everyone should get jump or that is has magical powers that will make you an uber-sorc, I'm just sharing my personal experiences with the Jump spell. You may want to give it a try, if nothing else it's fun.

Actually I would recommend that everyone gets it. Its the best damage mitigation spell there is, allows nukers to aim down on their target (a requirement for decent AOE nuking) and is a necessary buff that groups sometimes cant do without.

[FluffyCalico]

This. Both are very useful even at high levels. How many other level 1 spells can you honestly say this about?

Greese...

[SquelchHU]

Greese...

*facepalm*

[sirgog]

I have Jump, Charm Person, Magic Missile and Ray of Enfeeblement on my sorc.

Were I to drop one of them, it would probably be Magic Missile.

[Beherit_Baphomar]

And since the jump skill tops out at 40 and the spell giving +30 you only ever need to put 10 into it. Acourse if you plan on wearing a jump item then you don't need any points.

Jump hasn't been off my spell list.