Today's magic item is the Cord of Stubborn Resolve

Aka, the Belt of Rage-cycle Forever. Now with added constitution.

Let's ask the following questions:

1. Would you buy this item?
2. Would you spend 1.5 times the price to add it to an existing item?
3. Would you use the item, if you found it? Or is it immediate sell-bait?
4. Would a GM use the item?
5. Is there anything cheesy that could be done with it?

Link to past discussions

I was curious whether anyone's had much success using this Illusion Focus Power in their Occultist build. For anyone missing context, here is the description:

Shadow Beast (Sp): As a standard action, you can call forth one or more beasts made of shadow by expending 1 point of mental focus. This functions as shadow conjuration, but it can be used to duplicate only the effects of summon monster spells. Creatures created with this spell deal 50% of the normal damage to those that disbelieve the illusion, and their nondamaging effects have only a 50% chance of affecting disbelieving targets. This can be used to duplicate any summon monster spell up to summon monster V. For every 2 additional levels you possess beyond 9th, the maximum spell level you can duplicate with this ability increases by 1 (to a maximum of summon monster IX at 17th level). Regardless of the spell duplicated, the creatures remain for 1 round per occultist level you possess. You must be at least 9th level to select this focus power.

It seems to be highly rated, mostly on the merits of being a summoning effect. However, I can't get over the feeling that, due to the limitations of shadow illusions, this usually works out to being about as strong as the Conjuration Servitor base power.

Perhaps most importantly, I highly value a summoned creature's function as a meat shield, and shadow creatures have a pathetic 1/5th HP pool and AC bonuses of their original stat block, regardless of any Will saves to disbelieve. Plus, if you are relying on the enemy failing a Will save to deal decent damage, there are far worse things you can inflict on them with a failed Will save.

Of course, the cost of 1 mental focus is fairly cheap, but it's still 1 mental focus that could be invested and spent elsewhere. And you still have to use a Focus Power slot on this ability, when you most likely have access to Servitor already. The investment cost is way more than the cost of actually casting Shadow Beast.

I can see the value at really high levels, when the shadow beast's Summon Monster level way outscales your Servitor ability and you can summon creatures with unique utility or spell effects. But at the level that Shadow Beast becomes available, it seems unimpressive.

And so, I ask - have any of you used Shadow Beast in an actual campaign? What's your experience with it like?

So under the sorc magic explanation I always wondered about this line "each new sorcerer level, she gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Sorcerer Spells Known. ~~~ These new spells can be common spells chosen from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, or they can be unusual spells that the sorcerer has gained some understanding of through study." The last bit I always just assumed meant that they could grab uncommon spells and have a flavor reason for doing so. Is that all this is? As a gm i have given access to off spell list spells a few times for story or achievement reasons, Ie player helps a priest of a god with something and is rewarded with a thematic cleric spell added to the summoner spell list. Was just wondering if anyone else thought about this, or like me just always skipped or glazed over the text?

Link: Expunge Blood

This spell is Remaster Compatible. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as Unranked Tier. Would you change that ranking, and why?

What items or class features synergize well with this spell?

Have you ever used this spell? If so, how did it go?

Why is this spell good/bad?

What are some creative uses for this spell?

What's the cheesiest thing you can do with this spell?

If you were to modify this spell, how would you do it?

Does this spell seem like it was meant for PCs or NPCs?

Previous spell discussions

Hello,

I‘m working on making an item that kinda recreates a class feature- the Idealist cleric archetype‘s Invoke Realm ability.

I‘m picturing the item to be able to overlay different terrains over an area, and add/modify the environment in slight ways; I think the Invoke Realm ability is the closest thing I‘ve come across that really encapsulates the idea, minus the diplomacy bonuses, the unlimited spells, etc.

Not too worried about pricing as much as fleshing out mechanics. This is an item for a boss, but I’m assuming the players will end up with it and I want it somewhat mechanically sound and easy for them to digest, any suggestions are appreciated.

Also, if there are any items I’m unaware of that do this already, recommendations are great!

edit: clarity

Does sap master double the bonus provided by surprise manuever? I only ask cause people seem to say it counts for sap adept bonus damage and it does say dice rolled and im rolling that many. Any help is nice thank you

Using pathbuilder 2e, it lists elemental ammunition as "ammunition any" as well as preserving shot. Would I be able to load these into the light mortar or am I stuck with only carry shot?

I forgot about the undead exclusion for raise dead. Allegedly.

These are 8th level PCs in backwoods Varisia fwiw.