Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

Background: I have a TL3 D&D ranger-like character who has one-college magery in the water college. The campaign is fairly split between combat and social interactions, with a little less survival. Power level around 300cp. Thematically, the character avoids freezing water and instead uses the water or acid spells in the college.

My question is; what fun uses do you all have for the water college spells that do not involve ice or freezing?

I'm interested in any use cases (combat, social, or survival) where these spells have come in handy or added a fun element to the game.

Thank you!

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

I just ran a dungeon fantasy session tonight where the druid cast Swim on the swashbuckler so she could wade through a stream without taking movement penalties in a battle where she found herself on the wrong side of the water. One could quibble about whether the slippery stones might have required a DX check, but we felt like it was a creative use of a spell that otherwise is rarely cast.

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

Create Spring means every significant fortification will have its own water source, which shifts the balance in positional vs mobile warfare significantly.

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

Any acid spell is a very effective if unsubtle lockpick.

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

Other examples of clever water spells I've seen over the past few years:

• Casting Destroy Water under an escaping rowboat causing it to swamp.
• Water Jet is extremely versatile. In addition to the many options listed in the spell description, I've often seen it used as a way to knock things off of ledges or tables.
• I've seen a couple of clever uses of Shape Water with steam, sometimes with natural steam (in a volcano) and sometimes with created steam (via Boil Water or Create Steam).
• A specialist water druid could maintain Breathe Water for free (skill 25). In his swampy homeland, he would commonly hide underwater using Water Vision to see what was going on above. Used this for ambushes, hiding from enemies, and spying.

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

All great examples. Thank you!

The character does have a powered magic item that allows him to maintain body of water indefinitely. Separate but related question: the body of water meta trait does not lose ST or gain the no fine manipulators disadvantage. Would I still be able to wield a bow at full ST and/or don any armor that fell to the ground on cast?

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

Body of Water includes Invertebrate, and while that trait doesn't list a ST penality you only get 1/4 of your Basic Lift for lift, carry and pull. This gives a clear argument for also decreasing the effective ST for muscle powered weapon use, especially bows.

Re: Versatility of non-ice water college spells
 

In my DF campaign, the Druid has high enough levels in both Breathe Water and Swim that he can maintain both spells on the entire party indefinitely! This allows for underwater adventures in which the PCs can be effective fighting sea monsters and such...