One spell IRL

I'm thinking either true strike and becoming the ultimate sniper, or Charm Person and talk my way into power.

>Prestidigitation can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, or spell components.
>tfw living 3D printer

Alter Self. I use it for porn.

Alternatively I do some shenanigans with GURPS or M&M or something.

>1 terrestrial circle spell
Summon 1st circle demon, assuming I can bind it. There is so much shit 1cds can do, and there's so damn many of them. It offers unparalled versatility, and I just need to not do something stupid like summon a blood ape, and I shouldn't have to worry about it biting me too hard, as 1cds are usually pretty reasonable.

This

Buddy, we're gonna change the world.

I'm not too familiar with Mage, but I think "one spell" would map to one rote or whatever it was called, not one dot in a category of magic.

I was thinking something along the lines of Demon of the First Circle from Exalted.

Off the top of my head probably shocking grasp. I can taser punch people, spark fires, and maybe figure out how to power electronics with some practice. Can we level up our skills over time?

>Can we level up our skills over time?
Nope.

I seem to recall an ancient, ancient cantrip called Bang! from the ADnD books, damned if I know which one it was, though.

All it did was a single point of damage, unavoidable and unmitigated. You point your finger at your target and shout "BANG!"

With this spell, I shall want for nothing.

Unseen Servant so I can get more shit done during a single day. Call me too-practical or unimaginative, but having an invisible mindless servant that does shit for me is incredible for someone with depression + executive disfunction. Plus, I could use it for prostate stimulation

Hex from Pathfinder.

Lots of weakish effects that might be useful but;
>fly
>change your appearance
>improve luck
>reduce luck
>brew potions
>cackle madly
It does everything you want.

This guy's got it down: You get an infinitely usable, highly versatile, fairly harmless spell that has dozens of practical applications. Get lost? Start a fire. Get dirty? Clean yourself instantly. Need a tool? Make one. Damn spell would be amazing to have on hand.

see
>materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools

I've always fantasized about casting Light. It's not THE spell that I would choose given the chance (it would probably be Prestidigitation like said, or some other versatile spell), but wouldn't it be super cool to walk into a dark room, snap your fingers and BOOM, light.

I am not the only one who fantasizes about casting low-level spells am I?

>You get an infinitely usable, highly versatile, fairly harmless spell that has dozens of practical applications. Get lost? Start a fire. Get dirty? Clean yourself instantly. Need a tool? Make one. Damn spell would be amazing to have on hand.
I would rather have the Cure Light Wounds If you gave me the choice between "instantly be clean" and "instantly restore someone from dying to perfectly healthy", it seems like a pretty easy choice, since in this world nobody is higher than level 1.

> I am not the only one who fantasizes about casting low-level spells am I?
"Hey, I could use this classic fantasy spell to improve my mundane daily life!" is pretty much the idea out of which urban fantasy and science-fantasy (magitech) was born.

aye

CLW makes you a threat to powerful people (think the healthcare industry is gonna take Cure Light Wounds laying down?) and makes you a cult figure. No thank you. I'd rather be comfortable and obscure.

>think the healthcare industry is gonna take Cure Light Wounds laying down?
There are numerous Actually Powerful people who have someone sick in their extended family. The healthcare industry has nothing on them. What you would really fear is not being neutralized as competition, but being imprisoned and forced to perform your miracles and/or being dissected in an attempt to replicate your talent.

OK so let's job this out, since all my RPG books are at home and I'm at work. We've done a good job w/ D&D 3.x and 5.

Mage: The Ascension is too broad, since it doesn't use "spells" at all as we know them. Several GURPS systems are similar ("starting novice mage" is a relative term that depends on the setting).

So let's look at:

GURPS Default Magic

Shadowrun (again, spells don't really have levels and difficulty is a relative term)

Vampire the Masquerade: Hedge Magic (WoD sorcery), Level 1 Thaumaturgy (pick a single one dot Path or Ritual). Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Level 1 gift

What else is there?

Alter Self is level 2.

Do you mean Disguise Self?

Charm Person, I can have anything I want, from anyone I want.

What about Goodberry? It requires a freshly picked berry (no problem thanks to greenhouses) but also counts as a full meal and can cure up to eight HP.

Also from 5e:

Vicious Mockery: the ultimate assassination spell. What will the autopsy show? Even if the police figured it out, who'd ever believe it in court?

Thaumaturgy, for reasons similar to the more practical Prestidigitation.

Find Familiar: it gives you a lot of benefits, especially if people don't know the spell exists.

Wild Cunning seems pretty cool...

Pathfinder:

Charm Person

Crafter's Fortune (become a manager at a software company, for example)

I agree that it's down to Charm Person, Cure Light Wounds, or Prestidigitation.

thinking 5e

I would pick Silent image or Sleep

if cantrips are allowed definitely prestidigitation

>Fragile
Fantastic a spell that turns yourself Chinese.

Prestigidation. So much useful shit.

Color Spray or Polypurpose Panacaea could be fun, but right now I just want Endure Elements. I work outside and it's -30°C out there.

This begs the question, what is one point of damage IRL?

Well in 5th Edition, an unarmed strike does 1 damage.

So my guess is the equivalent of getting hay-maker'd.

Polypurpose Panacea would be so fucking useful. It's the mental equivalent to Prestidigitation.

Enlarge person

Average peasant has 2hp.

Charm Person.
I will use it to make friends.

With benefits?

But HP doesn't represent damange blah blah blah...

People who know what they're doing can put normies down with one solid hit.

I'd take Cause Fear.
Since most people are below 5HD, I could scare almost everyone.

my choices would either be:

>Create or Destroy Water
Because being able to create ten gallons of fresh water even once per-day would be an amazing asset to anything. Nevermind if I'm allowed to spam it within concern for spells per-day or even at max level. Every 3 or 6 seconds (I don't know how long a round in DnD 5e is, or any editions actually) I can create a massive torrent of 90 gallons of water. And then so many awesome things can happen.

or...

>Shocking grasp
Because as a cantrip, I KNOW I can spam that infinitely and basically, I just grab a hold of some connectors to a big-ass battery and something to keep the current regulated and proceed to provide free power forever. Even more if I'm casting it at max level.

>if I'm allowed to spam it within concern for spells per-day or even at max level.
Read

>You can cast the spell as often as a level 1 mage/wizard/ in that system. If your system of choice does not have levels or classes, pick a spell that a novice magic user can use. You will be able to use it as often as a novice magic user.

You two are both suicidal. Ordinary mortals casting that spell, without the benefit of excellencies, are extremely likely to murder themselves.

Summon Elemental on the other hand, that one just fails to create an elemental if you cock it up. Exalted's elementals are much more interesting than your standard big pile of vaguely humanoid rock/fire/whatever. Not to mention that flame-based sex elementals can be just as sexy as crafting-based sex demons.

I would argue the same effect for Exalted actually. You'd be doing thaumaturgy, which would be summoning a specific type of demon. And given the consequences and restrictions, the elemental version would probably be more useful and safe (demon summoning would near certainly result in your death and general havoc).
There was also something about elemental empowerment in 2e, which would let you do stuff like imbue items with the ability to self-repair or change into similar types of items. Of course, that's in 2e, so good luck gathering the resources to cast it as a mortal.
I'd assume you weren't able to gain the passive abilities of being a thaumaturge or essence-user, or this would improve even more dramatically.

If cantrips count, Pathfinder Prestidigitation is incredibly useful. So would Create Water or that cantrip that unspoils food.
Low level cure spells would be incredible, but dangerous as noted by Otherwise, you could probably do quite a bit with even just a rote from Mage.

Alllll that said, Unearthed Armies is probably one of the ones easiest to incorporate into life and has lots of minor charge things (assuming you gain a similar way to gain charges, at least).

ash, I missed that part.

Still admittedly on the fence myself.

I mean...

Free water or free power?

I think I'll go with water. I can save it up easier, and push comes to shove and we ever end up in a post apocalyptic world of I'm in an off-the-grid thing I'll just hook up an exercise bike or something to a generator and battery.

>Free water or free power?
Oh boy, can't wait to save like $20 on my utility bill

I'd probably pick a healing spell, so I could sell instantaneous healing to rich people who are willing to pay fabulous sums to not wait for natural healing.

>I would argue the same effect for Exalted

The thought crossed my mind, thaumaturgy and mortal sorcerers are a thing in Exalted, but while thaumaturgy is technically available to PCs it's not really a PC option. I'd argue that Exalted starting level magic is Terrestrial Circle Sorcery, and OP is talking about starting PCs, not lowest grade magic users of the setting.

>Oh boy, can't wait to save like $20 on my utility bill

Yeah, it's another reason I'd go with create or destroy water.

Shocking grasp power in my head would be supplemental to a bunch of other off the grid methods.

A water wheel and a steam, windmill turbines, etc.

But in fairness, as a cantrip, you need to remember: assuming the average round is even 10 seconds in DnD 5e (and I'm pretty sure it's way less) you're basically putting out 600,000 volts in a single minute of spamming shocking grasp. Assuming it's on par with standard police tasers. And you can do that all day.

it would add up.

Fuck.

Goodberry hands down. It's free healing that can heal me completely (assuming I'm some single digit HP peasant, if not I can cast it again for 10 more health) and feeds me for free, forever.
Plus I can heal/feed my friends, potentially without them even knowing.

If only higher levels were allowed I could have Magnificent Mansion.

Shocking Grasp is and has always been a 1st level spell, not a cantrip. So you'd get to do that once per day, maybe twice if you're smart about it.

Target: You

If you could affect someone else, even via touch, it would be awesome-tier for an only spell.

>is and always has been
Not in 5e nigga

it's a cantrip in 5e. (though it does only do like 1d8 damage per-cast and only higher at higher levels, thus why I used police taser voltage as it's basis)

and holy fuck, looking at Create Water in Pathfinder: it fucking sucks.

There's a lot of exploitable stuff but I keep thinking about how fun an animal charming/speech spell would be.

If higher levels were allowed, you could start looking at Shadow Conjuration, and some other pretty pimp and flexible spells.

I would still argue that a novice magic user would be more represented by a thaumaturge. Also, it IS doable in 2e and 3e. In general, exalts who learn Sorcery get the relevant merit for free even.
I suppose it comes down to the argument of what would be a 'novice magic user' with me arguing that a rote would seem much in tune with that; a mortal sorceror is someone rather accomplished in the magical arts after all.

I'd opt for Endure Elements so that I'd never really need to worry about where I live again, and be able to go on walks whenever I want.

But I would be fine with MM. Food, water, and a place to sleep that's furnished how I please wherever I go. I could travel the world and never be more than a few steps from home. Wouldn't even need anything more that the clothes on my back.

I think it's more a matter of if we judge by the standards of the setting or those of the system. A novice magic user in the setting of Exalted would indeed be a mortal thaumaturge, but a starting magic user PC would be an exalt with TCS being their equivalent of first level spells and thaumaturgy comparable to cantrips.

Level 1? Fuck that.

Prestidigitation. All day. Erryday.

But if you made me take a level 1 spell?

Either Charm Person or Ice Knife.

Cure wounds or something like that.
I would use it to cure my chronic illness if it works for that. Then maybe use it in my further work if I can do it inconspicuously (gonna be a doctor).

>Prestidigitation. All day. Erryday.
Prestidigitation is largely made obsolete by the conveniences of modern day life, though. Who the fuck cares about lighting small fires when you can get a Bic lighter for a buck down at the nearest gas station?
>Ice Knife
Oh you're just retarded then.

Level 1 Incanter with the Weather Sphere

Goodberry, for someone with a semi large family the healthcare savings would be equivalent of getting a second job.

I hate to disappoint most of you but cure wounds is not cure disease.

Would still be useful, but only if you really want to be an EMT or doctor or cult leader of some sort.

Prestidigitation is a good choice, it's only really limited in creativity. Once you explore it there are potential new uses that haven't been thought of yet.

Disguise self is super cool. Tons of applications, great for being a thief or con man. Requires some quickthinking wit and acting ability though.

Charm Person is probably the best choice. Nothing beats the power of friendship. Live the life you always wanted. Want to be a rockstar? Done. Want to schmooze with the rich and famous? Done. Want to be a cult leader? Done. Want to get into politics? Done. Want to romance anyone? Done.
It's not exactly a get out of jail free card, but it's pretty damn close.

Illusion.

I use it for porn.

>when you kids don't want to eat their motherfucking goodberry pancakes

Wieldskill. +10 competence bonus and 1/2 rank to any skill or instant training with any weapon or armor.

you people know that charm person makes someone friendly towards you, not lets you control their mind?

let's see, what i'd take from sdr 3.5?
silent image, comprehend languages, unseen servant all have obvious interesting uses. but how about summon monster i? what could science learn from extraplanar monsters such as fiendish scorpion or celestial giant fire beetle?

Mage hand.

I use it for porn.

Definition. Unseen servant.

I'm sorry, but the ability to have and I'm thinking, unquestioning, completely loyal servant perform all of my manual labor for me? It specifies that the servant can only perform tasks which an unskilled peasant could perform. So hold my laundry. Clean my room. Mow my lawn. Wash my car. Do the dishes. Take out the trash. Clean the cat's litter box. Bring me a beer. I'm sorry but anybody who says anything other than this is probably an idiot.

I got u

Life sphere from spheres of power
As it's the first sphere you get, you get access to 2 talents from the sphere
Take Restore Health and something else (maybe Empathic Healing to reduce costs if you're willing to suffer yourself)
If we're going with the ruling of "as a first level caster" like the OP says, you can pick up other talents for it as long as they're for the one spell, so that's two more talents too, beyond the first two for taking the sphere, plus being able to pick up a bonus feat for Spell Points so you can heal 3+modifier times a day.

Or is that minmaxing this hypothetical?

Ice Knife makes you pretty much the perfect assassin.

So does Magic Missile but why the fuck would you become a shitty real-life murderhobo?

But can you fuck it?

I already am a shitty real-life murderhobo.

Definitely a toss-up between this and Prestidigitation. They're both excellent spells for ordinary life.

That said, I'd add Mending to the list. I'm not terribly practical, and I'd love the ability to snap my fingers and clean my nasty-ass keyboard without waiting for the invisible butler to finish the job, but someone who was more practical than me could get a lot of use out of being able to take a minute and fix literally anything short of a hole the size of a watermelon in it.

No, that requires the Unseen Lover spell from the Book of Erotic Fantasy. Sadly, like Unseen Servant, it has a +0 and takes 10 on every roll, meaning you're in for a "routine performance".

Tell us your story user

Endless handjobs. I-it's not gay if it's a spirit, right?

Clairvoyance

I sit on a muhreen base and larp as special ops

Let me blow your minds, Guidance. 0 level infinite be a little better at everything.

DCC
magic missile

spend large amounts of spell burn, and send them to kill targets halfway across the world. eliminate all of congress, our corporate overlords, and any "representative" who refuses to represent the people who elected them.

likely choose to deal death to people for money.

boy i'm retarded

So I read the Dungeon World core rules today and the core Wizard has a starting level class feature called ritual, which is the most broken thing ever. It is actually better then a 9th Level Wish spell in 3.5, the dungeon world are fuckin hacks.

Ritual
When you draw on a place of power to create a magical effect, tell the GM what you’re trying to achieve. Ritual effects are always possible, but the GM will give you one to four of the following conditions:

It’s going to take days/weeks/months.
First you must .
You’ll need help from .
It will require a lot of money
The best you can do is a lesser version, unreliable and limited
You and your allies will risk danger from .
You’ll have to disenchant to do it.

>DCC
>magic missile
>spend large amounts of spell burn, and send them to kill targets halfway across the world. eliminate all of congress, our corporate overlords, and any (((representative))) who refuses to represent the people who elected them.
>likely choose to deal death to people for money.
FTFY

Find Familiar. A soulbound pet can be fun and useful, especially if variant familiars are aloud, and it maybe even help my depression. Inevitably, I will try sticking my dick in it.

Unseen servant
or summon monster 1

I can't use it that waydue to weight limits. :-(

Mage: the Awakening. I choose Emotional Urging, a Mind 2 spell that you can easily get as a starting character. Make it harder for people to accomplish anything against my goals, make it nearly a non-task to accomplish anything social myself.