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View Full Version : I'm new at this Wizard thing.



TheArchmage
2009-09-16, 11:21 PM
So... my friends and I are just about to start up a new campaign, and the DM has convinced me to be the main arcanist because no one else wants to. We're doing Faerun, and I'm a Sun Elf Wizard. Generalist, 32 point buy, starting at level 1. So what are some good prestige classes to aim for? I'm not super interested in optimizing or munchkinery, just what are people's personal favorite things to do with a Wizard?

mikej
2009-09-16, 11:24 PM
Faerun, I'd go straight into Incantatrix. That's my favourite option and the party enjoys the long lasting buffs :smallwink:

Godskook
2009-09-16, 11:34 PM
But focused specialists are such wonderful things!

Kylarra
2009-09-16, 11:35 PM
Incantrix/Archmage.:smallbiggrin:

Malacode
2009-09-16, 11:37 PM
Almost anything with full casting progression kicks ass. It's automatically better than vanilla Wiz 20. I am a fan of Incantatrix, Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil, Abjurant Champion and Swiftblade (The only class I'd give up four caster levels for).

Personally, if I play a Wizard I tend to specialise in Abj or Trans, as they have the most versatile and awesome spells, but that's really up to you I guess. The one benefit of speccing Abjuration is that it makes IoSFV and AbjChamp a lot easier to justify to your DM, expecially if s/he's fairly jumpy when it comes to "OP-ness"

To be entirely honest, if you manage to keep at least 19 of your 20 caster levels, you'll kick ass regardless of how you build. I wouldn't lose a caster level until after level 8 or so, though.

IthilanorStPete
2009-09-16, 11:45 PM
Consult http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104002.

TheArchmage
2009-09-16, 11:55 PM
Thanks guys. :smallbiggrin:

Gralamin
2009-09-17, 12:02 AM
Also, its a good idea to go into Master Specialist in Complete Mage. You can get into it at a stupidly low level, and makes other prestige classes (Particularly Archmage) easier to qualify for.

Keld Denar
2009-09-17, 12:03 AM
Elf Generalist is awesome if you don't plan to specialize. Basically, you give up the ability to specialize (cause...you really were using that...right?), and in return, you get an extra spell known per level (FREE MONIES!!!) and a bonus spell slot in the highest level you can cast that you can use for ANY spell you know. At 1st level, this is as good as specializing without any of the restrictions. At 3rd level, you can take the ACF that gives up the ability of your familiar to deliver touch attacks to double his bonus. This is really nice if you have...say...a rat (+4 fort saves!!!!) or even a Toad (+6 HP!!!).

You can find both of these in your local Races of the Wild book, in the Classes section.

As far as the rest, I'm fond of Wiz5/DivineOracle2/Loremaster3 as a decent start to life. Divine Oracle requires Skill Focus: Knowledge(Religion) and Loremaster requires Skill Focus: Knowledge(Any). Since (Religion) is a subset of (Any), that one feat double dips for both PrCs prereqs. Since Loremaster gives you a free bonus feat, its not even a real loss (and is actually a boon if you can get to a Magical Location called the Frog God's Fane, check Complete Mage for details). Divine Oracle gives you a funky form of Evasion, which is always nice, and Loremaster gives you lots of skill points (and UMD!!!!!!!) and a couple other minor benefits. Technically, as written, Loremaster can teach you Druidic, since there is no restriction on the bonus language. Then you can taunt those treehuggers in their own "secret" language, which is all kinds of fun.

That gets you through 10 levels. From there, I'd either jump back into Divine Oracle to the end (capstone is effectively a Persisted 9th level spell) or grab a couple more Loremaster levels and get ready for Archmage, provided you planned out the whole mess of prereqs you need to get into it. Best things there are Master of Shaping and SLA. Spell Power is also handy.

How does that sound? Divine Oracle is in Complete Divine, and Archmage and Loremaster are both in the DMG.

Kylarra
2009-09-17, 12:05 AM
Minor note to Keld, Frog God's Fane is Cscoundrel, not Cmage.