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awa
2009-11-25, 02:26 AM
looking for a good prestige class for a wizard the class must come from either core or one of the complete books

The ideal prestige class will be gained by level 6
plz explain why its a good class and where its from

Boci
2009-11-25, 02:27 AM
Any particular type of magic you want to focus on?

awa
2009-11-25, 02:32 AM
nah just something interesting

Boci
2009-11-25, 02:36 AM
I assume you have acces to the books, so you could always flick through them yourself and see what apeals to you. Thats the best advice I can offer which the level of detail you've provided.

Akisa
2009-11-25, 02:39 AM
remember to avoid loosing caster levels...

Mongoose87
2009-11-25, 02:40 AM
The Master Specialist (Complete Mage or Arcane... can't remember) is pretty nice. You don't give up much for it, and gives you some nice little toys.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 02:41 AM
I like Loremaster, for a dip, from core. There are a number of solid options from Complete Arcane, though.

EDIT: Master Specialist is awesome, agreed. Especially when you can access it before level 5, IIRC, and it provides a few really nice bonuses. For example, Abjurer is rock solid.

BobVosh
2009-11-25, 02:52 AM
The Master Specialist "Complete Mage or Arcane... can't remember) is pretty nice. You don't give up much for it, and gives you some nice little toys.

Mage.

Initiate of the seven fold veil is amazingly OP.(comp arc)
Archmage can be fun (DMG)
Wild mage is amusing to me. (arcane again i believe)
Nightmare spinner is great (comp mage)

Doc Roc
2009-11-25, 03:00 AM
Initiate of the Seven Veils is difficult to over-hype.
It allows you reliable, accessible, and devastatingly powerful immediate action rejoinders to incoming problems.

Wizard(Abjurer) 2/Master specialist (Abjurer) 7/Initiate of the Seven Veils 7/Master Specialist 3/Stop Looking At Me Like That, I'm a 20th Level Pure Caster 1
Is very good.

Alternatively:

Wizard 5/Mindbender 1/Ur-Priest 2/Mystic Theurge 7/xxxx 5
Mindsight
SL 9/9
CL 18/19

Killer Angel
2009-11-25, 03:01 AM
Archmage can be fun (DMG)


I agree, but it's difficult to satisfy the prerequisites at level 6 (as OP's request)

Sstoopidtallkid
2009-11-25, 03:04 AM
I agree, but it's difficult to satisfy the prerequisites at level 6 (as OP's request)I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

crazedloon
2009-11-25, 03:04 AM
my favorite combo is
wizard 2/master specialist7/Initiative of the seven fold veil 7/ archemage 4

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 03:07 AM
my favorite combo is
wizard 2/master specialist7/Initiative of the seven fold veil 7/ archemage 4

If you're going Abjurer, then go Master Specialist as high as you can go.

The dispel check bonus will help you immensely.

olentu
2009-11-25, 03:09 AM
I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

I recall a feat in cityscape that gives the character one rank in a skill even if it goes over the cap or something like that.

crazedloon
2009-11-25, 03:13 AM
If you're going Abjurer, then go Master Specialist as high as you can go.

The dispel check bonus will help you immensely.

the last 3 levels of MS gets
+1 CL
extra spells
3/day make a personal to a touch

3 levels of archmage can net you
+3 cl
or
spell turning for your dispels
or
touch to ranged
or
spell like
or
shaping to allow your dispells and antimagic fields to miss your team
or
combo of the above

I personaly think the 3 levels of arch is better

Doc Roc
2009-11-25, 03:15 AM
I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

Yes. I have, besides the trick in cityscape. I don't wish to discuss it.
Take a good close look at inspire greatness, the bard ability, and the psionic power: psychic reformation.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 03:22 AM
the last 3 levels of MS gets
+1 CL
extra spells
3/day make a personal to a touch

3 levels of archmage can net you
+3 cl
or
spell turning for your dispels
or
touch to ranged
or
spell like
or
shaping to allow your dispells and antimagic fields to miss your team
or
combo of the above

I personaly think the 3 levels of arch is better


3 levels of MS and 1 level of archmage can get you:

Personal spells to range spells 3/day. It also increases the bonus you get to dispel checks, among other things.

Shaping an AMF to miss your team makes the AMF pointless. Spells can pass through an AMF just fine. They are only suppressed where the AMF is. If the party isn't in it, then people can send split twin enervates right through it.

Feats and Skill tricks can mimic that ability, as well.

Frankly? Archmage is good, but in this build? It's too easy to set up as a dispeller, which means that Archmage isn't as good as MS for that purpose.

dsmiles
2009-11-25, 05:43 AM
Archmage is really the way to go. Lots of cool powers. Touch spells up to 60 ft away? Awesome. Arcane Fire? Awesome. Master of Energy? Awesome. Losing spell slots? Not so awesome, but much better than losing caster levels.

Boci
2009-11-25, 05:53 AM
Arcane Fire? Awesome.

Reserve feats are better, but yes overall the archmage is a solid PrC, but it won't be avaialbe until late into the game.

BobVosh
2009-11-25, 05:56 AM
How is arcane fire awesome?

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 05:59 AM
Archmage is really the way to go. Lots of cool powers. Touch spells up to 60 ft away? Awesome. Arcane Fire? Awesome. Master of Energy? Awesome. Losing spell slots? Not so awesome, but much better than losing caster levels.

Arcane fire is probably the only bad thing in the class, actually. Master of Energy is second on that list.

Spell like abilities are probably the best ability in the class. Lose a 5th level slot and a 9th level slot, and get Time Stop twice per day? That's like turning a 5th level spell into a 9th. It's good.

Even so, let's look at the possibilities of Personal to Touch to reach (30).

AMF on an enemy caster when you're both flying?

That's probably one of the more tame options.

Remember, not losing Caster levels is important... But as long as you get 9th level spells, you're good.

And being able to reliably dispel casters 4-6 levels above you is a good ability to have. That's what MS can get you. You still get a level of Archmage, to either get an SLA, or Reach spell, or +1 CL.

The ability to change Personal spells to Touch can't be underestimated. With Reach spell, it allows you to chain personal buffs to an entire party, for example.

Prime32
2009-11-25, 06:17 AM
How is arcane fire awesome?It looks cool? :smallconfused: That's the only thing I can think of. That damage is seriously weak. Sure it ignores SR, but so does a greatsword.

As for AMF-shaping, it lets you create a thin antimagic field so that you can stick your hands out of it to cast spells.


Note that Master Specialist is designed to provide easier access to archmage, and can be entered from lv3.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 06:50 AM
It looks cool? :smallconfused: That's the only thing I can think of. That damage is seriously weak. Sure it ignores SR, but so does a greatsword.

As for AMF-shaping, it lets you create a thin antimagic field so that you can stick your hands out of it to cast spells.


Note that Master Specialist is designed to provide easier access to archmage, and can be entered from lv3.

You can replicate that via feat. I don't want to waste a spell slot on something I can get with a feat. Also, if your square is entirely within the AMF, no dice on that tactic. If your square is not, you can be targeted with spells, RAW.

And Master Specialist forms the core of a very good dispeller build or 5.

ex cathedra
2009-11-25, 06:52 AM
Master Specialist (Conjurer/Abjurer) (CM) are both nice, especially since you can qualify with two levels of wizard and one feat.

Mindbender (CA), Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil (CA), Fatespinner (CA), and Paragnostic Apostle (CC) are all good for generic casters. However, IotSV is the only one there that's worth significantly more than a level dip or two.

For more specialized needs, Abjurant Champion (CM) and Sacred Exorcist (CD) are useful.

Master Specialist gives you bonus feats, bonus spells known, is accessible very early, and has excellent class features for conjurers. It's popular for abjurers because it makes qualifying for IotSV much easier. Additionally, it also fulfills most of Archmage's prerequisites, eventually. I generally use it in most of my low-to-mid level wizard builds, as there are only a few reasons to take wizard levels between 3-5, most of which I rarely use.

Mindbender is good because one level gives you telepathy. Telepathy is good. There's not much else to it.

IotSV is excellent because it gives you a wide range of offensive and defensive options in addition to your full casting progression. It's a very deadly class.

Fatespinner is useful for a few levels because it gives you more class features than you would otherwise have. It's better used to fill in a few dead levels.

Paragnostic Apostle gives you an excellent choice of class features, is easy to qualify for, and is useful in nearly any build with free levels, due to the vast amount of helpful choices presented in it's class features.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 07:06 AM
Mindbender is good because one level gives you telepathy. Telepathy is good. There's not much else to it.


To expand on this, Telepathy qualifies you for Mindsight, which gives you awareness of about 90% of enemies in the game. It's really an excellent ability to have.

Another good PrC is Cerebremancer, which can be qualified for with 2-3 levels in a manifesting class, allowing loss of 1 spell level of wizard, and getting a powerhouse of psion options in trade. you'll still get 9th level spells by level 20, and, as long as you get to around level 5-6 powers on the psion side, you're golden.

Emmerask
2009-11-25, 07:26 AM
I like the Fatespinner (complete Arcane)

you need 4th level spells so would only work at 7th level (If your dm isnīt insane and allows early entry methods to prc that is)

whats good?
Nice roleplaying possibilities.
Rerolling if things go bad is allways nice ;)

Itīs a solid but short prc (only 5 levels (the first four with casterlevel progression)

ex cathedra
2009-11-25, 07:53 AM
To expand on this, Telepathy qualifies you for Mindsight, which gives you awareness of about 90% of enemies in the game. It's really an excellent ability to have.

Another good PrC is Cerebremancer, which can be qualified for with 2-3 levels in a manifesting class, allowing loss of 1 spell level of wizard, and getting a powerhouse of psion options in trade. you'll still get 9th level spells by level 20, and, as long as you get to around level 5-6 powers on the psion side, you're golden.

I would have mentioned that were Lords of Madness in his allowed source list. Alas, ...

While it's a great class, I would suggest against Cerebremancer without decent early entry. Level 5 is no time to start taking Psion levels on your wizard, in my opinion, due to the classic theurge issues.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 08:50 AM
I would have mentioned that were Lords of Madness in his allowed source list. Alas, ...

While it's a great class, I would suggest against Cerebremancer without decent early entry. Level 5 is no time to start taking Psion levels on your wizard, in my opinion, due to the classic theurge issues.

It's actually really easy to gain early entry on both sides. The class is enterable at level 4.

Elf Wizard (generalist) 1 / Ardent 2
Precocious Apprentice and Practiced Manifester, and, at level 5, you're casting level 2 spells and level 3 powers.

Basically, you're 1 level behind in spells, no levels behind in powers. Wisdom only really needs to start at a 14-15, and Int should be the focus.

Optimystik
2009-11-25, 09:17 AM
I like Geometer. 10/10 casting, chock-full of flavor.

Blood Magus is also fun for a dip, the first four levels continue your casting and you can store potions in your blood and scrolls on your skin. (Might be more fun for a Sorcerer though.) You also effectively get an untyped +4 to Concentration checks if you take damage while casting.

ex cathedra
2009-11-25, 09:19 AM
It's actually really easy to gain early entry on both sides. The class is enterable at level 4.

Elf Wizard (generalist) 1 / Ardent 2
Precocious Apprentice and Practiced Manifester, and, at level 5, you're casting level 2 spells and level 3 powers.

Basically, you're 1 level behind in spells, no levels behind in powers. Wisdom only really needs to start at a 14-15, and Int should be the focus.

It's like I always forget about Ardent. Right you are, as usual. It certainly sounds fun.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 10:03 AM
Back to Master Specialist, for a minute, though.

Based on School specialization, it's a full progression PrC that offers all sorts of nastiness.

Let's go down the line:

Advantages of a 3 level dip: Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Greater Spell Focus, a bonus spell for free (technically not limited to your class, though the text seems to strongly imply it). It's a beautiful setup for Archmage, and still leaves open space for a 10 level PrC and 4 levels of Archmage. In other words, you can PrC to 20, and get 1 PrC capstone.

Advantages of a 4 level dip: (my favorites bolded)
Abjuration: Bonus to Dispels equal to half your MS level. (useful for surviving)
Conjuration: Summoned critters have extra life. (slightly tougher meatwalls, meh)
Divination: Concentration Divination lasts 2-5 rounds longer than normal. (meh)
Enchantment: Removes most penalties for hostile actions while charming and bonuses to save for actions against nature (solid, but not for survivability).
Evocation: Concentration check bonuses from 2-5 when casting evocation (total crap)
Illusion: Will Disbelief spells get +2 save DC. (solid, and good for defense)
Necromancy: Your necromancy spells get a rider effect. All allied undead within 60 feet (including you, if undead), get Bonuses to turn resistance and saves equal to your MS level for a number of rounds equal to your MS level. (for undead MS's, this is solid gold. The bonuses are untyped.)
Transmutation: Your transmutation effects that are dispelled stay for 1 round longer (huge protection, it's a solid effect).

At Level 4, it's obvious that this PrC has a lot to offer.

Level 7 in the class?
+1 CL for your school, on top of your normal benefits. Another bonus spell.

Abjuration: If a save allows half or partial effects on a save, you suffer no adverse effect if you save. (evasion and mettle rolled into one, yes please for survivability!)
Conjuration: People trying to dispel your conjuration have to contend with +5 CL for the dispel. (you're level 10, with the +1 CL already, and the +5 additional? It's not likely.)
Divination: Uncanny dodge for the duration of any divination you cast. (meh)
Enchantment: Reroll any failed will save vs enchantment/mind affecting. (situationally useful)
Evocation: Temporary energy resistance 20 vs a type in a spell you cast (meh. To get resistance from fire elementals and red dragons, you need to cast a fire spell. Hardly optimal. Just take resist energy.)
Illusion: Concealment. That's it. (Ex Concealment? You can use this to hide!)
Necromancy: Immunity to ability damage/drain, energy drain, and negative levels. (cast a high level necromancy spell at the beginning of combat, and you're set from many negative effects. Less useful if you're undead.)
Transmutation: Reroll any failed fort vs transmutation once. (meh, very situational)

With the above, you can dip into another PrC (5-6 levels) and hit Archmage up hard, or pursue most of a PrC and dip in Acm.

Level 10: Another +1CL for your chosen school, on top of the full progression. Also, another free spell.

Abjuration: Total effects: +5 to dispel checks, Mettle+Evasion after every abjuration cast, and turn a personal spell to a touch spell 3 times per day.

Conjuration: Total effects: Summons get bonus HP = Caster level, increased dispel resistance +5, and Standard action conjurations can be cast as a swift action 3 times per day (rapid spell+this = 2 summons a round)

Divination: Total Effects: +5 rounds to concentration length divination, uncanny dodge whenever you cast a divination, and true seeing as well when you cast divination (3/day)

Enchantment: Total Effects: Targets get no bonuses to save for your hostile action, or for orders against their nature, Reroll failed will vs mind-affecting, and, 3/day, any creature that saves vs your enchantment has to do it again the next round (with a +5 bonus)

Evocation: Total Effects: +5 Concentrate checks when casting evocation, Energy resist 20 whenever you cast evocation spells, and 3/day, anything that fails a save vs your evocation takes 50% additional damage next round.

Illusion: Total Effects: +2 to Will disbelief DC's, concealment whenever you cast an illusion, and 3/day, still, silent, and eschew an illusion spell.

Necromancy: Total Effects: Turn Resist +10 and Saves +10 to all ally undead near you when you cast necromancy. Immune to ability damage/drain, energy drain, negative levels when you cast necromancy. 3/day, when you cast necromancy all undead get Fast healing 10 for 5 rounds.

Transmutation: Total Effects: Transmutations persist one more round after being dispelled, reroll failed fort saves vs transmutation, and when someone saves vs your transmutations, 3/day, it takes extra damage = spell level.


Favorites are bolded. Even on a 10 level run, you can get 2-4 levels of other PrC's, and 3-5 levels of Archmage.

ex cathedra
2009-11-25, 10:24 AM
Errata clarified that you must pick a spell on your spell list.

Abjuration, Illusion, Conjuration, and Necromancy all definitely get a lot out of it. The first two, especially. Conjuration gets that great free quicken in addition to, you know, the ability to be a specialist conjurer.

Edit:
Let's not neglect to mention Abjurer 2/Master Specialist 10/Anything 1 (Mindbender, PA, Shadow Adept, etc; the amount of excellent 1-level dips is astounding)/IotSV 7 works quite well.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 10:46 AM
Abjuration, Illusion, Conjuration, and Necromancy all definitely get a lot out of it. The first two, especially. Conjuration gets that great free quicken in addition to, you know, the ability to be a specialist conjurer.

Edit:
Let's not neglect to mention Abjurer 2/Master Specialist 10/Anything 1 (Mindbender, PA, Shadow Adept, etc; the amount of excellent 1-level dips is astounding)/IotSV 7 works quite well.

Yes, if you get Arcane Mastery (Take 10 on Caster level checks, including dispel checks), have 10 levels in MS, the Planar Touchstone feat (Planar Handbook - Catalogues of Enlightenment - Chosen Domain: Inquisition), 1 level of Paragnostic Apostle (Comp Champion), you can have, item free, at level 18+, a Greater Dispel that reliably counters any spellcaster up to level 29.

Heck, at level 12, you can reliably strip away (no Paragnostic Apostle) a Caster level up to 24 with Greater Dispel Magic (and to Caster level 20 with Dispel Magic). It somewhat can reduce the effectiveness of enemy casters.

Keshay
2009-11-25, 11:04 AM
Could someone explain why Iot7FV is such a great PrC? I've looked at it and looked at it time and again and I simply can not reckon why its considered to be so great.

I guess Master Specialist: Abjur makes the entry requirements sting a bit less, but needing Skill Focus: Spellcraft, Spell Focus and GSF in a school that has such a small spell list, and has so few of those spell that actually need saves seems like too great a cost. (This is more an indictment of Spell Focus than anything else, it really shoudl do something for spells that do not have a save attached).

I want to like the class, its a neat idea, I just can not boggle how the benefits outweigh the costs. (Unless its a 100% flavor thing, then I get it).

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 11:11 AM
Could someone explain why Iot7FV is such a great PrC? I've looked at it and looked at it time and again and I simply can not reckon why its considered to be so great.

I guess Master Specialist: Abjur makes the entry requirements sting a bit less, but needing Skill Focus: Spellcraft, Spell Focus and GSF in a school that has such a small spell list, and has so few of those spell that actually need saves seems like too great a cost. (This is more an indictment of Spell Focus than anything else, it really shoudl do something for spells that do not have a save attached).

I want to like the class, its a neat idea, I just can not boggle how the benefits outweigh the costs. (Unless its a 100% flavor thing, then I get it).

1st? Full caster Progression.
2nd? The ability to say NO, as an immediate action, 4 times per day. Any conceivable attack coming in? There's a veil that will stop it.
3rd? The enemy has to waste time dropping those veils. RAW, they even persist in an AMF.
4th? The Veils can protect the entire party.
5th? The Veils go after every save. You can tailor them to an enemy's weak save, with a good knowledge check.

Sstoopidtallkid
2009-11-25, 11:14 AM
Could someone explain why Iot7FV is such a great PrC? I've looked at it and looked at it time and again and I simply can not reckon why its considered to be so great.

I guess Master Specialist: Abjur makes the entry requirements sting a bit less, but needing Skill Focus: Spellcraft, Spell Focus and GSF in a school that has such a small spell list, and has so few of those spell that actually need saves seems like too great a cost. (This is more an indictment of Spell Focus than anything else, it really shoudl do something for spells that do not have a save attached).

I want to like the class, its a neat idea, I just can not boggle how the benefits outweigh the costs. (Unless its a 100% flavor thing, then I get it).Immediate action 'NO!' Dragon breathing at you? Veil. Mordekein's Disjunction headed for the party? Veil. Ubercharger about to impact your face with a lance? Veil. AMF? Veil.

You basically are immune to anything a few times a day. And Master Specialist gets you the prerequisites at the cost of Spell Focus.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 11:38 AM
Yup. Iot7V is much like Apple.

"There's an app for that."

awa
2009-11-25, 11:50 AM
thanks for the suggestions i don't own the books but the game master does so its much easier if i go in knowing what im looking for

Optimystik
2009-11-25, 12:14 PM
Yup. Iot7V is much like Apple.

"There's an app for that."

http://i.cmpnet.com/infoweek/graphics_library/110x110/apple_logo_rainbow.jpg
"There's a veil for that."

Keshay
2009-11-25, 12:29 PM
Thanks for the feedback, I can see the appeal. Its definately an interesting class option, but I'm not sure I'd want to limit my character in the ways necessary in order to take the PrC. Again, I'd be much less timid if Spell Focus did something for no/non-save spells. As it is, If I'm going to invest feats/class features in a increasing spell save DC, I'm going to want to be able to use it. (Quick question, do the Save DC bonuses from SF/GSF: Abjur apply to the veils? That would be pretty nice.)

Doc Roc
2009-11-25, 01:28 PM
Maw of Chaos is a SoS spell, abjuration, and one of the best damage spells in the game. There are a couple others like it, since i know an example at 9th level is.... less than compelling.

jiriku
2009-11-25, 01:43 PM
I'm growing rather fond of red wizard, from the DMG. If you take the leadership feat and obtain a cohort and a set of followers with the tattoo focus feat, you're the head of your own little red wizard cabal. You can jack up your caster level to improve buffing and blasting, or heighten spells for free to improve save-or-x spells, or quicken for free to cast multiple high level spells per round and control the battlefield more thoroughly. And you can change these choices around every day. Basically, you do everything a wizard is expected to do, except you do more of it, and you're more flexible.

Eldariel
2009-11-25, 03:57 PM
Maw of Chaos is a SoS spell, abjuration, and one of the best damage spells in the game. There are a couple others like it, since i know an example at 9th level is.... less than compelling.

Most notables are stuff like Dismissal and Banishment, which are solid SoDs in Abjuration, and Anti-Magic Ray, Prismatic Wall, Prismatic Sphere and few others. It's true though that by and large, they're of rather high level.

And I really, really like Wizard 2/Master Specialist 10/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Archmage 1 (with either Mastery of Shaping or Arcane Reach, though Mastery of Counterspelling has something going on for it along with Master Specialist-abilities.

Tyndmyr
2009-11-25, 04:16 PM
I like Loremaster, for a dip, from core. There are a number of solid options from Complete Arcane, though.

EDIT: Master Specialist is awesome, agreed. Especially when you can access it before level 5, IIRC, and it provides a few really nice bonuses. For example, Abjurer is rock solid.

If you enjoy save boosts, as I do, Loremaster needn't be just a dip. The free identifies are handy too. Strongest PrC ever? Probably not. But full caster progression plus free feats every other level is pretty decent, even if the feats must be chosen off a short list.

Since it's technically just an unnamed bonus, not the actual feat, they also stack with the feats should you opt to get them.

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 05:31 PM
If you enjoy save boosts, as I do, Loremaster needn't be just a dip. The free identifies are handy too. Strongest PrC ever? Probably not. But full caster progression plus free feats every other level is pretty decent, even if the feats must be chosen off a short list.

Since it's technically just an unnamed bonus, not the actual feat, they also stack with the feats should you opt to get them.

Free identifies are meh. Somewhat useful in a game, but identify is more or less free for any divine caster. Just memorize it. It's not compelling. Not when compared to abilities granted above.

As for Abjuration and Spell Focus?

Explosive Runes, Dimensional Anchor, Fire Trap, Dismissal, etc.

Note: Many dominated creatures will be instructed to resist spells cast. That means the bonus to saves applies to Protection From Evil.

awa
2009-11-25, 08:20 PM
thanks for your assistance i ended up going with the the master specialist (conjuration)

PhoenixRivers
2009-11-25, 08:43 PM
thanks for your assistance i ended up going with the the master specialist (conjuration)

Excellent choice. The save boosts will help you in the many, many SoL/SoS/SoD spells, the eventual quickened casting is nice...

And note: It's in your interest to get monsters of a list 1-2 levels lower than the spell you cast. Cast Summon Monster 6? Get 1d3 from list 5, or 1d4+1 from list 4.

Why? Because they'll all get the bonuses. Take Rapid Spell (Feat), and at level 12, in 1 round?

Rapid Spell Summon Monster 6, quickened to a swift action: 1d4+1 creatures from list 4
Rapid Spell Summon Monster 6: 1d4+1 creatures from list 4.

Average of 7 critters. Make it Celestial Lions for a lot of beef, or Fiendish Dire wolves. Yeth hounds can force a lot of saves. Lantern Archons can make for a lot of pew pew, and have useful SLA's.

Taking from list 5, Bearded Devil is a good choice, Hound Archon, Shadow Mastiff, Celestial Griffon.

I especially like shadow mastiff, for its total concealment attacks, and forced saves vs panic.