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EdroGrimshell
2010-06-21, 09:33 PM
I'm currently entering a game as a wizard (focused transmuter) and need help with survival, last time i played a class with d4 hit die i was one-shoted by a lucky arrow. What are my options for increasing hit points and staying as close to strait wizard as possible (or keeping as many caster levels as possible).

Starting at 6th level, grey elf (yes i'm playing an elf, its my favorite race and lends well to my backstory), one free regional feat at 1st level, 2 flaws, 1 trait, and my Con score (luckily) is a 16 (originally a 17, -2 Racial, +1 from 4th level).

Flickerdart
2010-06-21, 09:36 PM
Use your free regional feat on Luck of Heroes for a +1 to AC and saves if you have nothing better to use it on. Take Faerie Mysteries Initiate to make your HP based off INT and don't bother with CON anymore. Use spells like Mage Armor or Shield to avoid getting shot. Wind Wall is also handy for avoiding the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. :smalltongue:

PId6
2010-06-21, 09:37 PM
Cast Greater Mage Armor every day for +6 Armor AC. Cast Alter Self (Extended) to become a Troglodyte for +6 Natural Armor AC. Become a Conjurer, then take the Immediate Magic ACF from PHB2, Abrupt Jaunt, letting you teleport 10 ft as an immediate action Int times per day.

Keld Denar
2010-06-21, 09:43 PM
When you hit 9th level, take Minor Shapeshift and make sure you have a 4th+ level polymorph spell memorized (Trollshape works if your DM banned actual Polymorph). Every round you don't use your swift action for something, get temp HP equal to your level. If you get hit, or it expires, refresh it.

Its pretty much amazing for your survivability.

Eldariel
2010-06-21, 09:48 PM
Which schools are you allowed? False Life is a great way to increase your durability. If you can, take Otherworldly for your Regional feat (it's from Player's Guide to Faerun and available to some Elves though mostly Sildeyuir's Star Elves) and Alter Self into an e.g. Ravid for +15 Natural Armor. Otherwise, Crucian from Miniatures Handbook is good for +8. Stated Trogdolyte is Core-only option.

Abrupt Jaunt is denied to you, but you can prepare Lesser Celerity [PHBII] to Immediate Action escape binds, at the cost of your next turn. Use sparingly, but it's an excellent "Oh ****"-button; keeping a scroll in hand may be a worthwhile option, for example. Also, if you have a good Dex, some Hide is of course very reasonable.


And frankly, your spells are your best defense. Don't put your level-ups to Con; put them to Int. Maxing Int means one more spell on your highest level. 16 Con is plenty to get you started anyways.

EdroGrimshell
2010-06-21, 10:03 PM
Which schools are you allowed? False Life is a great way to increase your durability.

Banned enchantment, evocation, and illusion


If you can, take Otherworldly for your Regional feat (it's from Player's Guide to Faerun and available to some Elves though mostly Sildeyuir's Star Elves) and Alter Self into an e.g. Ravid for +15 Natural Armor. Otherwise, Crucian from Miniatures Handbook is good for +8. Stated Trogdolyte is Core-only option.

I may very well do that, as an outsider i'd get all martial weapons giving me access to both eldritch knight and abjurant champion, both have increased hit points so i can do that and i can get into EK next level


Abrupt Jaunt is denied to you, but you can prepare Lesser Celerity [PHBII] to Immediate Action escape binds, at the cost of your next turn. Use sparingly, but it's an excellent "Oh ****"-button; keeping a scroll in hand may be a worthwhile option, for example. Also, if you have a good Dex, some Hide is of course very reasonable.

And frankly, your spells are your best defense. Don't put your level-ups to Con; put them to Int. Maxing Int means one more spell on your highest level. 16 Con is plenty to get you started anyways.

My intelligence is a 20 (18 +2 from Grey elf)

Also, would Elf Paragon be worth it

PId6
2010-06-21, 10:05 PM
Also, would Elf Paragon be worth it
No, no it would not. Its abilities aren't anywhere near worth losing a caster level for.

Keld Denar
2010-06-21, 10:09 PM
Also, would Elf Paragon be worth it

Never.

Also, being an Elf, IIRC, should give you enough weapon proficiences to qualify for Abjurant Champion without other BS. Totally worth it if you already qualify. Combat Casting is kinda a drag, but the d10 HD is sweet.

Eldariel
2010-06-21, 10:13 PM
Banned enchantment, evocation, and illusion

Ouch. Losing out on Illusion hurts your survivability bad, but at least you have Necromancy so False Life away.


I may very well do that, as an outsider i'd get all martial weapons giving me access to both eldritch knight and abjurant champion, both have increased hit points so i can do that and i can get into EK next level

I suggest you rather focus on being a better Wizard. Abjurant Champion is decent, Eldritch Knight is Gish-only. Something like Fatespinner is excellent as far as survivability is concerned, and Mindbender doesn't hurt either. Immediate Action defenses are very key, as are saves and eventually Contingencies and such.

Picking Craft Contingent Spell could be a fair choice as could investing in Hide & Move Silently cross-class. If you want to be efficient style be damned, carry around a Tower Shield you drop at the beginning of each fight; it can be used to grant you total cover from a direction and you don't need a proficiency. Of course, it's heavy as all hell which hurts with regards to carrying capacity, but it's a rather foolproof protection.


My intelligence is a 20 (18 +2 from Grey elf)

Yes. Place all your level-ups there and you'll broadly be able to keep it at the level needed to get 2 bonus spells on the highest level of spells you can cast throughout your progression. You'll end up with 36 Int that way.


Also, would Elf Paragon be worth it

Losing caster levels rarely is. Definitely not in this case.

gbprime
2010-06-21, 10:15 PM
4th level spell Heart of Earth. Look it up. That plus Minor Shapeshift feat = Win.

Eldariel
2010-06-21, 10:23 PM
I forgot to mention: Acting first tends to help you survive. Caster Nerveskitter [SC] a lot to help with that; as a Focused Specialist, you'll have lots of usable level 1 slots in near future when you no longer need them for normal combat magic to last all day. Well, right now, actually, since 3rd level spells mean you have plenty of gas in the 2 highest levels, saving your level 1s for good stuff and utility.