Duel Specialization

[azulanaga]

The Changeling Wizard acf from RoE; is it worth it?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Not really, considering what other options are available.

You lose three schools of magic instead of the normal two. You get the normal one extra spell per level per day, but you can use those spell slots to cast spells of either Transmutation or Illusion instead of just one school.

Compare that to Focused Specialist in Complete Mage. You also give up three schools of magic instead of the normal two, and you only specialize in one school. In exchange, you get to cast two extra spells per level per day, but three of your spell slots per level have to be used for spells of your specialist school.

If you're going to be an Illusionist, you're not going to be a Changeling anyway because the best Illusionist prestige class, Shadowcraft Mage, is only available to Gnomes.

If you're going to be a Transmuter, you're probably going to play either a Gish or a party-buffer. In that case you're better off with either more transmutations per day or access to more schools, over being able to prepare Illusions in your specialist spell slots.

[eggs]

The ACF might be interesting for a Theurgic Specialist (CL-abusing in 2 schools instead of just 1), but I'm drawing a blank for anywhere else that it would be especially useful.

[Kalaska'Agathas]

As far as I recall, there's nothing preventing you from becoming a Dual Focused Specialist, however, which gives a significant number of Transmutation and Illusions slots. Additionally, even if you're not using the non-racist Shadowcraft Mage, Changelings can pop a feat on Racial Emulation (or whatever it's called) and should be able to take levels in ScM no problem. And if you take Spontaneous Divination at Wiz 5, and then Versatile Spellcaster (which you now qualify for), you don't have to worry about which slots are for which school - and I'm pretty sure you end up with pretty ridiculous Spells per Day. It does cost a fair bit in terms of banned schools, but there's a feat tree (from some Faerun book or other) that allows you to unban (at least) one school, and Shadow Miracles allow for some pretty potent versatility anyhow.

That said, that's all pretty high op. May not be appropriate for all games.

[Urpriest]

You also arguably get both sets of class features out of Master Specialist.