pf abjuration specialist

[Exirtadorri]

So I am going to make a dispeler. I am going to use elf as my race for the bonus to spell pen. Should I go sorc or wizard? What kind of stuff should I take? Is there a way to make dispel magic a lower level spell?

No 3.5 or 3rd party stuff please.

Any build ideas are welcome. I am even open to other races. Core rule book,um,uc,apg,arc are allowed.

Id prefer this to stay arcane but if a really good divine build comes up I'll consider it.

Thanks so much in advance

[Psyren]

The obvious choice is the Counterspell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/arcane-schools/paizo---arcane-schools/classic-arcane-schools/abjuration/counterspell) associated school (Abjuration). Immediate action counterspelling is your #1 goal as a dedicated counterspeller, because readying actions cripples your effectiveness. The touch-attack disruption ability is nice too because there's no way to remove it beyond waiting it out - use illusions to get close. What's great about these two abilities is that they have no save and no sr.

[grarrrg]

There is no way to make Dispel Magic a lower level spell, as (almost) every class has it as a 3rd level spell (the sole exception being Druid, as a 4th).

Greater Dispel Magic on the other hand does have 2 workarounds.
Most classes get it as a 6th level spell, but Bards and Summoners get it as a 5th level. The quicker trick is to use the Samsaran's (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-samsaran) Mystic Past Life racial trait that lets you add spells to your class's list (must match Arcane>Arcane or Divine>Divine, so this will only work for Arcane).
Samsarans get -2 CON, +2 INT, and +2 WIS, so would work slightly better as a Wizard.
**
Quick note: Witches are close enough to Wizards that any mention I make of "Wizard" shall apply to Witches as well, unless noted otherwise.
**

Duergar (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/uncommon-races/arg-duergar) are another possible choice, but with the -4 CHA you are STRONGLY advised NOT to go Sorcerer. They have an Alt. Trait for +2 to overcome Spell Resistance, AND +2 on Dispel Checks.


Next, the Pathfinder Savant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/n-r/pathfinder-savant) is a VERY solid PrC to work towards. It gets 6/7 casting, each level it gains casting it can add ANY spell EVER to your spell list. This is the other way to get Greater Dispel as a 5th level spell. If the spell is already on your list it is added "as is" (this will allow Divine casters access to Greater as a 5th level spell).
Also, the 7th level capstone ability grants Wizards the ability to Spontaneously convert any spell into either Dispel or Greater Dispel. Sorcerers gain both as Spells Known (again making Sorc's a slightly weaker option, as if you care about Dispelling you ALREADY HAVE THESE SPELLS!).
Also, every successful Dispel will heal you.

Finally, if you do go with Elf as your Race, then consider the Spellbinder (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/core-races/elf/spellbinder-wizard-elf) Wizard Archetype. It gives you limited Spontaneous casting ability (limited spells, must spend a Full Round to "swap" the spell into a slot).

[Exirtadorri]

Thanks for the very solid ideas guys!

What would be mandatory spells and what school should I ban?

I know I'm being needy but I just want to make a character that doesnt blow and I don't feel batman or god is a good idea since my whole group is pretty much incapable of optmization in any facet other than power attack

[Psyren]

You should be god (controller) a little. For one, you need something to do when there's nothing to dispel or counter (that band of war trolls won't care about how easily you can unravel arcane weaves after all.) For two, it sounds like your party wants to roll lots of dice - as a controller, you'll be doing is making it so that they can do that effectively, rather than blasting and rolling lots of dice of your own.

To that end, control spells are your friend. Pack spells like grease/glitterdust/web at low levels, solid fog/black tentacles/telekinesis at mid levels, and grasping hand/reverse gravity/prismatic sphere at high levels. The best part is that these things tend to last multiple rounds, so you drop them first, and they continue to do your job for you while you dispel and counter enemy spellcasters while your team benefits from your control and cleans up. Everybody wins - they get to roll lots of dice and do lots of damage, you get to feel like gandalf/merlin/dumbledore etc., and the DM is happy because everyone is participating in the fights/nobody feels left out.

[Exirtadorri]

I fully agree! Thats why i banned envo and necro. I am a hardcore 2nd edt player so transmutation/alteration are my fav. I had planned on doing haste and stuff like web/grease. Also heavy divination and kllusion so i can do lots and let them have their fun

Sorry for typos and shortness...im on a phone at the minute.

[grarrrg]

Hmm...now that I think about it, I made Sorcerer sound like a strictly worse option in my first post.
That is not quite the case.
It is just that as far as straight "dispelling" goes, the better Races are either +INT or -CHA.
And Pathfinder Savant being better for Wizard just means that Sorcerers are (probably) just better off without it.

Out of the box, I'd say Sorcerers have the upper hand, merely due to Spontaneous Casting. Need a Dispel? BAM! you got it.
Wizard needs a Dispel? Well, hope you prepared one, cause otherwise you're out of luck.
Pathfinder Savant fixes this problem for Wizards (and Witches), but Sorcerers already have the better option.

For Sorcerer, Human or any race with "+1 Spell known" as a Favored Class option would work best.
Not sure on the optimal Bloodline though.