Focused Specialist Malconvoker

[molten_dragon]

For an upcoming campaign I really want to play a malconvoker (a slight variant that I discussed with the DM that lets me be evil). I plan to enter it as a Focused specialist wizard, going into master specialist, then malconvoker.

I'm having trouble deciding what three schools to give up though.

I can't give up conjuration, obviously.
I also need to keep abjuration so that I have magic circle against evil for planar binding later.
I can't give up divination according to the rules (and probably wouldn't anyway, divination will be extremely helpful in this campaign.

So that leaves me with Necromancy, Enchantment, Evocation, Transmutation, and Illusion.

Enchantment and Evocation seem easy choices to give up.
Transmutation is also an easy choice not to give up, since it has so many powerful spells.

That leaves necromancy and Illusion. Necromancy seems a fitting thing to keep for an evil character, but Illusion has a lot of really good protective spells which I'd like to keep.

So what schools would you give up given the above constraints.

[mattie_p]

Give up necromancy. I'm aware there are a lot of powerful spells in it (enervation, for instance) but there are also a lot of minionmancy spells in there - for undead minions. You are summoning/calling/binding your minions - undead minions aren't necessary.

[Deophaun]

Evocation and Enchantment I toss to the curb without issue. The real choice is between Necromancy and Illusion. Illusion is generally more useful, but Necromancy gives you significant leverage when doing planar bindings. There's pain either way.

[killem2]

I'm on the same path, I gave up enchantment, evocation, necromancy, never looked back.

[Nettlekid]

I'd give up Necromancy. A lot of Necromancy spells are pretty similar, involving debuffs and negative levels and the like. You can get similar effects with other spells, or summoned creatures SLAs. Or for example, a lot of Necromancy spells are Cleric spells too. Planar Bind a Lilitu to get whatever Cleric spells you want. Illusion on the other hand, while circumstantial, has effects that are both not easily imitated and would be better to control yourself. You can let a Planar Bound Kolyarut chuck out Enervations, but you want to be the one to control that Projected Image. Also you can get (Greater) Shadow Evocation (Shadow Conjuration is probably not necessary) for all your banned Evocation needs.

[Akal Saris]

I'd also give up Necromancy, particularly if PHB II's greater mirror image is available in the game.

Illusion also lets you cover some of evocation's loss with shadow evocation if you'd like.

Btw, I'd suggest considering how long the game will last before you take levels in master specialist. If the game will only go from levels 1-10, you'd get more benefit out of Wiz 5/Malconvoker 5 instead.

[chaos_redefined]

If you intend on going high enough, and you don't think any other casters in the party are up for helping you out, you might want to ban evocation, necromancy and illusion. Enchantment gives you a lot of effects that help on the planar binding spells, both for beating the charisma check and for straight up bypassing it (charm/suggestion/etc...). Yes, giving up illusion hurts. But succubus minion.

[Spuddles]

Keep Illusion for the invisibility.

[molten_dragon]

Btw, I'd suggest considering how long the game will last before you take levels in master specialist. If the game will only go from levels 1-10, you'd get more benefit out of Wiz 5/Malconvoker 5 instead.

The game will be intended to run from 1-20.