making an optimized dispeller

[samuraijaques]

Howdy folks,

I have been helping a friend of mine with a build that he wants to use in an upcoming campaign. He wants to make an optimized dispeller/anti-mage that makes a living as a professional wizard duelist.

I have looked at countless threads on the ways of optimizing counterspelling and have arrived at the following build. I would love to know what you guys think of it and how it could be improved.

One more question I would like to ask is if there was a different version of complete champion's spontaneous divination that let you do abjuration spells instead would it be overpowered? I only ask because the UA spontaneous abjuration ACF is terribad.

so here is the build

Illumian with the Krau sigil

cloistered cleric 1/ focused specialist wizard 1/ master specialist 7/ initiate
of the sevenfold veil 5/ archmage 1/ initiate of the sevenfold veil +2/
master specialist +3

This class progression gets him divine defiance and the inquisition domain, it gets him into IotSFV and archamge (for mastery of counterspelling) as soon as possible, picks up all of the awesome goodies that master specialist gives and doesn't lose any caster levels.

Feats (2 flaws)
Precocious apprentice 1st (getting retrained later)
Arcane mastery 1st
Spell focus 1st
Divine defiance 3rd
Magic disruption 6th
Elven spell lore 9th

Traits
Spellgifted abjuration

Items (organized in order of importance)
Ring of spellbattle
Orange ioun stone
Cord of dispelling (likely to be the first item he obtains due to it's low cost)

And he is going to be a very important member of a church that worships magic for the awesome abilities that grants you from complete champion.

So.... did I miss anything? What do you guys think of it? What would you change?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Starmage21]

Howdy folks,

I have been helping a friend of mine with a build that he wants to use in an upcoming campaign. He wants to make an optimized dispeller/anti-mage that makes a living as a professional wizard duelist.

I have looked at countless threads on the ways of optimizing counterspelling and have arrived at the following build. I would love to know what you guys think of it and how it could be improved.

One more question I would like to ask is if there was a different version of complete champion's spontaneous divination that let you do abjuration spells instead would it be overpowered? I only ask because the UA spontaneous abjuration ACF is terribad.

so here is the build

Illumian with the Krau sigil

cloistered cleric 1/ focused specialist wizard 1/ master specialist 7/ initiate
of the sevenfold veil 5/ archmage 1/ initiate of the sevenfold veil +2/
master specialist +3

This class progression gets him divine defiance and the inquisition domain, it gets him into IotSFV and archamge (for mastery of counterspelling) as soon as possible, picks up all of the awesome goodies that master specialist gives and doesn't lose any caster levels.

Feats (2 flaws)
Precocious apprentice 1st (getting retrained later)
Arcane mastery 1st
Spell focus 1st
Divine defiance 3rd
Magic disruption 6th
Elven spell lore 9th

Traits
Spellgifted abjuration

Items (organized in order of importance)
Ring of spellbattle
Orange ioun stone
Cord of dispelling (likely to be the first item he obtains due to it's low cost)

And he is going to be a very important member of a church that worships magic for the awesome abilities that grants you from complete champion.

So.... did I miss anything? What do you guys think of it? What would you change?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Feats:
Improved Initiative
Improved Counterspell
Reactive Counterspell

Get the archmage counterspelling high arcana, you can now counterspell a spell cast by an enemy as a reaction using a spell from the same school rather than a perfect match or perfect opposite.

[lsfreak]

I'd be sure your DM (if you're not the DM) agrees with your interpretation of getting the CL3 needed for Divine Defiance. CL1 from class, CL2 for Krau sigil sure... but I'm not sure Spellgifted works to push that to CL3. Just a hunch I'd say it wouldn't work - it puts you at Divine CL1. But I don't know the RAW of school-specific caster level being used to qualify for general CL requirements.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Selective Spell + Antimagic Field trumps all of that. Take three Cleric levels to get Initiate of Mystra, and include the above combo in your build.

[JaronK]

Note that the Abjurer variant in UA gets a very large bonus to dispelling, which might be nice. Also, Anima Mage + binding Tenebrous + Divine Defiance can be very useful for dispellers.

JaronK

[A_S]

Feats:
Improved Initiative
Improved Counterspell
Reactive Counterspell

Get the archmage counterspelling high arcana, you can now counterspell a spell cast by an enemy as a reaction using a spell from the same school rather than a perfect match or perfect opposite.

He's already using Divine Defiance to counter as an immediate action (it's better than Reactive Counterspell), and he's optimizing his dispel check, which makes Improved Counterspell a waste.

The FAQ is of the opinion that you actually need 3 levels of Cleric for Divine Defiance; CL boosting tricks don't work. Take that for what it's worth, since it is the FAQ.

[Vent Reynolt]

I'd be sure your DM (if you're not the DM) agrees with your interpretation of getting the CL3 needed for Divine Defiance. CL1 from class, CL2 for Krau sigil sure... but I'm not sure Spellgifted works to push that to CL3. Just a hunch I'd say it wouldn't work - it puts you at Divine CL1. But I don't know the RAW of school-specific caster level being used to qualify for general CL requirements.

The bonuses from Illumian sigils increase to +2 at your second class level. So yes, the character would have Caster Level 3. Iirc, though... the FAQ claims that the feat requirements were supposed to mean that the character needed three casting class levels or something to that effect.



I'd recommend taking the Chain Spell metamagic feat for this build. A chained Dispel magic could strip an enemy and a bunch of its allies of pretty much all their buffs, while allowing you to selectively disable a bunch of their more useful magic items as well, all in one action.

[Story]

You can pick up Inquisition Domain via a feat (Planar Touchstone) if you don't want a level of Cleric.

Also, a level of Paragnostic Apostle gives you a +1 untyped to dispelling. The Reserves of Strength feat will give you another +3 at the expense of damaging yourself too.

[lsfreak]

The bonuses from Illumian sigils increase to +2 at your second class level. So yes, the character would have Caster Level 3.

Well I guess you now know how often I use Illumians :smallredface: Though there's still potentially a problem with Spellgifted knocking you down to CL2, while Abjurations are CL4. I really don't know how those interact RAW-wise.

EDIT: He needs the level in cleric for Divine Defiance, and grabbing Inquisition at the same time.

[Vent Reynolt]

Well I guess you now know how often I use Illumians :smallredface: Though there's still potentially a problem with Spellgifted knocking you down to CL2, while Abjurations are CL4. I really don't know how those interact RAW-wise.

EDIT: He needs the level in cleric for Divine Defiance, and grabbing Inquisition at the same time.

I... had actually forgot about that... That's a good point. Honestly, I personally think that the Spellgifted trait might have a problem of diminishing returns with this build anyway just because the caster level bonuses on dispel checks cap out so early anyway.

[samuraijaques]

@starmage21
why would he do that when he can just use divine defiance and not give up his next turn? Additionally, you can just use dispel magic. And he is going to get master of counterspelling. That is why he is taking the archmage level.

@isfreak
He says it's okay. Thank you for pointing it out though

@biffonacious_furiou
Except when a caster is aiming something at anyone but you.

@jaronk
Which variant are you talking about? I don't think I can fit anima mage into the build. I think IotSFV is going to be a better choice.

Thanks for the replies guys. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

@biffonacious_furiou
Except when a caster is aiming something at anyone but you.

I meant if your opponent is using Selective Spell + Antimagic Field, it trumps any of your attempts to counterspell him unless you have Initiate of Mystra. It doesn't matter where the opponent is aiming his spell, a counterspell doesn't target his spell, it targets him: "To use a counterspell, you must select an opponent as the target of the counterspell. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/castingSpells.htm#counterspells)"

[gorfnab]

A level of the Shadow Adept prestige class (PGtF) can be of some use to a dispeller. The Noctumancer (ToM) prestige class can be surprisngly decent counterspellers/dispellers.

[JaronK]

@jaronk
Which variant are you talking about? I don't think I can fit anima mage into the build. I think IotSFV is going to be a better choice.

Ah, I just realized it was the Focused Specialist that gets that ability, not the UA Variant Abjurer. The latter just gets spontaneous dispelling.

JaronK

[samuraijaques]

Wow, like 5 posts while I was writing my last one. Thanks guys.

@vent reynolt
Our DM is fine with letting CL count for the requirement for divine defiance. Chain spell is a wonderful idea. Thank you.

@story
I need cleric for divine defiance. Paragnostic apostle wouldn't fit in the build without me losing master specialist 10, IotSFV 7 or archmage and I want those more than I want the +1 to dispel checks. I had looked at reserves of strength though. I'll give it a second glance.

@biffonacious_furiou
I'm sorry I guess I misunderstood. Couldn't he just counter the initial casting of AMF? What would you take out of the build to fit the 2 levels of cleric in?

@gorfnab
I wasn't really looking for "suprisingly decent" I kind of wanted "terrifically good". :P. But I will definitely look into noctumancer.

thanks for the continued replies guys. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Eldariel]

Pretty much exactly how I'd make a dedicated Dispeller/Counterspeller build-wise. That kinda covers all the big points and is overall good in all regards. As a bonus, you're a Wizard so you still have no problems contributing whatsoever when there's nothing to dispel. Indeed, that's where you shine.

You definitely do want Uncanny Forethought [Exemplars of Evil] somewhere down the line though. Spontaneous spells are pretty darn nice for a Wizo. It might also be worth considering Extraordinary Spell Aim [Complete Adventurer] before you begin laying truly wrecking Dispels down. And yeah, Chain Spell is real good though the level adjustment means you need to stick with Dispel Magic for majority of the game. Easy Metamagic or Metamagic School Focus might be worth it down the line to mitigate it a bit.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

@biffonacious_furiou
I'm sorry I guess I misunderstood. Couldn't he just counter the initial casting of AMF? What would you take out of the build to fit the 2 levels of cleric in?

Anyone who uses Selective Spell + Antimagic Field will typically use Persistent Spell with it as well, so there's no chance of counterspelling it. You yourself can use that same trick as long as you have a means of making it Persistent. I'd get rid of six of your Master Specialist levels for two more Cleric and four Incantatrix. You can get the Iron Will prerequisite for Incantatrix for 3,000 gp via the Otyugh Hole in CS without spending a feat on it. You can use Cooperative Metamagic on your own spells as long as you're outside of combat, since the action economy system only exists during initiative, or if your DM disagrees you can still do it with Arcane Spellsurge. The loss of another school for Incantatrix is a bit tough, I'd include Improved Counterspell and DMM: Heighten, and keep Cleric spells of your prohibited schools prepared so you can cast them Heightened to counter spells via Improved Counterspell, just get a pile of Night Sticks for turn uses and 1st level Pearls of Power to recover the spells (Edit: and technically the turn uses, "just as if it had not been cast").

Another option would be to use Bloodline levels (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/bloodlines.htm) to boost your effective level in every class you have without increasing your character level. Each Bloodline level only costs you 1,000 xp if they're all taken before your 2nd class level: At 1st level you need 1,000 xp to gain a level, you spend it on a bloodline level, you're still a 1st level character and need another 1,000 xp to gain another level, repeat until you have as many bloodline levels as you're required to take. You would only need a single level of Cleric with at least two bloodline levels to qualify for Initiate of Mystra, though I'd still include Incantatrix 4. Those bloodline levels would also be added to your Master Specialist level for your level-based Dispel bonus. Plus they increase your caster level, and you can apply your own effects in the most beneficial order so you add Krau first up to its limit and then the Bloodline levels afterward for an even higher caster level. They also increase your max skill ranks without increasing your character level, so you can qualify for many prestige classes with as many fewer levels. Get an Item Familiar (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/itemFamiliars.htm) and the 10% xp bonus will more than make up for the 1,000 xp per bloodline level (and nothing prohibits you from having multiple major bloodlines). You can also use the invest skill ranks function of an Item Familiar to get a huge Spellcraft bonus to help with your Incantatrix metamagic tricks.

Negative levels are an amazing way to get rid of an enemy caster's highest level spells. Fell Drain Spell and Persistent Spell with Cloud of Knives (PH2) as many times as you can will give you tons of free attacks each round that each deal a negative level. Fell Drain Persistent Death Armor and Fire Shield twice are also good for discouraging melee foes if you still have those schools.

[Max Caysey]

Are 3rd party allowed?

[Vaz]

Note that the Abjurer variant in UA gets a very large bonus to dispelling, which might be nice. Also, Anima Mage + binding Tenebrous + Divine Defiance can be very useful for dispellers.

JaronK

Sacred Exorcist does that without losing Caster Levels; Craft Rod and Extra Turning to make your own Nightsticks.

[samuraijaques]

@Eldariel
I was looking at uncanny forethought but was a little off put by the full-round action and -2 CL when you use it. My DM was thinking about using a spontaneous abjuration variant based off of the spontaneous divination variant in complete champion. Would that be unbalanced? Would it be unbalanced if it only worked for dispel magic? The spontaneous dispel magic ACF is pretty terrible.

@Biffonacious_Furiou
Well then I guess he will just have to do one of the million other things that are available to wizards or something. My DM is definitely not going to let him use cooperative metamagic by himself and even then, taking another forbidden school would be pretty crippling. DMM heighten isn't going to work because stacking nightsticks is also way too cheesy for my DM to let slide. Or any sane DM for that matter.

Bloodlines are out. I don't use them as a DM and I wouldn't even suggest them to my DM.

As for negative levels, would I have to completely rewrite the build to make that effective?

Thanks for the different approaches.

@Max Casey
Depends on how well the 3rd party is written

@Vaz
Our DM has ruled that only one nightstick may be used by each character

Thanks for the continued replies guys. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

@Biffonacious_Furiou
Well then I guess he will just have to do one of the million other things that are available to wizards or something. My DM is definitely not going to let him use cooperative metamagic by himself and even then, taking another forbidden school would be pretty crippling. DMM heighten isn't going to work because stacking nightsticks is also way too cheesy for my DM to let slide. Or any sane DM for that matter.

Bloodlines are out. I don't use them as a DM and I wouldn't even suggest them to my DM.

As for negative levels, would I have to completely rewrite the build to make that effective?

Thanks for the different approaches.

Actually, Incantatrix doesn't specify which class that extra prohibited school has to apply to, so you can ban a school from your Cleric casting when you take it!

Fell Drain Spell can be added onto any spell that deals damage so that it also inflicts a negative level, but a single fell drained spell can't give a single creature more than one negative level per turn. Spells that deal damage every round such as Power Word: Pain and Kelgore's Grave Mist are popular choices for it, but spells like Fire Shield that deal reactive damage and especially Persistable spells that allow you to actively deal damage every round such as Cloud of Knives and Dragon Breath are extremely good with it. For an investment of only one feat, it's usually worth taking on most Wizards and Sorcerers.

[Starmage21]

@starmage21
why would he do that when he can just use divine defiance and not give up his next turn? Additionally, you can just use dispel magic. And he is going to get master of counterspelling. That is why he is taking the archmage level.

Because no matter how much you optimize a dispel magic check, the roll is capped until you get 9th level spells, and you'll always fail on a 1.

It is better to counterspell with a method that requires no roll, which is why you want to make use of the archmage high arcana, which the OP already is.

Divine Defiance is pretty damned cool of a feat. I wasnt aware of it previous to coming to this thread, but it seems like a waste to lose a caster level to gain some turning, though the OP may value it. I tend to be of a school of thought that losing a caster level is NEVER OK! :D

[lsfreak]

Divine Defiance is pretty damned cool of a feat. I wasnt aware of it previous to coming to this thread, but it seems like a waste to lose a caster level to gain some turning, though the OP may value it. I tend to be of a school of thought that losing a caster level is NEVER OK! :D

A cleric dip with Divine Defiance is pretty much the only way to play a decent counterspeller. Lose a caster level, grab one or two feats, get +4 on dispel checks, 4-8+ immediate-action counterspells a day, plus another one or two domain powers or devotion feats (which could be Chaos Shuffled into those one or two feats you need, if that's on the table). Definitely worth it over Reactive Counterspell's "lose your turn."

EDIT: Nocturamancers and cerebremancers using Synchronicity shenanigans likely work okay as well, but those require a) early entry tricks and b) the DM to okay either shadowcaster fixes or Synchronicity shenanigans.

[Snowbluff]

Wizards can get access to Domain powers through an ACF.

Spontaneous Divination Wizards qualify for Versatile spellcaster, which can be handy for on-demand dispelling. It can also be used to qualify for other spontaneous options.

Abjurant Champion can Dispel Magic as a Swift Action. This is a huge boon on rounds you are no counterspelling.

Divine Defiance isn't needed. Wizards have Battlemagic Perception (Swift action for Abj Champs, and it gives a free action counterspell). Anyone can own a ring of spell battle. If you don't want a cleric level, you don't need one dragging down your CL.

Sacred Exorcist does that without losing Caster Levels; Craft Rod and Extra Turning to make your own Nightsticks.

Anima Mage Doesn't lose levels if you know what you are doing. :smalltongue:

[Darrin]

Because no matter how much you optimize a dispel magic check, the roll is capped until you get 9th level spells, and you'll always fail on a 1.


Dispel checks aren't attack rolls. If you roll a 1 and the result is equal or above the target DC, the dispel still works.

You can get a few modifiers on the roll:


Inquisition domain (Spell Compendium). +4 on dispel checks.
Scarab of Aradros (1500 GP, Weapons of Legacy). +1 untyped bonus on caster level checks made to dispel or counter.
Devil's Favor feat (Fiendish Codex II). +2 untyped bonus on any check (including dispels/counters) once per day for each devil-touched feat you have.
Witchborn Binder's Dispelling Orb (Magic of Incarnum) gets +1 insight bonus per essentia, but only as a standard action when you use the orb.

[Eldariel]

Because no matter how much you optimize a dispel magic check, the roll is capped until you get 9th level spells, and you'll always fail on a 1.

Master Specialist gets a stacking bonus to this, in addition to the mentioned. Arcane Mastery = Take 10. Also, Caster Level Checks don't autofail on 1.


Anyone who uses Selective Spell + Antimagic Field will typically use Persistent Spell with it as well, so there's no chance of counterspelling it. You yourself can use that same trick as long as you have a means of making it Persistent. I'd get rid of six of your Master Specialist levels for two more Cleric and four Incantatrix. You can get the Iron Will prerequisite for Incantatrix for 3,000 gp via the Otyugh Hole in CS without spending a feat on it. You can use Cooperative Metamagic on your own spells as long as you're outside of combat, since the action economy system only exists during initiative, or if your DM disagrees you can still do it with Arcane Spellsurge. The loss of another school for Incantatrix is a bit tough, I'd include Improved Counterspell and DMM: Heighten, and keep Cleric spells of your prohibited schools prepared so you can cast them Heightened to counter spells via Improved Counterspell, just get a pile of Night Sticks for turn uses and 1st level Pearls of Power to recover the spells (Edit: and technically the turn uses, "just as if it had not been cast").

If you go through all the trouble to get 3 Cleric-levels for Initiate of Mystra in there, you should just go Counterspeller Cleric. Just about the only thing they don't get is the Master Specialist-bonus, which sucks but isn't all that. Domain juggle a bit, get Church Inquisitor, Contemplative and such for extras, mebbe Dweomerkeeper or Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil if you feel so inclined and you're probably better off.

[samuraijaques]

@starmage21
Actually, basically all of the bonuses to dispelling this character gets stack infinitely. None of them are CL boosts so they aren't subject to the +10 cap that dispel magic has. They just stack on top of it. The character doesn't lose a CL, He is an illumian.

@snowbluff
Versatile spellcaster is an interesting idea but I think my DM is going to let the character use a modified version of spontaneous divination that works for dispels.

Abjurant champion isn't going to work because of the requirements. It's mostly for fighters that want to be wizards not the other way around.

Battlemagic perception would require the character to constantly re cast it when it gets used. Plus, it's two spells instead of one if you do it without divine defiance. And he will have a ring of spellbattle as well.

@darrin
The scarab of aradros was something I had never heard of. That's great, another +1 for cheap is always welcome. Thank you.

@eldariel
What makes you think I would be better off going cleric other than initiate of mystra? I would lose out on all of master specialist's goodies, I would have to actually get the feats for IotSFV since they wont be bonus feats anymore, I wont get the mastery of counterspelling from archmage. What would I get besides initiate of mystra if I went down the cleric path?

Thanks for the continued help guys. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[lsfreak]

@eldariel
What makes you think I would be better off going cleric other than initiate of mystra? I would lose out on all of master specialist's goodies, I would have to actually get the feats for IotSFV since they wont be bonus feats anymore, I wont get the mastery of counterspelling from archmage. What would I get besides initiate of mystra if I went down the cleric path?

I don't think he is saying you'd be better off as a cleric than a wizard. He's saying that if you're going to take 3 levels of cleric to grab initiate of Mystra, as Biffoniacus suggested, you might as well just go full cleric.

[Eldariel]

@eldariel
What makes you think I would be better off going cleric other than initiate of mystra? I would lose out on all of master specialist's goodies, I would have to actually get the feats for IotSFV since they wont be bonus feats anymore, I wont get the mastery of counterspelling from archmage. What would I get besides initiate of mystra if I went down the cleric path?

Initiate of Mystra is the reason you'd go down the Cleric-path. My logic is that if you're taking 3 levels in Cleric for it already, might as well go all the way. I don't necessarily suggest you actually go down that path but it's an option all the same. You couldn't directly replicate the Master Specialist abilities but you could get e.g. Dweomerkeeper and a bunch of Domains.

It'd be a different build, but probably for the best if you want Initiate of Mystra. Without Initiate, your current build is perfectly servicable of course.

[Urpriest]

On the Spontaneous Abjurations front, won't that force you to take four more Wizard levels? There are feat trees to get a single spell spontaneous that would probably much up your build less.

[samuraijaques]

@Eldariel and Isfreak
Okay, well the player has decided that he wants to play the arcane version so no initiate of mystra I guess

@Urpriest
What feats would those be?

[Snowbluff]

Versatile spellcaster is an interesting idea but I think my DM is going to let the character use a modified version of spontaneous divination that works for dispels. [/quotes] It's not my first choice, either. I am not sure it really works for countering.
[QUOTE]
Abjurant champion isn't going to work because of the requirements. It's mostly for fighters that want to be wizards not the other way around.
5 BaB is available at level ten with straight wizard, but we all know faster progression is possible, but just difficult. If your bonuses are good enough, being able to dispel as a swift action is great, and the free extension of Abjurations also has value.




Battlemagic perception would require the character to constantly re cast it when it gets used. Plus, it's two spells instead of one if you do it without divine defiance. And he will have a ring of spellbattle as well.
Free action dispels. That means you have an action to prep it again. That also means you can use an immediate dispel with it. It's a 3rd level spell with incredible benefit and a good duration per level that you can wand. 1 puts in as much work as the ring. A second casting in the day does as much as another.

[Lactantius]

A good dispeller works fine without most of the mentioned tips, IMHO.

Startoff:

1.) Scratch Master specialist, if you don't want to take the PrC for any other reason than the dispel bonus. Cause, you get a comparable effect with a single, cheap item.
The dispelling chord is costs 1,000gp and grants a +2 competence bonus, the same bonus a master specialist gives. Unless you take more than 6 levels of MS (which corresponds to a +3 competence bonus), the chord is a better trade.
The limit of 5/day is no real limit, IMHO. I mean, if you counterspell/dispel more than 5/day, something went wrong.

2.) Trust on gear. The best way to make counterspelling work is your gear.
Besides the dispelling chord, get a ring of counterspells as starter and later on, invest in the ring of spell-battle.
Then, add a second ring of counterspells on your first one. It is an additional effect on one slot, so it costs 50% more. But with a bace price off 4,000gp, this is peanuts.
Effect: you can place dispel magic (or later, greater dispel magic) in your two ring of counterspells (or hey, even 3 or 4, the additional effect on the ring slot keeps cheap enough to do so).
Now you have protected your buffs.
The ring of spell-battle takes care on other forms of spells you want to counter, like nukes, save-or-dies and battlefield control.
You can even counterspell escape spells of the BBEG, like teleport.
Lastly, if you have enough money, the ring of greater counterspells is another option with the basic, reactive counterspelling plus a direct, proactive option.
And as side note, you should max out your caster level. But that's always needed, so be sure to get all those CL-boosters (ioun stone, ring of arcane might, archmage's spell power, paragnostic apostle's penetrating insight etc).

3.) Spells.
- Battlemagic Perception is not bad, but its not THAT good, imho.
The only gain is the free action, which is nice, but it can be better.
- Spellcasters Bane (CM): a great duel spell since it is a swift action spell which grants a +2 insight bonus. Sure, its a 3rd-level-slot you invest, but sometimes you need each bonus point.
- Spell Enhancer: usually taken for huge nukes or save-or-dies, but it is also a viable option for dispelling. Again, only a swift action. An unnamed +2 bonus on dispels.
- Duelward: I'm not a big fan of this one, and that's because it costs me a 5th level spell slot and a standard action. It gives you an immediate action, yes, but only for one counterspelling action.
Highly situational, but I can see this spell in pure Mageduels working.

Now, what else?
- A good tip is to use Pathfinder material and adapt it, if this is allowed.
If you start as abjurer, you can get the specialist abilities connected to the class. An abjurer can take the counterspell stick which grants immediate counterspelling without any feat investment (reactive counterspell) or class tricks (divine defiance, cleric). Make sure that "class level" is not restriced to the abjurer class, and it will work just fine.
Oh, and you get improved counterspell for free.

source: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/arcane-schools/paizo---arcane-schools/classic-arcane-schools/abjuration/counterspell

Final thought:
your main problem as dedicated counterspeller will be your staples of dispel magic/greater dispel magic. Even with an immediate action, you must have enough dispel spells prepared to work.
On the other hand, who wants to memorize, say, 3+ dispel spells each day?
If you can find a way to spontaenously cast dispels, you are save.

[Snowbluff]

Startoff:

1.) Scratch Master specialist, if you don't want to take the PrC for any other reason than the dispel bonus. Cause, you get a comparable effect with a single, cheap item.
The dispelling chord is costs 1,000gp and grants a +2 competence bonus, the same bonus a master specialist gives. Activates as swift action.


- Duelward: I'm not a big fan of this one, and that's because it costs me a 5th level spell slot and a standard action. It gives you an immediate action, yes, but only for one counterspelling action.
Highly situational, but I can see this spell in pure Mageduels working.
While you are using a spell that is not only strictly inferior to BMP, but also eats the action that you would activate the Cord with. With BMP you also don't lose it on any counterspell, just with the ones you make with BMP.

[Urpriest]

@Urpriest
What feats would those be?

Signature Spell (PGtF). Requires Spell Mastery, so a two-feat chain, and only gives you one spell spontaneous. Still, if that's all you need...