The not overpowered wizard

[Dromuthra]

Hello, I am about to join a party on the lower end of the power level and am looking for not overpowered wizard prestige classes. I'm thinking either wizard 3/war weaver 2/mindbender 1/war weaver 3/???. I am specifically not looking for initiate of the sevenfold cheese or incantatrix. Basically any sourcebooks are fair game, but I can't use prestige classes that would make use of an organization (It's a Ravenloft campaign, and I'm pretty sure those organizations won't be present). Any help is appreciated.

[Brookshw]

Alienist was one of the coolest fluff prestiges yet mechanically added as much ooophm as a wet fish. Considering the Dark Powers of Ravenloft it could dovetail into the setting quite nicely though you may want to refluff it a bit with your DM to be less Far Realm, more Dark Powers.

[Mountain]

Basically, anything that loses one or two spellcasting levels, but gets cool abilities, will probably avoid being overpowered. Just avoid anything that focuses on gaining extra actions, making metamagic cheaper, or summoning. Those are the big game-breakers that occur to me, though there may be more.

The hardest part about not overpowering a wizard, is to avoid the ridiculous spells (Celerity, I'm looking at you.) Also, many of the super-cheese that can be accomplished by wizards is not a result of a single PrC, feat, or spell; but a combination of several things that work together. (Incantatrix+metamagic school focus+sanctum spell+practical metamagic)

[Harrow]

There's the Bonded Summoner from the Miniatures Handbook. 10 levels long, replaces your familiar with an elemental that advances up to Elder over the course of the class, and you gain elemental traits. In addition, at 10th level you gain the ability to polymorph into an elemental once a day for up to 10 hours.

I've always liked it, but it only advances spellcasting for 5 levels, so it's generally avoided like the plague.

[Ruethgar]

Focused Evocation Specialist taking out Conjuration, Abjuration and Transmutation.

[A.A.King]

Build a Gish and take all 10 levels of swiftblade. This way you get a nice combat oriented character with still the powerful spells if needed but no 9th level spells.

[Techwarrior]

Build a Gish and take all 10 levels of swiftblade. This way you get a nice combat oriented character with still the powerful spells if needed but no 9th level spells.

I would avoid this actually. A gish is best used as a combatant, and the swiftblade is exceptionally good at that. You'll start to overshadow the front liners real quick with that extra action and such.

[Dromuthra]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far, everyone! I would rather not play a gish, so I don't think I'll be doing the swiftblade suggestion, but I had completely forgotten about the Alienist. I very well might do that, but please keep suggesting things!

[Novawurmson]

I'm a fan of Fatespinner, from Complete Arcane. Nothing too special, but it's pretty fun.

[Fouredged Sword]

Well, I would consider a war weaver. It is a very low key class that will benefit the party more than you. Maybe mix in something to further nibble away at those caster levels...

[Emperor Tippy]

Factotum 3/ Wizard 5/ Invisible Fist Decisive Strike Martial Monk 2/ Mindbender 1/ Ultimate Magus 5/ Archmage 5.

You end up able to cast 8th level wizard spells with a CL of 22.

For feats you want Mindsight, Kung Fu Genius, Faerie Mysteries Initiate or Able Learner (depending upon whether you go Gray Elf or Human for your race), and Practiced Spellcaster. Picking up Necropolitan would also help you out a good deal (especially if you go the Gray Elf route). Probably also grab Spring Attack as one of your two Martial Monk feats as you can get it without having to take Dodge and Mobility.

Oh yeah, you need the Spontaneous Divination alternate class feature for Wizard so that you can get into Ultimate Magus as a straight class Wizard.

Fluff wise you are a highly intelligent individual who started dabbling in pretty much everything at a young age and picked up an eclectic set of skills and abilities before finding that you had a real talent for magic. After a few years of honing your magical talents you learned enough to perform various rituals to give yourself exceptional abilities (fluff for the Monk stuff and even Mindbender Telepathy) before delving ever deeper into the arcane arts. That is also a good spot fluff wise (although a bad one mechanically) to pick up Necropolitan (although again refluffed as being your own work instead of the cities work).

Power wise you are giving up 9th level spells for various relatively minor abilities. You certainly aren't weak but compared to even a straight class wizard 17 you are underwhelming (thanks to the power of 9th level spells).

[Rebel7284]

War Weaver + Spellguard of Silverymoon is a nice combination for buffing. The best way to not overshadow your teammates is to make them AWESOME!

[Dromuthra]

War Weaver + Spellguard of Silverymoon is a nice combination for buffing. The best way to not overshadow your teammates is to make them AWESOME!

As nice as that would be, I don't think I'll be staying in one place often enough to make the Spellguard work. I'll check, though.