Few Wizard questions

[jjcrpntr]

I'm looking at building a wizard that specializes in shock or acid damage. I was going to go with a cryomancer but I just think shooting balls of lightning or acid would be fun.

I was looking at the Energy Substitution metamagic feat, which as I understand it would let me cast other spells but have them do shock damage. So if I cast fireball, instead I'd be throwing a ball of lightning and doing a 20feet blast, Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm also curious if this means spells still function normally but just with a different dmg descriptor. For instance Melf's acid arrow. If I cast that using energy substitution electricity would it do 2d4 shock and then 2d4 the following round as well? or does that secondary effect fall off since it's no longer acid damage. Don't see why it would but I figured you guys would know.


Second question for you guys is, is there a feat like Penetrating cold for shock or acid damage? I know these are two of the lower resisted types of damage in the game but I just want to be prepared in case my dm decides it would be fun to have us fight a bunch of stuff that highly resists my spells.

Lastly, any other suggestions? I'm having fun building this guy. I'm thinking of going 5 levels wizard and then switching to elemental savant. If there's not a feat like penetrating cold for shock/acid damage I may just stick to the cryomancer.

[The Trickster]

I'm looking at building a wizard that specializes in shock or acid damage. I was going to go with a cryomancer but I just think shooting balls of lightning or acid would be fun.

I was looking at the Energy Substitution metamagic feat, which as I understand it would let me cast other spells but have them do shock damage. So if I cast fireball, instead I'd be throwing a ball of lightning and doing a 20feet blast, Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm also curious if this means spells still function normally but just with a different dmg descriptor. For instance Melf's acid arrow. If I cast that using energy substitution electricity would it do 2d4 shock and then 2d4 the following round as well? or does that secondary effect fall off since it's no longer acid damage. Don't see why it would but I figured you guys would know.


You are correct. The spell would work as normal, only with electricity damage.


Second question for you guys is, is there a feat like Penetrating cold for shock or acid damage? I know these are two of the lower resisted types of damage in the game but I just want to be prepared in case my dm decides it would be fun to have us fight a bunch of stuff that highly resists my spells.

Lastly, any other suggestions? I'm having fun building this guy. I'm thinking of going 5 levels wizard and then switching to elemental savant. If there's not a feat like penetrating cold for shock/acid damage I may just stick to the cryomancer.

Do you mean Piercing Cold? I can't find a penetrating cold feat anywhere.

If you meant Piercing cold, then no, there is no electricity version that I am aware of. (Born of the Three Thunders from Complete Arcane is useful, though). Honestly, I would just ask your DM if they could make a feat that works like Piercing Cold, but for electricity. It really isn't a big difference anyway.

I am personally not a fan of Elemental Savant, because I hate the fact that you lose two levels of casting, which is a real bummer. I am also not a fan of the "can only use one element ever" capstone either. But hey, if you like it, go for it.

Happy hunting.

[jjcrpntr]

Yes I was thinking of piercing cold sorry. That's a bummer I mean a cryomancer would still be fun, but I think throwing balls of lightning around would be more fun. I'll ask the DM, doubt he'll go for it though. Thanks.

[fishyfishyfishy]

Building a blaster eh? While not the most effective strategy a wizard can utilize, they can still do it reasonably well. Personally I prefer a sorcerer for blasting builds, but to each their own.

For a lightning themed caster, I suggest Born of the Three Thunders and Energy Admixture. Other feats for consideration are the reserve feats in Complete Mage. Acidic Splatter and Storm Bolt fit your concept.

The prestige class Stormcaster might appeal to you as well. It is flavorful and has useful stun effects you can do.

[jjcrpntr]

Building a blaster eh? While not the most effective strategy a wizard can utilize, they can still do it reasonably well. Personally I prefer a sorcerer for blasting builds, but to each their own.

For a lightning themed caster, I suggest Born of the Three Thunders and Energy Admixture. Other feats for consideration are the reserve feats in Complete Mage. Acidic Splatter and Storm Bolt fit your concept.

The prestige class Stormcaster might appeal to you as well. It is flavorful and has useful stun effects you can do.

I actually just found the reserve feats after I posted this thread. Those are awesome. Question though, does using the ability use up the spell slot or is it just as long as that spell is there you can keep chucking balls of acid? (for example)

Thanks for the ideas.

[The Trickster]

I actually just found the reserve feats after I posted this thread. Those are awesome. Question though, does using the ability use up the spell slot or is it just as long as that spell is there you can keep chucking balls of acid? (for example)

Thanks for the ideas.

Nope, it does not use up the spell. Just keep on using it to your heart's content.

[jjcrpntr]

Nope, it does not use up the spell. Just keep on using it to your heart's content.

nice thanks, I'm aware that a blaster may not be the best build for a wizard. But it sure sounds like fun :smallsmile:

[The Trickster]

nice thanks, I'm aware that a blaster may not be the best build for a wizard. But it sure sounds like fun :smallsmile:

If it sounds fun, go for it. A good story and a fun-to-play character is always the way to go.

...and besides, all wizards can be powerful anyway, even the non-optimized ones. :smalltongue:

[Vrock_Summoner]

You are correct about the lightning fireball. The secondary effect of Melph's Acid Arrow will always be of its original type, however.

I recommend using something like Arcane Thesis on your favorite blasting spell and applying lots of metamagic that doesn't increase the level of the spell (amusingly, you can apply Energy Substitution multiple times) to get free metamagic levels, which you can use to, say, Twin, Split Ray, Energy Admixture, Quicken, so on, your spells into major powerhouses. Works better for non-Evocation, but it's good form for blasting. Contradictory enough, you should specialize in Abjuration assuming Incantatrix is allowed, because it is fantastic for blasting.

For options less likely to get you yelled at for being a powergamer, take Master Specialist PrC at the lowest level possible for free feats and abilities and go into Archmage. Perhaps five levels of wizard instead of earliest point of MS to get the Spontaneous Divination ACF at level 5, but the Evocation Master Specialist isn't at all bad. Maybe Wizard 5/Master Specialist 4/Elemental Savant 8/Archmage 3? Gets you the needed abilities from everything, your flavor abilities, you only lose one caster level... Becoming an elemental isn't that good anyway. Take a reserve feat, sculpt your stronger spells to both avoid hitting allies and look like an utter badass with shifty lightning bursts emanating from yourself, and give yourself some range on touch spells, which are pretty nice, and it could be refluffed as channeling your spells through your lightning.

[iceman10058]

keep in mind, as a wizard, you can just have your fireball writen/created in your spellbook as a shockball, but to get it to do other energy types you would then need energy admixture. wizards are allowed to create their own spells, and i would hate for a wizard to waste a feat when there is no reason to.

[jjcrpntr]

Learning a lot in this thread thank you.

That stormcaster PrC is looking fun, at least up to level 5 to get the stun effect.

I may have to rethink this. If I'm going full on blaster I may go with sorc for the extra spells. It's a spells vs wizard feats thing.

And ya, that would be great to just change fireball to lightning ball. Not sure my DM would allow that though can ask it wouldn't hurt, good idea.

[Andezzar]

keep in mind, as a wizard, you can just have your fireball writen/created in your spellbook as a shockball, but to get it to do other energy types you would then need energy admixture. wizards are allowed to create their own spells, and i would hate for a wizard to waste a feat when there is no reason to.The Shockball however cannot deal fire damage. With Energy Substitution the wizard can decide each day, if his fireball will deal fire damage or not. But unless you which to take any of the feats requiring Energy Substitution, you are probably better off just having a Fireball and a Shockball in your Spellbook.

[nyjastul69]

keep in mind, as a wizard, you can just have your fireball writen/created in your spellbook as a shockball, but to get it to do other energy types you would then need energy admixture. wizards are allowed to create their own spells, and i would hate for a wizard to waste a feat when there is no reason to.


Keep in mind that this considered creating a new spell (DMG pg. 35) and completely under DM purview. This option also only allows for that specific exception. Energy Substitution on the other hand allows for any spell with the Fire descriptor to be replaced with the Electricity descriptor. You aren't likely wasting a feat by choosing Energy Substitution.

[Andezzar]

You can repeat the process for any other spell you want to change to a different energy type.

[nyjastul69]

You can repeat the process for any other spell you want to change to a different energy type.

Thanks, my description wasn't clear enough. With Energy Substitution (Electricity) you can replace the energy descriptor on almost any other spell with an energy descriptor with the Electricity descriptor. The exception is with the Sonic descriptor. Sonic can't be substituted for with this feat.

[fishyfishyfishy]

Energy Substitution (Electricity) is a prerequisite for Born of the Three Thunders and for Energy Admixture. Both of which I mentioned before. They are very powerful feats.

Check out the Orb of (Energy) spells in the Spell Compendium. Orb of Fire is particularly useful, with it's daze rider effect. Throw on the the feats above and it gets kind of silly.

[Ellowryn]

Incantatrix is probably a go-to PrC for blasters, and either version will work. You will definitely want to try and reduce adjusted levels for adding metamagic feats as much as possible, Metamagic School focus is another way. However i am not sure you can add Energy Substitution multiple times to the same casting of a spell to game (or cheese) extra reduced MM levels.

[Fouredged Sword]

Take your favored blasting spell and then go for elven spell lore at 9th level. Now you can prepare it so it deals force damage, or radiation damage, or desiccation damage! The +2 to dispel checks is also nice.

[jjcrpntr]

Take your favored blasting spell and then go for elven spell lore at 9th level. Now you can prepare it so it deals force damage, or radiation damage, or desiccation damage! The +2 to dispel checks is also nice.

Hmmm, a fireball doing 10d6 force dmg to a 20 feet square... yes please

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

For blasting with elemental damage, Druid (or Spirit Shaman) is actually a better choice IMO. They get some of the most efficient cold, fire, and electricity spells in the game, some of the most tenacious crowd controls, and tons of utility. Dip Seeker of the Misty Isle and you can get access to teleportation and flight spells. When your spells fail, such as against immune opponents, a Druid can wild shape into a bear or dire lion or similar without spending any spells, an advantage that a Wizard seriously lacks.