Dwarf Wizard. Review and suggestions

[Bub_the_zombie]

Hey everyone,

I am playing in a group that goes a tad to the extreme with min-maxing and my background is more of focused traditional roleplay. So I was hoping to get some opinions on the basics of the build and see where there could be some improvement without TOO much cheese. I have read through the few Wizard Handbooks online and this is a Frankenstein mash-up of their infinite knowledge.

It is a 13th level character: 1 Fighter (Dwarven Substitute), Wizard 4, Rune Smith 5, ABJ Champ 3

Str (14) Dex (12) Con (20) Int (21) Wis (10) Cha (8) - +2 magic items on Str, Con, & Int

He currently has 140 HP. AC 29. (wears Adamantine fullplate with tower shield)

He is and Abjuration Specialist. The idea is with the swift Abjuration from the ABJ Champion he can cast 2 spells a round, focusing on dispelling the enemy or protecting the party. With the rune magic he can cast in fullplate. Also all the abjuration spells are counted as if they were cast with the extend spell feat because of the ABJ champion feature "extended Abjuration".

His opposed schools are Enchantment and Necromancy. He is Lawful Good and I plan on using the view of those two schools in his personality (do not brainwash people, necromancy is an evil dark art, etc...).

Feats: Weapon Focus (all Axes), Scribe Scroll, Power Penetration, Greater Power penetration, (there are many creatures with SR).

Need 3 More: Thinking spell focus, and greater spell focus because there are lots of summoned creatures in the game, the boost would be good will dismissals and banishments. Also thinking Improved Init.

Debating the last 3rd level of ABJ Champion, it is a dead level that gives a boost to my lower saves. Not sure if I should just go back to wizard or start up a new prestige class. A level of Wiz gets me a Wiz feat.

Also considering the "Initiate of the Seven Veils" Prestige Class. On paper it looks good, has anyone seen (or used) it be played? Is it worth it?

Other notes and Questions:

Is there a good substitute for trading out the familiar? I do not want one.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for the Permanent Rune feature from the runecaster. (Allows a permanent rune on your body that lets you cast a spell twice a day, the cost is permanently sacrificing a spell slot of the level higher. Currently thinking of dispel magic or fly, as I see them being used often.

I know ABJ is not the most optimal school to specialize in but it will compliment the other wizard in the group who is an Evocation specialist and can already blow everything thing up.

Magic gear so far is
Ring of Counter Spells
Ring of Floating
Adamantine Full Plate, Called, BlueShine, anti-impact
+1 adamantine dwarven waraxe
+1 adamantine armor spikes
Armor Crystal Greater Fire Resist 15
Vest of Resistance +3
Boots of Mountain King
Belt +2 con
headband +2 int
Gauntlets +2 str
13,000 gp left to spend

Looking for suggestions, comments, flaws in the build, suggestions on spells and gear, etc...

Thanks in advance!

[Ellowryn]

Well, i can't say i know everything about wizards but i can say at least a few things, you don't qualify for Runecaster as is. It requires Armor Proficiency (Heavy) which means you also need AP (Light) and (Medium), and 8 in craft (Stoneworking) but you can only have 7 at 4th wizard level. You also do not qualify for Abj Champion as it needs 5 BaB, you have 4, and the feat combat casting. You also are not proficient with axes you are swinging that adamantite waraxe at a -4 penalty.

As for the power penetration feats, why? Those are for Psionics and don't function for you. If you really want to keep evocation, necromancy is considered the better school but to each their own, then the spell penetration feats can work but there are spells out there that lower SR.

Initiate of the Seven Fold Veil is a very powerful prestige class and generally listed just under Incantrix in power so there is nothing wrong with taking it.

The best substitute for your familiar is actually an ACF in PHB2 but it is for conjuration wizards, its called Abjurant Jaunt and allows you to Int mod per day teleport 10ft as an immediate action, so i think you are stuck just not summoning it if you stay abjurationist.

[Bub_the_zombie]

Sorry you are right they are Spell Penetration (and Greater). Do you have the name of the SR lowering spells?

Think you overlooked the fighter level 1. The first level of fighter grants all armor proficiencies, and being a dwarf grants the dwarven war axe as racial. It also gives me enough ranks of craft stoneworking to enter runecaster..

Combat Casting was overlooked! Thanks for the catch! Only need 2 more feats.

[aethel27]

derp ignore me

[Urpriest]

dont forget about ASF from the heavy armor

...read the OP, dude.

The fire resistance on your armor is almost certainly not worth it. You can cast spells to give higher resistances, and if you're prepared to spend a 6th level spell on it you can even get immunity (Energy Immunity from the Spell Compendium, lasts 24 hours).

Do you need Weapon Focus to qualify for anything? It's not particularly useful otherwise.

Oddly enough, Abjurant Champion and LG alignment means that you'll probably get a higher AC from casting Greater Luminous Armor (Book of Exalted Deeds) than from Full Plate. But I understand if actual Full Plate (and Runesmith) are integral to your concept.

Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil is great, but it depends what you're going for here. Weapon Focus suggests that you want to fight in melee, and not just be a defensive caster. Is that accurate? If so, Initiate of the Sevenfold veil will make your BAB worse and make it harder for you to be effective in melee.

[Bub_the_zombie]

The weapon focus was just granted with the racial sub fighter level. I see the point though, it would be worth it to not use the racial sub level and do standard fighter and nab improved init (which fits the idea better anyway). I do not see him charging into the fray, more of the over protected mage in the middle, or third row fighter.

That Greater Luminous Armor spell is awesome but for flavor I like the full plate.

I think I will be removing the 3rd ABJ Champion level and jumping into the initiate of 7 veils. This uses up all my feats too.

Thanks!

[Urpriest]

The weapon focus was just granted with the racial sub fighter level. I see the point though, it would be worth it to not use the racial sub level and do standard fighter and nab improved init (which fits the idea better anyway). I do not see him charging into the fray, more of the over protected mage in the middle, or third row fighter.

That Greater Luminous Armor spell is awesome but for flavor I like the full plate.

I think I will be removing the 3rd ABJ Champion level and jumping into the initiate of 7 veils. This uses up all my feats too.

Thanks!

Be careful, without five levels of Abjurant Champion you won't be able to make Dispel Magic a swift action. I'd rather sacrifice levels of Runesmith if you want to fit some Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil in there.

[Bub_the_zombie]

Wow did not even think about that.

I am beginning to question the rune caster idea in place of straight abjurant champion with the Greater Luminous Armor.

[MirddinEmris]

Wow did not even think about that.

I am beginning to question the rune caster idea in place of straight abjurant champion with the Greater Luminous Armor.

Well, Runesmith gives you auto-Still on all your spell, which on my account worth quite a lot, so you should take at least 1 level.

You may consider something like Fighter 1 / Wizard 4 / Runesmith 2 / Spellsword 1 / Abjurant Champion 5. Spellsword here only for the BAB because his ASF reduction is pointless by now, but he also gives nice HD and saves (good Fort and Ref). Also, with this you lose only 3 BAB and 1 CL.