Character Build Advice

[JDL]

Hi folks,

I've been playing 3.5e for years but I'm about to start my first Pathfinder campaign. I'm looking for build advice since I have a basic familiarity with the rules system but I'd prefer not to make errors I'll regret down the track.

The game is mid optimization, and we'll have 3-4 players at the table. Starting level 2, 1,000 gp starting wealth, from which players must purchase a mount, saddle and 7 days trail rations as part of creation. Valid source books are:

The Core Rulebook
Advanced Classes Guide
Advanced Players Guide
Advanced Races Guide
Gods and Magic
Paths of Prestige
Ultimate Combat
Ultimate Equipment
Ultimate Magic

I got really lucky with my dice rolls and ended up with the following spread for stats: 18, 18, 15, 15, 12, 7

Given the above, I'm leaning towards a Conjuration Specialist Wizard.

Would Elf or Human be a better choice for race? The elf bonus to spell penetration seems slightly less useful than the human bonus feat, but the elf Arcane Focus alternate racial trait bonus to Concentration seems like a useful boost given you can't invest skill ranks into this in Pathfinder.

Obviously the two 18's would be going into Int and Con, but where would I best spend my remaining stats? Dex and Wis 15, Cha 12 and Str 7?

Which two prohibited schools should I pick for taking Conjuration as my specialization? I was leaning towards Divination and Enchantment but would welcome advice here outlining pros and cons.

Feats feats feats! What's good, what looks good but isn't worth it, what shouldn't I touch with a 10 ft. pole?

Any other particular advice for a 3.5e player converting over to Pathfinder?

Cheers.

[jaydubs]

A few random thoughts:

-If you're going conjuration, consider the usual spell focus (conjuration) and augment summoning feats.
-Acadamae graduate is an interesting feat for a summoner, though it won't be available in all campaigns.
-Consider the teleportation school specialization for the excellent shift ability. Acid dart may be useful at low levels, but it doesn't scale well.
-The elf also has an alternate racial trait that boosts initiative. Initiative is good.
-Take a long, hard look at traits. There are several very good ones. +2 to initiative, reroll a save once per day, perception as a class skill, int modifier to bluff and dipomacy, the list goes on. There's a trait guide available with an easy google search to make filtering them easier.
-Spell penetration is good to have once you level enough that many creatures have spell resistance. But not every campaign gets there.
-I usually take evocation and enchantment as my opposition schools. But it really depends on what you want to build for. Obviously don't ban evocation if you want to blast.

[JDL]

Thanks for the feedback!

As you mentioned, Fleet-Footed gives a bonus to initiative as well as the Run feat, but replaces keen senses and weapon familiarity. I'm assuming this means if I choose this I can't also take Arcane Focus? Which one would be a better choice for a Wizard, the boost to concentration or initiative?

Acadamae Graduate seems like a useful way to pop out a standard action summon, but I'm wary of the fortitude save since it's a weak save for wizards. With only +3 from Con, I'd only have a 35% chance of success at a level 1 summon, which seems awfully low.

Teleportation school specialization is awesome stuff, I'm definitely taking this. A swift action teleport is way better than a weak acid arrow.

For traits, I'm thinking Warrior of Old (+2 initiative) from Racial Traits and Desperate Focus (+2 concentration) from Magic Traits. I was strongly considering Dangerously Curious (+1 UMD/class skill) instead of Desperate Focus though. Any thoughts on which would be better?

Evocation has a lot of good stuff which I'm loath to exclude. Sometimes the appropriate response to a threat is a fireball. I've had an encounter with a half dozen stirges that left me wishing I had a good AoE blast up my sleeve to take out the hordes of low HP mooks. Is Divination really that much better than Evocation?

[jaydubs]

As you mentioned, Fleet-Footed gives a bonus to initiative as well as the Run feat, but replaces keen senses and weapon familiarity. I'm assuming this means if I choose this I can't also take Arcane Focus? Which one would be a better choice for a Wizard, the boost to concentration or initiative?

No, you can't take both. I generally find initiative to be better than concentration, since I prefer going first and just trying to avoid situations where a concentration check is necessary. But it's up to you.


Acadamae Graduate seems like a useful way to pop out a standard action summon, but I'm wary of the fortitude save since it's a weak save for wizards. With only +3 from Con, I'd only have a 35% chance of success at a level 1 summon, which seems awfully low.

Sometimes you just need a summon out right this second. As a standard action, it means the summon comes into existence on the round you cast, and then gets to full attack. As a 1 round spell, a summon doesn't show up until next round, and a smart enemy might try to interrupt you. To me, that's worth it, even if I do get fatigued. Fatigue doesn't hurt a wizard too badly, and eventually you can just ask your cleric/oracle buddy to cast lesser restoration to remove it. Plus, you don't always have to use it. If I don't need the summon out right this second, I don't use the feat.


Teleportation school specialization is awesome stuff, I'm definitely taking this. A swift action teleport is way better than a weak acid arrow.

Remember that it functions like dimension door. So you can't take any actions after you use it (basically, use it at the end of a round rather than the beginning). You can also talk to your DM about whether or not dimensional agility will work with it, in which case it becomes much more versatile.


For traits, I'm thinking Warrior of Old (+2 initiative) from Racial Traits and Desperate Focus (+2 concentration) from Magic Traits. I was strongly considering Dangerously Curious (+1 UMD/class skill) instead of Desperate Focus though. Any thoughts on which would be better?

As mentioned, I prefer going first. In terms of UMD, a wizard generally has a lot of options already, so I don't find it necessary on them. If you still want it, also consider whether something like pragmatic activator will end up giving you a bigger bonus. Finally, consider taking a drawback in order to pick up a 3rd trait.


Evocation has a lot of good stuff which I'm loath to exclude. Sometimes the appropriate response to a threat is a fireball. I've had an encounter with a half dozen stirges that left me wishing I had a good AoE blast up my sleeve to take out the hordes of low HP mooks. Is Divination really that much better than Evocation?

I'm not one of the people who thinks all blasting is bad. I just never feel like I have enough spells, so I rarely memorize them anyway. It seems like HP damage is something that's easy enough to get through other sources (summons, other party members, etc.). But, if lots of mooks is a common thing to run into for you, by all means keep it.

As for divination, it's fine to select. A lot of the spells are situational, so you can just eat the extra spell slot cost when you really need them. Part of me not usually taking it, is that I often specialize in divination (well, Foresight) due to how good the school abilities are.