Building a Time Mage

[Oko and Qailee]

Hey guys, so I'm about to play in a campaign, starting at level 10 for 3.5 edition. The DM has been pretty open about what is allowed and after asking him two dozen questions about what is allowed I settled on trying to build a "Time" mage. This would also be my first wizard build.

The goal is to have a character focused on time-based spells (duh). Stuff like Haste, Slow, Temporal Stasis, Celerity, Nerveskitter, Timestop, etc will nearly always be on his prepared spells. OFC, he will have other wizard spells, but those are just his favorites.

I'm currently leaning to being a wizard (unsure of PRC) with a 1 level dip in Warblade (for White Raven Tactics). I probably want to PRC, but I'm unsure into what. I saw Swiftblade, and it kind of follows with the theme, though I hate the feat requirements and its more martial than spellcastery. The DM already allowed me to have a hummingbird familiar for +4 Initiative. I understand Psions are good at breaking action economy, but they have a bad rap with this group and they have their source books limited.

Obviously I only have a rough build idea, so I'm looking for advice for how to be more Time Magey. Anything that can be flavored in a way close enough to manipulating time. I'm not looking for power here, much more for flavor. This group has big variations in power levels pretty often, thought never anything game breaking. So yeah, any other spells, classes, feats, etc. That I should consider would be super appreciated.

Thanks!

[Segev]

I think you should seriously consider Psion (Nomad.)

Time Hop (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/timeHop.htm), mass time hop (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/timeHopMass.htm), temporal acceleration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/temporalAcceleration.htm), temporal regression (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/temporalRegression.htm), and quintessence (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/quintessence.htm) are just a few psionic powers that are very "time mage"-y.

You could probably get all of the wizard spells that you want through psionic equivalents; if not, you could play a wizard/psion->Cerebromancer. If you DO go for Wizard, look into a spell called heroics; it's in the Spell Compendium, and gives you a fighter bonus feat. Take that for your White Raven Tactics, unless there's more you want out of Warblade than that.

At least, that's my advice. I think you'll get a lot more "time mage" out of the psionics than the wizardry, though.

[Andion Isurand]

I would add...
arcane spellsurge

to the list of favorite time-altering spells

[Heliomance]

Alternatively, there's a third party book called Chronomancy, which is ALL ABOUT time magic.

[Oko and Qailee]

Thanks guys!


I think you should seriously consider Psion (Nomad.)

Time Hop (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/timeHop.htm), mass time hop (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/timeHopMass.htm), temporal acceleration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/temporalAcceleration.htm), temporal regression (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/temporalRegression.htm), and quintessence (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/quintessence.htm) are just a few psionic powers that are very "time mage"-y.

You could probably get all of the wizard spells that you want through psionic equivalents; if not, you could play a wizard/psion->Cerebromancer. If you DO go for Wizard, look into a spell called heroics; it's in the Spell Compendium, and gives you a fighter bonus feat. Take that for your White Raven Tactics, unless there's more you want out of Warblade than that.

At least, that's my advice. I think you'll get a lot more "time mage" out of the psionics than the wizardry, though.

I've considered Psion, but the problem is that the group is pretty a little anti-psion and so what's allowed is a bit limited for them. Heroics doesn't work for WRT because you don't meet the pre-reqs for WRT. I dropped the idea of fitting Warblade in there anyway.


I would add...
arcane spellsurge

to the list of favorite time-altering spells

I will def take this once it's available (We're only level 10)


Alternatively, there's a third party book called Chronomancy, which is ALL ABOUT time magic.

No third party unfortunately. :smallfrown:

[Werephilosopher]

Here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?166492-The-Chronomancer-s-Day-Scheduler-%28Time-Magic%29) are some spells you might find useful.

[Segev]

When you say the group is "anti-psion," can you elaborate on their view of it in general and/or specific? What is it they dislike about it?

When you say that what is allowed is "limited," what do you mean? There's a lot of potential ground between "not allowed at all" and "everything's allowed." I am unsure where "limited" draws the line for your group.

[ShurikVch]

"Chronomancy" article in Dragon #350 have several time-related spells for Bard and Sorcerer/Wizard