Illusionist help

[Theodred theOld]

I'm going to build my first gnome illusionist and I was wondering if anyone in the playground had any advice. We're starting at 5th level and most WotC material is on the table. The only restriction we were given was that our characters need to be evil. Any help or links to relevent handbooks would be greatly appreciated.

[Segev]

I'm not on a good network for searching things out right now, but you might want to look up "whisper gnome shadowcaster" on google. The idea is to stack feats and a PrC that make your Shadow spells have greater than 100% reality when somebody successfully saves against them to disbelieve. So you want to inform your enemies that your fireballs are just illusions; they hurt more that way!

[gorfnab]

I'm not on a good network for searching things out right now, but you might want to look up "whisper gnome shadowcaster" on google.
You're sort of close. Googling a whisper gnome shadowcaster will most likely link you to the Compiled Shadowcaster Handbook in my signature.

For a great illusionist build, however, you want the Shadowcraft Mage.
Shadowcraft Mage Handbook (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=5638)
Shadowcraft Mage Spellbook (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=714.0)

[nedz]

You have a choice of three base classes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Wizard
More options, obviously, and therefore more power.
Has some nice ACFs.
Also you get access to higher level spells a level early.

Sorcerer
This works well since there are relatively few spells you need to know and you have more tactical choice.

Beguiler
It's hard, though not impossible, to pick up all of the spells you need — specifically the Shadow Conjurations and Shadow Evocations. If you are going Shadowcraft Mage however then this is less of an issue.

[Grooke]

Seconding Shadowcraft Mage as best Illusionist PrC.

nedz's base class list is also good, though if your goal is Shadowcraft Mage, you could also start from Cleric or Archivist, but its less iconic.

[Segev]

Personally, I would recommend wizard->shadowcraft mage, because whether you specialize or not, it will be as versatile as it comes and raise the fewest eyebrows for "oddity" in build. It's straight-forward and effective.

I think, though I could be wrong, that whisper gnomes get a racial bonus to int, as well.

[Optimator]

Master Specialist isn't awful either, and plenty flavorful. You'd already be two levels in (it can be entered at 4th level)!

Keep piling on the DC boosters (there's gotta be a compilation somewhere--feats and items that boost Illusion spell DCs) and take non-illusion debuffs/save reducers like Fear, Ray of Sickness, Enervation, etc. Battlefield control spells are great because once you put the fear of God into some enemies with some Black Tentacles or Wall Of Fire, the illusionary ones should have the same effect on enemy movement.

I would recommend having plenty of Dispel Magics on hand and maybe even taking the Arcane Mastery feat to guarantee(ish) success on dispelling pesky True Seeings and Mindblanks. The Dispelling Cord item from MIC is good for that.

There are several ways--including the Sleight of Hand skill, skill tricks, and a feat or two--to disguise what spell you are casting. Very vital for an aspiring Illusionist.

There are lots of ways for Bards to boost their save DCs, for Illusion spells and spells in general, so an Illusionist/Prestige Bard isn't awful. It's easier to boost Charisma than Intelligence though (Inner Beauty, Nixie's Grace, Snowsong) so some of the DC-boosting will be lost on a Prestige Bard. Intelligence is still the superior stat so YMMV.

[Segev]

Notably, as a Shadowcraft Mage, you might want ways to keep your DCs low for spells which only offer the [shadow] will save. Because if they make the save, they interact with things that are more real than reality!

[Plerumque]

The Gnome Illusionist racial substitution levels from Races of Stone reduce the level of a few spells that will be your bread and butter. That would let you start with Persistent Image in this case. The 5th level can add 1d4 rounds to your Duration: Concentration spells, which is nice until you pick up a way to concentrate using a move or swift action.

[ZamielVanWeber]

If it still an option, may I recommend trading your familiar for Chain of Disbelief (in UA). It makes your image spells a lot more viable against groups and that clause about them still needing to save in the face of incontrovertible proof has saved my behind on rare occasions.

[Theodred theOld]

Thanks for all the info so far. Oddly enough I've been looking at whisper gnome as a potential race. +2 Dex, + 2 Con, -2 Str, -2 Cha, darkvision, racial bonus to hide and move silently, a few handy SLAs and you can't beat that 30ft. move speed. All for +0 LA. I don't even mind ditching the DC boost for illusions. It would seem that lower DCs are better on this build anyway.