Wizard Build -- Need help with specialization

[Asaris]

I've been working up a specialist Wizard build for an Undermountain campaign, starting at level one. I've found Logic Ninja's guide to be very helpful, but I was wondering to what extent the addition of the Immediate Magic ability in the PHB II and the Master Specialist PrC alter the analysis of how useful the various schools are. Basically, I'm trying to figure out what school to specialize in.

[Ikkitosen]

The only worthwhile Immediate Magic is the slightly broken Conjuration variant.

Master Specialist is a bit of a no-brainer for a specialist.

Neither option affect how you'll play your wizard much tbh.

[Overlard]

Well what are you looking for? Fun? Power? Utility?

[Asaris]

I'm a big fan of save or suck spells -- I'm also unsure what schools I should ban. Evocation is a no-brainer, but I like enchantment too much to give it up. I was leaning toward specializing in Abjuration, and going for IoTSV, but I'd like a school where having Spell Focus in it is handy, and I'm not sure Abjuration counts. I'm not very good with illusion spells, because I'm just not that creative.

Mostly I'm interested in fun, with power being important too.

[Overlard]

I'm a big fan of save or suck spells -- I'm also unsure what schools I should ban. Evocation is a no-brainer, but I like enchantment too much to give it up. I was leaning toward specializing in Abjuration, and going for IoTSV, but I'd like a school where having Spell Focus in it is handy, and I'm not sure Abjuration counts. I'm not very good with illusion spells, because I'm just not that creative.

Mostly I'm interested in fun, with power being important too.
I think the best "save or suck" school is necromancy. If you take that, then it's probably safest to drop enchantment, but as you want to keep that, then maybe illusion? I love illusion myself, but its utility by high levels, when virtually every BBEG and their mate has true seeing, is limited.

Core necromancy spells have problems from level 3-5 I think though, but as long as you're using SC, then you won't have any issues there, I'm guessing.

[Amiria]

Imo, there are only three schools that one should ever think of banning:
Enchantment, Evocation and Necromancy.

Enchantment because 1) blind spots (creatures immune to mind-influencing spells, the Mind Blank spell) and 2) if you play a good-aligned mage, it is a morally problematic school => enslaving others, forcing your will upon them, etc.

Evocation because direct damage just doesn't cut it in 3.x D&D.

Necromancy because 1) blind spots A (creatures immune to mind-influencing spells, the Mind Blank spell), 2) blind spots B (creatures immune to negative energy effects, ability damage/drain, the Death Ward spell) and 3) if you play a good-aligned mage, it is a morally problematic school (animating undead, using dark spells to manipulate or snuff out the life force of people).
______________

That's why Amiria - who is a neutral good specialist transmuter - has Enchantment and Necromancy as prohibited schools. And even a Spell Focus in Evocation ... since she likes blasting stuff, however ineffective it is.

[Kurald Galain]

I'm not very good with illusion spells, because I'm just not that creative.

In that case it's easy to ban illusion. Although you will miss out on invisibility.

[Emperor Demonking]

Cut out illusion or specialize in divination.

[Jack Mann]

Yeah, losing illusion will hurt the least, if you can't lose enchantment. It has a lot of overlap with enchantment.

Abjuration you can't afford to lose. That's ninety percent of your defensive capabilities.

Conjuration and transmutation both have too many useful spells in them to give up.

Necromancy can be given up, but it hurts. Not because of undead creation, but because of the many useful debuffs in necromancy. Ray of enfeeblement, enervation, ray of exhaustion... You can do it, but you'll probably miss those spells.

Since evocation is an obvious choice, you have to decide between illusion and enchantment. Normally, the choice is enchantment, since you can mimic evocation with shadow evocation. Since you don't want to give up evocation, you're left with illusion. Losing illusion hurts some, but you can live without it.

[The Mormegil]

I will think twice before losing illusion. It's a darn good school. I'd specialize in divination and prepear Conjuration/Necromancy/Transmutation spells. Then I'll keep illusions and enchantment scrolls at hand. At last, I'd keep Dispel Magic wands and Greater Dispel Magic scepters.

[mostlyharmful]

Lose Illusion, a ring of invis. will compensate for the lack of most of the school and be at will (wooto). This also cuts out the whole sorded mess that is contingency, if what you really want is to be untouchable then don't go this route, this is the route of fun and balence and team tactics.

edit: Plus keep in mind the cheesey option of the lost empires book feats that let you buy back a prohibited spell school, one for spell trigger, one for spell completion and a third feat for full spell use.:smallcool:

[CASTLEMIKE]

Consider a variant Domain Mage from UA and the SRD the bonus spells are fixed but no loss of any schools although won't qualify for Master Specialist.

Diviner Specialist with the Spell Compendium and lose only the Necromancy school of spells.

[Asaris]

Thanks for all the help, guys. I think I'm going to go with an Enchanter, and lose Evocation and Necromancy. It helps that my favorite save or die spell, Ray of Stupidity, isn't Necromancy, so that helps. :)

[lord_khaine]

im not sure i would call wasting 3 feats to get a school back "cheesy"