Spells for MT/HA build.

[Particle_Man]

I will take practised spellcaster twice but would still be one or two spell levels behind the curve, so given that, and given I would want a buff other party members/battlefield control/utility build, what spells would you suggest for a generalist wizard/druid/mystic theurge/arcane hierophant, and why?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I recommend using Illumian for your race, with the Krau sigil, and take the feat Improved Sigil: Krau. This way you can go Druid 3/ Wizard 1/ Mystic Theurge 4/ Arcane Hierophant 10/ MT 2. You also won't need to take Practiced Spellcaster for Druid, and you shouldn't even need it for Wizard as your caster level will only be one behind your character level starting at 8th level.

I also highly recommend specializing Wizard in Conjuration to trade Scribe Scroll for Augment Summoning (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVariants), and trade your familiar for either Rapid Summoning at that same link (only if you can also use it with Summon Nature's Ally), or trade it for Abrupt Jaunt in PH2. AH gives your animal companion the benefits of being a familiar even if you didn't have that class feature to begin with, and it even counts your Wizard levels toward that. All the best crowd control spells are conjurations anyway: Grease, Wall of Smoke, Web, Glitterdust, Cloud of Bewilderment, Stinking Cloud, Sleet Storm, Black Tentacles, Solid Fog, etc. Your Druid casting could make up for picking Abjuration as a prohibited school, or Enchantment, Evocation, and Necromancy are all easy to give up (and losing Necromancy would be thematically appropriate). It may even be worthwhile to go focused specialist.

Your animal companion is going to be weak, be sure to get Natural Bond at probably 3rd level and have a war-trained Riding Dog. Say you used Handle Animal to add the Warbeast template from MM2 onto it if possible. One of the best ways to crowd control especially in the early levels is to get Greenbound Summoning (LEoF) and use Summon Nature's Ally 1 for a Greenbound Dire Rat, which can immediately drop Wall of Thorns on top of multiple opponents. However, "When the spell that summoned a creature ends and the creature disappears, all the spells it has cast expire (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#summoning)." So casting it at the very low levels isn't really worthwhile unless you also have Ashbound (ECS) or similar. Try to pick up a Ring of the Beast (CC) as that just makes your summons better. Also remember that you can spontaneously cast SNA for a Unicorn which has a permanent Magic Circle Against Evil and it can put out a lot more healing than casting a spell from the same slot as the SNA.

Try to start with two flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) for two extra feats, Love of Nature (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?258440-The-quot-Best-quot-Flaws#30) would be fitting. This way you can begin play with Improved Sigil: Krau, Ashbound, and Greenbound Summoning, pick up Natural Bond at 3rd, get Augment Summoning from Wizard at your 4th level, and take whatever else you want after that.

[Biggus]

Some Druid spells to consider (all PHB or SpC unless stated):

1) Entangle, Faerie Fire, Longstrider, Enrage Animal, Snowshoes
2) Barkskin, Bull's Strength etc, Resist Energy, Lesser Restoration, Mass Camouflage, Healing Lorecall, Kelpstrand, Nature's Favor, Mass Snake's Swiftness, Wings of Air
3) Greater Magic Fang, Primal Instinct (Dragon Magic), Evard's Menacing Tentacles (PHB2), Girallon's Blessing, Lion's Charge, Mass Resist Energy, Mass Lesser Vigor
4) Freedom of Movement, Dispel Magic, Greater Resistance, Sheltered Vitality, Greater Wings of Air, Enhance Wild Shape
5) Animal Growth, Baleful Polymorph, Death Ward, Owl's Insight
6) Ironwood, Greater Dispel Magic, Bite of the Werebear, Energy Immunity, Superior Resistance. Liveoak
7) Heal, True Seeing, Aura of Vitality, Brilliant Blade
8) Bombardment, Brilliant Aura, Deadfall
9) Foresight, Shapechange, Mass Death Ward, Nature's Avatar

Will get back to you with some Wizard spells later if I get time.

[Particle_Man]

Thanks! I hope you get time for the wizard spells too! :smallcool:

[Ramza00]

Will your DM allow your animal companion / familiar hybrid to have speech that is not animal based but of a language? The animal companion is a magical beast after all with arcane hierophant and has an intelligence of a familiar. If so choose an animal companion that can use magic items and you have something as good as cohort without leadership almost. Pick an animal companion with arms and you can use wands, and so on.

Also the Enspell Familiar feat from the Dragon Compendium (Share Spells up to a mile with a familiar) or the Companion Spellbound from PHB II which means you automatically share spells if the Animal Companion is within 30 feet, and you can cast touch spells on your Animal Companion with a range of Close (so 25 feet plus 5 feet per 2 levels, and thus 45 feet at caster level 8.)