Can't decide which character to build... (3.P)

[Firechanter]

For a PF campaign with certain 3.5 sources allowed, I am on the fence which character to build. Either way it's supposed to be a full arcane caster.
The other characters will include at least a Beatstick (probably a Paladin or a Warder or something), and maybe something like a Seeker Oracle (who will also cover the Rogue skills), or some other Divine caster if we find a sucker who will act as The Corpse.

Both with Non-Evil alignment.

Concept A
"God/Batman Wizard"
Elf
Wizard chassis

Opposition Schools probably Enchantment and Necromancy; take Opposition Research (Necromancy) at 9th level.

Not a clear build in mind yet; some metamagic, _maybe_ optimized Enervation as offensive tool (with 3.5 Split Ray / Chain Spell / Empower and Arcane Thesis at Level 10). Apart from that, mostly BFC, Buffs, some Debuffs, Utility. Not terribly optimized (yet) all in all, but versatile. You know the drill, learn any number of spells. But maybe yet lacking a certain je ne said quoi.

Concept B
"Snowflake"

Sorcerer,
Arcane Bloodline, (maybe Sage which switches casting stat to Int)]
Silverbrow Human [with PF floating stat bonus] or other Dragonblood

optimized for absurd Save DCs via Snowcasting / Draconic Aura [Cold] / stacking Spell Focuses
Wings of Flurry as signature spell

--> pulling all registers, this one could cast with Save DCs up to 26 by level 8.
(Starting Int 20, Levelups, +2 Item, Spellcasting Prodigy, (Greater) Spell Focus, Draconic Aura, Snowcasting --> DC 22 + Spell level)
By level 15 this would rise to easily DC 29 + SL.

At higher levels, more fun with Aqueous Orb, Defenestrating Sphere and other Save-or-Suck spells.

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I feel the Sorc build would be very powerful, but also somewhat cheesy as it combines some of the best stuff from 3.5 and PF, and using rather nonstandard sources with Dragon Magic and It's Cold Outside. Admittedly I would enjoy playing a caster who can just hammer through all the Saves, but I'm not even sure I can swing it by the DM due to all the nonstandard sources and special treatment required (combining PF Human stat bonuses with 3.5 Silverbrow Human), and if I can I might feel bad about it. :smallwink:


Preferrably, the 3.5 sources used should be limited to: PHB2, Spell Compendium, Complete Arcane, but the Faerun 1st level feats are fine. Other sources by individual permission. Some spells are nixed though, in particular the Celerity and Polymorph lines. Personally I also prefer to avoid Summoning as it tends to steal the other PCs' thunder.
PF sources excluding Occult but including DSP's Path of War.

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So I guess what I'm asking is...
I feel the Wizard concept is lacking some focus or speciality that makes it really attractive. Any suggestions what I should look at? ^^
And what do you think about the Snowflake build, would it be "too much"?

[Kurald Galain]

I'd go with PF's exploiter wizard, and the reason is action economy. In particular, this allows abilities like Dimensional Slide (non-provoking teleport as a move action) and Counterspell (immediate-action countering without having to ready anything). Action economy wins combats.

[Firechanter]

Heh, funny. Just the other day I was involved in a discussion how nice it would be to have immediate action counterspelling in 3E.
Also, I was considering specializing in Conjuration just to get the early teleporting, now you're telling me I can have an even better thing (Move action). Ha!
[Unless I would get the green light on Abrupt Jaunt but I don't suppose that will happen]

Buuuut... so as Exploiter Wizard, I don't get to Specialize, and can't get spells back via Bonded Item... doesn't that mean that my total spells per day will be pretty low? I don't see an exploit that will give me more castings.

Also, can an Exploiter somehow use the Metamixing exploit? ^^

[Kurald Galain]

Buuuut... so as Exploiter Wizard, I don't get to Specialize, and can't get spells back via Bonded Item... doesn't that mean that my total spells per day will be pretty low?
Yes, but you can compensate via Pearls of Power. If you want to go the other way, take Thassilonian Specialist (who gets way more spells per day but doesn't have exploits).


Also, can an Exploiter somehow use the Metamixing exploit? ^^
I don't think so (although a regular Arcanist could).

[Firechanter]

Ah right, Thassilonian is the one with the fixed banned schools, nah that's too painful. The schools being really _banned_ rather than opposed and the fact that each combination contains at least one school that you (normally) really don't wanna lose.

Even though I suppose it would be technically compatible with Exploiter, because Thass never actually says this specialization replaces Arcane School. :smallwink:

Apart from that, almost every AT swaps out Arcane Bond and/or Arcane School... which by PF standards typically signifies that the swapped-out feature is very good and picking such an AT is a trap (like how most Cleric ATs swap out at least one Domain because domains are just crazy good). :smallconfused: Exploiter may be an exception though.
(Note, I've played a PF Wizard only once and that was with a character a friend of mine built, so I don't have a lot of first hand experience really. In PF I've mostly played Divine characters and PoW Initiators.)

[Maat Mons]

Since you mention immediate-action counterspelling in 3e, I'll mention Divine Defiance (Fiendish Codex II, p83).