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View Full Version : What is your favorite Wizard build



DareTheRogue
2008-05-22, 05:12 PM
So we all have at least looked at the Wizard. And most agree that they can be if optimized the essential party member. You can play without one, but in personal opinion I have to have one in my party, optimized or not. Well what is your favorite Wizard build, that is not necessarily made for optimization, but for fun, for the party, for play, and all together something you enjoy?

Plz don't say Batman 100 times cause we all know that people like Batman.

Emperor Tippy
2008-05-22, 05:30 PM
Cindy with Poke'Balls.

Innis Cabal
2008-05-22, 05:32 PM
i dislike batman, it takes the fun out of the game

im really partial to multi-casters for one, wizard/warlock sorcerer/warlock is a build i like playing, wizard/druid/Arch Heriophant is another

DareTheRogue
2008-05-22, 05:32 PM
Well now that the topic is up here is mine:

He finished off the campaign at level 14.
Dwarf Wizard 4/Fighter 1/Runesmith 3/Geometer 3/Fatespinner 3
He would put 1 spell per spell level on the back of his shield everyday, all the rest of his spells were prepared for the other party members to cast, using the Runesmith's shared runes ability. tossing out his spin to make the few spells he cast harder to resist and then standing in combat soaking up attacks wearing +5 full-plate and AC boasting items, RoP +4, Amulet Nat armor +4, and his trusted +5 Steel Tower Shield. He rarely ever took anything down in melee but instead watched the other party members cast his spells for him. When he wasn't doing that he would stand with the ranger handing him Smiting arrows, combust or shivering touch. He role played well too, with the whole dumping charisma... wait I dumped an 8 in charisma, now I have a 6, well that will make this so fun. He was not all powerful and not played to optimized results but oh so much fun, Just a little dwarf standing in the middle of combat yelling at everything that they completely suck at hitting things, of course he never did hit back.

mostlyharmful
2008-05-22, 05:39 PM
Personally I'm a fan of a straight WizX build. ok, it's not fullbore powerwhoomping PrC fun, but it's quite complecated enough thank you and unarguably core and still more than strong enough to compete vs anything else short of a carefully planned Batman. Maybe a level or two of archmage for fun tweeks and fluff, meh... :smallsmile: I've always had fun with the basic mechanic rather than the min-max-ification monster

DareTheRogue
2008-05-22, 05:40 PM
Cabal my current wizard is actually going to be taking his first Arcane hierophant level very soon, he is Wizard 5/Druid 4 atm and I don't doesn't Wild Shape ability, more just sling a double spell list and have a big beasty, even if the spell lists dont hit 9th level

Kurald Galain
2008-05-22, 05:41 PM
(1) Transmuter / spellthief / unseen trickster

(2) Focused master specialist necromancer / mage of the arcane order / archmage

(3) Conjurer / beguiler / ultimate magus

Edea
2008-05-22, 05:49 PM
Sadly I'm one of those entirely unoriginal people who pretty much default into Incantatar and Shadowcraft Mage (when available). Straight Wizard builds are also perfectly acceptable. I love metamagic.

BRC
2008-05-22, 05:49 PM
The one with the spells, ya know, and the book, and the preparation stuff.

Eldariel
2008-05-22, 05:51 PM
Incantatrix. Without Spellcraft boosters, it's merely überstrong instead of downright in the middle broken. Personal favourite would probably be Whisper Gnome Illusionist 5/Incantatrix 10/Shadowcraft Mage 5. I'll have to say I very much enjoy Wizard 3/Master Specialist 10/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7 too since I get to finish Master Specialist.

Although I do like FS: Conjurer/Nar Demonbinder/Ultimate Magus too (Spontaneous Divination qualification). Also, I like many kinds of gishes, but they really suck before level ~10 or so, and they aren't really Wizards so I'm not listing them here.


Edit: Oh yeah, Enchantresses are awesome too, although they need highish Charisma to work. Enchantress/Incantatrix/Fatespinner (finishing off with a level of Archmage) is an awesome character to play if one can pull off the stats. Occasionally I even enjoy multiclassing for the social skills and taking some Unseen Seer.

Swooper
2008-05-22, 06:09 PM
Personally, I like Wiz 5/MotAO 7/Geometer 2/Fatespinner 4/Archmage 4. But that's a bit convoluted I suppose, and not for everyone.

Draz74
2008-05-22, 06:21 PM
Right now I'm playing a Rogue 1/Wizard 5, going into Loremaster. He's a pacifist -- no damaging or "violent" spells allowed. (This includes, for example, Enervation or any Death spells.) It's fun, even if the party sometimes gets annoyed with my pacifism.

If I have flexible options from a number of books, I'd actually prefer not to use the Wizard class. I love spontaneous casting, and I'm not a huge Vancian fan either. So I'd prefer Warlock, Dragonfire Adept, Psion, Factotum, or Sorcerer.

If I have to be an actual Wizard, I have a hard time finding PrCs that are neither too powerful (Incantrix, IotSFV, Abjurant Champ, Shadowcraft ...) nor too gimped (Master of Unseen Hand ...). The core options are actually pretty well-balanced, as Wizard PrCs go. Anima Mage could be fun, too, for an evil campaign. Fatespinner looks all right, too.

marjan
2008-05-22, 06:47 PM
Unseen Seer is so far the most interesting wizard build I've played (played wizard only 3 times so far). And the one I would like to try is Malkonvoker (I have a feeling i spelled this incorrectly).

riddles
2008-05-23, 03:14 AM
focused specialist transmuter

threatening to turn your party members into toads when they irritate you is great fun

bosssmiley
2008-05-23, 04:29 AM
I dislike batman, it takes the fun out of the game

It really doesn't if used right. You get to use your ingenuity and game knowledge to make your buddies look cooler and more heroic; how is this not awesome (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome)?

Fave build: Wiz7/Loremaster6/Archmage5 (I'm old school like that)
or
Wiz7/Mage of the Arcane Ordern (for Unseen University six large meals a day WIN!)

Gorbash
2008-05-23, 04:30 AM
Well, since this is the first time I've seriously played a wizard (ie. more than 3 sessions), I guess this is my favourite build. Gnome Wizard 7/Earth Dreamer 3, and eventually he'll be Wizard 10/Earth Dreamer 5/Archmage 5. I just love the Earthly feel about him, and it fits well in the background. Although, now he's starting to be power-hungry in the desire to find/kill the Bone Devil who killed him.

Moak
2008-05-23, 04:34 AM
Something core,and very linear...

Wizard/Loremaster/Archmage

Preferibly Grey Elf with the generalist sub level...

Illiterate Scribe
2008-05-23, 04:37 AM
Erudite 20 with spell to power.

What?

Roderick_BR
2008-05-23, 06:39 AM
My favourite caster thus far was a specialist wizard (evocation)/blood magus, with tons of scrolls, wands, and even some spells written on his own skin, plus some magic itens that allowed him to store spells for others in his group to use. He was the group's heavy artilhary.
And yes, he was highly unoptimized, being an evoker and taking a PrC that loses caster levels :smalltongue: At first I didn't think about getting that PrC, but after some events in-game, I thought it would fit pefectly.
He still managed to break the game a few times, since my DM didn't knew how to use magic and special abilities from monsters well at the time. He wisened up since then.

NephandiMan
2008-05-23, 07:44 AM
For core-only games, Wizard 7/Loremaster 10/Archmage 3. I find I can get the powers I want with just three levels of Archmage, and there's something intrinsically amusing about someone even geekier than an average wizard. Ten levels geekier, in fact - but when the party needs some obscure bit of lore and can't find a bard, it feels like ten levels of sheer badass.

If we're going outside of core, I like Wizard 4/Sorcerer 1/Ultimate Magus 10/Wizard 5. Sure, it loses ninth-level spells, but with all its powers, I don't fracking care. Metamagic out the wazoo, almost all the versatility of the pure Batman, the same number of feats you would get as a 20th-level wizard (sure, you don't have the option of taking craft feats, but I've never crafted anyway), and for only one hard level in sorcerer, I can cast up to 5th-level sorc spells. Oh, and my CL is 15 for sorc and 20 for wizard before any item bonuses.

*sits back and waits for people to tell him how he's gimped himself by not taking full caster progression*

SamTheCleric
2008-05-23, 07:56 AM
Wizard 5/Divine Oracle 2/Loremaster 10/Archmage 3

or

Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Iot7FV 7

:)

Ecalsneerg
2008-05-23, 08:10 AM
Wizard 3/Psion 3/Cerebremancer 10/Wizard 2/Archmage 2?

Leon
2008-05-23, 08:29 AM
I'd very much like to try out a Druid/Conjurer (Rapid Summon variant)/Arcane Hierophant

or a Archivist/Wizard/Mystic Theurge

Telonius
2008-05-23, 08:38 AM
Wizard10/Loremaster10. I like playing know-it-alls.

FMArthur
2008-05-23, 04:05 PM
Enfeeblemancer. :smallbiggrin:

inthesto
2008-05-23, 04:32 PM
Anything that includes War Weaver.

ahammer
2008-05-23, 05:27 PM
i like may favor soul/sorcerer mistic theage

with pacticed spellcaster just as cast same power spells just 2 spell level lower then if I had on class

worked well for my group as no one wanted to play

spell casters or healers

Temp.
2008-05-23, 09:58 PM
If we're going outside of core, I like Wizard 4/Sorcerer 1/Ultimate Magus 10/Wizard 5. Sure, it loses ninth-level spells, but with all its powers, I don't fracking care. Metamagic out the wazoo, almost all the versatility of the pure Batman, the same number of feats you would get as a 20th-level wizard (sure, you don't have the option of taking craft feats, but I've never crafted anyway), and for only one hard level in sorcerer, I can cast up to 5th-level sorc spells. Oh, and my CL is 15 for sorc and 20 for wizard before any item bonuses.

*sits back and waits for people to tell him how he's gimped himself by not taking full caster progression*If you take Practiced Spellcaster on your spontaneous side before entry, you only lose two Wizard levels. That means keeping 9th level spells on top of the other stuff.


My favorite build is a pretty standard Rogue 1/Focused Transmuter 5/Unseen Seer 10/Arcane Trickster 4, banning Enchantment, Evocation and Necromancy. Wizard level 5 is used for the Destiny, Fate, Inquisition or Luck Domain ability. (AT Levels and Wizard 5 arranged within US levels to pick whichever non-Wizard Divinations strike my fancy at the time.)

The key here, in my experience, is the familiar. The shared skill ranks bit is invaluable for apparent reasons. I'm also a fan of using Improved Familiar for an Imp. (The Polymorph uses are justification enough, in my mind. The handy racial abilities and that Imps sharing my UMD ranks is more acceptable for other players than Ravens doing the same are just gravy.)

And I know Master Spellthief is an option these boards fancy, but I find it wholly unappealing. Because Unseen Seers are obligated to take Practiced Spellcaster, the caster-level boost is irrelevant. Because reducing the number of 2nd-level spells enemy casters have available is a joke, that doesn't influence my decision. And because Mithral Twilight Chain Shirts are cheap, I see no need to blow a feat on armor. I much prefer the improved skills granted by the Rogue class.

ahammer
2008-05-23, 10:03 PM
[QUOTE=Temp.;4362430]If you take Practiced Spellcaster on your spontaneous side before entry, you only lose two Wizard levels. That means keeping 9th level spells on top of the other stuff.
[\QUOTE]

does not work that way you only get the power to cast the spell as if it was 4 level higher. ie spells that depend on level like fireball

you still can only cast the same spells you had before you got the skill.

Temp.
2008-05-23, 10:18 PM
does not work that way you only get the power to cast the spell as if it was 4 level higher. ie spells that depend on level like fireballSorcerer becomes the casting class in which you have the most effective levels (5 vs. 4 upon entry to the class). This means 9/10 Ultimate Magus levels improve your Wizard casting instead of the 7/10 which would without Practiced Spellcaster.

ahammer
2008-05-23, 10:23 PM
it still does not let you cast 9th level spells if you could not before

becuse it only effects (per level effects) not what spells you know or how many you can cast.

tyckspoon
2008-05-23, 10:27 PM
Force Missile Mage and then casting PrC's to taste. Maybe Incantatrix for metamagic cheesed Magic Missiles of doom. Argent Savant, perhaps, just to continue the 'force' thing. Not especially optimal (well, you know, except for Incantatrix, which can't really help but improve the optimization average of a build) but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has a soft spot for Magic Missile.

Temp.
2008-05-23, 11:00 PM
it still does not let you cast 9th level spells if you could not before

becuse it only effects (per level effects) not what spells you know or how many you can cast.You misunderstand. Practiced Spellcaster is not being used on the Wizard side. It is being used on Sorcerer(/Beguiler) before entering the class.

By picking Practiced Spellcaster on your sorcerer side, Wizard becomes your casting class with the lowest CL. This means Wizard casting is advanced in UM levels 1-6, 8, 9 and 10 (see the Ultimate Magus excerpt spoilered below). Without the Practiced Spellcaster trick, it is only advanced in levels 2,3,5,6,8,9 and 10.


At each level except 1st, 4th, and 7th, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in both a prepared arcane casting class and a spontaneous arcane casting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of those classes would have gained.

At 1st, 4th, and 7th level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in your arcane spellcasting class with the lowest caster level. Source (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061010a&page=3)

[/tangent]

I'm also a big fan of Focused Specialist 5/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 5. Even for Evokers. MS covers the worst Archmage prerequisite and shares another, making the transition very simple.

monty
2008-05-23, 11:09 PM
The Killer Chameleon. Standard Killer Gnome cheese as a changeling (requires DM permission for the adaptation) plus Recaster. Not as optimized as some of the other builds (Recaster costs you 1 caster level) but it's flavoriffic.

DareTheRogue
2008-05-24, 12:18 AM
Well if we are going with the Ultimate Magus Idea the we go:
Focused Specialist Abjurer 1 Feat: Precocious Apprentice
Sorc 1
Wizard 2 Feat: Practiced Spellcaster (Sorc)
Ultimate Magus 1-10
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 1-7

But this is MEAN and so hardcore optimizing in my book, 19th level Wizard Spells, and 11th level Sorc Spells... plus IotSV to top it...


No my fun Wizard idea is Focused Specialist Abjurer 5/Master Specialist 10/Abjurant Champion 5

Lost Light
2008-05-24, 12:18 AM
I'm quite fond of Evokers myself, despite all the naysayers. Not much of a batman fan myself but that's probably because I dislike in general spells that don't apply to almost any situation.

My last wizard was a Wiz/Clr/MysticTheurge and I had lots of fun with him too.

Eldariel
2008-05-24, 12:31 AM
Well if we are going with the Ultimate Magus Idea the we go:
Focused Specialist Abjurer 1 Feat: Precocious Apprentice
Sorc 1
Wizard 2 Feat: Practiced Spellcaster (Sorc)
Ultimate Magus 1-10
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 1-7

But this is MEAN and so hardcore optimizing in my book, 19th level Wizard Spells, and 11th level Sorc Spells... plus IotSV to top it...


No my fun Wizard idea is Focused Specialist Abjurer 5/Master Specialist 10/Abjurant Champion 5

If you want an optimized Ultimate Magus, this is for you:
Wizard 5/Incantatrix 3/Nar Demonbinder 1/UM 10/Incantatrix +1

You get 8th level spellcasting from Nar Demonbinder (since it's only a 7-level Prestige) at obscene caster level, and 1-to-full Wizard casting. Also, you'll have Blasphemy/Holy Word/company on your list with a class that increases your caster level ridiculously high (and Spell Resistance too). Oh, and you're an Incantatrix with the ability to Persist stuff; that means a lot of metamagic between Augmented Casting and Incantatrix abilities.

Oh yeah, and you get a Fiendish Familiar for free from Demonbinder so you can trade your normal for something useful. Alternatively, you could also replace the last level with Archmage instead of Incantatrix (Incantatrix gets a metamagic feat level 4, but archmage has a juicy collection of abilities) and take more Spell Power (+5!) or Mastery of Shaping or Arcane Reach (although since you're a metamagic specialist, using Reach Spell is no problem).

The only problem with that build is that it requires high scores as you need both, an obscene Int and a high Cha. To get by that, you need to go Wizard/Beguiler, but that's not even in the same ballpark as a Wizard/Nar Demonbinder, even with early entry cheese as Beguiler's spells are pretty much only good for augmenting. Demonbinder expands your spell list, gives you a new Familiar and is all-around awesome. Oh yeah, and it's a fast progression class. Only thing sweeter would be Sublime Chord, but that loses too much Wizard-casting to be worth it (gotta take Bard too).

Edan
2008-05-24, 12:37 AM
Before I got my hands on PH2 and the beguiler, I loved to play specialized wizards in enchantment or illusion, going into archmage. I just loved the ability to be a magnificent bastard and manipulate my way to the top.

throtecutter
2008-05-24, 12:28 PM
I have always liked
Wizard 6/ Fighter 1/ Arcane Archer 2/ Eldritch Knight 10
With the Archmage I like Mastery of shaping
He can also use a bow well.

Nothing says fun like using Prismatic spray from a mile away.

I am another person who has sinned and doesn't mind losing caster levels.