My Level 1 Halfling Wizard, your thoughts?

[Darrin]

I'm currently contemplating either specializing in divination and dropping evocation or specializing in transmutation and dropping evocation and enchantment. I've always been stuck playing blaster mages, and I thought it'd be fun to try this newer "direct damage is suboptimal" approach to wizards.

I'm thinking of spending my skill points on knowledge, concentration, decipher script, and then taking additional languages with the remaining skill points. While I know I could use magic to understand all languages, RP wise I think it would be cool if my diminuitive wizard actually knew a boatload of languages rather than having to rely on spellcasting. I'm aiming to make this guy a peacemaker who tries to make friends with all civilized races and learn about their culture and such.

If you want to influence other people, then keep Enchantment, drop Conjuration instead. You can get those nifty Evocation/Conjuration spells later with Shadow Evocation and Shadow Conjuration. If you're going the "social engineering" route, consider Sorcerer instead of Wizard, since a high Cha will help on those Diplomacy and Bluff rolls.

Avoid direct damage spells... yes, the +1 bonus for small size helps with rays, but if you're going to specialize in rays, then focus on the ability damage/suck/lose special effects stuff. If you really want to optimize a spellcaster with ranged attack bonuses, Druid's a bit stronger pick (you get your +1 size bonus and +1 thrown weapon bonus on slings, magic stone, produce flame, etc.).

I really am not sure how to spend my 1st level feat.

Extend Spell is most useful at the lower levels, and helps qualify for Persistent Metamagic cheese down the road.

Otherwise... if you're trying to build a Diplomat, then a feat that gives you Diplomacy as a class skill would be pretty essential:

Noble Born (Dragon #333) - Diplomacy and Knowledge (Nobility & Royalty) become class skills. Only available at 1st level.