[3.5] Wizard generalist optimization

[grautry]

Thank you for all the replies. :) Now let's start with the replying on my side.

Just because most IotSV builds use specialized wizards, doesn't mean that you have to.

Yes, I know. I just mentioned it because there's little build advice for IoTSV that don't want to be specialists.

Geometer is just one of easier classes to get into, and you basically get a Boccob's Blessed Book for free.

Actually, how does that work?

BBB costs 12.500 gp and has 1000 pages. Meaning that it costs 12.5gp per page. So you'd need to write spells of level 8 and higher to save money using the Book of Geometry, which still makes BBB better.

Am I missing something here?

Grey Elf (from the MM1, alternate elf in the elf entry) Wizard 6/Geometer 2/IoSV 7/Fatespinner 4/Geometer +1

Um, me? I'd go Gray Elf Generalist Wiz5/DivineOracle2/Loremaster3/Mindbender1/Fatespinner4/Archmage5

Also, see if you can use Spell Compendium for your spell list. There are a lot of real gems out of there over the course of all 20 levels.

Much thanks for the complete build and outlining the coolness of both of those. :) It's far easier to read a list of "how does this really work in play" explained in plain language instead of leafing through a list of stats.

And yes, Spell Compendium is in.

Now, a question: Divine Oracle grants the access to Oracle Domain, but ostensibly is also for arcane spellcasters - does that mean you gain a domain with all the benefits thereof like the Domain Wizard variant? So if my GM okayed it I could potentially have two domains? Or is it something pretty much left to DM fiat?

This begs for Domain wizard. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/cl...ntDomainWizard

You basically get some spells added for free when obtaining a new spell level, you get +1 to the caster level of those spells, an extra spell slot for your domain spells...just read it up.

The best part is, this makes you unable to specialise, so you basically are a pimped up version of the generalist.

If your DM is a moron and actually allows the Transmutation domain, pick it and turn his days into living nightmares.

As I said - it's a rather veteran group that I'm joining so even if I were to choose an incredibly overpowered domain, I'm pretty sure that the DM will be able to supply adequate challenges.

Much thanks for the thought though!

If LA buy off is allowed then you are better off with a Tiefling than a Grey Elf. Grey Elf's only become the super wizard race when you have access to races of the wild (for the racial sub levels), Dragon (for Faerie Mysteries Initiate, Int to HP instead of Con), or Fiendish Codex 1 (for Chaos Shuffle).

RotW yes, Dragon no, Fiendish Codex 1 no. My question is this: how valuable is the Outsider type? Is it worth the LA and the loss of elven generalist level at the beginning?

Or if you don't want to have to make a reflex save vs. thrown MM V (ref. 10+DM's dex mod neg.) or take (1d6+DM's str. mod)bludgeoning/slashing damage, just take leadership, with another generalist wizard. Learn the spells from his spellbook. Make sure he has Collegiate Wizard.

Leadership is banned, unfortunately. To quote my DM "I don't wanna DM for 10 characters.".

That should, in theory, take you through a very long time.

Thanks a lot! The Batman Wizard guide was stuffed with a great number of spells and it's hard to choose between twenty awesome spells for each level. Your suggestions are very appreciated.

Colelgiate Wizard is largely useless because of a little thing called "being able to record scrolls into your spellbook". A Wizard can just buy all the spells he could ever possibly want, and take something useful with that feat instead. Unless Elven Generalist overrides this, I don't see why you need Collegiate Wizard to save you a pittance in GP every level.

Hmm... I found an analysis that details that by level 20 - as I said, we're playing the whole level range - you save up(best case) 89500 gp.

So, which would you choose, 89k gp(potentially) or Spellcasting Prodigy(which as far as I'm aware is the best feat for a wizard at 1st level, or am I mistaken here also?). EDIT: Ah, SC is settings specific. So, that's out anyway.

So far, here's the master plan: Gray Elf Domain Wizard(with elven generalist at lvl 1 - or potentially Tiefling, but we don't have MM 4, just 1-3) then either Divine Oracle or Geometer(depends on how domains are treated), then IotSV finishing off with either Fatespinner or Archmage levels. Seems like a solid plan.

Another question: since Collegiate Wizard and Spellcasting Prodigy are two potentially very valuable feats(and I'm sure I could find something else to occupy the third slot), here's my question: what flaws would you take as a wizard? I'm not too sure whether those will be allowed but I want to cover all my bases.