[3.5] UM Build Help (Feats, Spells)

[Jeff240sx]

Ok, I've got a low-magic campaign, which is apparently low-gold, too. This is pretty harsh on my caster.

Ideally, I'm going to be a Wiz5/MS2/Nar Demonbinder1/Ultimate Magus10/XXX 2.

I have 2 flaws, and took Iron Will and Mother Cyst so that I can qualify for UM with the demonbinder levels.
I'm also conjuration specialized, and took the ACF for Abrupt Jaunt.

First, I'm really quite feat-starved for this whole deal. My Human feat was Focus: Conjuration and have my lvl 1 and 3 to spend. I'd also like to swap Scribe Scroll for a different feat, but forgot what book that comes from.

Now I have 2 or 3 feats left to use. Master Specialist gives me Skill Focus to get into UM.

My important questions:
What 2/3 feats should I get?
What are the best 4 (I dont think I'll be finding scrolls to copy) spells per level? I'd like to blast for a while, we have a gish for buffs and Sleep. So for level 2, I really like Bonefiddle - it goes with the Nectrotic spell line very well. Also Scorching Ray, the definitive blaster spell at low levels.
And finally, what should I spend my last 2 levels in? If it were 4, IotSV would be stellar, but right now, I think Archmage is best, with a SF: Necromancy down the line. But I don't know what 2 abilities is best. Mastery of Counterspelling + an SLA would be cool I think.

My less important question is:
How do I lessen the impact of age as a human?

[Eldariel]

You can survive the Otyugh Hole [Complete Scoundrel] to get Iron Will as a bonus feat. It's an excellent trip and only has a treasure value of couple of thousands so even low gold, it should be doable.

For your feats, pick Collegiate Wizard! It's in Complete Arcane and doubles the amount of spells you gain for free on each level. If you won't be finding scrolls, you either need that, or a Warlock cohort that can craft you those scrolls; otherwise you'll be little more than a fast progression Sorcerer.


Note that you don't need Mother Cyst to qualify for UM; Spontaneous Divination alternative class feature for Wizard (which is fairly awesome) can qualify you too.

Anyways, even if you do pick up some blasting spells (don't forget Augment Casting and Twin Spell/Energy Admixture/any high adjustment metamagic for that), pick some generally useful spells too, especially if starting on low level. On low levels, blasting pretty much sucks while stuff like Grease, Sleep, Color Spray, Glitterdust, Web, Fog Cloud, Ray of Enfeeblement and company rock.

And yeah, Archmage is always a good way to finish out a build. And you don't need more blasting than Scorching Ray, Magic Missile, Enervation and maybe one area effect spell like Scintillating Sphere. Just learn some Energy Substitution or Elven Spell Lore and go to town.


Spell Focus: Necromancy is really pretty bad since the best Necromancy-spells lack save altogether. Transmutation and Evocation (if you plan on actually using it offensively with your CL buffs and such) probably do better on that front.

[Jeff240sx]

You can survive the Otyugh Hole [Complete Scoundrel] to get Iron Will as a bonus feat. It's an excellent trip and only has a treasure value of couple of thousands so even low gold, it should be doable.

Hmm.. no can do. When I said "low gold," at level 4 I'll have a starting package, and 130gp. It's a broken-gold campaign I'm not very happy to be playing.

For your feats, pick Collegiate Wizard! It's in Complete Arcane and doubles the amount of spells you gain for free on each level.

This is a good idea!

Note that you don't need Mother Cyst to qualify for UM; Spontaneous Divination alternative class feature for Wizard (which is fairly awesome) can qualify you too.

Then I'd lose a ton of spell slots for augmenting and only use 1 side of a dual-progression PrC. Or break the game. I'd go for the former first. But the same use of a feat and a lost Wiz level give me a cool flavor and a ton of high level spell slots to cast/use.

Anyways, even if you do pick up some blasting spells (don't forget Augment Casting and Twin Spell/Energy Admixture/any high adjustment metamagic for that), pick some generally useful spells too, especially if starting on low level. On low levels, blasting pretty much sucks while stuff like Grease, Web, Fog Cloud, Ray of Enfeeblement and company rock.

My party has a Beguiller (who, by the way, has easily outshined everyone from 1-3), and the gish-in-progress warblade/wizard, so the low-level utility is more than covered. I really wish Persistent and Adamixture EACH didn't require 2 feats :(

Good call on the Collegiate Wizard feat. I'm mostly looking for obscure or totally worthwhile Metamagic feats, and a good selection of spells per level, because as you said, I'm very close to a Sorcerer with fewer spells :angryface:

[Eldariel]

Hmm.. no can do. When I said "low gold," at level 4 I'll have a starting package, and 130gp. It's a broken-gold campaign I'm not very happy to be playing.

Then...go survive it! If you can't afford it, just do it. Works just as well, as long as you don't get ganked in the process. Some other characters may be interested in proving their courage too, so a party trip to the Otyugh Hole could be a nice move.

Then I'd lose a ton of spell slots for augmenting and only use 1 side of a dual-progression PrC. Or break the game. I'd go for the former first. But the same use of a feat and a lost Wiz level give me a cool flavor and a ton of high level spell slots to cast/use.

My point was that you still use Nar Demonbinder for the spontaneous side; just use Spontaneous Divination to get by the letter of the entrance prerequisites, which requires level 1 spontaneous spells which Demonbinder doesn't have.

My party has a Beguiller (who, by the way, has easily outshined everyone from 1-3), and the gish-in-progress warblade/wizard, so the low-level utility is more than covered. I really wish Persistent and Adamixture EACH didn't require 2 feats :(

You should still pick them up yourself, 'cause they're the low-level spells that remain useful throughout the game so they're the ones you want to be preparing in level 1-2 slots (Grease, Glitterdust and Web in particular - obviously also True Strike, Nerveskitter, Benign Transposition and Invisibility).

Good call on the Collegiate Wizard feat. I'm mostly looking for obscure or totally worthwhile Metamagic feats, and a good selection of spells per level, because as you said, I'm very close to a Sorcerer with fewer spells :angryface:

Best metamagic off the top of my head:
Quicken Spell [PHB] +4
Chain Spell [CArc] +3
Sculpt Spell [CArc] +1
Persistent Spell [CArc] +6
Extend Spell [PHB] +1
Split Ray [CArc] +2
Twin Spell [CArc] +4
Empower Spell [PHB] +2
Energy Admixture [CArc] +4
Reach Spell [CDiv] +1
Born of Three Thunders [CArv] +0
Invisible Spell [City] +0
Repeat Spell [CArc] +3
Maximize Spell [PHB] +3

Take your picks. Quicken Spell is the only one you can't live without, and it just so happens to have no prerequisites so if you're not sure, pick it first and think about others later (it qualifies you for all the "Any Metamagic Feat"-feats from CArc).