Hard time figuring out what PrC to take for a Wizard.

[Korivan]

Yup, you guessed it, I'm stumped. I've narrowed it down to Archmage, Initiate of the Seven Fold Veil, Guild Mage, Incantrix. As it goes, I love the ISFV, but its entry requirements make me cringe a bit. Guild Mage gives me access to pretty much whatever I need in terms of spells. Incantrix combined with Arcane Thesis pretty much lets me...ya, you know. Archmage with certain High Arcania gives me even more versatility on demand. With all those choices and more, its pretty hard too choose...any help with figuring out what is better or what are some really nice choices.

[Yuki Akuma]

There is absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to just one PrC.

Also, if you're a specialist, tacking on a few levels of Master Specialist doesn't hurt.

The wizard's bonus feats aren't that good, and if you really want a strong familiar, take the feat that lets any arcane caster get one - all your arcane levels stack then.

[Eldariel]

Master Specialist: Abjurer really alleviates most of the IotSV requirements. As an added bonus, Master Abjurer actually gets some really sweet abilities ('cause you can never be too good at dispelling and casting personal spells as touch can just be nasty).

So yeah, by the sound of it, you might really enjoy Wizard 3/Master Abjurer 6/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Master Abjurer +4. You can also toss some Archmage in there, especially for Arcane Reach and Mastery of Shaping (both are really nice for an Abjurer). Alternatively, be an Illumian (Krau-sigil to get CL3 from Cleric for Divine Defiance & max CL from Wizard without feat) and toss in one level of Cloistered Cleric for Inquisition Domain and turns for Divine Defiance and become a Counterspell Monster too. That frees up the last levels for Archmage to pick up a bunch of masteries and for going to town.

[quick_comment]

Master Specialist: Abjurer really alleviates most of the IotSV requirements. As an added bonus, Master Abjurer actually gets some really sweet abilities ('cause you can never be too good at dispelling and casting personal spells as touch can just be nasty).

Master Abjurer 7 has one of the best abilities ever. Evasion+ the best form of mettle? Yes please!

[Eldariel]

Master Abjurer 7 has one of the best abilities ever. Evasion+ the best form of mettle? Yes please!

Only for a short duration after you cast each abjuration though; the fineprint is annoying.

[quick_comment]

Only for a short duration after you cast each abjuration though; the fineprint is annoying.

Its long enough though, for most combats. Its not great for an extended battlefield situation, but for a 6 or 7 round fight its perfectly good.

[Eldariel]

Its long enough though, for most combats. Its not great for an extended battlefield situation, but for a 6 or 7 round fight its perfectly good.

Yeah, it's definitely useful, but way more limited than what e.g. I initially thought before reading the fineprint; you gotta cast an abjuration and be aware of attack to gain a use of this, and you have only certain duration.

The Immediate Magic-variant from PHBII fuels it quite nicely, actually, since while the Immediate Magic is weak, it counts as an Abjuration spell.

[Kobold-Bard]

Loremaster is always nice. Not quite as good as the ones you've already got, but its not bad, it is a full caster after all.

[Mordokai]

Malconvoker

But then again, I've lately been obsessed with the PrC, so you might want to take other options in account first

[ZeroNumerous]

The wizard's bonus feats aren't that good, and if you really want a strong familiar, take the feat that lets any arcane caster get one - all your arcane levels stack then.

The ironic thing is: The best use for a familiar is to simply exist and any levels you can shuffle away from empowering it is all for the better.

[KellKheraptis]

The ironic thing is: The best use for a familiar is to simply exist and any levels you can shuffle away from empowering it is all for the better.

The real irony is that as long as you don't lose any caster levels, you can trade away the familiar you get at level 1 and take the feat Obtain Familiar to get a full power one :P

You might also look at Halruuan Elder, especially if you're into buff/debuff. BFC's are nice too when prepped with Circle Magic. If you went Wizard 5/Incantatrix 10/Halruaan Elder 5 for example, you'd be dropping everything from 20th level slots at CL 40, with the potential (with one feat) to get free Reach and Chain spells. That's 40 targets per spell that should usually affect only one. Enervation, anyone?

[Korivan]

Where is Halruuan Elder, and Master Abjurer from? Definatly agree that I'll be dipping in multiple PrC's. Probably wiz 5/????/archmage 1-5.

[KellKheraptis]

Where is Halruuan Elder, and Master Abjurer from? Definatly agree that I'll be dipping in multiple PrC's. Probably wiz 5/????/archmage 1-5.

Halruuan Elder is from UE I believe. Master Specialist is Complete Mage, and truth be told, Archmage is only ever worth it for specific builds if you need a specific high arcana or two. The best archmagi aren't archmages IMO :P

Here's one that requires no retraining, and uses the non-racial variant of the Shadowcraft Mage :

Wizard 5/Mindbender 1/Shadow Adept 1/Shadowcraft Mage 5/Halruuan Elder 5/Incantatrix 3

Why it rocks : You can mimic any spell you want. Yep, that's right, any. Innate Shadow Miracle greater effect FTW :) Oh, and if you become a certain type of giant for a short while you can even nab epic spellcasting, though whether it would stay or not when the polymorph wears off is up to the DM. Thankfully though, you never need to make a spellcraft check if it's a Conjuration or Evocation seed. Guess what...Mythal is Evocation, and can replicate absolutely anything thanks to it's Greater Effect/Major Magical Item ability, for a scant 50,000 points (+50 Spellcraft DC ultimately). But gee...we don't need to roll! End result = your 15 seconds of fame as you do whatever unpleasant thing you want to the powerless campaign world, and then duck behind a (hopefully) handy nearby piece of hard cover as the books and sodas begin to rain down from the other players and DM :P

Seriously though, that build can provide you with bookoo high level slots, at CL 40, with the ability to cast any spell or power in the game. Ultimate versatility and near guaranteed successful casting with immunity to standard AMF/Dead Magic Zones = WIN, even without the epic cheese.

[Korivan]

next question, what book is UE?

[ZeroNumerous]

The real irony is that as long as you don't lose any caster levels, you can trade away the familiar you get at level 1 and take the feat Obtain Familiar to get a full power one :P

But why would you? It's a wasted feat. Unless you're Chaos Shuffling there's not a lot of feats you'll have left after qualifying for Archmage or IotSV. You could ignore this if you're an Incantatrix though.

[evil-frosty]

next question, what book is UE?

I believe it is Unapproachable East

[KellKheraptis]

But why would you? It's a wasted feat. Unless you're Chaos Shuffling there's not a lot of feats you'll have left after qualifying for Archmage or IotSV. You could ignore this if you're an Incantatrix though.

If you're a familiar kind of dude, it's better than the base one. Though personally I'm looking at a +4 initiative or +8 if I'm an elf, and not a whole lot more. My current one is core only, but at least that's cool since he speaks Infernal (raven).

[Korivan]

I believe it is Unapproachable East

Great, just when I think I've collected the last useful, non-adventuring campaign book, someone tosses me a new one. LET THE HUNT COMENCE!!!!
85+ books and counting.

[Doc Roc]

Hey Kell!

A new Challenger Approachs:

Doctor Rocktopus!




for PrCs....

I recommend Iot7v + Master specialist abjurer

OR

War Weaver + Incantatrix

[KellKheraptis]

Hey Kell!

A new Challenger Approachs:

Doctor Rocktopus!




for PrCs....

I recommend Iot7v + Master specialist abjurer

OR

War Weaver + Incantatrix

Hey Doc! I figured that was you, from a previous thread refering to "my build Algernon" :P I might have mentioned War Weaver in this thread, and if I didn't, I'm a big advocate of combining it with Incantatrix and a means of Circle Magic, also. Breaking action economy = sexy.

[Keld Denar]

Gotta love the 339 mass exodus. I've seen Tshern around, and PlzBrkMyCmpn or whatever his name is. I was never a big name over there, but I've posted some under Wyvernhand.

Anyway, on topic...Master Abjurer is actually Master Specialist (CMage) on an Abjurer base. Since each Master Specialist gets a bunch of unique abilities depending on specialty, its easiest just to refer to them as their speciality, IE, Master Abjurer, or Master Conjourer.

[Vizzerdrix]

I c an't say enough good things about the Metaphysical Spellshaper, especially if you ever want to use any amount of meta magics.

[KellKheraptis]

I c an't say enough good things about the Metaphysical Spellshaper, especially if you ever want to use any amount of meta magics.

Wow, I play arcane casters almost exclusively, and that's a new one on me. Where is it from? And more importantly, can it top Incantatrix for raw metamagic power?

[Vizzerdrix]

Can it top Incanatrix? no, but it can make is Oh so much better and is only 3 levels long (as in, consists of 3 levels, then ends, not only has three useful levels)

As for where it is, Umm... Book or Erotic Fantasy has it for some reason that I can't fathom, as it lacks anything, well, erotic.

Over it's three levels you get a free metamagic feat, the ability to spontaneously apply meta magics by taking ability damage, and lower costs for applying metamagics. Entry is a few skill ranks in skills you'll normally keep maxed out anyways and two meta magic feats.

[KellKheraptis]

Can it top Incanatrix? no, but it can make is Oh so much better and is only 3 levels long (as in, consists of 3 levels, then ends, not only has three useful levels)

As for where it is, Umm... Book or Erotic Fantasy has it for some reason that I can't fathom, as it lacks anything, well, erotic.

Over it's three levels you get a free metamagic feat, the ability to spontaneously apply meta magics by taking ability damage, and lower costs for applying metamagics. Entry is a few skill ranks in skills you'll normally keep maxed out anyways and two meta magic feats.

I'll have to dig that one up then...can you remember if it's got the Hellfire Warlock clause about ability damage, or is it ignorable?

[Vizzerdrix]

It mentions something about healing damage, nothing else.

[KellKheraptis]

It mentions something about healing damage, nothing else.

Yep, resists being healed, but says nothing about not working if you're immune. And hell, since the main use of the level 1 ability IMO is Persist Buffing, who says you can't prebuff your stats and then let it eat your buffed stats (assuming you aren't immune, of course)? Even better, their last level is basically the same as the capstone of Incantatrix and Dweomerkeeper. Good find, and hopefully I can get it into the game I play in on Sundays :D

[shoelessinsight]

Great, just when I think I've collected the last useful, non-adventuring campaign book, someone tosses me a new one. LET THE HUNT COMENCE!!!!
85+ books and counting.

I don't think the Halruuan Elder is in Unapproachable East. Instead, I think it's in Shining South, another Forgotten Realms book.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prestige_classes has been my best friend of late in locating all those prestige classes that get tossed around on the boards.

[Tyndmyr]

Yup, you guessed it, I'm stumped. I've narrowed it down to Archmage, Initiate of the Seven Fold Veil, Guild Mage, Incantrix. As it goes, I love the ISFV, but its entry requirements make me cringe a bit. Guild Mage gives me access to pretty much whatever I need in terms of spells. Incantrix combined with Arcane Thesis pretty much lets me...ya, you know. Archmage with certain High Arcania gives me even more versatility on demand. With all those choices and more, its pretty hard too choose...any help with figuring out what is better or what are some really nice choices.

I know, Im terrible at making decisions too. In my RL game atm, Im working on an incantrix/IOT7V...absolutely killer in the feat department. The metamagic requirement ain't bad, but iron will is a bit of a waste, and the abjuration focus....yeah.

[Korivan]

I know, Im terrible at making decisions too. In my RL game atm, Im working on an incantrix/IOT7V...absolutely killer in the feat department. The metamagic requirement ain't bad, but iron will is a bit of a waste, and the abjuration focus....yeah.

Nice. But ya, the same reason I love having switched from 2nd to 3rd is the choices. So many builds, so little time. I've checked out everything people here have suggested and guess what...EVEN MORE ideas I want to try. And this is just dealing with wizards. I havn't even got to tryout the clerics or druids yet.

Quick question(s): If anyone here has played the Arcane Scholar of Candlekeep from NeverWinter Nights 2, can someone tell me if they got that from a book or source? I can't find it anywhere, and its, well, its really just an alternative if a dm ever bans incantrix.