Passing myself off as a Wizard

[Draz74]

Inspired by the "Gandalf is actually a Factotum" theory ...

How would I go about making a Factotum character that can pass himself off convincingly as a Wizard?

Gray Elf (so Chameleon is out, although it wouldn't have helped at levels 1-5 anyway). Multiclassing is allowed but multiclassing penalties are being enforced, so that makes a dip in Binder or Warlock a bad idea. Reserve Feats have been ruled not to work with Factotum spellcasting.

Of course, a few times per day I can throw down some awesome wizard spell like Solid Fog or Glitterdust. But that still leaves a lot of empty rounds to fill in a typical party's day. UMD'd wands can fill some of those rounds, but using wands constantly isn't economically viable ... is it? (Hmmm. Eternal Wands, need to think about them more.)

I guess I'm looking for something a nonmagical character can do in a typical round that still feels Wizard-ish. If it is something that benefits from Knowledge Devotion bonuses, all the better.

(Is there any way learning a bunch of Desert Wind stuff via Martial Study, Martial Stance, and Cloak of the Desert Wind would actually be powerful?)

[Jayngfet]

Carry around lots of potions and scrolls. Low level stuff that's effective, some of which has a flashy effect. It involves strange liquids and magical writings and no one can tell you otherwise.

[sonofzeal]

Factotums dip other things easily and naturally, given the flavour. Grab a level or two of Swordsage and maybe Warlock and DFA (Entangling Exhalation!) too if you don't care about your BAB. Having the right low-level tool for the job is often better than having a lot of high-level tools.

[PhoenixRivers]

You know what Gandalf did during those empty rounds?

He walked around with a lit staff, or charged down a hillside with the cavalry.

[Dixieboy]

Factotums dip other things easily and naturally, given the flavour. Grab a level or two of Swordsage and maybe Warlock and DFA (Entangling Exhalation!) too if you don't care about your BAB. Having the right low-level tool for the job is often better than having a lot of high-level tools.

Multiclassing penalties hurt IIRC.

[Draz74]

You know what Gandalf did during those empty rounds?

He walked around with a lit staff, or charged down a hillside with the cavalry.

Well, he actually fought with a sword quite a bit (even when not riding Shadowfax, like in Moria).

Maybe I should just be OK with that, and pull out a longsword and wade into melee ...

[PhoenixRivers]

Well, he actually fought with a sword quite a bit (even when not riding Shadowfax, like in Moria).

Maybe I should just be OK with that, and pull out a longsword and wade into melee ...

That's usually the reason that he's viewed as a Factotum. His casting was rare.

[Mongoose87]

Multiclassing penalties hurt IIRC.

If you play with them. Which most don't.

[PhoenixRivers]

Gray Elf (so Chameleon is out, although it wouldn't have helped at levels 1-5 anyway). Multiclassing is allowed but multiclassing penalties are being enforced, so that makes a dip in Binder or Warlock a bad idea.

The OP does. As a matter of fact, he shot down one of son's suggestions in the opening post.

[LurkerInPlayground]

I'm not exactly sure what factotum has in it.

But uhh . . . how about multiclassing to wizard anyway?

The Vancian spellcaster is supposed to be a guy who just practices an especially esoteric science. An arcane science, if you will. No reason that you can't just fluff his spells as having material components involving purpose-built devices.

Hell, it doesn't even have to make modern scientific sense. That's sort of the point. Waving the (mechanical) staff around works. You need the lit incense and braziers. Or the weird little array of mirrors. Or the essence of some exotic herb.

Depending on how sci-fi you want to get, the Shield spell may even require a forcefield generator of some sort. A whirling array of crystals, gears and arcing electricity in a metal housing that burns out after the "spell" is cast.

[Draz74]

I'm not exactly sure what factotum has in it.

But uhh . . . how about multiclassing to wizard anyway?

Yeah, I thought of that, but I worry that a Wizard dip will just make the character weak.

[LurkerInPlayground]

So what is exactly wrong with pure factotum, if you don't mind me asking out of curiosity?

[PhoenixRivers]

Yeah, I thought of that, but I worry that a Wizard dip will just make the character weak.

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Those are words I never expected to ever read.

[Ernir]

How about a mostly-even split between Swordsage and Factotum? Not the best stat synergy ever, but you could get something like... 8th level manouvers and the Factotum's extra standard action.

Warblade would synergize much better. Any chance of talking the DM into giving the Warblade Desert Wind? It's often considered one of the weaker disciplines, it might be a possible sell.



As for the Factotum class itself... uh, wands and magic trinkets at the ready at all times, save your spells for when they can be used to maximum effectiveness, and the rest of the time cast Light on your sword and try to scare people away without a fight?

[LurkerInPlayground]

Hmm. I still vote for the wizard/factotum multiclass.

Simple and straightforward. Fits the Vancian flavor.

[sonofzeal]

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Those are words I never expected to ever read.

No, no, it's entirely true. Wizards are great, but they're great if you don't sacrifice caster levels. Multiclassing into Wizard is usually one of the worst things you can do, from an optimization standpoint. Your caster level is way too far behind to be respectable, and you gain virtually no boost to your ability to do anything else.

(edit) ....that said, if you handle it right then it can work. Pearls of Power are a necessity, though.

[Draz74]

So what is exactly wrong with pure factotum, if you don't mind me asking out of curiosity?

Nothing, I'm just wondering if there are cool ways to give him high-endurance (but level-appropriate) magic abilities that I haven't thought of. Feats, PrCs, items ... or better ways to utilize a Wizard dip so that it won't be useless. (Like, are there any Reserve Feats that actually scale well, that you can get with 1 Wizard level?)

Fluff suggestions are appreciated too. If this character does end up swinging a longsword around, how can I make that seem more wizard-friendly? (Maybe he should throw Returning daggers as his main attack? Hmmm.)

Warblade would synergize much better. Any chance of talking the DM into giving the Warblade Desert Wind? It's often considered one of the weaker disciplines, it might be a possible sell.

Heh. If this were an actual game instead of a theoretical build exercise, I'd have to give that a try.

[Myou]

Gandalf was a celestial. Even in the books he was no more a wizard than Miko a samurai.

[Curmudgeon]

If you play with them. Which most don't.

I'd dispute this claim. All of the people I game with play by the multiclassing rules, and so does everybody in the RPGA. That's a lot of gamers on the opposite side from your "most".

[Fitz]

well in literature when not casting "uberspell" of doom, most wizards are explaining wierd plot related information.....so pump up those knowlege skills?
or is this supposed to be a d & d wizards who doesn't need a party but defeats every foe on his own ;-)

Fitz

[Telonius]

A couple possibilities for "fake wizards" come to mind.

- Master of Masks PrC, Archmage mask.
- Chameleon PrC
- Charlatan PrC (from Dragon 335 p62)
- Item: Cape of the Mountebank

There are also a bunch of feats from Complete Arcane that let you cast 3 low-level spells per day as Spell-Like Abilities.

[mabriss lethe]

Some ideas that don't involve risking that multi-classing exp penalty:

Pick up a few low level ToB maneuver items like the desert wind and shadow hand toys. It would give you some neat and nasty wizardy tricks.

Pick up the binding feats from ToM. Yes, the powers are...minor, but still somewhat useful.

Several feats grant access to a handful of 1/day Spell-like abilities. Anything from the "Necropolis born/nighthaunt/spellhand/whatever" line of feats in complete arcane. they're not particularly useful at high levels, because of fixed caster level, but they can be lifesavers in low level play. there are a few from the various X heritage feats that can be pretty good if you actually devote yourself to spending a couple of feats to get them. Fey Legacy is pretty darned good. Summon Nature's Ally 5/Dimension Door/Confusion each once per day has saved one of my characters more times than I can count.

Several Prestige Classes grant their own spellcasting progression. No multiclass penalties for entering a prestige. I couldn't guess off the top of my head which ones a factotum would easily qualify for, but it's an idea.

[jiriku]

eyes of charming, eyes of petrification, hat of disguise, monocle of perusal (is that the name? it's the one that casts identify). hand of glory. boots of levitation. boots of teleportation. broom or carpet or wings of flying. cloak of the bat. crystal ball.

Basically, flip to any random page in the DMG wondrous item listing and you'll find items that create a magical effect either at will or repeatedly throughout the day. Dump your WBL on these and you'll be throwing magical effects all the time.

[Ernir]

Heh. If this were an actual game instead of a theoretical build exercise, I'd have to give that a try.

Ooo, theoretical. Thought this was a low-level Factotum you had.

How about the Phrenic template?

[Starbuck_II]

No, no, it's entirely true. Wizards are great, but they're great if you don't sacrifice caster levels. Multiclassing into Wizard is usually one of the worst things you can do, from an optimization standpoint. Your caster level is way too far behind to be respectable, and you gain virtually no boost to your ability to do anything else.

Nah, a Factorum 1 /Wizard 1 Conj specialist (ACF: Arupt Jump)/Factorum X, a Factorum who can teleport as a immediate action 10 ft.
Spells aren't the major benefit. Class features are.

[subject42]

Mechanicals aside, make sure that you have spell storing weapons, rings of counterspelling, and a large book on you at all times.

You can look pretty convincing if you do it right.

[Lycanthromancer]

Just make sure you're immune to force damage, and fill the book full of explosive runes. You now have a Holy Hand-Grenade of Antioch at your disposal.

Just add dispel magic and stir.

[Tyndmyr]

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Those are words I never expected to ever read.

Im not surprised. The only thing one level of wizard gets you is a familiar and scribe scroll. The cantrips and level 1 spell slots are probably not all that big of a deal...at least, not worthy of trading factotum progression and xp penalties for.

That said, elves have wizard as a favored class. Thus, xp penalties should be irrelevant regardless, no?

Probably still more useful to just invest in eternal wands, though. Even normal wands can be quite cheap, for things you don't use that much. I mean, does it really matter if your wand of Tenser's floating disk is eternal or not? You're probably never going to use all fifty charges, and if you do...well, you probably came across a very unique encounter which required you to use them all at once.

Also, Pearls of Power. A cheap way to increase your casts per day.

[Draz74]

Im not surprised. The only thing one level of wizard gets you is a familiar and scribe scroll. The cantrips and level 1 spell slots are probably not all that big of a deal...at least, not worthy of trading factotum progression and xp penalties for.

That said, elves have wizard as a favored class. Thus, xp penalties should be irrelevant regardless, no?

Right, unlike other dips, Wizard will cause no XP penalties.

However, like you say, the cantrips and Level 1 spell aren't all that helpful. However, Abrupt Jaunt just might be worth a one-level dip -- thanks to whoever pointed that out. I'll consider it.

Also, Pearls of Power. A cheap way to increase your casts per day.

Huh, do those actually work for Factotums by RAW (in the way that Reserve Feats don't)? Factotum is such a fun class, but (especially Arcane Dilettante) so poorly written ...

I'm strongly considering a one-level dip in Master of Masks, and somewhat considering a dip in Conjurer for Abrupt Jaunt, but I may just stick with Factotum all the way, and rely on wands a lot.

[LurkerInPlayground]

Isn't there a feat that raises your caster level by 4 (assuming your CL doesn't exceed your actual character level by this feat)? Practiced Spellcaster or something like that? Complete Arcane?