good prestige class for a wizard

[awa]

looking for a good prestige class for a wizard the class must come from either core or one of the complete books

The ideal prestige class will be gained by level 6
plz explain why its a good class and where its from

[Boci]

Any particular type of magic you want to focus on?

[awa]

nah just something interesting

[Boci]

I assume you have acces to the books, so you could always flick through them yourself and see what apeals to you. Thats the best advice I can offer which the level of detail you've provided.

[Akisa]

remember to avoid loosing caster levels...

[Mongoose87]

The Master Specialist (Complete Mage or Arcane... can't remember) is pretty nice. You don't give up much for it, and gives you some nice little toys.

[PhoenixRivers]

I like Loremaster, for a dip, from core. There are a number of solid options from Complete Arcane, though.

EDIT: Master Specialist is awesome, agreed. Especially when you can access it before level 5, IIRC, and it provides a few really nice bonuses. For example, Abjurer is rock solid.

[BobVosh]

The Master Specialist "Complete Mage or Arcane... can't remember) is pretty nice. You don't give up much for it, and gives you some nice little toys.

Mage.

Initiate of the seven fold veil is amazingly OP.(comp arc)
Archmage can be fun (DMG)
Wild mage is amusing to me. (arcane again i believe)
Nightmare spinner is great (comp mage)

[Doc Roc]

Initiate of the Seven Veils is difficult to over-hype.
It allows you reliable, accessible, and devastatingly powerful immediate action rejoinders to incoming problems.

Wizard(Abjurer) 2/Master specialist (Abjurer) 7/Initiate of the Seven Veils 7/Master Specialist 3/Stop Looking At Me Like That, I'm a 20th Level Pure Caster 1
Is very good.

Alternatively:

Wizard 5/Mindbender 1/Ur-Priest 2/Mystic Theurge 7/xxxx 5
Mindsight
SL 9/9
CL 18/19

[Killer Angel]

Archmage can be fun (DMG)

I agree, but it's difficult to satisfy the prerequisites at level 6 (as OP's request)

[Sstoopidtallkid]

I agree, but it's difficult to satisfy the prerequisites at level 6 (as OP's request)

I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

[crazedloon]

my favorite combo is
wizard 2/master specialist7/Initiative of the seven fold veil 7/ archemage 4

[PhoenixRivers]

my favorite combo is
wizard 2/master specialist7/Initiative of the seven fold veil 7/ archemage 4

If you're going Abjurer, then go Master Specialist as high as you can go.

The dispel check bonus will help you immensely.

[olentu]

I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

I recall a feat in cityscape that gives the character one rank in a skill even if it goes over the cap or something like that.

[crazedloon]

If you're going Abjurer, then go Master Specialist as high as you can go.

The dispel check bonus will help you immensely.

the last 3 levels of MS gets
+1 CL
extra spells
3/day make a personal to a touch

3 levels of archmage can net you
+3 cl
or
spell turning for your dispels
or
touch to ranged
or
spell like
or
shaping to allow your dispells and antimagic fields to miss your team
or
combo of the above

I personaly think the 3 levels of arch is better

[Doc Roc]

I've seen ways to circumvent BAB requirements, massive feat requirements, high-level class feature requirements, and even spellcasting requirements. But has anyone ever found a way around "needs X skill ranks"?

Yes. I have, besides the trick in cityscape. I don't wish to discuss it.
Take a good close look at inspire greatness, the bard ability, and the psionic power: psychic reformation.

[PhoenixRivers]

the last 3 levels of MS gets
+1 CL
extra spells
3/day make a personal to a touch

3 levels of archmage can net you
+3 cl
or
spell turning for your dispels
or
touch to ranged
or
spell like
or
shaping to allow your dispells and antimagic fields to miss your team
or
combo of the above

I personaly think the 3 levels of arch is better

3 levels of MS and 1 level of archmage can get you:

Personal spells to range spells 3/day. It also increases the bonus you get to dispel checks, among other things.

Shaping an AMF to miss your team makes the AMF pointless. Spells can pass through an AMF just fine. They are only suppressed where the AMF is. If the party isn't in it, then people can send split twin enervates right through it.

Feats and Skill tricks can mimic that ability, as well.

Frankly? Archmage is good, but in this build? It's too easy to set up as a dispeller, which means that Archmage isn't as good as MS for that purpose.

[dsmiles]

Archmage is really the way to go. Lots of cool powers. Touch spells up to 60 ft away? Awesome. Arcane Fire? Awesome. Master of Energy? Awesome. Losing spell slots? Not so awesome, but much better than losing caster levels.

[Boci]

Arcane Fire? Awesome.

Reserve feats are better, but yes overall the archmage is a solid PrC, but it won't be avaialbe until late into the game.

[BobVosh]

How is arcane fire awesome?

[PhoenixRivers]

Archmage is really the way to go. Lots of cool powers. Touch spells up to 60 ft away? Awesome. Arcane Fire? Awesome. Master of Energy? Awesome. Losing spell slots? Not so awesome, but much better than losing caster levels.

Arcane fire is probably the only bad thing in the class, actually. Master of Energy is second on that list.

Spell like abilities are probably the best ability in the class. Lose a 5th level slot and a 9th level slot, and get Time Stop twice per day? That's like turning a 5th level spell into a 9th. It's good.

Even so, let's look at the possibilities of Personal to Touch to reach (30).

AMF on an enemy caster when you're both flying?

That's probably one of the more tame options.

Remember, not losing Caster levels is important... But as long as you get 9th level spells, you're good.

And being able to reliably dispel casters 4-6 levels above you is a good ability to have. That's what MS can get you. You still get a level of Archmage, to either get an SLA, or Reach spell, or +1 CL.

The ability to change Personal spells to Touch can't be underestimated. With Reach spell, it allows you to chain personal buffs to an entire party, for example.

[Prime32]

How is arcane fire awesome?

It looks cool? That's the only thing I can think of. That damage is seriously weak. Sure it ignores SR, but so does a greatsword.

As for AMF-shaping, it lets you create a thin antimagic field so that you can stick your hands out of it to cast spells.


Note that Master Specialist is designed to provide easier access to archmage, and can be entered from lv3.

[PhoenixRivers]

It looks cool? That's the only thing I can think of. That damage is seriously weak. Sure it ignores SR, but so does a greatsword.

As for AMF-shaping, it lets you create a thin antimagic field so that you can stick your hands out of it to cast spells.


Note that Master Specialist is designed to provide easier access to archmage, and can be entered from lv3.

You can replicate that via feat. I don't want to waste a spell slot on something I can get with a feat. Also, if your square is entirely within the AMF, no dice on that tactic. If your square is not, you can be targeted with spells, RAW.

And Master Specialist forms the core of a very good dispeller build or 5.

[ex cathedra]

Master Specialist (Conjurer/Abjurer) (CM) are both nice, especially since you can qualify with two levels of wizard and one feat.

Mindbender (CA), Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil (CA), Fatespinner (CA), and Paragnostic Apostle (CC) are all good for generic casters. However, IotSV is the only one there that's worth significantly more than a level dip or two.

For more specialized needs, Abjurant Champion (CM) and Sacred Exorcist (CD) are useful.

Master Specialist gives you bonus feats, bonus spells known, is accessible very early, and has excellent class features for conjurers. It's popular for abjurers because it makes qualifying for IotSV much easier. Additionally, it also fulfills most of Archmage's prerequisites, eventually. I generally use it in most of my low-to-mid level wizard builds, as there are only a few reasons to take wizard levels between 3-5, most of which I rarely use.

Mindbender is good because one level gives you telepathy. Telepathy is good. There's not much else to it.

IotSV is excellent because it gives you a wide range of offensive and defensive options in addition to your full casting progression. It's a very deadly class.

Fatespinner is useful for a few levels because it gives you more class features than you would otherwise have. It's better used to fill in a few dead levels.

Paragnostic Apostle gives you an excellent choice of class features, is easy to qualify for, and is useful in nearly any build with free levels, due to the vast amount of helpful choices presented in it's class features.

[PhoenixRivers]

Mindbender is good because one level gives you telepathy. Telepathy is good. There's not much else to it.

To expand on this, Telepathy qualifies you for Mindsight, which gives you awareness of about 90% of enemies in the game. It's really an excellent ability to have.

Another good PrC is Cerebremancer, which can be qualified for with 2-3 levels in a manifesting class, allowing loss of 1 spell level of wizard, and getting a powerhouse of psion options in trade. you'll still get 9th level spells by level 20, and, as long as you get to around level 5-6 powers on the psion side, you're golden.

[Emmerask]

I like the Fatespinner (complete Arcane)

you need 4th level spells so would only work at 7th level (If your dm isn´t insane and allows early entry methods to prc that is)

whats good?
Nice roleplaying possibilities.
Rerolling if things go bad is allways nice ;)

It´s a solid but short prc (only 5 levels (the first four with casterlevel progression)

[ex cathedra]

To expand on this, Telepathy qualifies you for Mindsight, which gives you awareness of about 90% of enemies in the game. It's really an excellent ability to have.

Another good PrC is Cerebremancer, which can be qualified for with 2-3 levels in a manifesting class, allowing loss of 1 spell level of wizard, and getting a powerhouse of psion options in trade. you'll still get 9th level spells by level 20, and, as long as you get to around level 5-6 powers on the psion side, you're golden.

I would have mentioned that were Lords of Madness in his allowed source list. Alas, ...

While it's a great class, I would suggest against Cerebremancer without decent early entry. Level 5 is no time to start taking Psion levels on your wizard, in my opinion, due to the classic theurge issues.

[PhoenixRivers]

I would have mentioned that were Lords of Madness in his allowed source list. Alas, ...

While it's a great class, I would suggest against Cerebremancer without decent early entry. Level 5 is no time to start taking Psion levels on your wizard, in my opinion, due to the classic theurge issues.

It's actually really easy to gain early entry on both sides. The class is enterable at level 4.

Elf Wizard (generalist) 1 / Ardent 2
Precocious Apprentice and Practiced Manifester, and, at level 5, you're casting level 2 spells and level 3 powers.

Basically, you're 1 level behind in spells, no levels behind in powers. Wisdom only really needs to start at a 14-15, and Int should be the focus.

[Optimystik]

I like Geometer. 10/10 casting, chock-full of flavor.

Blood Magus is also fun for a dip, the first four levels continue your casting and you can store potions in your blood and scrolls on your skin. (Might be more fun for a Sorcerer though.) You also effectively get an untyped +4 to Concentration checks if you take damage while casting.

[ex cathedra]

It's actually really easy to gain early entry on both sides. The class is enterable at level 4.

Elf Wizard (generalist) 1 / Ardent 2
Precocious Apprentice and Practiced Manifester, and, at level 5, you're casting level 2 spells and level 3 powers.

Basically, you're 1 level behind in spells, no levels behind in powers. Wisdom only really needs to start at a 14-15, and Int should be the focus.

It's like I always forget about Ardent. Right you are, as usual. It certainly sounds fun.