Tears of a wizard

[quiet1mi]

I understand that a generalist wizard is Tier 1... but what happens when he specializes or focused specializes?

In the Complete mage the Wizard has the option of becoming a "focused Specialist". This allows a wizard who specializes to have spells per day similar to a sorcerer in exchange for an additional loss of a school.

Would they be Tier 2 because of their raw power increasing, the vast increase in the spells per day, in exchange for their versatility, the loss in 2-3 schools of magic.

The Loss of 2-3 schools hits them hard, yet they are aloud to change what they can do from day to day.

Naturally This would depend on what is Banned and what is Specialized in Evocation... An evoker that bans transmutation, illusion and conjuration might be seen as 3-4th tier because they lose potential answers.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Specializing and, most of the time, Focused Specialist, with good choices of schools banned/allowed, is actually a serious boost to the Wizards power. The exact schools make a difference, of course, but you generally need to spec in Conj or Trans, keep Illusion, and ban any of the other 4, depending on preference and what other casters are around.

[PhoenixRivers]

Depends on the source materials allowed, more than anything. If you're going all WotC legal 3.5 material, wizard's still Tier 1. Even with 3 schools banned, you're so stupidly versatile it's not funny.

Note: Focused Specialist (Illusion) is horribly effective, in the right circumstance (i.e. Killer Gnome)

[erikun]

I understand that a generalist wizard is Tier 1... but what happens when he specializes or focused specializes?

The get stronger.

A specialist wizard can cast almost as many spells as a sorcerer - they generally have the same number of highest level spell slots (when they aren't simply a level ahead) and are only behind by 1 spell slot for each of the lower levels. I'm not quite sure what a focused specialist does, but I'm fairly sure that it blows the sorcerer out of the water.

Most specialists ban Enchantment (virtually duplicated by Illusion) and Evocation (duplicated by Conjuration/Shadow Evocation), so there really isn't a drop of versatility. Focused specialist loses four schools, I believe, which makes things harder; Necromancy has Enervation and Shivering Touch, two good debuffs, but not much else. Abjuration has Dispel and wards, but some people recommend dropping it if a Cleric in your party can cover that role.

[quiet1mi]

Wait they lose 4 schools? I thought that they only lose 3...

[BobVosh]

Wait they lose 4 schools? I thought that they only lose 3...

Only 3. 2 for specialist, +1 for focused.

[Lycanthromancer]

Only 3. 2 for specialist, +1 for focused.

Or 2 for a divination specialist. I'd be using divinations frequently enough that this would be a good deal.

[erikun]

Wait they lose 4 schools? I thought that they only lose 3...

Looks like I had that wrong, then. Sorry.

But yes, I could easily play a focused specialist Illusionist, Conjurer, or Diviner and barely miss the spells lost in the three barred schools (two for Diviner). A lot of this is thanks to the multitude of spells found in various splatbooks, though.

[Optimystik]

Or 2 for a divination specialist. I'd be using divinations frequently enough that this would be a good deal.

I use divinations frequently myself, but preparing two divinations per spell level every single day might be pushing it a tad, imo.

[PhoenixRivers]

I use divinations frequently myself, but preparing two divinations per spell level every single day might be pushing it a tad, imo.

Three. Focused specialist's +2 spells/day at each level is in addition to the specialist bonus.

I can see illusion (Silent Image or Heightened Silent Image FTW! Go Killer Gnome)... Conjuration (Is there anything it can't do?)... Transmutation (See Conjuration)...

[Optimystik]

Three. Focused specialist's +2 spells/day at each level is in addition to the specialist bonus.

Just so; that's even worse. Unless you want to spend all day scrying on washerwomen or your neighbor's dog with your leftover slots.

[mostlyharmful]

There's also a line of three feats in Lost Empires of Faerun that earns you back a prohibited school, takable by level 9 I believe. If you're really worried about your versatility, +2slots/level is a pretty good deal for three feats.

[PhoenixRivers]

There's also a line of three feats in Lost Empires of Faerun that earns you back a prohibited school, takable by level 9 I believe. If you're really worried about your versatility, +2slots/level is a pretty good deal for three feats.

Unfortunately, the versatility is further limited by -1 spell at each level as well.

So, if you can cast 3 fourth level spells as a generalist wizard...
You can cast 3 Fourth level spells as a specialist, with 1 extra specialist spell (from your specialist school)...
And you can cast 2 Fourth level spells as a focused specialist, with 3 extra specialist spells (from your specialist school).

As you can see, it increases overall power, but even without the banned school, it decreases versatility. Focused specialist gets you a net +1 spell per level, but forces a heavier shift into your specialist school.

If your specialist school is versatile, like conjuration, transmutation, and sometimes illusion? You're fine. The loss won't be pronounced.

If it's a non-versatile school, such as evocation, necromancy, or the like? You'll feel every lost slot from general use.

[Yuki Akuma]

The best Focused Specialist is a Shadowcraft Mage. Yeah just put those Heightened Silent Images in your illusion spell slots... Now you can spontaneously cast any evocation, conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell.

Who needs general spell slots?

[PhoenixRivers]

The best Focused Specialist is a Shadowcraft Mage. Yeah just put those Heightened Silent Images in your illusion spell slots... Now you can spontaneously cast any evocation, conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell.

Who needs general spell slots?

Oddly enough, this lets you ban evocation, enchantment, and conjuration, without too much pain. Though if you get the chance, take the 3 feat line to get conjuration back. There are several spells in it that are neither conjuration nor summoning, and still awesome.

[Yuki Akuma]

I tend to make conjuration my 'Gnome Illusionist inferior school' instead, and ban something else like necromancy. But that's just because I loves my grease and can't imagine level 2 without it.

[Munchkin-Masher]

Even though it restricts your choice of race i gotta say that i prefer the racial substitution level for elven wizards from Races of the Wild.

I mean there's nothing too bad about getting more spells per day and more free learned spells per level, in exchange for the ability to specialize (And to quote the logic ninja "which you weren't gonna do anyway if you are choosing this build".

It on page 157 of "Races of the Wild"

[PhoenixRivers]

I tend to make conjuration my 'Gnome Illusionist inferior school' instead, and ban something else like necromancy. But that's just because I loves my grease and can't imagine level 2 without it.

Silent Image for a Wall, instead. It works wonders, lemme tell ya.

I mean, how many enemies you know try to run through a wall that a wizard makes, if they have a choice? So you make it so they can get around with a double move, and they'll never test it. ;)

And they only get a save if they interact with it.

[Yuki Akuma]

But Grease is fun!

[Foryn Gilnith]

Even though it restricts your choice of race

You have to be an elf. That means you have to take a Constitution penalty or be a Dragonborn (too goody-goody). No thank you; I'll stick to my Con 16 wizard-pimp who can last longer in bed than half the party.

[Yuki Akuma]

You have to be an elf. That means you have to take a Constitution penalty or be a Dragonborn (too goody-goody). No thank you; I'll stick to my Con 16 wizard-pimp who can last longer in bed than half the party.

Yes, you have to be an elf. It doesn't specify which subrace of elf.

Admitedly the only good choice in core is drow (if you want to skip the Con penalty), and they have a level adjustment, but...

(Gray Elf is good if you don't mind the Con penalty.)

[Foryn Gilnith]

And only now do I remember the elven subraces with penalties to mental stats other than Intelligence. >_<

[Yuki Akuma]

And only now do I remember the elven subraces with penalties to mental stats other than Intelligence. >_<

Don't feel bad. Elven subraces outnumber species of beetles.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Unfortunately, the versatility is further limited by -1 spell at each level as well.

So, if you can cast 3 fourth level spells as a generalist wizard...
You can cast 3 Fourth level spells as a specialist, with 1 extra specialist spell (from your specialist school)...
And you can cast 2 Fourth level spells as a focused specialist, with 3 extra specialist spells (from your specialist school).

As you can see, it increases overall power, but even without the banned school, it decreases versatility. Focused specialist gets you a net +1 spell per level, but forces a heavier shift into your specialist school.

If your specialist school is versatile, like conjuration, transmutation, and sometimes illusion? You're fine. The loss won't be pronounced.

If it's a non-versatile school, such as evocation, necromancy, or the like? You'll feel every lost slot from general use.

Just a note, but the decrease in versatility is actually pretty slight. Treantmonk showed that the impact is minimal. I mean, get new level of spells, prep one or two schools, tops. After that, with more slots opening up from both levels and intelligence modifiers, the versatility is basically undamaged.

[HCL]

Wizards are generally expected to specialize. A generalist wizard is definitely weaker, even with the elf sub level.

Are there any good elf only wizard prcs?

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Wizards are generally expected to specialize. A generalist wizard is definitely weaker, even with the elf sub level.

Are there any good elf only wizard prcs?

Not with the Elf sub level. That and the Domain Wizard variant are both basically all the benefits of specializing(other than ACFs) and none of the drawbacks.

[Yuki Akuma]

Not with the Elf sub level. That and the Domain Wizard variant are both basically all the benefits of specializing(other than ACFs) and none of the drawbacks.

But a focused specialist is better again then an elven generalist, or at least has more stamina.

[Lycanthromancer]

But a focused specialist is better again then an elven generalist, or at least has more stamina.

They're certainly more sexy.

[HCL]

Not with the Elf sub level. That and the Domain Wizard variant are both basically all the benefits of specializing(other than ACFs) and none of the drawbacks.

The conjuration and transmutation domains are good, most of the other domains available are too restrictive as to the spell you can put in the domain.

Elf generalist only gets you a spell of the highest level, specialist gives you a bonus spell at all levels. Furthermore, you have to play an elf (generally gray or fire elf, which are alright but not on par with strongheart halfling, forest gnome, or deep dwarf).

[The Glyphstone]

Don't feel bad. Elven subraces outnumber species of beetles.

Didn't someone do an analysis somewhere and find there's actually more subraces of dwarves than elves?