Dragonlance Transmuter wizard

[Whyte_Widow]

My second game i play i am the party's wizard. i have chosen transmutation with zero book limitation.

i have taken improved unarmed strike, improved grapple, empower spell, and focused specialist.
he is currently 4th level

hes usually buffing party members, himself if needed... but, he rarely gets involved unless he has to. if something that poses a bit more threat... he tends to go for a grapple after a few needed buffs. (enlarge, fist of stone, babau slime, balor nimbus, bladeweave, fearsome grapple and if things get really nasty, spell flower and a couple corrosive grasps into a grapple/pin sitch)

he also isnt afraid to throw out a snakes swiftness, mass, bulls strength, enlarge(fighter), if he doesnt think his firepower is necessary.

i was asked to play the caster due to me experience doin such. but, we have a few new kids at the table and i wanted to show a bit of a character outside the box.

i have not decided to go with a PrC or just stay as is... for all that wizardy goodness.

im starting this thread to ask opinions on the build and opinions on which spells to look for when obtaining new levels. even feat suggestions are cool... im mostly planning on more metamagic (extend, persistent, heighten, maximize, or even eschew materials and still spell for spells in grapples.)

should i push toward Incantantrix with this build? or should i stick wizard?

[Pluto]

hes usually buffing party members, himself if needed... but, he rarely gets involved unless he has to. if something that poses a bit more threat... he tends to go for a grapple after a few needed buffs. (enlarge, fist of stone, babau slime, balor nimbus, bladeweave, fearsome grapple and if things get really nasty, spell flower and a couple corrosive grasps into a grapple/pin sitch)

You spend all those spell slots/actions on grappling?

Anyway, if Buffing is what you do, definitely look at War Weaver in Heroes of Battle. It gets more bang out of its 5 levels than most PrC's do in 10, even with a lost CL.

And Incantatrix never hurts, if it's an option.

[Whyte_Widow]

although the class looks decent.. i dont think i want to lose a spell level for any reason. being the primary caster i want to be able to push forward with my offense as well as my buffing ability. besides i think the party would be better served with a well balanced character as apposed to one primary function.

[Pluto]

being the primary caster i want to be able to push forward with my offense as well as my buffing ability. besides i think the party would be better served with a well balanced character as apposed to one primary function.

That's exactly the point.

If you can cast 4 spells as a Move action (which act like ~20 spells because they affect the whole party), you keep a Swift and a Standard action to cast offensive spells.

The one level loss is very worth it - much more than, say, Swiftblade or Malconvoker, which are often touted as good trades.

[Whyte_Widow]

agreed. what spells would be the most beneficial with this build?

[Eldariel]

War Weaver's Handbook may be of interest to you. Written by none other than our own Doc Roc.

Few big ones:
- Polymorph
- Fly (on levels where it's not trivial, at any rate)
- Displacement
- Greater Invisibility

There's more, of course, but big-impact one-target short-duration spells in general are nice.

[Whyte_Widow]

i havent decided on this class choice quite yet either. i have looked over the war weaver... and i think its probably the best choice... my character is level 5 currently.

transmuter 5

improved unarmed strike
improved grapple
empower spell
focused specialist

i think i may take enlarge spell as my 6th level feat. then move towards WW @ 7th.

the loss of spell level is discouraging... however having 3 dnd newbs at the table. im trying to bestow the importance of teamwork and that all wizards may not be as they seem. i had originally geared this wizard to be a grappler... but, i think i can still be such with the war weaver approach. what feats would you guys suggest post lvl 10 or so?

other notable mention for PrC choices include-
~Master Specialist

~Wizard of High Sorcery (Red Robes) from the dragonlance campaign setting.
i mention this because of the free extend and empower metamagic to your transmutation and illusion spells. however you lose another school of magic. and raising the DCs of transmutation spells isnt much to write home about. most transmutation spells being buffs of some sort. (are there any detrimental transmutation buffs that would require a save on an enemy?)
also we are running the chronicles and im obviously the caster in the party.

group includes.
dwarf barb
human fighter (greatsword specced)
human rogue (LG)
human druid (this is my significant other, and also first time playing)
human cleric (plays his character very, very selfish. annoyingly)

[Jarveiyan]

Have you taken the test of high sorcerery yet?

[Whyte_Widow]

i have not... and that is in the works. we didnt want to take time away from the table to get it locked in. it will be coming in the next couple of weeks. (prior to hitting 7th level)

however if i decide to go mage of high sorcery... i wont be hunted... any other class choice will be considered traitorous and i will be shunned by the towers.