[3.5] Advice for building a blaster wizard (other than don't)

[fortesama]

I play with an, er..., mildly insane group who optimizes in strange ways as well as a mildly insane DM for reference. So far i'm looking at this for my team. Note that the team changes frequently due to class schedules:

• My Beguiler/Rainbow Servant with early entry cheese. I'm going for the party buffer route.
• A CW Samurai who's shooting to trade it all for Ronin... don't ask.
• An err... focused specialist evoker/Master Specialist who our insane DM allowed to add divine evocation spells through master specialist's expanded spellbook for which he picked divine power. Shooting for abjurant champion apparently. Banned Necromancy/Enchantment/Illusion, IIRC.
• An artificer named Alice Margatroid with a pair of golems named Shanghai and Hourai. Hourai has a DM-given spell slot enhancement allowing her to insert just about any accessible spell and casts it on command.

Now, another potential player has appeared and wants to make a blaster wizard. Any ideas on what?

[Kylarra]

Specialist conjurer -> Incantatrix with Arcane thesis cheese on orb of fire?
Ardent with Dominant Ideal ACF and a blasting mantle.

[fortesama]

IIRC, arcane thesis can't reduce the spell level increase by less than +1 or +0 if the spell gave a +0 increase.

[Kylarra]

IIRC, arcane thesis can't reduce the spell level increase by less than +1 or +0 if the spell gave a +0 increase.

Total increase no, but that doesn't stop +0 metamagic from reducing overall adjustment when you apply other metamagics to it.

[Zaq]

Does the Samurai just like hanging out? Crazy.

Anyway, if this new person wants to be on the same optimization level as the rest of the casters... well, Incantatrix with Orbs o' Death is always a classic (see Cindy). I understand that the archetypical Mailman is a sorcerer rather than a wizzie, due to Arcane Spellsurge being sorc-only, but most of the tricks there (google the handbook) should work. I understand that Recasters make good blasters with the right choices, but I don't remember the specifics.

[GoodbyeSoberDay]

Whether or not you stack on metamagic effect, split ray, arcane thesis and all the other goodness, ocular spell is necessary. No self-respecting blaster passes up the opportunity to shoot laser beams from his eyes.

[avr]

Don't forget a reserve feat for when you're running low.

[Endarire]

The Mailman

[Another_Poet]

Yeah, pretty much just make sure the player focuses in Conjuration, and understands that Conj kills more foes than Evocation. If the Orb spells are allowed you are all good. By the time they have Cloudkill they should pretty well be sold and using those fireball scrolls as TP, or fish-and-chips wrappers.

[Dralnu]

I've done tons of research on this, so here's my two cents:

Depends on what level you are (and will be), how tunnel-visioned you want to be on damage, whether or not you want to be a one-trick poney, and how optimized you want to be.

Example pyromancer wizard:
Focused Specialist Evoker/Conjurer (CM)
Evoker/Conjurer Variant (UA)
Bloodline of Fire (Faerun), Fiery Burst (CM), Energy Substitution: Fire (CAr) [not necessary but there if you want versatility], Searing Spell (SS, but see Paragnostic Apostle), Fiery Spell (PHB2)

You cast fire spells at +3CL (+4CL if evoker), can turn all energy spells into fire, you can deal a good amount of extra damage for +1LA, and make immune creatures still take half damage.

The two best PrCs are Incantatrix and Paragnostic Apostle imo.

Incantatrix is just cheestacular, nothing comes close to it. You want to be the best blaster, you take this PrC.

Paragnostic Apostle is less gouda but a very amazing choice nonetheless. Easy pre-reqs and loaded with goodies every level. +1CL with energy type, deal half damage to creatures immune to energy type, +AC with mage armor, +ranged touch attack, amazing amazing stuff.

So an example, Human Evoker5/PA1 can easily have +5CL with fire spells and the ability to change energy spells to fire, and then in another level make sure that immune creatures still take half damage.

The orb spells are great because they're no SR no damage cap. That's the big reason to be conjuration. You could just focus on an orb spell, arcane thesis it and load it with metamagic and you'd be good to go, albeit a one-trick poney.

Now, if you're starting at higher levels... Sorcerer becomes a very good choice due to a couple of ridiculous sorc-only spells, like Wings of Flurry. 1d6/CL, force damage, 30ft. radius (reflex half), doesn't hit allies, AND DAZES. It's just a level 4 spell. The only thing that you can upgrade to later is Maw of Chaos, which is a level 9 spell. It's just that good. Wings of Flurry loaded with metamagics lowered with things like arcane thesis and easy/practical metamagic = lolz. You also get Arcane Spellsurge and Wings of Cover, cheese cheese. High level sorc gets my vote.

[GoodbyeSoberDay]

Using spellwarp sniper to turn Wings of Flurry into a no-save Daze ray (and then using ocular and metamagic effect to split ray/twin it in each eye, auto-dazing eight enemies in one round) is particularly evil, though now we're going more into control. That said, it's normally SR: Yes and Reflex: Half, so it has its counters.

I'd also prefer spending those feats on metamagic if you're going Incantatrix. Empower/Split Ray/Twin Spell is going to net more damage than some +CL, especially since orbs are capped at 15d6 and thesis gives +2CL already.

[Radar]

There is yet another route to take - namly Force Missile Mage. Take your regular Magic Missile, Arcane Thesis the thing, metamagic it into stratosphere and recreate the spirit of Macross (especially if you are a sorcerer taking the full advantage of Arcane Fusion and Arcane Spellsurge).

Incantatrix is an obvious PrC for any blaster build and fits this one as well.

Notable metamagics: Empower Spell, Fell Drain, Fell Animate, Twin Spell, Invisible Spell (a headache-inducing +0 metamagic).

[fortesama]

where do i find force missile? google is failing me for some reason and i don't want to dig around the mushrooms in my book bag.

[Radar]

where do i find force missile? google is failing me for some reason and i don't want to dig around the mushrooms in my book bag.

Just checked: unfortunately it's from the Dragon magazine (issue 328), so not that easy to get. Even without it, one could pull this concept off. The only flaw, is the SR:Yes tag on Magic Missile spell, which means a lot of CL optimisation.

[Tyndmyr]

There is yet another route to take - namly Force Missile Mage. Take your regular Magic Missile, Arcane Thesis the thing, metamagic it into stratosphere and recreate the spirit of Macross (especially if you are a sorcerer taking the full advantage of Arcane Fusion and Arcane Spellsurge).

Incantatrix is an obvious PrC for any blaster build and fits this one as well.

Notable metamagics: Empower Spell, Fell Drain, Fell Animate, Twin Spell, Invisible Spell (a headache-inducing +0 metamagic).

FMM is from Dragon Compendium, and it's great thematically, but weak on the mechanics. It loses a caster level, and focuses on boosting Magic Missile moderately. Even so, it doesn't scale well. If you take this route, consider starting off as warmage, so you can add their edge to a missile for extra damage, and DEFINITELY get fell drain. It's essential to remaining useful as a FMM. Also, see if you can get your DM to alllow the effects to be added to other force missileish spells, like it's greater cousin in SpC.

[dextercorvia]

If your campaign is likely to stop before ECL 7, then I recommend Evocation. If it will go beyond that, then I recommend Conjuration.

Consider the trait Spellgifted in the SRD.

[fortesama]

We started al ECL 10 and looks like the whole thing's going to take a while. I did a bit of digging and research and found the aforementioned mailman sorcerer. So far looks like he likes it. Might make the DM start crying though, once our damage output suddenly shoots through the roof.

[KellKheraptis]

Another option for guaranteed damage is Hail of Stone+usual metamagic abuse+Reserves of Strength. No Save/No SR auto-targets an area (either 5' or 10', can't remember which). It's actually a work in progress for my Red Wizard I'm building.

[sambo.]

The Mailman

hehe, that's actually a pretty cool build.

cheesy and self-gimped in the utility stakes, but very, very effective at bringing the pain.

[AslanCross]

Silver Pyromancer is a 5-level PrC in Five Nations that allows blaster wizards (who like fire) to bypass the normal limitations of fire blasting (resistance and immunities) starting from Lv 2. It also sets CL for fire spells to your HD, so at least your spells don't end up weaker. You do need Turn Undead for it, though, so a single level dip in Cloistered Cleric would be very helpful. Also, you get to pick Paladin spells as part of your arcane spells.

Ask your DM about waiving the alignment restrictions.

[SurlySeraph]

@^: A level in Sacred Exorcist (which he should be able to go into with no effort if they're at ECL 10) gives Turn Undead without losing a caster level. The lost CL from Sacred Exorcist is also an issue, since you can usually just use Energy Substitution.

[fortesama]

@^: A level in Sacred Exorcist (which he should be able to go into with no effort if they're at ECL 10) gives Turn Undead without losing a caster level. The lost CL from Sacred Exorcist is also an issue, since you can usually just use Energy Substitution.

What lost CL?

[Dusk Eclipse]

@^: A level in Sacred Exorcist (which he should be able to go into with no effort if they're at ECL 10) gives Turn Undead without losing a caster level. The lost CL from Sacred Exorcist is also an issue, since you can usually just use Energy Substitution.

Personally I think the CL is not that bad, as you can get domains with good abilities (planning, summoning, knowledge to say a few) and if you really want to off-set the CL, go dragonwrought sorc with Greater Rite of Draconic Passage or if the cheese/optimization level is high enough, there is always Loredrake

What lost CL?

Silver Pyromancr lost a CL at level 1 IIRC and he may also refer to the CL lost on the CC dip that Aslan's Cross suggested

[ericgrau]

Standard way is damage boosted energy substituted shaped fireballs. You get around energy resistance, you don't hurt your allies, and you hit multiple targets at once which means you out-damage anything else by a wide margin. Mix it up with good single target spells for situations where there isn't multiple targets. Similarly tweaked scorching rays for example in a moderate power group or the nonsensical orb of X spells in groups with a little more power-gaming. But then, heck, why not go all the way and do the same to boost shivering touch into obscene dex damage.

Archmage is a simple way to get both abilities, but it requires a high level. Or there are also feats and other ways.

For ray spells don't ignore his attack bonus. Maybe at level 20 it doesn't matter because they're touch attacks against AC in the low teens (if not single digits) when he has 10 BAB + dex. But before level 20 it does matter a great deal to his pitiful single digit AB. Cover and firing into melee are also major concerns. He might want feats like precise shot or ways to make him more mobile to avoid cover or ways to boost his flat AB or etc. Quickened true strike for example.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I play with an, er..., mildly insane group who optimizes in strange ways as well as a mildly insane DM for reference. So far i'm looking at this for my team. Note that the team changes frequently due to class schedules:

• My Beguiler/Rainbow Servant with early entry cheese. I'm going for the party buffer route.
• A CW Samurai who's shooting to trade it all for Ronin... don't ask.
• An err... focused specialist evoker/Master Specialist who our insane DM allowed to add divine evocation spells through master specialist's expanded spellbook for which he picked divine power. Shooting for abjurant champion apparently. Banned Necromancy/Enchantment/Illusion, IIRC.
• An artificer named Alice Margatroid with a pair of golems named Shanghai and Hourai. Hourai has a DM-given spell slot enhancement allowing her to insert just about any accessible spell and casts it on command.

Now, another potential player has appeared and wants to make a blaster wizard. Any ideas on what?

Show the CW Samurai my Takahasi no Onisan build (linked below) and see if it's what he wants to do. He still gets to go Ronin, he just also gets to be supremely effective at locking down anything not immune to fear effects.

For a blaster character, here's my suggestion:

1) Go Warmage. They're really good at blasting, and you don't have to fiddle with spellbooks. (possible rainbow warsnake cheese, but if you are already doing that, he may want to pass on that option)

2) School Specialization. It's a fun feat, reduces metamagic by 1 (minimum 1) on anything in the school. So choose Evocation, and hey... metamagic nonsense gets easier.

3) Find a way to significantly boost Caster Level. You'll want to be bypassing SR eventually.

4) Find a way to significantly boost DC, because Evasion sucks

5) Don't neglect your Orb spells

6) Reserve Feats can be fun. The fire-based one is a small area effect, reflex/half, but unlimited use. Think Tim the Enchanter. Pick up the Acid one for a RTA which doesn't allow SR.

OR

Warlock. Dude, no one blasts like a 'lock, and they do it all day long.

The build you are wanting looks something like this:

Warlock6/Mindbender1/Binder1/Hellfire Warlock3/Legacy Champion9

Mindbender is in there for Mindsight. Requires the Charm Person invocation.

Basically, you're blasting away with 20+d6 per shot. You can pick up invocations like Eldritch Blast (area-effect shaped like a Fireball, ref/half), Eldrtich Line (lightning bolt shaped blast, ref/half), Eldrtich Chain (half damage on secondary targets), so you can have several options other than simply your regular blast.

With Eldritch Glaive, you can dish out completely obscene damage over and over, particularly with Divine Power wand. But if he wants to blast, Eldritch Spear might work well for him instead, allowing him to snipe at long range.

He can still pick up Flight and DimDoor, as well as Vitriolic Blast to bypass SR.

And it's dead simple to use. No spellbooks, no looking through six different books to figure out what to do... just pick a target and blast away.

Another option for guaranteed damage is Hail of Stone+usual metamagic abuse+Reserves of Strength. No Save/No SR auto-targets an area (either 5' or 10', can't remember which). It's actually a work in progress for my Red Wizard I'm building.

Lesser Globe of Invulnerability laughs at you, as it is still a first level spell.

[ericgrau]

I've never seen someone cast that spell or prepare it, with good reason. If they do cast it against someone who isn't specifically focused on low level spells, they've already lost because a round is a high price to pay.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I've never seen someone cast that spell or prepare it, with good reason. If they do cast it against someone who isn't specifically focused on low level spells, they've already lost because a round is a high price to pay.

If the players continually abuse that spell, expect opponents to be able to counter it. Easily.

[ericgrau]

Maybe with a poor metagaming DM. Otherwise it should only happen with enemies that have heard of it. What's more, even if someone does cast it it's still useless, as all the player has to do is make his spellcraft check to notice it and then cast something else instead. He's still ahead b/c his enemy wasted his action.

[fortesama]

2) School Specialization. It's a fun feat, reduces metamagic by 1 (minimum 1) on anything in the school. So choose Evocation, and hey... metamagic nonsense gets easier.

Why is it that evoc tends to get bashed as blaster only. defenesrating/defensrating/whatever sphere, howling chain and great thunderclap are some of my main spells

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Maybe with a poor metagaming DM. Otherwise it should only happen with enemies that have heard of it. What's more, even if someone does cast it it's still useless, as all the player has to do is make his spellcraft check to notice it and then cast something else instead. He's still ahead b/c his enemy wasted his action.

Hey... him wasting an action or you wasting half your build... who comes out ahead here?

And I'm sorry, if you start abusing something, at least in any game I run, you're going to find out that people start coming up with counters for it. Because a game with no challenge is simply not entertaining. And, as the GM, it's my job to entertain you.