Wizard vs fighter, low level melee

[Anthrowhale]

An exoticist fighter (Dragon #310) is proficient in 4 exotic weapons.

[Doctor Despair]

So we have established that:

A lvl 1 wizard generally loses (or automatically draws) to a lvl 1 fighter when attempting to optimize a combat reflexes build. Nerveskitter makes the wizard lose even more. If 15 foot reach is achieved, then the fight seriously goes to the fighter.

Let's start optimizing for level 3.
Resources to work with:
Wizard: 4 1st, 3 2nd 1 of each must be specialty school. 9hp + 3x con. 2 feats. racial bonuses. +1 bab.
Fighter: 4 feats (2 must be combat), 21 + 3x con hp, racial bonuses. +3 bab.
Let's take a look at potential builds and see what we can do with this.

Should we discuss this in terms of templates, or should we stick with template-neutral builds? If we allow templates, it opens us up to having to discuss and game-out the damage-immune Troll-Blooded match-up, along with a bunch of other niche match-ups, and maybe misses the spirit of the "wizard vs fighter" discussion, as it'd be more like "racial/template features vs racial/template features." In that sense, can we agree that the discussion, at least for now, be limited to LA0 races with no templates?

[Twurps]

Tall grants you 10 feet of natural reach, yes, but unless we're taking Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain, if we attack the adjacent wizard with our armor spikes, that means we're not using our guisarme, so the jaunt to 15 feet would let them dodge the attack. If we attack with a spiked chain, you're right, though. I'm not sure what we could afford to give up for it though.

Good point. but does it matter? The main trick here was to keep the wizard in range on the wizards turn. If the wizard jaunts out of glove range, he still stays within guisarme range and is now without a swift action for his next turn. a 5 foot step doesn't take him out of range, and other forms of movement provoke. So how will the wizard do anything without eating an AoO?

so basically: Fighter uses his own turn to use up the wizards swift action (jaunt or blockade alike). Then on the wizards turn he gets to attack each time the wizard attacks. (the wizard can of course choose not to attack, but then he will just have wasted a swift action, and the fighter can rinse/repeat next round with 0 resources lost to him. that means they're trading attacks equally if the wizard still gets to cast, and trade in favor of the fighter if the wizard loses his spell. Even equal trade is bad for wizard, as he does equalish damage, but had far fewer HP's.

edited to add:

Should we discuss this in terms of templates, or should we stick with template-neutral builds? If we allow templates, it opens us up to having to discuss and game-out the damage-immune Troll-Blooded match-up, along with a bunch of other niche match-ups, and maybe misses the spirit of the "wizard vs fighter" discussion, as it'd be more like "racial/template features vs racial/template features." In that sense, can we agree that the discussion, at least for now, be limited to LA0 races with no templates?

Good idea.

[Calthropstu]

Should we discuss this in terms of templates, or should we stick with template-neutral builds? If we allow templates, it opens us up to having to discuss and game-out the damage-immune Troll-Blooded match-up, along with a bunch of other niche match-ups, and maybe misses the spirit of the "wizard vs fighter" discussion, as it'd be more like "racial/template features vs racial/template features." In that sense, can we agree that the discussion, at least for now, be limited to LA0 races with no templates?

Hmmm. I agree in theory. There is something to be said about templates/races allowing for options to negate certain aspects of the other class. In fact, we took elf into account for lvl 1 negating sleep. But LA0, no templates no RHD seems a fair compromise. Otherwise we're just running in circles arguing that "this racial ability negates that spell, and.." etc.

I am not the op of course. But has the op said anything since posting this?

[Doctor Despair]

An exoticist fighter (Dragon #310) is proficient in 4 exotic weapons.

Oh, that's excellent. So with a free usage of spiked whip and reach, we get an attack every time they jaunt. Yes... I think that's actually just a straight-up win for Exoticist Fighter at level 1. If they go first, they kill the wizard. If the wizard goes first, they can't move or cast without taking an AOO.

Their best option is to five-foot step, use blockade, and try to cast a spell, but I don't think there's any one spell that will deal 10 damage at level one. Following that, the fighter walks up to the wizard and brains them with the chain. Actually... does that work? The chain is a reach weapon, which normally use the rules of cover for hitting targets 10 feet away, but our natural reach is 10 feet. Could we use our chain (or our armor spikes) to AOO the wizard over the Blockade with our 10 feet of natural reach? Either way, the fighter wins this matchup.

Alternatively, they five foot step and use Fiery Burst, and jaunt away. Then, the fighter walks up and brains then with the chain.

Very nice find.

Good point. but does it matter? The main trick here was to keep the wizard in range on the wizards turn. If the wizard jaunts out of glove range, he still stays within guisarme range and is now without a swift action for his next turn. a 5 foot step doesn't take him out of range, and other forms of movement provoke. So how will the wizard do anything without eating an AoO?

The wizard jaunts in response to our glove attack, avoiding the attack. Then, we don't have our attack anymore. The wizard is 15 feet away, so they five-foot step and use Fiery Burst to hit us for damage. They can't cast spells or use SLAs, but they can use SU abilities. Alternatively, with the 18 str wizard, they can ready an action to attack us when we enter range. Then, after hitting us, when we go to attack them, they can Jaunt away, and repeat that until they run out. We threaten them, but we lose these trades as long as they have uses of Jaunt, because we can't hit them until they run out. However, as someone above pointed out, a fighter ACF gets Exotic Weapon Proficiency for free, so we have the spiked chain, and all is well.

Hmmm. I agree in theory. There is something to be said about templates/races allowing for options to negate certain aspects of the other class. In fact, we took elf into account for lvl 1 negating sleep. But LA0, no templates no RHD seems a fair compromise. Otherwise we're just running in circles arguing that "this racial ability negates that spell, and.." etc.

I am not the op of course. But has the op said anything since posting this?

Certainly there's merit to discussing the use of templates and LA races, and it might be worth circling back to, but as there's so much variation, I think it's important to establish a baseline for performance between the two classes before we add in those new variables.

I don't think OP has chimed in.

[emeraldstreak]

use Fiery Burst

Using Fiery Burst causes AoOs if the Fighter has Supernatural Opportunist.

[Anthrowhale]

In terms of cranking up level 1 wizard damage, a Sudden Maximize Sudden Empower Sunstroke puts out an expected 15.5 nonlethal damage which is typically enough to down any level 1 fighter.

[Calthropstu]

In terms of cranking up level 1 wizard damage, a Sudden Maximize Sudden Empower Sunstroke puts out an expected 15.5 nonlethal damage which is typically enough to down any level 1 fighter.

You can't get either of those at lvl 1

Edit: at least, not without taking flaws. But optional rule, and nothing was said about allowing it.

[Doctor Despair]

Using Fiery Burst causes AoOs if the Fighter has Supernatural Opportunist.

That's true, but from where can we safely take two feats (since Opportunist has a feat prereq)? I just don't see how we adress that niche weakness without losing more matchups than we win with it. On the upside, I think we decided we win more often than not against the Fiery Burst build with a fire variant human, which is nice.

[Anthrowhale]

You can't get either of those at lvl 1

Edit: at least, not without taking flaws. But optional rule, and nothing was said about allowing it.

I'm not following? Sudden Maximize is a metamagic feat which requires a metamagic feat as prerequisite. Sudden Empower is the same. Hence, a human wizard could take both with each qualifying the other.

[Calthropstu]

I'm not following? Sudden Maximize is a metamagic feat which requires a metamagic feat as prerequisite. Sudden Empower is the same. Hence, a human wizard could take both with each qualifying the other.

Not how prereq's work. A human could take 1, but you can't "simultake" both feats to qualify them both. One of the feats needs to be a non-sudden metamagic feat... which would be virtually useless in this fight.

[Anthrowhale]

Not how prereq's work. A human could take 1, but you can't "simultake" both feats to qualify them both. One of the feats needs to be a non-sudden metamagic feat... which would be virtually useless in this fight.

Can you produce a quote for that?

Investigating some other possibilities:
Shocking Grasp + touch attack + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d6 (~=14) damage gated by only the touch attack.

Hail of Stone + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d4 damage with no save and no SR. Not quite enough.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d6 (~=14) damage Reflex for 1/2 damage.

Backbiter might be a winner though---it seems(?) to have no save for nonmagical weapons and it wastes the fighter's action, so it's effectively no-save weapon damage + daze.

[Doctor Despair]

Can you produce a quote for that?

Investigating some other possibilities:
Shocking Grasp + touch attack + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d6 (~=14) damage gated by only the touch attack.

Hail of Stone + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d4 damage with no save and no SR. Not quite enough.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt + Iron Will + Reserves of Strength = 4d6 (~=14) damage Reflex for 1/2 damage.

Backbiter might be a winner though---it seems(?) to have no save for nonmagical weapons and it wastes the fighter's action, so it's effectively no-save weapon damage + daze.

Each of those would trigger an AOO that would probably kill the wizard.

If the wizard lived, the spells, respectively, require a touch attack, a ranged attack, a reflex save for half, and a will save (possibly; it says magic items get a will save, then says items in a creature's possession can use their wielder's, offering two different ways to read it).

Regardless, those are decent damage, but that's why the fighter is using a reach weapon in the first place. Additionally, except for the Backbiter method, if the fighter lives, he gets to kill the stunned wizard the next round. With Backbiter, the fighter could pass the will save (if the DM says it offers one) or fail to break their own AC. Then, the wizard can jaunt away, use it one more time, and then, if the fighter didn't go down to the second reflected attack, die to the confused mundane combatant.

[Anthrowhale]

Each of those would trigger an AOO that would probably kill the wizard.

The DC to cast defensively is 16. Combat Casting + max ranks in concentration + con 14 gives you a base of 10, so you only fail defensive casting 30% of the time. Using that with Backbiter seems potentially effective?

Incidentally, an attack from the fighter isn't quite instadeath in my understanding. For example, a Conjuration Domain wizard can cast Mage Armor for a +4 armor bonus that lasts for 2 hours. More than one hour is valid as preparation, right? An AC of 18=10+4(armor)+4(dex) is not trivial for the fighter to get through.

[Twurps]

Oh, that's excellent. So with a free usage of spiked whip and reach, we get an attack every time they jaunt. Yes... I think that's actually just a straight-up win for Exoticist Fighter at level 1. If they go first, they kill the wizard. If the wizard goes first, they can't move or cast without taking an AOO.

I was trying to stay away from dragon magazine stuff. other than that: agreed.

Their best option is to five-foot step, use blockade, and try to cast a spell.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but as I understand it, blockade produces a solid block of wood, and needs a empty square to be produced in. As the fighter will be adjacent to the wizard when he initiates his attack, there's no space for the block to form. And even if it does: The block would provide cover, thwarting the fighter's attack, but it would also ruin the wizards line of sight. So after creating the block, he'd have to move to regain line of sight, and still be open to AoO's.

Alternatively, with the 18 str wizard, they can ready an action to attack us when we enter range. Then, after hitting us, when we go to attack them, they can Jaunt away, and repeat that until they run out.

Any turn in which the wizard doesn't do anything (ie spends to ready an action) the fighter is not going to come into range of an armed wizard. He'll approach to 10'range and initiate an attack, forcing some sort of resource out of the wizard (1 use of blockade or jaunt probably). then 1 round later, neither wizard nor fighter will have had a usefull attack, but fighter is down 0 resources, and wizard is down 1. So rinse and repeat advantage fighter.

We agree on the outcome though :)

[Anthrowhale]

If the wizard lived, the spells, respectively, require a touch attack, a ranged attack, a reflex save for half, and a will save (possibly; it says magic items get a will save, then says items in a creature's possession can use their wielder's, offering two different ways to read it).

Hail of Stone does not require a ranged attack---it's a no-save, no-SR, L1 area effect.

Another combo:
Fire Domain Wizard + Cali****e Elementalist[Fire] + Bloodline of Fire + Burning Hands = 5d4 damage (~= 12.5) with a Reflex for 1/2. That may be enough to matter.

[Doctor Despair]

The DC to cast defensively is 16. Combat Casting + max ranks in concentration + con 14 gives you a base of 10, so you only fail defensive casting 30% of the time. Using that with Backbiter seems potentially effective?

Actually, I just re-read Backbiter. It only works on wooden-hafted weapons. We'll spend some WBL to not have a wooden-hafted weapon.

With regard to the casting defensively for other spells, however: we'd need to see the full build to say exactly what the chance is. The purpose of this challenge isn't to say "this fighter can't be beaten by any wizard." If we're discussing a different wizard build, we can necessarily discuss other fighter builds. However, bear in mind that the wizard doesn't have infinite point-buy. A con of 14 means a lower int, or a lower dex, all of which open up other avenues of optimization for the fighter to take into the matchup.

With that said, let's take the current build. The build so far, for reference, is:

Fire-Variant Human
Exoticist Fighter 1 (Proficient with Spiked Chain)
Willing Deformity [Level 1], Deformity (Madness) [Human], Deformity (Tall) [Elder Evil Worship], and Combat Reflexes [Fighter],
Natural Reach: 10 feet
Threaten Range: 5-20 feet
Immune to Mind-Affecting; can AOO when flat-footed

If the fighter goes first, they make an attack and, if they hit, the wizard presumably goes down.

If the wizard goes first, there's no easy way not to trigger an AOO. Casting defensively is their option then; if their plan is to do so, they can ditch the conjuration specialty and go for Nerveskitter again to try to ensure they go first. 30% of the time they fail to cast defensively, and the fighter gets an attack which, if it hits, would presumable take them down. If they succeed, they cast one spell -- that has, using Reserves of Power as you referenced, X% chance of taking them down, varying based on fighter stats and gear:

Shocking Grasp: After a successful touch attack (X% chance of failure to hit), 4d6 (average 14). The fighter, if they have 18 con, would live on average, but be disabled. The wizard is stunned for three rounds thereafter, so if the fighter lives and has a potion of cure light wounds to drink, that wizard will probably go down.

Hail of Stone: After a successful ranged attack (X% chance of failure to hit), 4d4 (average 10). Worse than shocking grasp in almost every way. Actually, it might be even worse than that; it's a ranged attack, so would it provoke a second attack of opportunity? Once when you cast the spell, and again when you make the ranged attack? Regardless, even if not: worse than shocking grasp, and also leaves you stunned for three rounds.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt: No attack roll, 4d6 fire damage (average 14). Much like shocking grasp, but offers a reflex save for half damage and, more importantly, deals fire damage, so the fire resistance 5 comes in again. On a failed save, average damage becomes 9; on a successful save, average damage becomes 5. Average damage doesn't down the fighter with neutral con, let alone positive con. Seems worse than shocking grasp as an option, save that it doesn't require an attack roll, and again leaves you stunned for three rounds.

Without modifying the fighter's build at all, this seems like a poor matchup.

Incidentally, an attack from the fighter isn't quite instadeath in my understanding. For example, a Conjuration Domain wizard can cast Mage Armor for a +4 armor bonus that lasts for 2 hours. More than one hour is valid as preparation, right? An AC of 18=10+4(armor)+4(dex) is not trivial for the fighter to get through.

OK, so we can discuss buffs, but be aware that the wizard only gets one or two level 1 spells. Let's ignore the option of buffs the fighter could pay for someone to cast for now. The wizard (you've given him 18 dex and 14 con so far; are you tanking int? That'll make your saves lower for the fighter, too) has 18 AC in your scenario. The fighter with the above-described build has 1 BAB, +4 to hit, and +1 from a masterwork weapon, before any buffs. That'd be a relative 12 AC, or a 40% chance to break it, and damage rolls should be sufficient to down the wizard afterward. That's assuming the wizard isn't flat-footed of course, in which case it's a 60% chance. It is a decent chance to miss.

However, as you've used mage armor for one level 1 spell, if your remaining level 1 spell doesn't down the fighter, the wizard is in a tough spot; I don't think the wizard is likely to win if the fighter gets to start repeating that 40-60% chance on them multiple times. Also of note: nerveskitter is a level 1 spell, so that means you're fighting the fighter with no level 1 combat-spells, or you're tanking your initiative advantage. Again, if the fighter goes first, the wizard has a pretty decent chance of just losing (flat-footed AC makes it more likely than not the fighter hits). We need to make a concerted decision here on what strategy the optimal wizard pursues there.

Another option that hasn't been discussed is grappling. If the fighter feels insecure about their ability to hit the wizard, they could go for a grapple and just wear a bunch of armor. Throw on a potion of mage-armor, wield a non-masterwork chain, toss a buckler on there, and the fighter's AC is looking like at least 19. They drop their chain as a free action and make a touch attack against the wizard; wizard has 14 AC if they're not flat-footed, or else it's a 10. The wizard probably whiffs on their AOO, and they are grappling, where the fighter has a +5 to the wizards probably negative modifier, and pummels him with unarmed attacks. I think the fighter is probably better off just going for a hit, but the option is there.

Hail of Stone does not require a ranged attack---it's a no-save, no-SR, L1 area effect.

Another combo:
Fire Domain Wizard + Cali****e Elementalist[Fire] + Bloodline of Fire + Burning Hands = 5d4 damage (~= 12.5) with a Reflex for 1/2. That may be enough to matter.

Hail of Stone does require a ranged attack. It allows SR, but has no save. Are you possibly thinking of a different spell entirely?

Spoiler: Hail of Stone

Show

Conjuration (Creation) [Earth]
Level: Sorcerer 1, Wizard 1,
Components: V, S, M,
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: Cylinder (5-ft. radius, 40 ft. high)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

You create a rain of stones that deal damage to creatures and objects they strike.
Make a ranged attack roll (not ranged touch) against every creature and relevant object in the spell's area.
Your bonus for this attack roll is equal to your caster level plus your relevant ability modifier (Intelligence for wizards or Charisma for sorcerers).
A successful hit deals 1d4 points of damage per caster level, to a maximum of 5d4.
Material Component: A piece of jade worth at least 5 gp.

So let's set aside the fact that you're changing the prestige class, so we no longer need a bunch of our feats (after all, the wizard no longer has Abrupt Jaunt)...

Spoiler: Specifically...

Show

Specifically, if the wizard isn't taking color spray or abrupt jaunt, we don't need any deformities at all. That opens up two feats to use for optimization, and we can take some other bonus vile feat for marginal benefit.

... 5d4 fire damage averages out to 12.5. The sample build has fire resistance 5, so the average damage will be 8 -- not enough to down the fighter. Additionally, it allows for reflex half, so while a failed save results in an average of 8 damage, a successful save results in an average of 2 damage. Additionally, Burning Hands is not an immediate or swift-action spell, so it provokes attacks of opportunity again.

[tyckspoon]

Hail of Stone does require a ranged attack. It allows SR, but has no save. Are you possibly thinking of a different spell entirely?

Spoiler: Hail of Stone

Show

Conjuration (Creation) [Earth]
Level: Sorcerer 1, Wizard 1,
Components: V, S, M,
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: Cylinder (5-ft. radius, 40 ft. high)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

You create a rain of stones that deal damage to creatures and objects they strike.
Make a ranged attack roll (not ranged touch) against every creature and relevant object in the spell's area.
Your bonus for this attack roll is equal to your caster level plus your relevant ability modifier (Intelligence for wizards or Charisma for sorcerers).
A successful hit deals 1d4 points of damage per caster level, to a maximum of 5d4.
Material Component: A piece of jade worth at least 5 gp.

Outdated version of the spell. It's been reprinted and updated in Complete Arcane (SR and Attack Roll got removed, placed on the Warmage and Wu Jen lists) and then again in Spell Compendium (added back to the general Wiz/Sorc list, as SR No, no attack roll, no save throw. Which makes it mostly notable for being nearly impossible to avoid damage, as it's No SR No Save untyped non-specifically targeted damage.. it's also pretty crummy damage, which is going to make it a poor choice for this competition anyways unless you can cheese in a bunch of extra metamagic.)

[Doctor Despair]

Outdated version of the spell. It's been reprinted and updated in Complete Arcane (SR and Attack Roll got removed, placed on the Warmage and Wu Jen lists) and then again in Spell Compendium (added back to the general Wiz/Sorc list, as SR No, no attack roll, no save throw. Which makes it mostly notable for being nearly impossible to avoid damage, as it's No SR No Save untyped non-specifically targeted damage.. it's also pretty crummy damage, which is going to make it a poor choice for this competition anyways unless you can cheese in a bunch of extra metamagic.)

Ah, that's fair. Yeah, even allowing the ranged attack in the old spell succeeded, the damage doesn't down the fighter in one go here on average. It is better than the old version though, for sure.

[Anthrowhale]

Spell Compendium also updates Backbiter to apply to all melee weapons.

A question: How much wealth is being assumed? Masterwork weapons are typically not available at level 1.

(more later)

[Zarvistic]

Kauper's Quickblast with Fell Drain could be interesting as it's a swift action kill I believe. Does need caster level 2 and metamagic reduction, which should be doable, maybe with Easy Metamagic and Metamagic School Focus.

[Doctor Despair]

Spell Compendium also updates Backbiter to apply to all melee weapons. (more later)

Ah, I see. Backbiter gets a lot better then. So we'd see marchups like:

Fighter goes first: attacks, hits, knocks out wizard

Fighter goes first: attacks, misses, proceed to wizard turn as if fighter hadn't gone.

Wizard goes first: Defensive casting; fails, loses spell, passes back. Wizard has no level 1 spells left.

Wizard goes first: casts, provoking aoo. Fighter hits, and wizard loses the spell. Wizard has no level 1 spells left.

Wizard goes first: defensive casting succeeds, or fighter misses aoo, so they cast Backbiter. Fighter, although unaware of the effects, fears they won't break the wizard's ac because they cast a spell with no obvious effect, so instead goes for a melee touch attack against the wizard, proceeding to grapple rules. Wizard uses abrupt jaunt to port away, dodging the attack, but has no level 1 spells left.

Clearly the last scenario is pretty ideal for the wizard using Backbiter, although it leaves them in an awkward spot where they have no level 1s. Again, this is why I'd caution against mage armor. They then have to deal with the unarned fighter charging at them every turn, kiting them with level 0 spells, or their remaining level 1 spell if they didn't use mage armor...

However, this likely ends in a draw. The fighter, instead of attacking, drops his weapon and readies an action to make a melee touch attack (to grapple) on the wizard if they take any action. As discussed upthread, this means that at this point in the fight, the wizard must either tank the hit (and tank it every time, as the fighter will repeat this strategy), or do nothing until the character with less con passes out (probably the wizard). Advantage to the fighter here.

Kauper's Quickblast with Fell Drain could be interesting as it's a swift action kill I believe. Does need caster level 2 and metamagic reduction, which should be doable, maybe with Easy Metamagic and Metamagic School Focus.

The wizard only has two feats though, sadly; the exercise isn't using flaws. If they add flaws, the fighter can take enduring life to delay the effects until they down the wizard.

________

Edit: I suppose that using negative levels suggests the fighter can only ever draw until they get slots for Endurance and Lasting Life, since they would die upon the effect timing out. However, I feel like using our level 3 feat for that instead of Mage Slayer and/or Occult Opportunist would be a mistake... However, that's all moot by level 6 when the wizard takes elusive dance. Maybe there's something we can get to help with martial study...

I suppose for the level 3 fight, the wizard could take Apprentice (Entertainer) to make perform a class skill, and then take Elusive Dance at level 3. That's race-neutral and wins the wizard the fight with a feat to spare for improved initiative.

That being the case, the lockdown build is ONLY relevant at level 1 in this 1v1. After that, the fighter would have to optimize initiative and hope they win the roll, despite the disadvantage of Nerveskitter. The builds would look very different.

[Anthrowhale]

I'd still like an answer about wealth---the wizard can use wealth very advantageously, so if there is more-than-normal wealth available (to buy a masterwork weapon for example), that could really change things.

Of the wizard approaches discussed:

(1) Sudden Maximize Sudden Empower Sunstroke works pretty well. Calthropstu thinks it's illegal, but hasn't found a quote yet and it looks clearly legal to me as all prereqs are satisfied.
(2) Backbiter seems interesting as a low-investment approach. As far as I can tell from the description, there is _no_ save since the weapon is not magical. (Yes, it's nice that you can use your save if it is magical.)

Nevertheless, here's a third approach which looks a bit more foolproof.

For a wizard build, let's go with a Hengeyokai Sparrow Martial Conjuration Domain wizard with a Rhamphorhynchus familiar (Dragon #318). Str 8, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 6, Cha 8. In sparrow form, which can be maintained indefinitely, it has Str 1, Dex 23, Con 10 and Fly 50' (average).

The Feats are:
Martial Wizard: Improved Initiative
Level 1: Surrogate Spellcasting

Spells:
Domain slot: Mage Armor (precast)
Wizard 1: Sunstroke
Intelligence Bonus: Sunstroke

Touch AC is: 28=10+8(size)+6(Dex)+4(Mage Armor)
Initiative bonus is: +13=+6(Dex)+4(Improved Initiative)+3(Familiar)

Skills appear irrelevant.

Equipment is a light crossbow and some bolts.

The wizard loses initiative 3.75% fraction of the time. Assuming a win, the wizard will use a move action to fly up and 25' away and a standard action to cast Sunstroke using Surrogate Spellcasting. The fighter makes an AOO, but only has a 5% chance of hitting AC 28. The fighter takes 2d6 nonlethal damage and must make a fort save (DC 15) or become fatigued. The fighter can then respond, but has only a 5% chance of hitting AC 28. The wizard casts Sunstroke again, delivering another 2d6 damage which has a good chance of knocking out or staggering the fighter (average damage is 14 now) and forces another fort save which causes fatigue (if the first save was made) or escalates to exhaustion if both fail.

The wizard will transform into hybrid form (Fly 20', Str 8, Dex 18, Con 14) which reduces initiative to +11 and AC to 18, then follow up with crossbow fire (+4 to hit) until the fighter is down.

[Doctor Despair]

Hengeyokais have a level adjustment, I'm pretty sure.

Oh, fair. I overestimated starting wealth a bit. No masterwork then; -1 to hit, 5% swing.

I'm fairly certain you aren't eligible to select either feat until you have a metamagic feat first. You either select one feat before the other, or you select them at the same time, but in either case you don't meet the prerequisite at the time you take the feat, so you can't select it.

However, notably, if you hypothetically temporarily had a metamagic feat at level 0, you could select them both, and if you later lost that level 0 feat, they should self-qualify like you want

[Anthrowhale]

Hengeyokais have a level adjustment, I'm pretty sure.

Dragon Magazine #318 page 34 updates them to have the humanoid type, shapechange subtype, and LA+0.

[Calthropstu]

Ah, I see. Backbiter gets a lot better then. So we'd see marchups like:

Fighter goes first: attacks, hits, knocks out wizard

Fighter goes first: attacks, misses, proceed to wizard turn as if fighter hadn't gone.

Wizard goes first: Defensive casting; fails, loses spell, passes back. Wizard has no level 1 spells left.

Wizard goes first: casts, provoking aoo. Fighter hits, and wizard loses the spell. Wizard has no level 1 spells left.

Wizard goes first: defensive casting succeeds, or fighter misses aoo, so they cast Backbiter. Fighter, although unaware of the effects, fears they won't break the wizard's ac because they cast a spell with no obvious effect, so instead goes for a melee touch attack against the wizard, proceeding to grapple rules. Wizard uses abrupt jaunt to port away, dodging the attack, but has no level 1 spells left.

Clearly the last scenario is pretty ideal for the wizard using Backbiter, although it leaves them in an awkward spot where they have no level 1s. Again, this is why I'd caution against mage armor. They then have to deal with the unarned fighter charging at them every turn, kiting them with level 0 spells, or their remaining level 1 spell if they didn't use mage armor...

However, this likely ends in a draw. The fighter, instead of attacking, drops his weapon and readies an action to make a melee touch attack (to grapple) on the wizard if they take any action. As discussed upthread, this means that at this point in the fight, the wizard must either tank the hit (and tank it every time, as the fighter will repeat this strategy), or do nothing until the character with less con passes out (probably the wizard). Advantage to the fighter here.



The wizard only has two feats though, sadly; the exercise isn't using flaws. If they add flaws, the fighter can take enduring life to delay the effects until they down the wizard.

________

Edit: I suppose that using negative levels suggests the fighter can only ever draw until they get slots for Endurance and Lasting Life, since they would die upon the effect timing out. However, I feel like using our level 3 feat for that instead of Mage Slayer and/or Occult Opportunist would be a mistake... However, that's all moot by level 6 when the wizard takes elusive dance. Maybe there's something we can get to help with martial study...

I suppose for the level 3 fight, the wizard could take Apprentice (Entertainer) to make perform a class skill, and then take Elusive Dance at level 3. That's race-neutral and wins the wizard the fight with a feat to spare for improved initiative.

That being the case, the lockdown build is ONLY relevant at level 1 in this 1v1. After that, the fighter would have to optimize initiative and hope they win the roll, despite the disadvantage of Nerveskitter. The builds would look very different.

How many times do I have to say this?

NERVESKITTER = FIGHTER WIN. Nerveskitter makes the wizard unable to jaunt on his first turn opening him up to aoo from combat reflexes. Stop thinking nerveskitter is good for this scenario. It is basically HANDING the first round to the fighter.

[Doctor Despair]

How many times do I have to say this?

NERVESKITTER = FIGHTER WIN. Nerveskitter makes the wizard unable to jaunt on his first turn opening him up to aoo from combat reflexes. Stop thinking nerveskitter is good for this scenario. It is basically HANDING the first round to the fighter.

Elusive Dance renders the wizard immune to AOOs.

Spoiler: feat

Show

Prerequisite: Perform (dance) 5 ranks.
Benefit: During your action, you designate an opponent. That opponent cannot make attacks of opportunity against you. You can select a new opponent on any action. If you have the Dodge feat you must designate the same opponent as the target for both feats.

[Calthropstu]

Elusive Dance renders the wizard immune to AOOs.

Spoiler: feat

Show

Prerequisite: Perform (dance) 5 ranks.
Benefit: During your action, you designate an opponent. That opponent cannot make attacks of opportunity against you. You can select a new opponent on any action. If you have the Dodge feat you must designate the same opponent as the target for both feats.

what is this feat from?

[Doctor Despair]

what is this feat from?

Dragon #333, page 88; same one that had Master of Mockery.

[el minster]

you can't get 5 ranks in preform at first level