Eldritch Theurge Advice

[codexgigas]

One of my friends has decided to DM an epic-level game, and I'm the only player in the group who's willing to play the arcane caster. I've always wanted to play a Warlock, but I never have because the class isn't that great. The Eldritch Theurge PrC, however, seems to allow me to enjoy some of the better parts of being a Warlock with the win that is ninth-level arcane spells. Stats (generated 4d6 drop lowest) are 17, 15, 13, 13, 11, 8. Characters are ECL 20 with starting gold from the WBL table from the DMG. I think I'll probably go either Grey Elf or Human. I'm debating between Wu Jen or Wizard for the casting class; giant size is really tempting me toward Wu Jen, but the Wizard spell list is much better. If I go Wizard, I'm still not sold on my specialization (or on taking the Elven generalist level), but I'm leaning toward either Enchantment or Illusion (with one of my banned schools being Evocation and the other yet to be decided).

What I'm looking for is general advice on the build, the pros and cons of playing a Wu Jen, and advice on feat choices and solid choices for invocations. I don't have access to the Hellfire Warlock PrC, so that's out, and I'd rather focus on the caster side of the build, with the Warlock side being there to make blasting an option, should I need it, and provide support SLAs. I'll finish the build off with either Master Specialist or Loremaster, depending on if I specialize.

Also, while I'm asking questions, I've found myself confused on some of the epic rules. I'd always thought that spells per day stopped increasing at ECL 20, but there's text in the back of Complete Arcane that suggests that they stop increasing at caster level 20, which is a big difference (and makes Sorcerer levels viable in this build). However, the text in the Epic Wu Jen entry seems to contradict this. Can anyone provide clarification?

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Venerable Dragonwrought Desert Kobold Sorcerer/Warlock with the various tricks to give you spellcasting as a Sorc of +3 levels(IIRC). Use Invocations and UMD to cover any gaps in your spells known. Proceed to melt holes in anything that comes near you, or just hit it with a S-or-D effect.

[Chronos]

Note that invoking can be advanced by any PrC which gives "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" or "+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class". Most such classes are hard to qualify for as a warlock, but with an eldritch theurge, you could use your wizard (or wu jen or sorcerer) spellcasting to qualify for classes, but then advance your warlock side with them. Since you're going epic, you'll probably want to do this after you max out your wizard side.

[Duke of URL]

What I'm looking for is general advice on the build, the pros and cons of playing a Wu Jen, and advice on feat choices and solid choices for invocations. I don't have access to the Hellfire Warlock PrC, so that's out, and I'd rather focus on the caster side of the build, with the Warlock side being there to make blasting an option, should I need it, and provide support SLAs. I'll finish the build off with either Master Specialist or Loremaster, depending on if I specialize.

Hmmm... I would of thought Sorcerer over Wizard, for CHA synergy. If you're not planning on using invocations that allow saves, on the other hand...

In any case, if focusing on the caster side, make sure you get Practiced Spellcaster to offset any lost caster levels.

Also, while I'm asking questions, I've found myself confused on some of the epic rules. I'd always thought that spells per day stopped increasing at ECL 20, but there's text in the back of Complete Arcane that suggests that they stop increasing at caster level 20, which is a big difference (and makes Sorcerer levels viable in this build). However, the text in the Epic Wu Jen entry seems to contradict this. Can anyone provide clarification?

I've always seen it played as you continue to get spells per day/spells known until 20th level equivalent in that class, even if you reach that in epic levels.