10th level wizard optimization [Archive] - Wizards Community

10th level wizard optimization [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
myrbock
08-01-04, 08:08 PM I need to create a 10th level wizard for a new campaign. Since we will be evil (so I can't be exhalted), I decided I would make a male Drow wizard. My MD allowed me to reduce the level adjustment from +2 to +1 so I will be 9th level. We play in a custom made campaign setting and the capaign will take place on the surface of the world.

We start with 49000 gp each (with no maximum spent on a single item). We will have a fighter, an archer (ranger with some PrC I don't remember), a cleric, a rogue and myself.

I rolled 15, 14, 13, 13, 10, 9.

Those are my final stats:
wizard 8/drow paragon 1 (for the light armor proficiency, from Unearthed Arcana)
Str: 10
Dex: 18 ---> 13 + 1 (level) + 2 (gloves of dexterity)
Con: 14 ---> 14 - 2 (race) + 2 (bracers of constitution)
Int: 20 ---> 15 + 1 (level) + 2 (race) + 2 (headband of intellect)
Wis: 13
Cha: 11 ---> 9 + 2 (level)

HP: 61
AC: 21
SR: 20
+1 Twilight mithril chain shirt
Amulet of natural armor +1
Ring of protection +1

For: 8 (2 base, 2 from con, 2 from great fortitute and 2 from a vest of resitance +2)
Ref: 10 (4 base, 4 from dex, 2 from vest of resistance +2)
Will: 9 (6 base, 1 from wis, 2 from vest of resistance +2)

Feats:
1 Spellcasting prodigy
3 Improved initiative
5 Empower spell
6 Great fortitude
9 Improved toughness

Spells per day:
Lvl0: 4
Lvl1: 6
Lvl2: 6
Lvl3: 4
Lvl4: 3
Lvl5: 2

Equipment:
Gloves of dexterity +2 (4000 gp)
Bracers of constitution +2 (4000 gp)
Headband of intellect +2 (4000 gp)
Vest of resistance +2 (2000 gp)
Ring of protection +1 (1000 gp)
Amulet of natural armor (1000 gp)
+1 Twilight mithral chain shirt (5100 gp)
Hat of disguise (1800 gp)
Bag of holding type I (2500 gp)
About 10000 gp worth of scrolls (most to learn spells but some practical like feather fall)
Cloak of the spider (8200 gp)
Total: 43600 gp

I was wondering what I could do to improve my character, if he needs to be improved (thought of a wand in case I need to blast ennemie, but I don't have the money).

Thanks a lot,
Myrbock
Blade2718
08-01-04, 08:56 PM Nice of your DM to throw you a bone since you've managed to successfuly cripple the career of your character; for any primary caster, the most precious commodity there is, is your caster level. You WILL be less successful than a Wizard 10, because of improved access to higher level spells, and stronger casting from the additional level. Ask anybody around here, and they'll tell you the same thing. Try going for drow half-elf, so you can stay evil, though you won't be able to get Drow Paragon unless you get Half-Elf Paragon first.
SolitudeSeraph
08-01-04, 09:00 PM You'll never need armor proficiency..just get a +1 twilight mithral chain shirt (ac penalty 0, spell failure 0%, +4 ac, max dex +8)..for 5100gp..in the PHB under the feats for armor proficiency..all it says is you suffer the ac penalty to everything (instead of just certain skills) but if your ac penalty is 0..why bother?

Twilight is found in the BoED it's a +1 bonus that negates 10% spell failure (I believe) and mithral chain shirt is in DMG
myrbock
08-01-04, 09:13 PM I liked the drow for the flavor, but a half-drow would be good too I think. But I worry for the lost 2 int, will my spell DC be too low with 19 int (21 because of spellcasting prodigy)? Also, i would have to remove the point I put in dex otherwise i wont be able to cast 9th level spells in time.

If i change for a half-drow i will:
I will lose my spell resistance.
My AC will be 18 instead of 21 (-2 dex (now 15 dex) and mage armor instead of +1 twilight mithral chain shirt).
I will have 9 more hp.
I will be wizard level 10.

Will it be worth it?
myrbock
08-01-04, 09:13 PM Sorry, double post.
SolitudeSeraph
08-01-04, 09:14 PM If you're playing 3.5 Spellcasting Prodigy doesn't up DCs anymore....check Player's Guide to Faerun
myrbock
08-01-04, 09:22 PM You'll never need armor proficiency..just get a +1 twilight mithral chain shirt (ac penalty 0, spell failure 0%, +4 ac, max dex +8)..for 5100gp..in the PHB under the feats for armor proficiency..all it says is you suffer the ac penalty to everything (instead of just certain skills) but if your ac penalty is 0..why bother?

I did not think about that, thanks.

If you're playing 3.5 Spellcasting Prodigy doesn't up DCs anymore....check Player's Guide to Faerun

Then my DC will be very low no (with 19 int)? I tought about getting spell focus conjuration and spell focus illusion (instead of improved toughness) but will it be enough?
Zekk, Archmage of All
08-01-04, 09:32 PM Lose the Drow, Improved Toughness and Great Fortitude. Go Human take 5 levels Wizard and 5 levels of a PrC you like. Your DC is always going to be low in 3.5.
SolitudeSeraph
08-01-04, 09:56 PM If you're a drow I assume you're evil...other than spell focus you can take red wizard (spell power), archmage (spell power), or shadow weave magic (+1 dc to enchantment, illusion, necromancy), gnome (+1 dc illusion)
After the brokeness of 3.0 wizards decided to nerf wizards/sorcs so high dcs are hard to get..

Also if you want you can get a +1 twilight buckler (+2 to ac) since shield proficiency works exactly like armor..and a buckler has -1 ac penalty (but masterwork/magical drops that to none)

But yes try and lose the drow..

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
myrbock 08-01-04, 08:08 PM	I need to create a 10th level wizard for a new campaign. Since we will be evil (so I can't be exhalted), I decided I would make a male Drow wizard. My MD allowed me to reduce the level adjustment from +2 to +1 so I will be 9th level. We play in a custom made campaign setting and the capaign will take place on the surface of the world. We start with 49000 gp each (with no maximum spent on a single item). We will have a fighter, an archer (ranger with some PrC I don't remember), a cleric, a rogue and myself. I rolled 15, 14, 13, 13, 10, 9. Those are my final stats: wizard 8/drow paragon 1 (for the light armor proficiency, from Unearthed Arcana) Str: 10 Dex: 18 ---> 13 + 1 (level) + 2 (gloves of dexterity) Con: 14 ---> 14 - 2 (race) + 2 (bracers of constitution) Int: 20 ---> 15 + 1 (level) + 2 (race) + 2 (headband of intellect) Wis: 13 Cha: 11 ---> 9 + 2 (level) HP: 61 AC: 21 SR: 20 +1 Twilight mithril chain shirt Amulet of natural armor +1 Ring of protection +1 For: 8 (2 base, 2 from con, 2 from great fortitute and 2 from a vest of resitance +2) Ref: 10 (4 base, 4 from dex, 2 from vest of resistance +2) Will: 9 (6 base, 1 from wis, 2 from vest of resistance +2) Feats: 1 Spellcasting prodigy 3 Improved initiative 5 Empower spell 6 Great fortitude 9 Improved toughness Spells per day: Lvl0: 4 Lvl1: 6 Lvl2: 6 Lvl3: 4 Lvl4: 3 Lvl5: 2 Equipment: Gloves of dexterity +2 (4000 gp) Bracers of constitution +2 (4000 gp) Headband of intellect +2 (4000 gp) Vest of resistance +2 (2000 gp) Ring of protection +1 (1000 gp) Amulet of natural armor (1000 gp) +1 Twilight mithral chain shirt (5100 gp) Hat of disguise (1800 gp) Bag of holding type I (2500 gp) About 10000 gp worth of scrolls (most to learn spells but some practical like feather fall) Cloak of the spider (8200 gp) Total: 43600 gp I was wondering what I could do to improve my character, if he needs to be improved (thought of a wand in case I need to blast ennemie, but I don't have the money). Thanks a lot, Myrbock
Blade2718 08-01-04, 08:56 PM	Nice of your DM to throw you a bone since you've managed to successfuly cripple the career of your character; for any primary caster, the most precious commodity there is, is your caster level. You WILL be less successful than a Wizard 10, because of improved access to higher level spells, and stronger casting from the additional level. Ask anybody around here, and they'll tell you the same thing. Try going for drow half-elf, so you can stay evil, though you won't be able to get Drow Paragon unless you get Half-Elf Paragon first.
SolitudeSeraph 08-01-04, 09:00 PM	You'll never need armor proficiency..just get a +1 twilight mithral chain shirt (ac penalty 0, spell failure 0%, +4 ac, max dex +8)..for 5100gp..in the PHB under the feats for armor proficiency..all it says is you suffer the ac penalty to everything (instead of just certain skills) but if your ac penalty is 0..why bother? Twilight is found in the BoED it's a +1 bonus that negates 10% spell failure (I believe) and mithral chain shirt is in DMG
myrbock 08-01-04, 09:13 PM	I liked the drow for the flavor, but a half-drow would be good too I think. But I worry for the lost 2 int, will my spell DC be too low with 19 int (21 because of spellcasting prodigy)? Also, i would have to remove the point I put in dex otherwise i wont be able to cast 9th level spells in time. If i change for a half-drow i will: I will lose my spell resistance. My AC will be 18 instead of 21 (-2 dex (now 15 dex) and mage armor instead of +1 twilight mithral chain shirt). I will have 9 more hp. I will be wizard level 10. Will it be worth it?
myrbock 08-01-04, 09:13 PM	Sorry, double post.
SolitudeSeraph 08-01-04, 09:14 PM	If you're playing 3.5 Spellcasting Prodigy doesn't up DCs anymore....check Player's Guide to Faerun
myrbock 08-01-04, 09:22 PM	You'll never need armor proficiency..just get a +1 twilight mithral chain shirt (ac penalty 0, spell failure 0%, +4 ac, max dex +8)..for 5100gp..in the PHB under the feats for armor proficiency..all it says is you suffer the ac penalty to everything (instead of just certain skills) but if your ac penalty is 0..why bother? I did not think about that, thanks. If you're playing 3.5 Spellcasting Prodigy doesn't up DCs anymore....check Player's Guide to Faerun Then my DC will be very low no (with 19 int)? I tought about getting spell focus conjuration and spell focus illusion (instead of improved toughness) but will it be enough?
Zekk, Archmage of All 08-01-04, 09:32 PM	Lose the Drow, Improved Toughness and Great Fortitude. Go Human take 5 levels Wizard and 5 levels of a PrC you like. Your DC is always going to be low in 3.5.
SolitudeSeraph 08-01-04, 09:56 PM	If you're a drow I assume you're evil...other than spell focus you can take red wizard (spell power), archmage (spell power), or shadow weave magic (+1 dc to enchantment, illusion, necromancy), gnome (+1 dc illusion) After the brokeness of 3.0 wizards decided to nerf wizards/sorcs so high dcs are hard to get.. Also if you want you can get a +1 twilight buckler (+2 to ac) since shield proficiency works exactly like armor..and a buckler has -1 ac penalty (but masterwork/magical drops that to none) But yes try and lose the drow..