3.0 Spell Optimization [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.0 Spell Optimization [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sardan
03-25-05, 03:10 AM Okay I am playing the original Temple of Elemental Evil converted to 3.0. The game is fairly high powered because there are some incredible threats. I'm playing a wizard and I need some help with my spells.

The fighters in the group are all uber-twinked. The DM has alllowed a third-party feat book (AEG's "Feats") and there are some BROKEN feats in there. So much so that it is referred to at the table as the "broken feat book".

The fighters are stacking improved crit with Keen (as is legal in 3.0). Th ethrower in the group is using a feat called Deadeye that allows him to auto critical as a full round action and has Deadeye Shot that has his crit range at x4! They have all uber-strength etc.

I'm looking for some spells that can be twinked in the same way in 3.0. At the moment my main tactic is to use Haste to get twice as many spells (still legal in 3.0) and use a rod of maximize and the empowered feat to get more bang out of each spell.

However I want to be a bit more creative. What spells can be broken in 3.0? How about Polymorph - any good forms to use based on Polymorph as written in the PHB (not Tome an d Blood or the errata).

Anything else I can use to squeeze some advantage and stop the two twinked fighters stealing the show?

Thanks in advance.
jstorrie
03-25-05, 03:31 AM It was a long, long time ago, but I seem to remember Persistent Spell being a world of good in 3.0. Do you have 5th and 6th level spell slots yet?
Sardan
03-25-05, 03:36 AM Yes I have. What was the difference with persistent spell?
Debug0x2a
03-25-05, 03:44 AM How about 3.0 psionics....those were just wrong. Persistent manifestation on temporal accelleration, then drop every energy manifestation you have and let time start up again. Something tells me theres some errata on that though...it can't be that easy.
beaver1024
03-25-05, 03:59 AM You need to come to grips with the fact that you will never outdamage the fighters. Direct damage spells are not the way to go in 3.x.

However since your DM has allowed your fighters access to 3rd party books would it be fair to ask him to allow you access to 3.0 WoTC books? You'll need the FRCS (Forgotten Realm Campaign Setting).

The idea is to have your wizard fling very hard to resist save or die spells around.

Here's a rough starting build:

Human Transmuter (18 int)
Trans 1: Spellcasting Prodigy, Tatoo Focus
Trans 2
Trans 3: Spell Focus: Transmutation
Trans 4: Raise Int
Trans 5: Craft Wondorous Item
Trans 5/Red Wizard 1: Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation
Trans 5/Red Wizard 2

At this point here, you should be able to cast DC 23 + spell level spells which would make it very hard to resist.

By 20th level, Remember to take levels in Archmage and use those Spell Power High arcanas. This would net you around a DC 40 + spell level spells. Get the chain spell metamagic feat to spread the love around.

If you're stuck with core, ditch your wizard and go cleric. Abuse Harm/Heal, it's fun you'll see.
Sardan
03-25-05, 01:22 PM thanks.

My Wiz is already Wiz(Div)7/Lore2/Div Oracle2
JRedGiant
03-25-05, 03:11 PM Bah...if you can't beat em, team em. Get a rod of lesser chaining and toss Greater Magic Weapon on everyone's stuff, along with a Bulls Strength and an Endurance. A polymorphed firbolg or stone giant wizard can do some heinous melee damage, probably all you need. Use your spells to do the utility stuff that makes DM's cry...True Seeing, Passwall, Dimension Door/Teleport, etc. And yeah, Persistant. Don't miss Persistant Shield and some of the Detects (Thoughts is especially good).

And then there's the first level spell Benign Transposition out of Mini's Handbook, or as I like to call it, Fighterball. Let one fighter charge, then use Benign Transposition to swap him and the other fighter, letting him get a full attack off. If that 2nd fighter deals 70 points of damage with his full attack, not counting the first shot - gratz. You just popped off 70 damage with a 1st level spell.
beaver1024
03-25-05, 07:14 PM thanks.

My Wiz is already Wiz(Div)7/Lore2/Div Oracle2

I'm sorry but you'll be stuck doing support then :(.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sardan 03-25-05, 03:10 AM	Okay I am playing the original Temple of Elemental Evil converted to 3.0. The game is fairly high powered because there are some incredible threats. I'm playing a wizard and I need some help with my spells. The fighters in the group are all uber-twinked. The DM has alllowed a third-party feat book (AEG's "Feats") and there are some BROKEN feats in there. So much so that it is referred to at the table as the "broken feat book". The fighters are stacking improved crit with Keen (as is legal in 3.0). Th ethrower in the group is using a feat called Deadeye that allows him to auto critical as a full round action and has Deadeye Shot that has his crit range at x4! They have all uber-strength etc. I'm looking for some spells that can be twinked in the same way in 3.0. At the moment my main tactic is to use Haste to get twice as many spells (still legal in 3.0) and use a rod of maximize and the empowered feat to get more bang out of each spell. However I want to be a bit more creative. What spells can be broken in 3.0? How about Polymorph - any good forms to use based on Polymorph as written in the PHB (not Tome an d Blood or the errata). Anything else I can use to squeeze some advantage and stop the two twinked fighters stealing the show? Thanks in advance.
jstorrie 03-25-05, 03:31 AM	It was a long, long time ago, but I seem to remember Persistent Spell being a world of good in 3.0. Do you have 5th and 6th level spell slots yet?
Sardan 03-25-05, 03:36 AM	Yes I have. What was the difference with persistent spell?
Debug0x2a 03-25-05, 03:44 AM	How about 3.0 psionics....those were just wrong. Persistent manifestation on temporal accelleration, then drop every energy manifestation you have and let time start up again. Something tells me theres some errata on that though...it can't be that easy.
beaver1024 03-25-05, 03:59 AM	You need to come to grips with the fact that you will never outdamage the fighters. Direct damage spells are not the way to go in 3.x. However since your DM has allowed your fighters access to 3rd party books would it be fair to ask him to allow you access to 3.0 WoTC books? You'll need the FRCS (Forgotten Realm Campaign Setting). The idea is to have your wizard fling very hard to resist save or die spells around. Here's a rough starting build: Human Transmuter (18 int) Trans 1: Spellcasting Prodigy, Tatoo Focus Trans 2 Trans 3: Spell Focus: Transmutation Trans 4: Raise Int Trans 5: Craft Wondorous Item Trans 5/Red Wizard 1: Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation Trans 5/Red Wizard 2 At this point here, you should be able to cast DC 23 + spell level spells which would make it very hard to resist. By 20th level, Remember to take levels in Archmage and use those Spell Power High arcanas. This would net you around a DC 40 + spell level spells. Get the chain spell metamagic feat to spread the love around. If you're stuck with core, ditch your wizard and go cleric. Abuse Harm/Heal, it's fun you'll see.
Sardan 03-25-05, 01:22 PM	thanks. My Wiz is already Wiz(Div)7/Lore2/Div Oracle2
JRedGiant 03-25-05, 03:11 PM	Bah...if you can't beat em, team em. Get a rod of lesser chaining and toss Greater Magic Weapon on everyone's stuff, along with a Bulls Strength and an Endurance. A polymorphed firbolg or stone giant wizard can do some heinous melee damage, probably all you need. Use your spells to do the utility stuff that makes DM's cry...True Seeing, Passwall, Dimension Door/Teleport, etc. And yeah, Persistant. Don't miss Persistant Shield and some of the Detects (Thoughts is especially good). And then there's the first level spell Benign Transposition out of Mini's Handbook, or as I like to call it, Fighterball. Let one fighter charge, then use Benign Transposition to swap him and the other fighter, letting him get a full attack off. If that 2nd fighter deals 70 points of damage with his full attack, not counting the first shot - gratz. You just popped off 70 damage with a 1st level spell.
beaver1024 03-25-05, 07:14 PM	thanks. My Wiz is already Wiz(Div)7/Lore2/Div Oracle2 I'm sorry but you'll be stuck doing support then :(.