Advise for Mage in battle-oriented campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advise for Mage in battle-oriented campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CrimsonGenesis
11-10-05, 02:31 PM Hey

I am going to be playing in a battle-oriented campaign (I think the DM has a thing for the Heroes of Battle book). So far the party consists of a dwarf pally that is mounted combat specialized, a gnome two-weapon fighter, a druid, and a skill-based character (is unsure of what class). So I figure I might as well become the mage of the party. I was thinking of making a Counter-Speller with decent offensive and defensive spells.

I was thinking of going wizard 10/ geometer 5/ archmage 5 for my build, but I am unsure as I have never played an arcane caster before. You guys and gals have any advise.

(FYI, we have access to only the Complete series and DMG for PrC's and feats)
PonTelon
11-10-05, 02:52 PM Since you said he liked the book, I'm assuming you have Heroes of Battle. I'd say be a buffer with your group. That being said, War Weaver seems to be the way to go. It loses caster levels, but being able to buff up your entire party in one round is worth it(I think so at least).

Though the only way I'd ever play a Wizard if I was going to go into Mage Lord (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050202a&page=2). But then again, I prefer spontaneous over prepared any day.
CrimsonGenesis
11-10-05, 03:07 PM Possibly. I am not sure. He said we have access to those books, so I assummed that he cut us off from Heroes. Though not sure what sense that makes... lol.

With that mentioned, I have not looked at that Heroes of Battle book yet. So that is a possibility. I like the thought of quick buffs.
Kuroi Kenshi
11-10-05, 05:27 PM Whatever you do, don't take more levels in wizard than 5 unless you feel you absolutely must. There are other classes like Fatespinner and Geometer that you can dip in and get alot more perks over another 5 levels of wizard. Two to four levels of fatespinner makes a nice dip. Also, unless you really want geometer's level 5 abilty, remember that text trumps charts, so you actually get its level 4 ability, by the chart, at level 3! Thus you can just take Geometer3 and get a bunch of perks. Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil is also a great PrC, though it is more defensive.
Seeker of Truth
11-10-05, 06:17 PM Whatever you do, don't take more levels in wizard than 5 ...

I would say don't take more than 6 ... Wizard 6 is a decent level with +1 to all saves and might be better that just another level of a prc that grants an uninteresting special ability. To my mind skipping wizard 6 is not nearly as obvious as skipping the higher wizard levels.
Kuroi Kenshi
11-10-05, 07:23 PM A good point. Okay, don't take more levels than 5 unless the ability you'd get from another PrC level isn't as good as +1 BAB and +1 to all saves :P
CrimsonGenesis
11-11-05, 10:56 AM Thanks guys and gals. You have been a great help. I have come up with...

Elf Wizard racial sub

Wiz 6/Geo 3/ Fate 3/ Archmage 5/ Init of 7fold 3

The feat I take are going to pretty much be the pre-req feats for the PrC's... but I was think Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration as well as Forge Ring.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CrimsonGenesis 11-10-05, 02:31 PM	Hey I am going to be playing in a battle-oriented campaign (I think the DM has a thing for the Heroes of Battle book). So far the party consists of a dwarf pally that is mounted combat specialized, a gnome two-weapon fighter, a druid, and a skill-based character (is unsure of what class). So I figure I might as well become the mage of the party. I was thinking of making a Counter-Speller with decent offensive and defensive spells. I was thinking of going wizard 10/ geometer 5/ archmage 5 for my build, but I am unsure as I have never played an arcane caster before. You guys and gals have any advise. (FYI, we have access to only the Complete series and DMG for PrC's and feats)
PonTelon 11-10-05, 02:52 PM	Since you said he liked the book, I'm assuming you have Heroes of Battle. I'd say be a buffer with your group. That being said, War Weaver seems to be the way to go. It loses caster levels, but being able to buff up your entire party in one round is worth it(I think so at least). Though the only way I'd ever play a Wizard if I was going to go into Mage Lord (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050202a&page=2). But then again, I prefer spontaneous over prepared any day.
CrimsonGenesis 11-10-05, 03:07 PM	Possibly. I am not sure. He said we have access to those books, so I assummed that he cut us off from Heroes. Though not sure what sense that makes... lol. With that mentioned, I have not looked at that Heroes of Battle book yet. So that is a possibility. I like the thought of quick buffs.
Kuroi Kenshi 11-10-05, 05:27 PM	Whatever you do, don't take more levels in wizard than 5 unless you feel you absolutely must. There are other classes like Fatespinner and Geometer that you can dip in and get alot more perks over another 5 levels of wizard. Two to four levels of fatespinner makes a nice dip. Also, unless you really want geometer's level 5 abilty, remember that text trumps charts, so you actually get its level 4 ability, by the chart, at level 3! Thus you can just take Geometer3 and get a bunch of perks. Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil is also a great PrC, though it is more defensive.
Seeker of Truth 11-10-05, 06:17 PM	Whatever you do, don't take more levels in wizard than 5 ... I would say don't take more than 6 ... Wizard 6 is a decent level with +1 to all saves and might be better that just another level of a prc that grants an uninteresting special ability. To my mind skipping wizard 6 is not nearly as obvious as skipping the higher wizard levels.
Kuroi Kenshi 11-10-05, 07:23 PM	A good point. Okay, don't take more levels than 5 unless the ability you'd get from another PrC level isn't as good as +1 BAB and +1 to all saves :P
CrimsonGenesis 11-11-05, 10:56 AM	Thanks guys and gals. You have been a great help. I have come up with... Elf Wizard racial sub Wiz 6/Geo 3/ Fate 3/ Archmage 5/ Init of 7fold 3 The feat I take are going to pretty much be the pre-req feats for the PrC's... but I was think Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration as well as Forge Ring.