Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BetaFlame 09-25-04, 12:34 PM	I know about Tatoo Focus, Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus. Red Wizard and Shadow Adept got the nerf bat crammed up certain vital areas. What's left? Looking at Illusion and Necromancy specifically. Edit Current List Spell Focus Greater Spell Focus Tattoo Focus Heighten Spell
Kabol 09-25-04, 12:46 PM	Heighten Spell is a Big one that people dont usualy think bout.
BetaFlame 09-25-04, 12:58 PM	Added it to the list Kabol. I'm trying to find a way to convert my old 3.0 Shadow Adept Illusionist/Necro over to 3.5. He took Evocation as his forbidden school, so the multi-save-spells like Shadow Evocation are were I am realling feelin' the pain.
SolitudeSeraph 09-25-04, 01:02 PM	Being a Gnome gives +1 DC to Illusions...and there's a feat in Races of Faerun that gives another +1 DC to Illusions (but I forget if it's all illusions or a certain type) Also, check out Shadowcrafter (Underdark) to pump your shadow conjurations/evocations...and that one PrC in Races of Stone..Shadow Craft Illusionist I believe to bump your shadow spells even more.. You really should read Snow's Shadow Craft Illusionist thread...in there are some of the best illusionist builds to date..(and I've never played a necromancer before so I can't help you there..)
Blade2718 09-25-04, 03:57 PM	There is this one particular ioun stone that gives you a +1 caster level boost.
MetalGemini 09-25-04, 05:14 PM	In the long-term, Archmage Spell Power give +1 to caster level. Prereqs are just 2 Spell Focuses (Illusion & Necro, obvious choices for you) and Skill Focus (Spellcraft).
Snow Savant 09-25-04, 05:51 PM	Here's a wacky, but effective trick. Have your Wizard take 2 level of the Prestige Bard PrC (UA). Yes, your 20 levels of Wizardry will now only net you 19 spellcaster levels (still worth it if you are looking for a Bardic Wizard anyway - see Virtuoso, Spellsinger, etc.). Now your Wizard has access to the entire suite of Bard-only spells. Once you can cast 6th level spells, take the spell from T&B called Imbue Familiar With Spell Ability. This is a good spell regardless of the combo I will be mentioning. At the spellcaster level where it is allowable, have your Familiarimbue with the spell for the day and also imbue him with the ability to cast the Song & Silence Bard spell called Harmonic Chorus. Once your familiar casts the Harmonic Chorus spell, have him assign the potentially prodigious DC boost of the spell to *YOU*, the Wizard Bard. Which potentially gives you a 1d4+1 DC boost to all your freakin' spells. Nice. If your DM has issues with your familiar singing the verbal component of the HC spell, have your familiar be a Raven (which gives you a free language anyway). Anyway, this little obscure combo has few drawbacks. And the Familiar can cast that spell from the safety and cover of you special pocket you keep him in. XO, Snow :cloud9:
BetaFlame 09-25-04, 06:03 PM	Snow, I'll have to keep that in mind for a game where the prestige bard is allowed, and take a parrot or something equally odd ;p Okay. I'm having a hairbrained moment here. How does increasing your caster level help with increasing spell DCs. 10+spell level+ability score mod for saves, right?
catharz 09-25-04, 06:18 PM	Once your familiar casts the Harmonic Chorus spell, have him assign the potentially prodigious DC boost of the spell to *YOU*, the Wizard Bard. Which potentially gives you a 1d4+1 DC boost to all your freakin' spells. Nice. Great idea. Now Empower it! Earth spell adds +1 DC, but only works with Heighten spell. Oh ya, and technically (by PGtF), lesser Svirfnebblin have the following racial abilities: • Str -2, Dex +2. • Size: Small. • Speed: 20.' • Low-light vision. • Darkvision 60.' • Stonecunning. • +2 saving throws vs. spells and spell-like effects. • +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids. • +1 Dodge bonus to AC. • Weapon familiarity (Hooked hammer). • DC +2 for saving throws against illusion spells cast by Lesser svirfneblin. • Spell-like abilities: Resistance, Daze, & Lullaby 1/day @ CL = 1/2 character level. 1/day—speak with animals (burrowing mammal only, duration 1 minute). A gnome with a Charisma score of at least 10 also has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation. Caster level 1st; save DC 10 + gnome’s Cha modifier + spell level. • Craft (alchemy), Hide, & Listen checks +2 (+4 Hide underground). • Automatic Languages: Common and Gnome. • Favored class: Rogue. That is by the RAW. Most DMs (if they catch it :smirk: ) probably won't allow it.
darczero 10-16-04, 06:01 AM	Races and Templates that grant Ability Score boosts. Example: Tiefling (eventual Lich), Specialist Necromancer, Tattoo Focus Int 18 (rolled) +2 (tiefling) = 20 at level 1 Later on, cast Wish to add Half-Fiend template for further +4; add Lich template afterwards Total Int by level 20 (no Epic items or spells): 42 (includes Book +5 and Headband +6) Save DC: 10 + 16 (Int mod) + Spell Level; +1 for Necromancy; can be increased by further +1 with Shadow Weave Magic = 28 + Spell Level for Necromancy Similar applications can be applied to most schools of magic, with the exception of Shadow Weave Magic (illusion, enchantment, necromancy only).
Gnetum 10-16-04, 06:43 AM	In addition you can use this 4th level spell (from PGtF) : Spell enhancer +2 save DC for a chosen spell
Rundor The Mighty 10-16-04, 11:12 AM	Im pretty sure they nerfed spell enhancer too and it only gives caster levels, damn them to hell!
Caelic 10-16-04, 12:17 PM	There's a much easier way, Snow, and one that doesn't involve lots of debates over whether a raven can sing or not. Make a Wand of Harmonic Chorus, and give it to the UMD rogue in the party. Better still...give it to the Artificer, and let him Chain it. That's what I'm doing in the Maure Castle game. ;) While I'm at it, let me again point out that, by the RAW, it seems that an Artificer can use Heighten Spell to jack all his spells to ninth level as soon as he gets it. Coupled with Wand Mastery, that gives all his wand spells a base DC of 25...not bad, for mid-levels.
malisteen 10-16-04, 01:59 PM	Spell Focus. It can now also be applied to alignment subtype spells (see complete divine) and element subtype spells (see Frostburn), and stacks with itself in these cases, iirc, allowing you go get some bonuses up, although it costs a lot of feats and only works on a very limited set of spells. Shadow Weave Magic Tatoo Focus Being a gnome for illusion spells Anything that ups intelligence. Items, spells, templates, races check out the 3.5 FR underdark book for a FR approved LA+0 race with +2 Int) Heighten spell. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this feat for any necromancer. Conversely, you could always think about lowering your opponant's saves. Dex, Con, or Wis draining spells can help (although they themselves have to get past a save), plus a couple of cleric spells, or a good curse or two. Speaking of curses, a Hexblade in the party can be very handy for lowering the saving throw bonuses of a BBEG in preparation for your gnome to cast a hightened Phantasmal Killer. Overall, anything based off of 3.0 spell power got the nerf-bat, but then again I'm not sure I dissagree with that decision from a balance angle, and Shadow Adept is still a pretty nice PrC to take, with a handful of free feats and a helpful shield ability. I was aiming for it with my own gnomish necromancer, but Libris Mortis has drawn my attention over to Pale Master, and its discount animation as being more up my ally.
thorian 10-16-04, 08:40 PM	The Harmonic Chorus spell stacks with itself if cast by different casters. You could have a maximized, empowered Harmonic Chorus for 5+(1d4+1)*0.5 increase to DCs. The spell is 9th level, but the increase to DC's is 6 to 7 points. An empowered Harmonic Chorus would increase DCs from 3 to 7 points, and is 6th level. One could use the Sonorus Hum spell to maintain the concentration. In a high level game, several people could use this to increase a caster's DCs by a ton.
stembolt 10-17-04, 02:54 AM	I hate to be a party pooper but you can’t be a gnome and have tattoo focus. The tattoo is restricted to Thayan wizards. Yes you could just allow it for anyone, but at that point why not just make up new feat?
Battousai 10-17-04, 08:51 AM	Until the Elemental Savant is redone in a new book , it still gives crazy DC bonuses (+5 by level 10 IIRC)
ninjarabbit 10-17-04, 09:15 AM	Some racial paragons can give +2 to your spellcasting stat, so that'll up the DC by one if you can squeeze it in there.
Rundor The Mighty 10-17-04, 09:53 AM	Until the Elemental Savant is redone in a new book , it still gives crazy DC bonuses (+5 by level 10 IIRC) Just makes me wonder how they are going to butcher the savant if they don't want dc increases. Imagine a red wizard with the caster level increasing spell power in only one element.. *shudders*
Vanigo 10-17-04, 04:29 PM	To expand on Spell Focus (alignment): The Planar Wizard's (PlHB) 10th level ability lets him choose an alignment descriptor to add to every spell he casts, which means that the appropriate Spell Focus (alignment) will give +1 DC to every spell he casts. +2 if you use the version in the BoVD/BoED. They also have +1 to SR penetration and +1 DC against creatures of the opposing alignment, or +2 if the spell had that descriptor to begin with or if you're on a plane with that alignment trait.