New to arcane casters. [Archive] - Wizards Community

New to arcane casters. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cynric
05-16-06, 05:39 AM I am looking at making an arcane caster when Ratik returns later this year. I do not want to play your typical wizard and have come up with the following basic idea.

Dwarf
Starting stats of importance
Con 18
Int16

I was looking at five levels of wizard, one of fighter, then runesmith and then back to wizard. Feats would be mainly creation. Theory being he is a dwarven craftsman.

Not sure what spells he should take though
have been looking at battlefeild supression stuff mostly though.

Any ideas.
paigeoliver
05-16-06, 07:26 AM Runesmith is not a legal class in Living Greyhawk.

Also Dwarven/Gnomish wizards are actually very common in Living Greyhawk. It might just be a local thing, but it seems like most of the arcane casters I run into are Dwarves or gnomes.
boogahwoof
05-16-06, 01:17 PM a wholeheartedly agree with the last assesment. i dont know where yall are from but i am in louisiana. i have been going to a few cons here as of late and have seen vast numbers of dwarven war mages, and gnomish utility mages. one thing that i am seeing alot of is halfling "trickster" mages, and a few gnomish illusionists as well, they were fun to play with on a table.
Cynric
05-17-06, 06:51 AM Ok. I must have misread the table of restricted classes. We seem to have a lot of Grey elves, plus quite a few AT's coming through in Perrenland. I only know of one dwarven wizard though in my regular play area? Any suggestions of how I could do something like the above thought, obviously without runesmith.
spellbow
05-18-06, 03:37 PM ok why not go spellsword. have a least a 10 in str, and with that high con you will do well in compat for a wizard.
Lomiat
05-18-06, 05:39 PM Spellsword's a good idea.

As simple as the build is, I haven't seen many people play it, but there's always the Ftr1/Wiz5/Spellsword1/Eldritch KnightX

Dwarf
Str 12, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 8

Ftr 1 - Combat Expertise, Improved Initiative

Specialist Wizard: Transmuter or Conjurer, prohibited: Enchantment, Evocation (you said you wanted to play battlefield suppresion. Conjuration will give you some damage spells to make up for the loss of Evocation, and your save DCs will simply be too weak to play as an Enchanter)

By the time you make Spellsword, you can cast in armor. 5th level Wizard feat might be a good time for Craft Magic Arms and Armor. Most wizards I've seen take Craft Wondrous, but for you Magic Arms and Armor might pay off a bit more (Weapons, Armor, Shield).
SgtHulka
05-19-06, 12:36 AM Are you sure you want to cast in armor? Armor messes quite a bit with Alter Self. Alter Self + Greater Mage Armor = +12 Armor Class. You'd need some really tight armor to compete with that bonus. +4 Plate Mail. I suppose you could craft some Plate Mail to fit a Troglodyte, but I'm sure many judges would balk.

And even if you really want to wear armor, say, at the early levels, you don't really need proficiency. True Strike has no somatic component so you can just cast it all day in your armor, and use the +20 bonus to counter your non-proficiency penalty.

Seems like if you're only doing it for armor, Spellsword and Fighter are a waste of caster levels. Just spend one feat on your favorite martial or exotic weapon, instead (something with disarm is fun with True Strike).

You should probably start with a 13 strength so that you pick up Power Attack. And if you start with 13, you might as well start at 14 so you can get the +3 damage bonus with your two-handed weapon. Maybe something like...

Str 14 Dex 10 Con 18 Int 16 Wis 8 Cha 6
clik_ml
05-19-06, 03:34 AM Seems like if you're only doing it for armor, Spellsword and Fighter are a waste of caster levels.

Only the first level of Spellsword had been suggested so far. And it gives +1 caster level, +1 BAB in addition to d8 HD and 2 good saves. Not too shabby as a 1 level wizard dip, for almost any wizard.

It's the fighter level that is a drain, but since he is already okay with that choice, I don't see it as a big problem. EK is debatable. If you wanna be a melee arcane caster it's nigh-mandatory, but he's looking for battlefield control so it isn't that necessary.

Troglodyte form requires a round's action and a 2nd level spell slot, whereas armor is on all day long. Armor can also give other enhancements beyond AC.

As simple as the build is, I haven't seen many people play it, but there's always the Ftr1/Wiz5/Spellsword1/Eldritch KnightX

It should note that EK-1 or Wiz-6 has to come before Spellsword, since Spellsword requires +4 BAB, and you only have +3 by level 6. Also, Cha should be 6 on that build (otherwise it is a 30 point buy).

Wiz 6 is a fairly decent choice in this case, since it gives +1 BAB and +1 to all saves, and only 1 less HP than EK. And no extra caster level loss yet.

Here's what I'd suggest for a 1 Fighter/X Wiz dwarf using 16int,18con:

1 Ftr/6 Wizard/1 Spellsword/X whatever PrC you please

Whether you want to wield a melee weapon will determine Str/Dex allocation. If you do want to be a meleeist, then 14/10. If not, then 10/14. Dropping Int or Con by 1 point can get you 2 more points to make it 14 and 12 if you like. At level 4 you bump your stat and then you're +1 ability mod ahead for levels 4-7.

Decent prestige classes being LoreMaster, Divine Oracle, Geometer, Mage of the Arcane Order, 4 levels of Fate Spinner... basically anything that nets you full casting progression. Earth Dreamer might be something to consider. It isn't great, but it is 5 levels long, gives full caster progression, and would be somewhat unique. It's kinda dwarfy too.

If you want to be extra odd, you could fiddle with stats to net a 14 wisdom, take Arcane Disciple for a domain that gets you Divine Power (there are a few), and use that to get full BAB 1/day when you're in the mood to throw down.

- Erik ML
SgtHulka
05-20-06, 02:52 PM Troglodyte form requires a round's action and a 2nd level spell slot, whereas armor is on all day long. Armor can also give other enhancements beyond AC.- Erik ML

Thanks to its 10 min/level duration, and Mage Armor's 1 hour/level duration, I've very seldom had to waste an action casting either of these spells.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cynric 05-16-06, 05:39 AM	I am looking at making an arcane caster when Ratik returns later this year. I do not want to play your typical wizard and have come up with the following basic idea. Dwarf Starting stats of importance Con 18 Int16 I was looking at five levels of wizard, one of fighter, then runesmith and then back to wizard. Feats would be mainly creation. Theory being he is a dwarven craftsman. Not sure what spells he should take though have been looking at battlefeild supression stuff mostly though. Any ideas.
paigeoliver 05-16-06, 07:26 AM	Runesmith is not a legal class in Living Greyhawk. Also Dwarven/Gnomish wizards are actually very common in Living Greyhawk. It might just be a local thing, but it seems like most of the arcane casters I run into are Dwarves or gnomes.
boogahwoof 05-16-06, 01:17 PM	a wholeheartedly agree with the last assesment. i dont know where yall are from but i am in louisiana. i have been going to a few cons here as of late and have seen vast numbers of dwarven war mages, and gnomish utility mages. one thing that i am seeing alot of is halfling "trickster" mages, and a few gnomish illusionists as well, they were fun to play with on a table.
Cynric 05-17-06, 06:51 AM	Ok. I must have misread the table of restricted classes. We seem to have a lot of Grey elves, plus quite a few AT's coming through in Perrenland. I only know of one dwarven wizard though in my regular play area? Any suggestions of how I could do something like the above thought, obviously without runesmith.
spellbow 05-18-06, 03:37 PM	ok why not go spellsword. have a least a 10 in str, and with that high con you will do well in compat for a wizard.
Lomiat 05-18-06, 05:39 PM	Spellsword's a good idea. As simple as the build is, I haven't seen many people play it, but there's always the Ftr1/Wiz5/Spellsword1/Eldritch KnightX Dwarf Str 12, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 8 Ftr 1 - Combat Expertise, Improved Initiative Specialist Wizard: Transmuter or Conjurer, prohibited: Enchantment, Evocation (you said you wanted to play battlefield suppresion. Conjuration will give you some damage spells to make up for the loss of Evocation, and your save DCs will simply be too weak to play as an Enchanter) By the time you make Spellsword, you can cast in armor. 5th level Wizard feat might be a good time for Craft Magic Arms and Armor. Most wizards I've seen take Craft Wondrous, but for you Magic Arms and Armor might pay off a bit more (Weapons, Armor, Shield).
SgtHulka 05-19-06, 12:36 AM	Are you sure you want to cast in armor? Armor messes quite a bit with Alter Self. Alter Self + Greater Mage Armor = +12 Armor Class. You'd need some really tight armor to compete with that bonus. +4 Plate Mail. I suppose you could craft some Plate Mail to fit a Troglodyte, but I'm sure many judges would balk. And even if you really want to wear armor, say, at the early levels, you don't really need proficiency. True Strike has no somatic component so you can just cast it all day in your armor, and use the +20 bonus to counter your non-proficiency penalty. Seems like if you're only doing it for armor, Spellsword and Fighter are a waste of caster levels. Just spend one feat on your favorite martial or exotic weapon, instead (something with disarm is fun with True Strike). You should probably start with a 13 strength so that you pick up Power Attack. And if you start with 13, you might as well start at 14 so you can get the +3 damage bonus with your two-handed weapon. Maybe something like... Str 14 Dex 10 Con 18 Int 16 Wis 8 Cha 6
clik_ml 05-19-06, 03:34 AM	Seems like if you're only doing it for armor, Spellsword and Fighter are a waste of caster levels. Only the first level of Spellsword had been suggested so far. And it gives +1 caster level, +1 BAB in addition to d8 HD and 2 good saves. Not too shabby as a 1 level wizard dip, for almost any wizard. It's the fighter level that is a drain, but since he is already okay with that choice, I don't see it as a big problem. EK is debatable. If you wanna be a melee arcane caster it's nigh-mandatory, but he's looking for battlefield control so it isn't that necessary. Troglodyte form requires a round's action and a 2nd level spell slot, whereas armor is on all day long. Armor can also give other enhancements beyond AC. As simple as the build is, I haven't seen many people play it, but there's always the Ftr1/Wiz5/Spellsword1/Eldritch KnightX It should note that EK-1 or Wiz-6 has to come before Spellsword, since Spellsword requires +4 BAB, and you only have +3 by level 6. Also, Cha should be 6 on that build (otherwise it is a 30 point buy). Wiz 6 is a fairly decent choice in this case, since it gives +1 BAB and +1 to all saves, and only 1 less HP than EK. And no extra caster level loss yet. Here's what I'd suggest for a 1 Fighter/X Wiz dwarf using 16int,18con: 1 Ftr/6 Wizard/1 Spellsword/X whatever PrC you please Whether you want to wield a melee weapon will determine Str/Dex allocation. If you do want to be a meleeist, then 14/10. If not, then 10/14. Dropping Int or Con by 1 point can get you 2 more points to make it 14 and 12 if you like. At level 4 you bump your stat and then you're +1 ability mod ahead for levels 4-7. Decent prestige classes being LoreMaster, Divine Oracle, Geometer, Mage of the Arcane Order, 4 levels of Fate Spinner... basically anything that nets you full casting progression. Earth Dreamer might be something to consider. It isn't great, but it is 5 levels long, gives full caster progression, and would be somewhat unique. It's kinda dwarfy too. If you want to be extra odd, you could fiddle with stats to net a 14 wisdom, take Arcane Disciple for a domain that gets you Divine Power (there are a few), and use that to get full BAB 1/day when you're in the mood to throw down. - Erik ML
SgtHulka 05-20-06, 02:52 PM	Troglodyte form requires a round's action and a 2nd level spell slot, whereas armor is on all day long. Armor can also give other enhancements beyond AC.- Erik ML Thanks to its 10 min/level duration, and Mage Armor's 1 hour/level duration, I've very seldom had to waste an action casting either of these spells. Your mileage may vary, of course.