Post/Author/DateTime	Post
osumacbeth 05-03-06, 10:56 AM	Hello all, My artificier just died a horrible death at the hands of a giant, rampaging golem, and I'm making a wizard to replace him. He will be either an Enchanter or Illusionist, and will be giving up Evocation and Necromancy. I have 27000 gp to spend as per the table in the DM Guide. Using Mercantile Background (My DM allows one item to be bought for 75% cost using the ability) I've spent about 15000 of this so far, one a Headband of Intellect +4 and four pearls of power (2 level 1, 2 level 2). So I have to ask: What do I spend the rest of my money on? I'm level 8 and can craft wondrous items, as well, using my starting money. I just don't know what to get. Any suggestions?
TheGogmagog 05-03-06, 11:26 AM	For starters, get rid of the pearl of powers. Alternatively you can buy pr scribe one or two scrolls of every spell you think might come in handy in a pinch. More scrolls or a wand of spells that will be used a lot (Identify, invisibility). I'd give you a list but it's just about every non-attack spell. Invisibility is one that comes up and you need to make the entire party, horses and cohorts invisible, even a sorcerer will be begrudged to spend that many slots. The main item would be a metamagic rod lesser empower and silence would be next. You might go with 75% of lesser maximize metamagic rod for a total of 10,500 gp, but I think it's overpriced for the same net effect as lesser empower (more or less depending on the spell).
TheGogmagog 05-03-06, 11:31 AM	If you get attached to your characters. Buy a scroll of raise dead (6,125 gp). Then your party won't have an excuse for not raising you as long as your body/equipment remain.
Llathos 05-03-06, 11:36 AM	out of curiosity, why recommend against the pearls of power?
TheGogmagog 05-03-06, 11:51 AM	out of curiosity, why recommend against the pearls of power? pearl of power is good to restore one spell you had already memorized and cast with a standard action (most likely between combats). It's good for spells where caster level is important for duration or effect, like magic missile, but does nothing for versatility. Given the choice of 40 first level scrolls, or one extra first level slot, I'll take the 40 first level scrolls. If I use a scroll, I replace it at my next opportunity, and the expense becomes more trivial after I have gone up a few levels. For second level slot the alternative is 26 scrolls, but second level is where the utility is. Third level this drops to 24 scrolls, and so on.
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 12:03 PM	Pearls of power are awesome. I generally make quite a few with any wizard I play and put them to great effect. Scrolls are great for utility/niche spells that aren't terribly CL/save dependant, but they dont measure up to pearls of power when you need your CL/DCs to do some heavy lifting. As far as items to make are concerned, I would definately invest in a cloak/vest of resistance. A con boosting amulet can really add to your survivability. At 2500 gp, a tunic of steady spellcasting (+5 concentration checks) can make your life a lot easier. Make it for 1/2 the price. You could always make yourself some bracers of armor, but I would rather spend the money to purchace a twilight mithril chain shirt +1 (only 5k market price), which gives a +5 to AC with no ASF and no ACP. A mithril buckler is a good addition as well, as it also has no ASF or ACP. For a total of 7k you could get a +7 to your AC (+5 armor +2 shield), which is a pretty sound investment for a spellcaster IMO. Spend whatever you have left on new spells for your spellbook and on scribing utility scrolls that you wont need every day but will be invaluable in the instances in which they are applicable.
osumacbeth 05-03-06, 12:19 PM	I have to say I disagree with your assessment of Pearls of Power, TheGogmaGog. Sure, I could have 40 1st level scrolls or whatever, but those scrolls are divided among all spells that could take them up. A pearl can replace any spell I've memorized once per day for the rest of this character's life. I must say, of all the wizard's I've ever spoken to, you're the very first not to treat the pearl of power like your best friend, girlfriend, and lover rolled into one. If having scrolls for less commonly used spells is good, having scrolls and pearls of power is better. I plan to have at least one pearl of every level by 20, and more than one of several levels. I have to agree with everyone else on this one: Pearls of Power are like sex to a wizard. Edit @ smtgmp: I think I'd rather use Greater and Superior resistance from the Spell Compendium rather than buy a cloak. Sure a cloak can't be dispelled, but I can use that cloak space for something else. Can anyone tell me if this is a bad idea?
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 12:44 PM	No, those spells are awesome. If you have access to them, use them. If you dont need a resistance item, then that also frees up an item slot. There are some great cloaks out there, though many of them are out of your price range at the moment. If you play an enchanter, a cloak of charisma might not be a bad idea as it will make you more effective with your charm spells (for those opposed charisma checks). If you're willing to spend the money, a minor cloak of displacement is a great piece of protective gear. Oh yeah. If you go with an enchanter, I would give serious thought to keeping necromancy, as there is some fantastic synergy between the two schools. Necromancy has most of the save debuffs, and enchantment is highly save dependant. As such, your enchantment spells are far more likely to be successful if you preface them with some choice necromancy spells (basically anything that inflicts negative levels is great in this department). To be honest, you'd probably be better off playing a generalist mage that has a penchant for a specific school. IMO, you really dont get enough in return for giving up access to two schools of magic. You can still call yourself an illusionist or enchanter in game. Just pick up the appropriate spell focus feats and cast a lot of spells from the school of your choice. That being said, if you are allowed access to any of the varient specialist options (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm) in UA, then specialists become far more attractive.
osumacbeth 05-03-06, 12:48 PM	Yes, I was thinking specifically of a cloak of displacement. What about a Boccob's Blessed Book, or one of the similar items in other sources? There is an item in eberron which has 500 pages for half the price. I want to have many spells, and without one of these items, my expected costs are phenomenal. EDIT: Concerning specialization. I'm giving up Evocation because I don't intend to blast, and contingency will be replaced with Craft Contingent spell. I'll miss out on forcecage, but I suppose I'll live. As to necromancy, the only thing I'm sad about losing is the energy drain spells. There is still a chance that I'll be a diviner and lose only evocation, though. I haven't made a final decision. I need to leaf through the spell compendium for some more decent divinations.
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 12:55 PM	yeah, go for the blessed book. I often forget to reccomend them because I dont use the price for copying a spell to a spellbook IMC. The cost of the scroll is enough, IMO. Are you playing in eberron? If so, there are some great items you should take a look at. The tunic of thurinak (sp?) in the Explorer's handbook is a fantastic vest. They range in potency from +1 to +5, and grant both a deflection bonus and a natural armor bonus to AC (so a tunic +2 grants a total of +4 to AC). There is also some cool stuff in magic of eberron. I like the handy-haversack-like scroll case. Oh, speaking of handy haversacks, those are always a good purchase. Very handy for a low str character. edit: re: divinations. Assay Spell Resistance is badass. Unluck is pretty damn cool as well. It should also be noted that evocation has a lot more to offer than just blasting, especially when you throw the SC into the mix. It offers a lot of solid combat control options as well, such as battering ram and wall of force. It also has sword of deception, which is down-right awesome. If you're set on playing a specialist, then a diviner is probably the best way to go. Again, though, I would go for the normal wizard. One extra spell per level just isnt that impressive, especially at higher levels when a high int and copious pearls of power give you a lot of spells per day.
osumacbeth 05-03-06, 12:58 PM	yeah, go for the blessed book. I often forget to reccomend them because I dont use the price for copying a spell to a spellbook IMC. The cost of the scroll is enough, IMO. Are you playing in eberron? If so, there are some great items you should take a look at. The tunic of thurinak (sp?) in the Explorer's handbook is a fantastic vest. They range in potency from +1 to +5, and grant both a deflection bonus and a natural armor bonus to AC (so a tunic +2 grants a total of +4 to AC). There is also some cool stuff in magic of eberron. I like the handy-haversack-like scroll case. Oh, speaking of handy haversacks, those are always a good purchase. Very handy for a low str character. Ah yes, I'd forgotten about the haversack. I was also planning on picking up an Infinite Scrollcase. Little things like these tend to slip my mind. I hadn't heard about that vest; it sounds great! I looked at the Spell compendium, and now believe there are enough good divinations for me to go diviner. Which is great, since I can have energy drain back now. This has been a very helpful thread.
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 01:01 PM	This has been a very helpful thread.Always glad to help someone make a wizard. Such a fun class. :) happy gaming.