Alienist tricks/advice? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alienist tricks/advice? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Elric Lornhood
04-11-06, 11:43 PM I'm just starting to play an Alienist in the next couple weeks. He starts at 5th wizard, 1st Alienist. Other than the obvious summon spells, what tricks, feats, best familiar, general ideas.... would any of you recommend?
-Mark
Jarrad
04-12-06, 11:12 AM Here's a recommendation: "Play something less deeply weird".

Freak ;)

***

Ahem. Other than that, I'm not sure; I don't currently have access to the "pseudonatural" template so can't say what familiars would work the best. Obviously, if you're going to largely be relying on summoned wossnames to do your fighting for you, you'll be wanting to take spells like Buff Tentacled Horror Fromma Dawna Time...
ghost_warlock
04-12-06, 12:04 PM Although it won't add to your spellcasting prowess, you might take a look at the Aberrant feats from the Lords of Madness. Grow some tentacles, gain darkvision, increase your reach, grow wings to fly, flippers to swim, natural armor, etc. The feats cause you a -1 penalty on Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, and wild empathy for every feat you have but, since you become obviously aberrant in appearance, you might be able to translate that into a bonus instead if you deal with alien/far realm/aberration creatures. One of them grants 2 hp for every aberrant feat you get (the minimum you can have is two in that case, since that feat requires another before you can take it).

Dragon 330 has more information on the far realm and some interesting character options. There's a couple feats, such as Cerebrosis and Far Look that give you access to some new spells/summoned creatures. The feats cause some ability drain when you take them, though.

Dragon 332 has some information on the Eberron Cults of the Dragon Below which may or may not be relevant depending on your campaign world. But it also has a number of fun feats that you may be able to adjust to your campaign world as well as a racial paragon class, called the Aberrant Paragon (3-level class) that will add two of those levels to your Alienist caster level as well as give you darkvision (120 ft. total), boost your Charisma or Strength by +2 (if you choose the Str, be prepared to suffer -2 to Cha). Finally, it changes your type to aberration, granting +2 Con and immunity to pesky spells like charm person. The feats perform a variety of functions, such as bonuses to the save DC of mind-affecting spells you cast, grant some spell-like abilities (daze, lesser confusion, & lullaby), immunity to confusion and insanity caused by spells, etc.

I used a large number of this stuff for a villian in a campaign last fall and it was loads of fun, especially after one of the PCs decided to explore his own aberrant legacy... :coolcthul
Witch
04-12-06, 02:59 PM Get Improved Familiar :)
smrtgmp
04-12-06, 03:07 PM Since you have to take augment summoning, you are generally better off summoning more creatures from a lower list than you are summoning a single creature from your highest possible list, as you will get more bang for your buck (er...feat).
Shadowbranch1
04-12-06, 03:13 PM I am also very interested in this thread as well. I am going to start play with the same type of character in the next week or so. My character (Conjurer 5/Alienist 2, CN Human) has the improved familiar feat. Any suggestions on a familiar?

I am not trying to hijack your thread Elric Lornhood, but I figured this might help you as well.
smrtgmp
04-12-06, 03:23 PM Since you're starting with a conjurer, I would ask your DM if you can use the conjurer varient in UA that allows you to cast your summon spells as a standard action. That will make your life a lot easier.

As far as improved familiars are concerned, I've always been fond of imps, especially if you have access to the Fiend Folio, which has some interesting varients. Imps make for great spys, as they can fly (well), turn invisible, have opposable thumbs, and are smart enough to bring back useful intelligence.
Elric Lornhood
04-12-06, 10:50 PM Shadowbranch actually reminds me that my wizard is also a Conjurer. I looked into that variant conjurer, but i really want that scribe scroll for free. I'll get lots of use out of that.

I will definately check out those dragon mags. Thanks.
smrtgmp
04-13-06, 04:51 AM You dont have to take all the varients. You can just choose the one.

IMO, its well worth it to give up your bonus spell slot in return for summoning as a standard action. A one round casting time is horendous, especially if you're casting a lot of summoning spells (which you most likely are as an alienist). Remember, a casting time of 1 round doesnt go off until just before the start of your next turn, giving the opposition ample time to interupt you.

It should also be noted that you're better off taking the varient that gives you augment summoning in return for scribe scroll, as the former has a prerequisite while the latter does not. Obviously, if you plan on taking spell focus conjuration (which, as a conjurer, you might very well do) then there really isnt much benefit from taking that varient.
steenan
04-13-06, 06:54 AM Pseudonatural creatures have true strike 1/day. Whenever you're fighting something without DR it means that each summoned creature will most probably hit with its first attack. So, it's good to have as many creatures summoned as possible - you should get a metamagic rod od maximize or empower and summon rather a lot of lower level creatures than a single high-level one.
DragonDeadite
04-13-06, 12:24 PM If you want to do this sit down with your DM and talk to him about it. I once created an Alienist Illithid for a game I was DMing, he had the Improved Familiar Feat and I gave him one of the creatures from the Lords of Madness book... I can't remember for the life of me the name of the creature, but under the new monsters there is a grouping of three things from the same realm as Illithids, and it was the smallest of the three. It was smart, fast, and made an awesome familiar.... but then again that was just something I did myself, I'm not really too sure it met the standards for Improved Familiar or not. Either way, try to find something VERY weird for your familiar... don't do something normal because an Alienist is FAR from being a normal character/creature.

:dragon:
eeen13
04-13-06, 12:25 PM i am also thinking of being an alienist (seems like the fashion) but dont have access to the UA can you post the details of the varient conjurer?
Tasmar
04-13-06, 04:34 PM its on the hypertext srd or crystalkeep. Most of UA is open content stuff anyways, here's the exact link

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVar iants

and actually you sacrifice the familiar for faster summon monster spells.
Elric Lornhood
04-14-06, 07:49 PM thanks for that link. I had no idea anything but the core books and some random stuff in Dragon's was open content.
So whenever anyone who is non-WotC publishes any material, they can freely include any of that material? I assume so long as they credit WotC?
savant_warlord13
04-14-06, 08:09 PM take improved familiar, and put the pseudonatural familiar to good use! I suggest a blink dog
eeen13
04-15-06, 09:37 AM do you think it would be balanced to give some one the rapid summoning ability and instead of take away the familiar take the bonus feats for advancing as a wizard or the additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Elric Lornhood 04-11-06, 11:43 PM	I'm just starting to play an Alienist in the next couple weeks. He starts at 5th wizard, 1st Alienist. Other than the obvious summon spells, what tricks, feats, best familiar, general ideas.... would any of you recommend? -Mark
Jarrad 04-12-06, 11:12 AM	Here's a recommendation: "Play something less deeply weird". Freak ;) *** Ahem. Other than that, I'm not sure; I don't currently have access to the "pseudonatural" template so can't say what familiars would work the best. Obviously, if you're going to largely be relying on summoned wossnames to do your fighting for you, you'll be wanting to take spells like Buff Tentacled Horror Fromma Dawna Time...
ghost_warlock 04-12-06, 12:04 PM	Although it won't add to your spellcasting prowess, you might take a look at the Aberrant feats from the Lords of Madness. Grow some tentacles, gain darkvision, increase your reach, grow wings to fly, flippers to swim, natural armor, etc. The feats cause you a -1 penalty on Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, and wild empathy for every feat you have but, since you become obviously aberrant in appearance, you might be able to translate that into a bonus instead if you deal with alien/far realm/aberration creatures. One of them grants 2 hp for every aberrant feat you get (the minimum you can have is two in that case, since that feat requires another before you can take it). Dragon 330 has more information on the far realm and some interesting character options. There's a couple feats, such as Cerebrosis and Far Look that give you access to some new spells/summoned creatures. The feats cause some ability drain when you take them, though. Dragon 332 has some information on the Eberron Cults of the Dragon Below which may or may not be relevant depending on your campaign world. But it also has a number of fun feats that you may be able to adjust to your campaign world as well as a racial paragon class, called the Aberrant Paragon (3-level class) that will add two of those levels to your Alienist caster level as well as give you darkvision (120 ft. total), boost your Charisma or Strength by +2 (if you choose the Str, be prepared to suffer -2 to Cha). Finally, it changes your type to aberration, granting +2 Con and immunity to pesky spells like charm person. The feats perform a variety of functions, such as bonuses to the save DC of mind-affecting spells you cast, grant some spell-like abilities (daze, lesser confusion, & lullaby), immunity to confusion and insanity caused by spells, etc. I used a large number of this stuff for a villian in a campaign last fall and it was loads of fun, especially after one of the PCs decided to explore his own aberrant legacy... :coolcthul
Witch 04-12-06, 02:59 PM	Get Improved Familiar :)
smrtgmp 04-12-06, 03:07 PM	Since you have to take augment summoning, you are generally better off summoning more creatures from a lower list than you are summoning a single creature from your highest possible list, as you will get more bang for your buck (er...feat).
Shadowbranch1 04-12-06, 03:13 PM	I am also very interested in this thread as well. I am going to start play with the same type of character in the next week or so. My character (Conjurer 5/Alienist 2, CN Human) has the improved familiar feat. Any suggestions on a familiar? I am not trying to hijack your thread Elric Lornhood, but I figured this might help you as well.
smrtgmp 04-12-06, 03:23 PM	Since you're starting with a conjurer, I would ask your DM if you can use the conjurer varient in UA that allows you to cast your summon spells as a standard action. That will make your life a lot easier. As far as improved familiars are concerned, I've always been fond of imps, especially if you have access to the Fiend Folio, which has some interesting varients. Imps make for great spys, as they can fly (well), turn invisible, have opposable thumbs, and are smart enough to bring back useful intelligence.
Elric Lornhood 04-12-06, 10:50 PM	Shadowbranch actually reminds me that my wizard is also a Conjurer. I looked into that variant conjurer, but i really want that scribe scroll for free. I'll get lots of use out of that. I will definately check out those dragon mags. Thanks.
smrtgmp 04-13-06, 04:51 AM	You dont have to take all the varients. You can just choose the one. IMO, its well worth it to give up your bonus spell slot in return for summoning as a standard action. A one round casting time is horendous, especially if you're casting a lot of summoning spells (which you most likely are as an alienist). Remember, a casting time of 1 round doesnt go off until just before the start of your next turn, giving the opposition ample time to interupt you. It should also be noted that you're better off taking the varient that gives you augment summoning in return for scribe scroll, as the former has a prerequisite while the latter does not. Obviously, if you plan on taking spell focus conjuration (which, as a conjurer, you might very well do) then there really isnt much benefit from taking that varient.
steenan 04-13-06, 06:54 AM	Pseudonatural creatures have true strike 1/day. Whenever you're fighting something without DR it means that each summoned creature will most probably hit with its first attack. So, it's good to have as many creatures summoned as possible - you should get a metamagic rod od maximize or empower and summon rather a lot of lower level creatures than a single high-level one.
DragonDeadite 04-13-06, 12:24 PM	If you want to do this sit down with your DM and talk to him about it. I once created an Alienist Illithid for a game I was DMing, he had the Improved Familiar Feat and I gave him one of the creatures from the Lords of Madness book... I can't remember for the life of me the name of the creature, but under the new monsters there is a grouping of three things from the same realm as Illithids, and it was the smallest of the three. It was smart, fast, and made an awesome familiar.... but then again that was just something I did myself, I'm not really too sure it met the standards for Improved Familiar or not. Either way, try to find something VERY weird for your familiar... don't do something normal because an Alienist is FAR from being a normal character/creature. :dragon:
eeen13 04-13-06, 12:25 PM	i am also thinking of being an alienist (seems like the fashion) but dont have access to the UA can you post the details of the varient conjurer?
Tasmar 04-13-06, 04:34 PM	its on the hypertext srd or crystalkeep. Most of UA is open content stuff anyways, here's the exact link http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVar iants and actually you sacrifice the familiar for faster summon monster spells.
Elric Lornhood 04-14-06, 07:49 PM	thanks for that link. I had no idea anything but the core books and some random stuff in Dragon's was open content. So whenever anyone who is non-WotC publishes any material, they can freely include any of that material? I assume so long as they credit WotC?
savant_warlord13 04-14-06, 08:09 PM	take improved familiar, and put the pseudonatural familiar to good use! I suggest a blink dog
eeen13 04-15-06, 09:37 AM	do you think it would be balanced to give some one the rapid summoning ability and instead of take away the familiar take the bonus feats for advancing as a wizard or the additional spells per day for being a specialist wizard?