Arcane Auspician: Sor or Wiz? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Auspician: Sor or Wiz? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SamiPeikko
08-10-06, 08:07 AM I tried couple of times (well, once a year I think) to get some comments about this character idea in CO boards, but I got about 2 replies in total, so I try it here.
Sorry about the long post, but I have to explain the details, so that you can help me.

Auspician is PrC from Faiths & Pantheons, and is required to have Base save bonuses +5 Fort and +2 Ref, Luck domain, and 4 feats. It gives full caster progression for 1 previous caster class.

I came up general plan: Gnome with high CON, and INT, and required DEX 13.
First lvl would be Cleric of Tymora to get the luck Domain.
Then 6 levels of Sor or Wiz
Then 3 levels of Ruathar to make the Save bonus requirements.
All the rest 10 levels would be Auspician.

Now, because of the cleric level I will be 1 arcane caster level behind regular wizards.
Also I will have bad stats in STR,WIS and CHA. (Most likely point buy.) I was thinking about using full plate for several levels in the begining, and choosing mostly spell without S-component.
This may make the charcter only semi-mobile, as full plate weights a lot. Maybe use it mounted, with light warhorse.

Any comments would be welcome.
Some actual questions then: Should I, in your opinnion, take Sor, Wiz, specialist Wiz (and what school) or some other class for this character?
When should I lose the armor?
Do you thik this could work?
Would the character be useless without blasting spells?
(Spells without S-component (from PHB) include Teleport-type spells, Power Words, Suggestion and Charm spells, utility spells like Knock, Tongues and Hold Portal, and lot of nice 9th lvl things. Spell Compendium has some more on levels 5 and down, moslty lvl 1-2 stuff.)
fansy
08-10-06, 08:20 AM First off, why are you thinking about wearing full-plate? Are you worried about surviving or something? You'll survive just as well if you can kill the things trying to do you in, which you won't really be able to do if you can't cast any (or almost any) spells. Nix the full plate idea. Just cast mage armor and shield when you want more armor.

Would the character be useless without blasting? Kinda. Not utterly useless, but you could replace him with just about any other character if he can only cast several spells. Think of it this way: a wizard in full-plate is kinda like a fighter who uses no weapons and doesn't take imp unarmed attack. Sure he can punch the monsters, but its really ineffective.

You might consider taking the feat "Arcane Disciple" from Complete Divine, which could give you access to the domain you need without having to take cleric. Just an idea.

I dunno about what base class to choose, as I am not familiar with the prc.
SamiPeikko
08-10-06, 08:41 AM Why to use Full Plate? Well the original idea was that the character's DEX sucks, and it is relatively cheap way to compensate, as he is allready proficient. However the DEX must be 13 to get Dodge (required), and that is not too bad.

Arcane Disciple does not work, as it does not give the domain, but only it's spells.

What can I say about Auspician? OK, it is based on Cleric, (HD, saves, skill points), but gives full caster progression for any caster class. It does have nifty special abilities like rerolls, some minor luck bonuses, ranged (but temporary) spell-like Curse effect about once a day. And it has many typically "rogue"-skills as class skills. Plus an extra domain called Fate. The feats required are not hard to get, but there is hardly any synergy bonuses from them. Suffice to say, this guy/gal most likely does not have to worry about failing saves. ;)
SamiPeikko
08-11-06, 04:34 AM What if I put it this way: If you had to have Cleric as your first Class level, and then wanted to use get to cast 9th level Arcane spells, would you rather take
a) Sor (most spells per day but gaining 9th level spells at level 19).
b) Wiz (fewest spells per day, but largest selection of spells available, 9th lvl spells at 18).
c) Specialist Wizard (what speciality? something between a and b, 9th lvl spells at 18)
or
d) Some completely different arcane casting class?

Best stats would be arcane casting stat and CON, with DEX 13, and anything else as low as possible.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SamiPeikko 08-10-06, 08:07 AM	I tried couple of times (well, once a year I think) to get some comments about this character idea in CO boards, but I got about 2 replies in total, so I try it here. Sorry about the long post, but I have to explain the details, so that you can help me. Auspician is PrC from Faiths & Pantheons, and is required to have Base save bonuses +5 Fort and +2 Ref, Luck domain, and 4 feats. It gives full caster progression for 1 previous caster class. I came up general plan: Gnome with high CON, and INT, and required DEX 13. First lvl would be Cleric of Tymora to get the luck Domain. Then 6 levels of Sor or Wiz Then 3 levels of Ruathar to make the Save bonus requirements. All the rest 10 levels would be Auspician. Now, because of the cleric level I will be 1 arcane caster level behind regular wizards. Also I will have bad stats in STR,WIS and CHA. (Most likely point buy.) I was thinking about using full plate for several levels in the begining, and choosing mostly spell without S-component. This may make the charcter only semi-mobile, as full plate weights a lot. Maybe use it mounted, with light warhorse. Any comments would be welcome. Some actual questions then: Should I, in your opinnion, take Sor, Wiz, specialist Wiz (and what school) or some other class for this character? When should I lose the armor? Do you thik this could work? Would the character be useless without blasting spells? (Spells without S-component (from PHB) include Teleport-type spells, Power Words, Suggestion and Charm spells, utility spells like Knock, Tongues and Hold Portal, and lot of nice 9th lvl things. Spell Compendium has some more on levels 5 and down, moslty lvl 1-2 stuff.)
fansy 08-10-06, 08:20 AM	First off, why are you thinking about wearing full-plate? Are you worried about surviving or something? You'll survive just as well if you can kill the things trying to do you in, which you won't really be able to do if you can't cast any (or almost any) spells. Nix the full plate idea. Just cast mage armor and shield when you want more armor. Would the character be useless without blasting? Kinda. Not utterly useless, but you could replace him with just about any other character if he can only cast several spells. Think of it this way: a wizard in full-plate is kinda like a fighter who uses no weapons and doesn't take imp unarmed attack. Sure he can punch the monsters, but its really ineffective. You might consider taking the feat "Arcane Disciple" from Complete Divine, which could give you access to the domain you need without having to take cleric. Just an idea. I dunno about what base class to choose, as I am not familiar with the prc.
SamiPeikko 08-10-06, 08:41 AM	Why to use Full Plate? Well the original idea was that the character's DEX sucks, and it is relatively cheap way to compensate, as he is allready proficient. However the DEX must be 13 to get Dodge (required), and that is not too bad. Arcane Disciple does not work, as it does not give the domain, but only it's spells. What can I say about Auspician? OK, it is based on Cleric, (HD, saves, skill points), but gives full caster progression for any caster class. It does have nifty special abilities like rerolls, some minor luck bonuses, ranged (but temporary) spell-like Curse effect about once a day. And it has many typically "rogue"-skills as class skills. Plus an extra domain called Fate. The feats required are not hard to get, but there is hardly any synergy bonuses from them. Suffice to say, this guy/gal most likely does not have to worry about failing saves. ;)
SamiPeikko 08-11-06, 04:34 AM	What if I put it this way: If you had to have Cleric as your first Class level, and then wanted to use get to cast 9th level Arcane spells, would you rather take a) Sor (most spells per day but gaining 9th level spells at level 19). b) Wiz (fewest spells per day, but largest selection of spells available, 9th lvl spells at 18). c) Specialist Wizard (what speciality? something between a and b, 9th lvl spells at 18) or d) Some completely different arcane casting class? Best stats would be arcane casting stat and CON, with DEX 13, and anything else as low as possible.