Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 moonbeast Aug 01, 2015 0:48:15	Hi guys, just looking for quick advice regarding feats to choose.  I'm usually a DM, but soon I'll have luck in getting a co-DM to switch with me from time to time so I could have the chance to play as a PC when she takes over the game.    Please realize that I've rarely played D&D as a PC, almost always a DM. So I often don't know what is "adviseable" or sensible when creating a character.    So thinking of finally playing a gnome wizard, I dreamed of playing one for years since AD&D but never got the chance.  Going to start at Level 1 or 2.  Once I reach Level 4, would any wizard consider it good advice to pick up the Lightly Armored feat?  Or is it a waste?     Lightly Armored allows me to wear light armor, while still casting spells.  But the best light armor (studded leather) is only 2 points better than naked (zero armor).  Does it even make a difference in giving some survivability/defense to my wizard?  Then again.... if we end up finding magic items like a +2 Studded Leather armor.... now that's a game changer as far as defense, right?
#2 Vulf Aug 01, 2015 3:19:09	If you are going to be gnoming it up, make sure you've checked out the new gnome subrace:   http://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/EE_PlayersCompanion.pdf   It is similar to the forest gnome with slight differences. And can take a feat to gain several innate magic spells. There are also some new spells in the new content.   Sometimes taking a multiclass for a bunch of proficiencies is one of the best things you can do. You'll get quite a lot out of a level dip in some cases and you won't use up your Ability Score Improvement. Can you tell us your stats or have you not rolled them yet?   If we know them we can tell what options are available. If you haven't rolled them yet, then we can just tell you some of the best multiclass options. Here are some options to start, you can decide if any of them make sense for your character concept.   If you put a 13 in Wisdom, you can grab a single level of cleric. With the Tempest Domain as your choice, you will start with Proficiency in Heavy Armor, Shields, Martial Weapons. If you take a 2nd level in it, you can now use channel divinity to maximise damage you deal with lightning spells.   If you grab 3 levels of Fighter for eldritch knight, you gain all the armor and weapon proficiencies, a fighting style for Defense or Dueling, and you will have 1 caster level worth of spells. You'll have action surge once a combat, letting you drop 2 spells. The Eldritch Knight is also intelligence based. Starting as Fighter will give you the fighter's proficiency in Constitution saves, which you need to maintain concentration when you are hit.   Likewise, there is the Arcane Trickster Rogue. 3 levels will give you proficiency in Rapiers and studded leather armor, and 1 level worth of intelligence based caster. You'll have expertise in 2 skills. You'll also have cunning action to disengage, dash, use an improved version of Mage Hand, or hide as a bonus action, which the Deep Gnome is pretty good at with their racial feature that helps them hide in rocky terrain easier. Dash and Disengage are really helpful to casters that want to get away from bad guys so they don't have disadvantage on ranged spells. 2d6 Sneak attack dice added to your attacks with weapons is also a nice stinger.   2 Levels of Warlock will give you proficiency in light armor and 2 known Invocations. One of the options is Armor of Shadows: You can cast Mage Armor as an action (1st level Abjuration spell) at will without expending a spell slot. 2 Levels of Wizard will give you an Arcane Tradition. One of the options is School of Abjuration: Arcane Ward, When you cast an Abjuration spell of 1st level or higher gain twice Wizard level + int mod temporary hit points. These will last until you lose them or you take a rest. You can never have more than the maximum of 2 times wizard level + int mod hit points, they don't stack. But you can do it outside of combat right after you rest to make sure you are ready to absorb some damage. If you roll an 18 and start with 20 Intelligence, that's 9 temporary hitpoints you an start every battle with, and recharge as an action. You'll also have 2 1st level spell slots that recharge on short rest, and you can use those slots for Wizard Spells, or Hex. Making all of your multi attack (NOT magic missile, make sure to read up on that) spells do an extra d6 damage for every hit against a single target.   Sorry if this wasn't what you were looking for!
#3 Yunru Aug 01, 2015 3:08:37	Mage Armor = Best light armour.
#4 Coyote81m Aug 01, 2015 8:19:10	Vulf is right, the most effective way of getting armor for you wizard is probably mutliclassing, and his idea of 3 level of Eldritch knight is rather effective, and you could even grab the 4th for your ability score increases or feat.  It would give you a fighting style for +1ac, heavy armor proficiency, shields.  13str (the min needed for multiclass fighter, gives you chain armor for 16ac +1 for defense fighting style, and you can use a shield if you want for +2 more ac for a total of 19ac.   As a gnome (Who I always see as more illusion based and just don't want to be the target of enemies at all) maybe you should look into taking a level of rogue for expertise in stealth and at level 2 you get to dash away as a bonus action, which can keep you out of range of harmful melee enemies.   As Vulf also said, there is a really interesting deep gnome race that gets a racial feat option that give you various abilities that help you hide and debuff opponents form being able to hit you or your allies.
(Reply to #2) Kron-Karn	Vulf wrote:
#6 Be3Al2 Aug 01, 2015 12:44:22	Mage armor is better than light armor in most cases (so let those more in need of light armor take the magic ones of those). Also, if you have a dexterity modifier of +2 or lower you would benefit no more from a +2 studded leather armor than from Elven chain. Both are rare armors providing you with AC 14+Dex mod. Elven chain is medium armor, so maximum of AC 16, but it does not require proficiency.   Given how good Mage Armor is I would suggest that you instead look at +2 Int (to get higher spell DC etc) or a feat that improves your abilities as a wizard. Even if you are a wizard you can get Magic Initiate (Wizard), gaining two extra cantrips and e.g. selecting Mage armor as the 1st-level spell. It is also added to your spell book if you did not select it earlier. Spell Sniper and War Caster are also good options for the feat, and Elemental Adept could be worth checking out.   The Lightly Armored feat is most probably a waste, in particular at level 4. Until you get a +2 studded leather or better you will get higher AC and a couple of cantrips for the same price with Magic Initate instead of lightly armored. (nitpicky: you would have to pay gold for the armor with lightly armored, and on days where you need high AC for more than 8h you would need to spend a 1st level spell slot for Mage Armor).
#7 Mad_Jack Aug 01, 2015 13:05:12	If you're only looking for a bit of extra non-squishy-ness for your wizard, taking magic initiate to get mage armor as an extra spell and/or multiclassing warlock may be the way to go, since they seem to take away the least amount of resources from being a straight wizard whle providing extra benefits beyond just a better AC.
#8 Vulf Aug 01, 2015 14:46:28	Instead of 13 strength for fighter multiclass, you can have 13 dexterity instead to qualify. The gnome gets a bump to dexterity. So this may be alright. You could work towards medium armor mastery or just bump dexterity to 20.   Studded Leather Armor with the Armored fighting style is just as good as Mage Armor and won't use up a spell slot. 20 dex + Studded Leather and Armored = 18 AC Medium Armor Master Feat + 16 Dexterity and Armored Fighting Style = 19 AC   You need strength if you are going to wear heavy armor though. Your speed will be reduced by 10' if you try to wear plate with less than 15 strength.
#9 Undrhil Aug 01, 2015 17:06:27	Multiclassing Fighter does not give you Heavy Armor proficiency.  Multiclassing Cleric and taking one of the domains that gives that proficiency would work, though.   But the OP is talking about just getting light armor.  If you just want an AC boost, I also recommend picking up the Mage Armor spell, either through the Magic Initiate feat or by your 2 spells picks from gaining a new level of Wizard.  It lasts for 8 hours, takes 1 action to cast, and is *not* Concentration.  Another option is to get spells like Blur and Mirror Image, when you get high enough levels.
#10 Miladoon Aug 01, 2015 17:45:27	Take Mountain Dwarf as a race but tell everyone that your character looks like a gnome.  Act like the gnome you imagine.   Done.   Also, you will be proficient in smith tools so perhaps make your +2 Half plate later on.
#11 bid Aug 01, 2015 18:45:27	moonbeast wrote:
#12 moonbeast Aug 01, 2015 22:45:04	Thanks for advice all.  Yeah, now I'm leaning towards Mage Armor, and I don't really mind that I'd have to use a spell slot for it (on days when combat is likely) since my gnome wiz will most likely be a supporting caster.  Remember that my gnome will simply be my character during the times when I get to play as a PC (when my co-DM is running the adventure).  So the group has another main caster, and mine is a supporting role.... hence I have some leeway as to how I use my spell slots.     I do want to keep thinking about how I can make my little gnome less squishy (read up more on feats or multi-classing options).  Maybe rock gnome for the +CON and make that my second highest Ability after INT.   My goal is not to make him a tank mage.  I just want to him to be a not-so-fragile wizard.
#13 Coyote81m Aug 02, 2015 1:55:48	Undrhil wrote:
(Reply to #13) Undrhil	Coyote81m wrote:
(Reply to #14) Kron-Karn	Undrhil wrote:
(Reply to #14) Be3Al2	Undrhil wrote: