[3.5] Wizard optimisation help? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

[3.5] Wizard optimisation help?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
sideways86
Jan 19, 2009 22:23:03 Hi all,

Looking for some help giving my wizard character a boost. Any/all suggestions appreciated.

Race: Whisper Gnome (Reincarnated into Goblin)

Levels: Wizard (Diviner, Necromancy is barred school) 6/Silverwood Arcanist 3 http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031209a

Stats: STR 9 DEX 16 CON 13 INT 18 WIS 13 CHA 14

Int is currently 20 with a headband of intellect +2

Feats: Spell Focus Evocation, Mounted Combat, Wild Cohort, Leadership

Flavour: This little guy is an experiment with a 'mounted wizard' flavour. His ride is a Dire Weasel and his familiar is a regular Weasel. I'm shooting for maximum versatility/survivability.

Ideas? Suggestions? All welcome.

EDIT: All official WotC books are ok by the DM, but he reserves veto rights.
#2
Endarire
Jan 20, 2009 4:11:29 Get cozy with Treantmonk.
#3
cru
Jan 20, 2009 5:59:23 Dire weasel might be fluffy and cute, but Fleshraker Dinosaur (MM3) rips things apart. Incidentally, both are 4th lvl choices for a druid (PH2, p. 41), i.e. lvl 7 choices for wild cohort. When you gain Share Spells ability at lvl 5, consider taking the Companion Spellbond feat (PH2).
#4
pithica
Jan 20, 2009 10:22:14 Why necromancy and not enchantment or evocation as your prohibited school?

While I like the fleshraker suggestion (though it's better for a druid with venomfire), my favorite animal companion option is the Dire Eagle from Races of Stone. Not only is it not going to get balked at by DM's that don't allow dinosaurs, it has a fly speed, reach, and ends up (after all bonuses by 20), one of, if not the best boosted of the general (non-dino) options.

I also personally feel that Mounted wizards benefit more from group/self buffs and battlefield controls than they do from blasts, so I would suggest dumping Spell Focus Evo for either Conjuration or another feat entirely.

I'd also see about trading that 6th level of wizard (that really does nothing for you) for another level of silverwood arcanist.

Once you're done with SA, the obvious suggestions I could provide would be to go either Incantatrix 10 (though, only if you can trade out wiz 6), or Incan 4/Abjurant Champ 2/Archmage 3 (if you can't trade out Wiz 6).

Of course, going archmage, you would have been better off going...

Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 2/Silverwood Arcanist 5/Master Specialist +8/Archmage 2 but that's neither here nor there.

For later feats, I like chain spell (for mass buffing normally single target buffs), Minor Shapeshift (for self-'healing', works really well if your DM includes reserve feats as 'sharable' with your familiar, by raw it doesn't but I've seen that house-rule before), craft contingency, and travel devotion (for your 'mount' if you can weedle him into getting it).
#5
sideways86
Jan 20, 2009 19:41:12 I'd never played a wizard before when I created the character, hence the unusual choice of prohibited school.

DM won't allow dinosaurs (I checked) and I can't trade out levels I've already taken, so I'm working with a sub-optimal foundation, besides which, I didn't qualify for silverwood arcanist at wizard level 5.

I'd prefer to stick to Medium sized companions where possible, since I'm small, and I'd like to be able to bring them with me when teleporting.

Am planning on Chain Spell as my next Metamagic, thanks for that one.

EDIT: Removed question based on misinformation.
#6
pithica
Jan 21, 2009 10:04:19 If you can't trade out levels, I think your best bet is to go Incantatrix 4 (or 7) and then something else afterward once you complete Silverwood Arcanist. If you go Incantatrix, dump enchant as your second prohibited school, and buy Iron Will from the Otyugh's Hole (Complete Scoundrel) rather than spend the feat on it. If you go archmage, take Spell Focus Conj as your second Spell Focus feat.

Once you get Share Spells (at Silverwood Arcanist 5), size isn't an issue in regards to spells like teleport. Going Dire Eagle over Dire Weasel gives you a new movement type, reach, and a solid solid choice for the bonuses granted by the progression. You're flying artillery, at that point. And besides, the mental image of a Goblin that thinks like a gnome riding on the back of a mount sized for Goliaths, you have to admit, is at least amusing on some level.

If you really want to focus on the mobile artillery aspect, Consider (in addition to or instead of chain spell), sculpt spell (or Mastery of Shaping if you plan on going the Archmage route), and Widen spell as other metamagic options. Also consider (if you can convince your DM) taking Easy Metamagic-Widen or Metamagic School Focus-Conj to reduce the overhead. Shaping your AoE's with Archmage is a pretty solid option, especially if you focus on Battlefield Control spells.

Blasters aren't really considered 'optimal', but it's a way to go with the current build.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sideways86 Jan 19, 2009 22:23:03	Hi all, Looking for some help giving my wizard character a boost. Any/all suggestions appreciated. Race: Whisper Gnome (Reincarnated into Goblin) Levels: Wizard (Diviner, Necromancy is barred school) 6/Silverwood Arcanist 3 http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031209a Stats: STR 9 DEX 16 CON 13 INT 18 WIS 13 CHA 14 Int is currently 20 with a headband of intellect +2 Feats: Spell Focus Evocation, Mounted Combat, Wild Cohort, Leadership Flavour: This little guy is an experiment with a 'mounted wizard' flavour. His ride is a Dire Weasel and his familiar is a regular Weasel. I'm shooting for maximum versatility/survivability. Ideas? Suggestions? All welcome. EDIT: All official WotC books are ok by the DM, but he reserves veto rights.
#2 Endarire Jan 20, 2009 4:11:29	Get cozy with Treantmonk.
#3 cru Jan 20, 2009 5:59:23	Dire weasel might be fluffy and cute, but Fleshraker Dinosaur (MM3) rips things apart. Incidentally, both are 4th lvl choices for a druid (PH2, p. 41), i.e. lvl 7 choices for wild cohort. When you gain Share Spells ability at lvl 5, consider taking the Companion Spellbond feat (PH2).
#4 pithica Jan 20, 2009 10:22:14	Why necromancy and not enchantment or evocation as your prohibited school? While I like the fleshraker suggestion (though it's better for a druid with venomfire), my favorite animal companion option is the Dire Eagle from Races of Stone. Not only is it not going to get balked at by DM's that don't allow dinosaurs, it has a fly speed, reach, and ends up (after all bonuses by 20), one of, if not the best boosted of the general (non-dino) options. I also personally feel that Mounted wizards benefit more from group/self buffs and battlefield controls than they do from blasts, so I would suggest dumping Spell Focus Evo for either Conjuration or another feat entirely. I'd also see about trading that 6th level of wizard (that really does nothing for you) for another level of silverwood arcanist. Once you're done with SA, the obvious suggestions I could provide would be to go either Incantatrix 10 (though, only if you can trade out wiz 6), or Incan 4/Abjurant Champ 2/Archmage 3 (if you can't trade out Wiz 6). Of course, going archmage, you would have been better off going... Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 2/Silverwood Arcanist 5/Master Specialist +8/Archmage 2 but that's neither here nor there. For later feats, I like chain spell (for mass buffing normally single target buffs), Minor Shapeshift (for self-'healing', works really well if your DM includes reserve feats as 'sharable' with your familiar, by raw it doesn't but I've seen that house-rule before), craft contingency, and travel devotion (for your 'mount' if you can weedle him into getting it).
#5 sideways86 Jan 20, 2009 19:41:12	I'd never played a wizard before when I created the character, hence the unusual choice of prohibited school. DM won't allow dinosaurs (I checked) and I can't trade out levels I've already taken, so I'm working with a sub-optimal foundation, besides which, I didn't qualify for silverwood arcanist at wizard level 5. I'd prefer to stick to Medium sized companions where possible, since I'm small, and I'd like to be able to bring them with me when teleporting. Am planning on Chain Spell as my next Metamagic, thanks for that one. EDIT: Removed question based on misinformation.
#6 pithica Jan 21, 2009 10:04:19	If you can't trade out levels, I think your best bet is to go Incantatrix 4 (or 7) and then something else afterward once you complete Silverwood Arcanist. If you go Incantatrix, dump enchant as your second prohibited school, and buy Iron Will from the Otyugh's Hole (Complete Scoundrel) rather than spend the feat on it. If you go archmage, take Spell Focus Conj as your second Spell Focus feat. Once you get Share Spells (at Silverwood Arcanist 5), size isn't an issue in regards to spells like teleport. Going Dire Eagle over Dire Weasel gives you a new movement type, reach, and a solid solid choice for the bonuses granted by the progression. You're flying artillery, at that point. And besides, the mental image of a Goblin that thinks like a gnome riding on the back of a mount sized for Goliaths, you have to admit, is at least amusing on some level. If you really want to focus on the mobile artillery aspect, Consider (in addition to or instead of chain spell), sculpt spell (or Mastery of Shaping if you plan on going the Archmage route), and Widen spell as other metamagic options. Also consider (if you can convince your DM) taking Easy Metamagic-Widen or Metamagic School Focus-Conj to reduce the overhead. Shaping your AoE's with Archmage is a pretty solid option, especially if you focus on Battlefield Control spells. Blasters aren't really considered 'optimal', but it's a way to go with the current build.