Dwarven Abjurer/Iot7V/MasterSpecialist for critique and review - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dwarven Abjurer/Iot7V/MasterSpecialist for critique and review

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jameswilliamogle
Mar 13, 2008 20:12:30 This isn't a build for a specific campaign or anything, just the result of some musings.

Race/Class:
Dwarf Abjurer 3 / Master Specialist 10 / Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7

Race explanation: I picked Dwarf b/c I thoroughly believe that Dwarven Wizards can single-handedly cover trapfinding. Stonecunning lets you search for traps of really high DC set or made of stone, and 95% of DnD structures are made of stonework. Detect Magic can help find the rest of the traps.

Class explanation: The Abjuration L10 ability is freakin' awesome! When you get it, you immediately get to put Antimagic Fields on your familiar or your Fighter and let it go in front of you. This is like the Cheater of Mystra, but less powerful, and less cheesy. Iot7V has long been regarded as an awesome "I don't die" class, and since all the prereq's are met, its perfect to round out the character.

Banning: Necromancy, Enchantment

Ban explanation: Both these have spells that require lots of feats to optimize, and only a handful of buffs that would apply in all circumstances.

1 Spell Focus: Abjuration
3 Alacritious Congitation
6 Versatile Spellcaster
9 Summon Elemental
15 Improved Familiar
18 Quicken Spell

Feat explanation: Alacritious Congitation lets you spontanteously cast, Versatile Spellcaster lets you blow two lower level spells for one higher that you know. Result? Somewhat expensive spontaneous spellcasting for every spell in your spellbook. I know its not that efficient, but it does make you very versatile. Summon Elemental is flavor, and useful, for finding mundane
traps and scouting ahead. Quicken is essential, but I'm considering dumping Improved Familiar for Item Creation (probably Staffs).

Free Spells (from leveling):
1 Shield, Mage Armor, Grease, Benign Transposition, Guided Shot
2 Scorching Ray, See Invisibility, Minor Image, Battering Ram
3 Dispel Magic, Major Image, Greater Mage Armor, Fly
4 Greater Mirror Image, Solid Fog, Dragon Breath, Assay Spell Resistance
5 Indomitability, Teleport, Firebrand, Permanency
6 Antimagic Field, Greater Dispel Magic, Contingency, Disintigrate
7 Energy Immunity, Limited Wish, Brilliant Energy Aura, Greater Shadow Conjuration
8 Mindblank, Greater Prying Eyes, Discern Location, Clenched Fist
9 Maw of Chaos, Gate, Time Stop, Wish, Shades
+ 3 others

Spell explanation: So far, most of these are just free abjuration spells, and spells that I really find useful for someone calling themselves an abjurer. The rest are just generally useful for anyone. I'll be looking for as many spells as possible to take advantage of my two feat investment for spontaneous
casting. Now, maybe I can get help here

Items: I'll be looking for the Rod of Shadowblending, and a Boccob's Blessed Book, but the rest is generally standard wizard stuff. I could specific help here, I think.
#2
empirate
Mar 14, 2008 17:01:02 You should consider taking all of the IotSV levels as soon as possible, then round out the build with remaining Master Specialist levels. Those veils are awesome!
Also, you should consider Ability Focus: Veil as soon as you have your first IotSV level to make that save DC a little more appealing. You have one open feat (now at 12th level) that you could apply to this. I'd probably make it my 9th level feat, though, and shift the others around appropriately.
Another feat you might want to consider to become more versatile is Arcane Manipulation: break down higher level slots into lower level slots whose sum is equal to the higher-level slot. So much better than just preparing one lower-level spell you need in a higher level slot you're not using atm.
Alacritous Cogitation is a little overrated, I think. It doesn't really turn you into a Sorcerer, you know.
Improved Familiar can be worth it, but it is dubious, especially since at such a high level, familiars tend to become more or less obsolete, being replaced by items and all-day spells. How about another nice metamagic feat there? Or some Reserve goodness? The only Improved Familiar that might be worth a feat at that level is the Beguiler (the creature from Shining South, not the class): continuous True Seeing combined with high intelligence and speech make one awesome familiar!
#3
phaedrusxy
Mar 14, 2008 17:23:03 I'd much rather drop evocation over necromancy. Necromancy has alot of nice debuffs, like Ray of Exhaustion, Ray of Enfeeblement, etc. Evocation has direct damage, which can be covered by conjuration, and... Wall of Force and Forcecage.
#4
operation_shoestring
Mar 14, 2008 18:51:32
I'd much rather drop evocation over necromancy. Necromancy has alot of nice debuffs, like Ray of Exhaustion, Ray of Enfeeblement, etc. Evocation has direct damage, which can be covered by conjuration, and... Wall of Force and Forcecage.

I concur, but this is Jameswilliammoogle, eternal and vigilant defender of evocation here. ^___^
#5
jameswilliamogle
Mar 15, 2008 11:41:53
You should consider taking all of the IotSV levels as soon as possible, then round out the build with remaining Master Specialist levels. Those veils are awesome!

I have to weigh two options:
Iot7V earlier: way more defensive in style;
As-is: Antimagic Field on my familiar or the Big Dumb Fighter right at 13th level
I'm not sure which way would be better, honestly.
Also, you should consider Ability Focus: Veil as soon as you have your first IotSV level to make that save DC a little more appealing. You have one open feat (now at 12th level) that you could apply to this. I'd probably make it my 9th level feat, though, and shift the others around appropriately.

Good idea, either way. Thanks!
Another feat you might want to consider to become more versatile is Arcane Manipulation: break down higher level slots into lower level slots whose sum is equal to the higher-level slot. So much better than just preparing one lower-level spell you need in a higher level slot you're not using atm.
Alacritous Cogitation is a little overrated, I think. It doesn't really turn you into a Sorcerer, you know.

Versatile Spellcaster is what I'm using for more-like spontaneous casting; Alacritious Cogitation is ok, but its just a prereq for that feat. Arcane Manipulation is, well, I don't like it.
Improved Familiar can be worth it, but it is dubious, especially since at such a high level, familiars tend to become more or less obsolete, being replaced by items and all-day spells. How about another nice metamagic feat there? Or some Reserve goodness? The only Improved Familiar that might be worth a feat at that level is the Beguiler (the creature from Shining South, not the class): continuous True Seeing combined with high intelligence and speech make one awesome familiar!

I was thinking about the Pseudodragon, for the Blindsense and Telepathy. I am debating about the feat, though.

I don't like using Shadow-spells for evocation; I'm not looking to keep it for damage, but rather the other effects it can generate. So, I won't change that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jameswilliamogle Mar 13, 2008 20:12:30	This isn't a build for a specific campaign or anything, just the result of some musings. Race/Class: Dwarf Abjurer 3 / Master Specialist 10 / Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7 Race explanation: I picked Dwarf b/c I thoroughly believe that Dwarven Wizards can single-handedly cover trapfinding. Stonecunning lets you search for traps of really high DC set or made of stone, and 95% of DnD structures are made of stonework. Detect Magic can help find the rest of the traps. Class explanation: The Abjuration L10 ability is freakin' awesome! When you get it, you immediately get to put Antimagic Fields on your familiar or your Fighter and let it go in front of you. This is like the Cheater of Mystra, but less powerful, and less cheesy. Iot7V has long been regarded as an awesome "I don't die" class, and since all the prereq's are met, its perfect to round out the character. Banning: Necromancy, Enchantment Ban explanation: Both these have spells that require lots of feats to optimize, and only a handful of buffs that would apply in all circumstances. 1 Spell Focus: Abjuration 3 Alacritious Congitation 6 Versatile Spellcaster 9 Summon Elemental 15 Improved Familiar 18 Quicken Spell Feat explanation: Alacritious Congitation lets you spontanteously cast, Versatile Spellcaster lets you blow two lower level spells for one higher that you know. Result? Somewhat expensive spontaneous spellcasting for every spell in your spellbook. I know its not that efficient, but it does make you very versatile. Summon Elemental is flavor, and useful, for finding mundane traps and scouting ahead. Quicken is essential, but I'm considering dumping Improved Familiar for Item Creation (probably Staffs). Free Spells (from leveling): 1 Shield, Mage Armor, Grease, Benign Transposition, Guided Shot 2 Scorching Ray, See Invisibility, Minor Image, Battering Ram 3 Dispel Magic, Major Image, Greater Mage Armor, Fly 4 Greater Mirror Image, Solid Fog, Dragon Breath, Assay Spell Resistance 5 Indomitability, Teleport, Firebrand, Permanency 6 Antimagic Field, Greater Dispel Magic, Contingency, Disintigrate 7 Energy Immunity, Limited Wish, Brilliant Energy Aura, Greater Shadow Conjuration 8 Mindblank, Greater Prying Eyes, Discern Location, Clenched Fist 9 Maw of Chaos, Gate, Time Stop, Wish, Shades + 3 others Spell explanation: So far, most of these are just free abjuration spells, and spells that I really find useful for someone calling themselves an abjurer. The rest are just generally useful for anyone. I'll be looking for as many spells as possible to take advantage of my two feat investment for spontaneous casting. Now, maybe I can get help here Items: I'll be looking for the Rod of Shadowblending, and a Boccob's Blessed Book, but the rest is generally standard wizard stuff. I could specific help here, I think.
#2 empirate Mar 14, 2008 17:01:02	You should consider taking all of the IotSV levels as soon as possible, then round out the build with remaining Master Specialist levels. Those veils are awesome! Also, you should consider Ability Focus: Veil as soon as you have your first IotSV level to make that save DC a little more appealing. You have one open feat (now at 12th level) that you could apply to this. I'd probably make it my 9th level feat, though, and shift the others around appropriately. Another feat you might want to consider to become more versatile is Arcane Manipulation: break down higher level slots into lower level slots whose sum is equal to the higher-level slot. So much better than just preparing one lower-level spell you need in a higher level slot you're not using atm. Alacritous Cogitation is a little overrated, I think. It doesn't really turn you into a Sorcerer, you know. Improved Familiar can be worth it, but it is dubious, especially since at such a high level, familiars tend to become more or less obsolete, being replaced by items and all-day spells. How about another nice metamagic feat there? Or some Reserve goodness? The only Improved Familiar that might be worth a feat at that level is the Beguiler (the creature from Shining South, not the class): continuous True Seeing combined with high intelligence and speech make one awesome familiar!
#3 phaedrusxy Mar 14, 2008 17:23:03	I'd much rather drop evocation over necromancy. Necromancy has alot of nice debuffs, like Ray of Exhaustion, Ray of Enfeeblement, etc. Evocation has direct damage, which can be covered by conjuration, and... Wall of Force and Forcecage.
#4 operation_shoestring Mar 14, 2008 18:51:32	I'd much rather drop evocation over necromancy. Necromancy has alot of nice debuffs, like Ray of Exhaustion, Ray of Enfeeblement, etc. Evocation has direct damage, which can be covered by conjuration, and... Wall of Force and Forcecage. I concur, but this is Jameswilliammoogle, eternal and vigilant defender of evocation here. ^___^
#5 jameswilliamogle Mar 15, 2008 11:41:53	You should consider taking all of the IotSV levels as soon as possible, then round out the build with remaining Master Specialist levels. Those veils are awesome! I have to weigh two options: Iot7V earlier: way more defensive in style; As-is: Antimagic Field on my familiar or the Big Dumb Fighter right at 13th level I'm not sure which way would be better, honestly. Also, you should consider Ability Focus: Veil as soon as you have your first IotSV level to make that save DC a little more appealing. You have one open feat (now at 12th level) that you could apply to this. I'd probably make it my 9th level feat, though, and shift the others around appropriately. Good idea, either way. Thanks! Another feat you might want to consider to become more versatile is Arcane Manipulation: break down higher level slots into lower level slots whose sum is equal to the higher-level slot. So much better than just preparing one lower-level spell you need in a higher level slot you're not using atm. Alacritous Cogitation is a little overrated, I think. It doesn't really turn you into a Sorcerer, you know. Versatile Spellcaster is what I'm using for more-like spontaneous casting; Alacritious Cogitation is ok, but its just a prereq for that feat. Arcane Manipulation is, well, I don't like it. Improved Familiar can be worth it, but it is dubious, especially since at such a high level, familiars tend to become more or less obsolete, being replaced by items and all-day spells. How about another nice metamagic feat there? Or some Reserve goodness? The only Improved Familiar that might be worth a feat at that level is the Beguiler (the creature from Shining South, not the class): continuous True Seeing combined with high intelligence and speech make one awesome familiar! I was thinking about the Pseudodragon, for the Blindsense and Telepathy. I am debating about the feat, though. I don't like using Shadow-spells for evocation; I'm not looking to keep it for damage, but rather the other effects it can generate. So, I won't change that.