Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 shubniggurath Mar 26, 2008 12:14:07	I am building an ECL 10 Ur-Theurge (32 pb) I am thinking to build a middle aged human dragon shaman 1/wizard (focused specialist conjurer) 4/Ur priest 2/Mystic Theurge 3 I am going focused specialist and taking the abrupt jaunt (PHB2) and enhanced summoning variant (UA) STR 8-1 =7 INT 16+1+1=18 WIS 16+1+1=18 DEX 11-1=10 CON 15-1=14 CHA 9+1=10 This build will only be played up to ECL 14-15 max, so let's focus on short term optimization Sources allowed: all wizards non setting specific (no FR, Eberron...) books My questions are: 1) My caster level is low (7th each). Should I take the feat that adds +4 to your CL? (I don't remember the name). How does it work with the UR priest wonky caster level calculation? Can it push my ur priest caster level higher than my character level? 2)Race. I don't know what to do with feats (see below) so I may walk away from human... but what should I take? I don't want to lose CON, and I need something with favored class: wizard. 3)Feats. I have 3 open feats and I was thinking of taking: - Improved Initiative - Metamagic School Focus (conj) -works on divine spells too! - Empower spell I read the DM's handbook and Treantmonk's guide, but I cannot find any feat that I really would like to take. I have only 3 turn attempts, but another option would be going the divine feat route... maybe Divine vigor? Or Divine fortune? 4)Magic items. Any suggestion besides the classic headband of INT/Periapt of WIS/rod of metamagic extend-lesser/heward haversack/bedroll and cloack of resistance? NOTE: I am aware of the wizard 5/mindbender 1 route to the UR-theurge, but at ECL 10 my build gives higher level spells (the mindbender route gives 4th level spells on each side, while my build gives you 5th level spells on the divine side and 4th arcane). As a first level class I need something with good FOR and Bluff as a class skill. So it is either cleric (sucks, since UR priest takes away all his abilities), dragonfire adept or dragon shaman.
#2 pfooti Mar 26, 2008 21:14:12	I'd suggest Gray Elf for your race. Favored Class: Wizard, and +2 int, which helps your MAD a bit. I also suggest you ditch the focused specialist thing. Regular specialist (for Abrupt Jaunt) is good enough, since you'll have PLENTY of spells to cast, trust me. Abrupt Jaunt is still awesome, though. Also, I suggest you ditch Necromancy and Enchantment. Lots of useful enchant/necro spells are available on the ur-priest side, but there are a couple of really useful evocations (see treantmonk's guide) that are worth keeping evocation for, since you can afford it. Personally, I'd only specialize if you're interested in Abrupt Jaunt. Unlike traditional wizards, you don't lack for things to cast, so specialization loses its appeal. Remember: once you pass CL10, you're a wisdom-based caster with a side-job in int. This means, pump wisdom first, ideally high enough that you'll get the bonus spell when you're casting 0/day in the highest level. Practiced Spellcaster is good, and helps a good bit, although it has to be said that the Mindbender route keeps your wizard side better progressed, and you get a wizard bonus feat out of the deal (you already said you didn't want that, though). Personally, I just finished builidng a CL15 ur-theurge. I went the mindbender way, and didn't specialize. It's an excellent character at 15 (9th-level divine spells!) and at level 10, it's okay. You'll definitely be powering up over the campaign. Another reason to maybe not specialize is that you might want to keep your familiar. The 6th-level spell, "Imbue Familiar with Spell Ability" is REALLY handy for ur-theurges. You can imbue your familiar with some wizard spells, and cast your cleric spells whilst the familiar casts wizard ones. It's like having two casters for a while, and is really good, since you'll have so many spells. If you went gray elf, you could take the elven generalist sublevel at 1, and gain a bonus spell slot of the highest level you can cast (not bad, since it's effectively free)
#3 pfooti Mar 26, 2008 21:22:49	Oh, and go the divine metamagic: Quicken route. It only costs 5 attempts per spell, which you can get with things like a reliquary holy symbol (MIC) or nightsticks (LM), or just beefing your charisma a bit.