Feat suggestions for Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Feat suggestions for Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dr_mikeymike
Jun 21, 2011 13:59:36 Hello everyone,

I am curious if there are any favorite feats (Practiced Spellcaster aside) that players out there would recommend for a Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus build! This particular build, I believe, might be a little feat-starved, so I want to make sure that I am smart about using them.

#2
gnome_whisperer
Jun 21, 2011 14:41:38 metamagic school focus wouldnt be too bad of a decision for a specialist wizard, it would give you more slots to burn per day.
personally i would look here...

#3
dr_mikeymike
Jun 21, 2011 14:44:16 Realizing that I was maybe a little too general, let me go a little more indepth.

There are plenty of metamagic feats in the PHB available, but I will admit that I am not a believer of most of those feats. This is mostly because I'd rather use higher-level spell slots for.. well... higher level spells. There are, of course, things like penetrating spell and spell focus (but is a measily +1 to DC, +2 total if you go for greater spell focus really worth it?). Also, I am a believer that 'Improved initiative' can never hurt. Playing a human character, I've been weighing the pro's and con's of the able learner feat though I have almost convinced myself that it would be mostly unnecessary. With these things said, I am curious if there are one or two other feats that would be handy to have. I could have sworn that I've come across feats that take advantage of a high Int modifier, for example.
#4
dr_mikeymike
Jun 21, 2011 14:44:52
metamagic school focus wouldnt be too bad of a decision for a specialist wizard, it would give you more slots to burn per day.
personally i would look here...

Thanks!
#5
Krusk
Jun 21, 2011 21:59:30
As a wizard the only thing that matters is your save DC. You want to crank this as high as you can, often times to the expense of everything else. Yes the spell focus line is worth it. Consider it for the schools you cast most often/specialized in and maybe a few others.

This is of course, if you are not taking metamagic feats with those empty feat slots.

Basically wizard feats are used to

get into a prestige class (You don't care about these feat but the book says take it so you do)

Metamagic (Some are awesome and you want them, others are not. You don't seem interested in any, so skip these)

Item Crafting (Wands, Rods, and Wonderous Items are my favorites. )

DC Upping (When you have extra feats grab spell focus, or similar feats)

Normally stuff to get extra spells per day, or spells as an at will SLA are handy but you will have the number of spells covered.
#6
gnome_whisperer
Jun 21, 2011 22:21:09 no problem
i may not be the most knowledgeable on the boards but i do try to be of assistance where i can.

regarding metamagic feats, give credit where credit is due, Dr, a metamagic altered magic missile can be just as effective as a higher level spell with the proper applications of those feats...look at all the builds on these boards for that concept alone...
also, remember as an ultimate magus you'll be burning slots on your spontaneous side to help mitigate those metamagic feat costs, so they arent technically using your higher level slots. on that note i'd also like to clarify that when i said metamagic school focus would give your more slots to burn i meant effectively (by reducing costs).

as far as spell penetration and spell focus and their ilk, i'm of the opinion that a +1 can almost always be worth it because of the balance of the encounter system...when given an equivalent challenge, that +1 can be a difference between success and failure, and whether or not your illusions etc pierce SR, or fizzle ineffectively. statistically speaking, pushing the target of success for a d20 roll by +1 is a -5% in success probability for the creature making the check/save...not uber but worth mention.

my last recommendation; arcane disciple(luck) cause every arcane caster should have miracle on the list (especially because eventually it can make it onto your spontaneous list)

hope ive been helpful,
and if i'm full of misinformation, please, feel free to correct me (with reference please)

#7
lormador
Jun 22, 2011 2:30:40 There are some bomb feats that you really might want.At some point you really want Darkstalker to make your Invisibility/Hide relevant.

You can do amazing things with Invisible Spell.

A big question is whether you want to use Otherworldly- or if it's even allowed for you. My recommended race for you is Imaskari Human, or perhaps one of the Int elves like Sun Elf. Able Learner is really good- but Otherworldly is better, in my view.

Once you have Spell Mastery, Uncanny Forethought (or was it Foresight) or Uncanny _____ is in Exemplars of Evil. Great for a prepared caster.

Do take Craft Wondrous Item, if only for Aureon's Spellshard.
#8
ikildkenny
Jun 22, 2011 5:37:04 actually, metamagic feats are a very good choice for an ultimate magus - mainly, because you do not sacrifice higher level spellslots for them ... you sacrifice other (lower level) spellslots ... since those will be your beguiler slots, you shouldn't even care ...
#9
dr_mikeymike
Jun 22, 2011 23:17:16 Krusk:

Thank you for helping me better understand my priorities in playing this wizard-y caster. I will use those suggested goals to better cherry-pick my feats!

Gnomewhisperer:

Man, you were a great help, too! Your suggestions are very solid, and I am going to look into them further.

Lormador:

Bombs are just awesome. As for Able Learner, I'm not quite as taken with it as I once was. I like the idea of having good skills, but I am beginning to believer that I can work around that with magic/items/etc. I will look into your race suggestion, though. In what book can I find Imaskari humans and Sun elves?

Ikildkenny:

I might be converted to the metamagic way. Maximize spell and empower spell sound pretty sweet. Going UM and using spontaneous slots for metamagic effects is just too good to pass up.

#10
ah_andras
Jun 23, 2011 12:15:06 My Wizard got just as much use out of Split Ray as Emp/Max.
Split Ray for Enervation and Disintegrate in particular.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dr_mikeymike Jun 21, 2011 13:59:36	Hello everyone, I am curious if there are any favorite feats (Practiced Spellcaster aside) that players out there would recommend for a Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus build! This particular build, I believe, might be a little feat-starved, so I want to make sure that I am smart about using them.
#2 gnome_whisperer Jun 21, 2011 14:41:38	metamagic school focus wouldnt be too bad of a decision for a specialist wizard, it would give you more slots to burn per day. personally i would look here...
#3 dr_mikeymike Jun 21, 2011 14:44:16	Realizing that I was maybe a little too general, let me go a little more indepth. There are plenty of metamagic feats in the PHB available, but I will admit that I am not a believer of most of those feats. This is mostly because I'd rather use higher-level spell slots for.. well... higher level spells. There are, of course, things like penetrating spell and spell focus (but is a measily +1 to DC, +2 total if you go for greater spell focus really worth it?). Also, I am a believer that 'Improved initiative' can never hurt. Playing a human character, I've been weighing the pro's and con's of the able learner feat though I have almost convinced myself that it would be mostly unnecessary. With these things said, I am curious if there are one or two other feats that would be handy to have. I could have sworn that I've come across feats that take advantage of a high Int modifier, for example.
#4 dr_mikeymike Jun 21, 2011 14:44:52	metamagic school focus wouldnt be too bad of a decision for a specialist wizard, it would give you more slots to burn per day. personally i would look here... Thanks!
#5 Krusk Jun 21, 2011 21:59:30	As a wizard the only thing that matters is your save DC. You want to crank this as high as you can, often times to the expense of everything else. Yes the spell focus line is worth it. Consider it for the schools you cast most often/specialized in and maybe a few others. This is of course, if you are not taking metamagic feats with those empty feat slots. Basically wizard feats are used to get into a prestige class (You don't care about these feat but the book says take it so you do) Metamagic (Some are awesome and you want them, others are not. You don't seem interested in any, so skip these) Item Crafting (Wands, Rods, and Wonderous Items are my favorites. ) DC Upping (When you have extra feats grab spell focus, or similar feats) Normally stuff to get extra spells per day, or spells as an at will SLA are handy but you will have the number of spells covered.
#6 gnome_whisperer Jun 21, 2011 22:21:09	no problem i may not be the most knowledgeable on the boards but i do try to be of assistance where i can. regarding metamagic feats, give credit where credit is due, Dr, a metamagic altered magic missile can be just as effective as a higher level spell with the proper applications of those feats...look at all the builds on these boards for that concept alone... also, remember as an ultimate magus you'll be burning slots on your spontaneous side to help mitigate those metamagic feat costs, so they arent technically using your higher level slots. on that note i'd also like to clarify that when i said metamagic school focus would give your more slots to burn i meant effectively (by reducing costs). as far as spell penetration and spell focus and their ilk, i'm of the opinion that a +1 can almost always be worth it because of the balance of the encounter system...when given an equivalent challenge, that +1 can be a difference between success and failure, and whether or not your illusions etc pierce SR, or fizzle ineffectively. statistically speaking, pushing the target of success for a d20 roll by +1 is a -5% in success probability for the creature making the check/save...not uber but worth mention. my last recommendation; arcane disciple(luck) cause every arcane caster should have miracle on the list (especially because eventually it can make it onto your spontaneous list) hope ive been helpful, and if i'm full of misinformation, please, feel free to correct me (with reference please)
#7 lormador Jun 22, 2011 2:30:40	There are some bomb feats that you really might want.At some point you really want Darkstalker to make your Invisibility/Hide relevant. You can do amazing things with Invisible Spell. A big question is whether you want to use Otherworldly- or if it's even allowed for you. My recommended race for you is Imaskari Human, or perhaps one of the Int elves like Sun Elf. Able Learner is really good- but Otherworldly is better, in my view. Once you have Spell Mastery, Uncanny Forethought (or was it Foresight) or Uncanny _____ is in Exemplars of Evil. Great for a prepared caster. Do take Craft Wondrous Item, if only for Aureon's Spellshard.
#8 ikildkenny Jun 22, 2011 5:37:04	actually, metamagic feats are a very good choice for an ultimate magus - mainly, because you do not sacrifice higher level spellslots for them ... you sacrifice other (lower level) spellslots ... since those will be your beguiler slots, you shouldn't even care ...
#9 dr_mikeymike Jun 22, 2011 23:17:16	Krusk: Thank you for helping me better understand my priorities in playing this wizard-y caster. I will use those suggested goals to better cherry-pick my feats! Gnomewhisperer: Man, you were a great help, too! Your suggestions are very solid, and I am going to look into them further. Lormador: Bombs are just awesome. As for Able Learner, I'm not quite as taken with it as I once was. I like the idea of having good skills, but I am beginning to believer that I can work around that with magic/items/etc. I will look into your race suggestion, though. In what book can I find Imaskari humans and Sun elves? Ikildkenny: I might be converted to the metamagic way. Maximize spell and empower spell sound pretty sweet. Going UM and using spontaneous slots for metamagic effects is just too good to pass up.
#10 ah_andras Jun 23, 2011 12:15:06	My Wizard got just as much use out of Split Ray as Emp/Max. Split Ray for Enervation and Disintegrate in particular.