I'm not sure about which race to pick, but my DM has hinted that he does NOT want a human. I was thinking strongheart halfling, or maybe something that gave a bonus to INT.
The campaign is starting at Lvl 4, and it may very well continue into epic lvls. All the main rolls are covered in the party. It is taking place in Faerun, but I may be able to convince my DM to allow other campaign-specific material with a little reflavoring. That being said, pretty much all books are being allowed, but no Dragon Magazine (Dragon Compendium is fine). Flaws and LA buy-off are not allowed.
Well that about sums it up. Any suggestions, as far as feats? spells? items? helpful threads?
Once you do that, grab Nightmare spinner, Archmage, XXX, not in that order.
I came up with a build that was gish.
Dwarf Warblade 1/Wizard 4/JPM10/Abj champ 5, Runesmith 1, Archamge 4.
Take practiced spellcaster to make up for the lack of 3 caster lvls, and you should be good.
My last Transmuter PC (it's even an Archmage!) - HERE
My Guide to Transmutation - HERE
Seeing as I wrote the guide, you can trust both are quite excellent. Another good option is the War Weaver PrC (The above mentioned Changeling isn't bad, but it's not really a Transmuter, and you give up too much for too little).
Also, consider giving up Abjuration rather than Evocation if going for a Transmuter; unbeknowst to you, perhaps, there is a great amount of amazing Evocation spells around (and not just for damage - look at the PC I linked for the spells).
Read those 2 for ideas:
Seeing as I wrote the guide, you can trust both are quite excellent. Another good option is the War Weaver PrC (The above mentioned Changeling isn't bad, but it's not really a Transmuter, and you give up too much for too little).
Also, consider giving up Abjuration rather than Evocation if going for a Transmuter; unbeknowst to you, perhaps, there is a great amount of amazing Evocation spells around (and not just for damage - look at the PC I linked for the spells).
I'm currently playing a Focused Transmuter/War Weaver, and I dropped enchantment, evocation and necromancy. I can honestly say that while abjuration did not give me a very big selection of good spells, it DID provide very few priceless gems that I often use, namely Greater Resistance, Energy Aegis, Disobedience, and most importantly, Dispel Magic. Of course, the only other spellcaster in the group is a weird buffer/gish that has bard's spellcasting (and recently he took Sublime Chord), so it's easy to give up enchantment and evocation since he can easily fill up the slack. It's also kind of difficult to give up on dispel magic since we sometimes need it during combat and would rather have him attack than cast a spell.
Oh, and one more thing. Where is the War Weaver? I can't find the darn thing to save my life.
It's from Heroes of Battle.
It's from Heroes of Battle.
Thanks a lot!
It looks like a solid PrC, I might just give it a go. Also, after giving the two schools one last look, it looks like I'm gonna prohibit Evocation. Abjuration has some spells that are just too good to pass up.
Incarnum isn't strictly neccessary, it just gives you a LOT of defences, Telepathy, Evasion, bonuses to saves, etc.
Without it, you might go Transmuter 3 / Master Specialist 2 / War Weaver 5 / Master Specialist +2 / Transmuter +2 (and learn Contingency as a Transmutation spell - Unearthed Arcana) / Archmage 5 / XXX 1.
I checked out Paragnostic Apostle...its definitely a good class, but not exactly what I had in mind for this build. Thanks anyway though :D .
Oh, and Uhm Hoi? That link is great. Thank you for posting it.
You are an elf so you get all the elf goodies. Instead of a bonus to dexterity, you get a bonus to intelligence. For Flavor, Sun Elves are the most arrogant elves of all subrace elves (good ones anyways...) so as a Focused Transmuter, you are THE definitive power in Transmutation Spells.
In fact, I myself have built a Transmuter wizard, not a focused specialist however...:
I prohibited Abjuration and Evocation. I was a raycaster
Sun Elf 20 (Wiz3/MstrSpc10/ArcM5/Wiz+2)
STR 12
DEX 20
Con 14
INT 29
Wis 12
Cha 9
Feats: (not taking into account PRC feats (master specialist))
Spell Focus (Transmutation, Illusion):
Greater Spell Focus (Illusion)
Empower Spell
Extend Spell
Sculpt Spell
Split Ray
Twin Spell
I chose Illusion as my second Spell Focus/Greater Spell Focus, because it is high in save/negate spells, and it covered higher DC Shadow Evocation to make up for banning evocation
Empowering and Splitting Rays is just twisted. Sculpting Area of Effect spells is brutal, Extending those party buffs is awesomeness.
Empowered, Split-Ray'd Ray of Enfeeblement is a 5th level spell for 1d6*1.5 + 5 for a potential 14 strength damage, no save (SR applies)... TWICE. That BBEG? Your ranged touch attack is a breeze, you just CRIPPLED him. -14 to -28 strength. See if he keeps bashing your brains in after one of these babies...
Empower/Split-ray an Enervation for 8th level maximum 12 negative level goodness.
Extend Haste. Split Ray Disintegrate
The possibilities are nigh-endless
Have you asked your DM if you can take:
Ability Enhancer: This is from Dragon magazine - so basically is added as a footnote - but adds +2 to any ability enhancements offered by Transmutation spells. Um - how about Animalistic Power?
Also, I've checked, and Ability Enhancer is allowed - but ONLY because it was in Dragon Compendium. I do not have access to the individual magazines.
Strongheart Halfling Transmuter 3 / Master Specialist 2 / War Weaver 5 / Master Specialist +2 / Transmuter +2 / Archmage 5 / Paragonistic Apostle 1
Critical Class Features:
6th-10th = Spellweaving
12th = Delay Dispel
14th = Learn Greater Dispel Magic / some other spell...
15th-19th = Archmage!
Feats:
1st - Toughening Transmutation
1st Bonus - Spell Focus (Transmutation)
1st Bonus - Scribe Scroll OR Improved Initiative
3rd - Enlarge Spell
4th Bonus - Skill Focus (Spellcraft)
6th - Ability Enhancer
9th - Minor Shapeshift
11th Bonus - G. Spell Focus (Transmutation)
12th - Spell Focus (Evocation)
15th - Extend Spell
18th - Persistant Spell
The last 2 are pure choice, though...
Replacing your Familiar is an option, and the most interesting one for that trade is from PHB2.
Otherwise, no Alternate Class Features, and none of those are really that critical. Hells, you could replace the 2 extra levels of Transmuter for more Paragonistic Apostle if that's not allowed.
Druid 3/Wizard 3/Arcane Heirophant 10/MT 4, then if you go into epic lvls past lvl 20 that is, either take more of MT or switch to Archmage.
Even tho I liked my Dwarf gish. I think a Duel role will suit your purposes.
Druid 3/Wizard 3/Arcane Heirophant 10/MT 4, then if you go into epic lvls past lvl 20 that is, either take more of MT or switch to Archmage.
So, in essence, you're a pathetic spellcaster on 2 sides? How is that ever a good idea? You never lose more casting than you have to.
Even as a Gish, I can't see myself losing over 1 level, or maybe 2 for AMAZING power. But as a Dual Caster, when those are ALL of your class features? No.
Well, everyone, thanks for all the advice. There is just one small snag...our party scout has quit, and now we have no sneak/skill monkey. Naturally, everyone looks to the almighty spellcasters to make everything better (me, a druid, and a death master). Any ideas on spells/items that could help out a rogueless party?
Summon Monster I at low levels to summon a celestial monkey to do the dirty work and at higher levels use the Summon Elemental reserve feat to spam earth elementals to do the dirty work.
or some people will say a Unseen Seer is better then a AT but still, You get to continue as a wizard class AND! you get to throw in some rogueish skill too.