Now one of the other players has made a claim that goblins (my favourite race) suck, and I'm preparing a reserve character that's not fighting its own Cha penalty to demonstrate that he's incorrect, in the event that my initial character goes down. I'm concerned that maybe in my irritation I've picked a feat list that's a bit too focused on doing direct harm. Please advise me on what (if anything) in this feat list needs to change.
20th level classes snapshot: Rogue 1/Wizard 5/Spellwarp Sniper 5/Unseen Seer 9
Feats
Flaw: Craven
Flaw: Empower Spell
1: Point Blank Shot
2: Scribe Scroll (locked)
3: Practiced Spellcaster: Wizard
6: Energy Substitution (Acid)
6: Energy Admixture (Acid) (semi-locked, wizard 5 bonus feat with usual restrictions)
9: Arcane Thesis (Fireball)
9: Precise Shot (locked)
12: Arcane Thesis (Enervation)
13: Silent Spell (locked)
15: Split Ray
18: Quicken Spell
Ever considered Reach Spell? It effectively makes a touch spell into a ray spell-perfect for spellwarp sniper, if I'm right and they can't do that already.
Fireball can't be prepped with Split Ray, since it's not made into a Ray until you actually shoot it off. Furthermore, Enervation only has Split Ray empowering it (and Quicken Spell if you so choose).
I'd recommend more Enervation-friendly metamagics and that your first Arcane Thesis also be a ray spell. Neither is a strict requirement, however.
I'd not focus on Fireball. Instead, pick a duelthreat spell to focus on, like Frost Breath or similar. That way, you can eliminate the save and just force the daze/stun/knockdown/etc. Search the forums here for a list of warpable spells, I know someone made one. Elven Spell Lore combined with Arcane Thesis makes your favorite spell into whatever lazer you want or need.
All in all, doesn't look bad. Consider jumping out of USS after 5 or so in favor of AT to keep from losing too many CLs.
Practiced Spellcaster I've already got in there at level 3, though I had not considered Reach Spell... I may need to. Night's Caress as a ray could be amusing.
Whoops. Missed that little detail.
Wracking Touch might also be worth looking into.
Furthermore, Enervation only has Split Ray empowering it (and Quicken Spell if you so choose).
I'd recommend more Enervation-friendly metamagics and that your first Arcane Thesis also be a ray spell. Neither is a strict requirement, however.
I had thought that Empower Spell could be applied to Enervation. While I'm at clearing that up, can Maximize Spell be applied to that spell?
Hmmm, going to need some revision, alright. However this confuses me:I had thought that Empower Spell could be applied to Enervation. While I'm at clearing that up, can Maximize Spell be applied to that spell?
Enervation has a random, variable, and numerical component. It can thus be empowered and/or maximized.
I really wouldn't bother with Spellwarp Sniper at all, I'd just fill up with Arcane Trickster levels.
Sure, you are only affecting 1 target, but most of the time, either that's all you are gonna get with an AoE or there is only a single target to hit, or the barbarian/fighter mutt character has already cloven through them.
IMO, duel threat spells like Frost Breath and Greater Thunderclap etc are better spellwarped than not, because taking away the save makes actually using your lower level slots attractive, especially when you juice them up with metamagic like Split Ray.
Complete Champion is proving difficult to acquire at the moment, so for now Spontaneous Divination is out (though I'll certainly reconsider if I can get hold of that book). How's this look? (changes bolded)
Flaw: Craven
Flaw: Empower Spell
1: Point Blank Shot
2: Scribe Scroll (locked)
3: Practiced Spellcaster: Wizard
6: Arcane Thesis (Ray of Ice)
6: Split Ray (semi-locked, wizard 5 bonus feat with usual restrictions)
9: Elven Spell Lore (Ray of Ice)
9: Precise Shot (locked)
12: Arcane Thesis (Enervation)
13: Silent Spell (locked)
15: Maximize Spell
18: Quicken Spell
Also, my familiar is going to be gimpy as hell. Is there any way I can get rid of it for something more useful, without specializing?
EDIT: Damn, just realized Ray of Ice can't be spellwarped because it's not actually an area spell - no denying the Ref save vs freeze to the floor. I think I'd still like to keep it for a sneak attack damage carrier, but is there a better low-level option for setting up targets for further sneak attacks when I can't just use greater invisibility?
As far as your familiar, it still has 1/2 your HP, and all your skill ranks. Get as much UMD as you can and give it a couple wands. Then keep it as out of sight as you can.
I don't like Maximize. Empower and Split Ray give as good, if not better, return on damage for the level increase. Otherwise you are burning spell slots much higher than required for the investment.
Its worth noting that while sonic isn't a viable flavor for Energy Sub, it IS a legal flavor for Elven Spell Lore, so you can shoot sonic Ice Lazers just fine.
Did you look for that thread at all with the entire list of warpable spells? I'll take a look here in a sec too.
Why is that Dave? Ranged touch attacks are much easier to optimize than save DCs. Lots of things increase your attack roll, from feats, to abilities like bard song, to spells like recitation and prayer. Almost nothing other than Spell Focus, Heighten Spell, and a handful of other effects increase DCs.
Sure, you are only affecting 1 target, but most of the time, either that's all you are gonna get with an AoE or there is only a single target to hit, or the barbarian/fighter mutt character has already cloven through them.
IMO, duel threat spells like Frost Breath and Greater Thunderclap etc are better spellwarped than not, because taking away the save makes actually using your lower level slots attractive, especially when you juice them up with metamagic like Split Ray.
I remember someone had a list of all the warpable spells, and it wasn't particularly impressive.
Also, imx Area-of-Effect spells tend to have the area they affect factored in when their level is assigned. To take a Core example - Fireball is poor for a 3rd level spell when considered as single target damage, worse than Scorching Ray, the reason it's a higher level is because it affects an area, turning it into a ray is a strictly worse option than using Scorching Ray. There may be some anomalies where wotc's ever dependable designers have violated that general principle in spell level assignment, but I can't think of any off hand.
As for dual threat spells - there are already the Orb of X spells, Lucent Lance, etc that are ranged touch spells with debuffs attached. AFB at the minute, but iirc Great Thunderclap wouldn't be anything to write home about after being warped.
When I first saw the class I thought the ability was cool, but when I started building one I couldn't actually think of a spell I would want to warp. And for me, it's not a question of "rays vs saves", it's a case that I simply think the existing ray and orb spells are better than anything that the Spellwarp ability can produce.
Case in point - Shaggy's latest build has Arcane Thesis for Ray of Ice and Enervation. Now, especially with Arcane Thesis to boost them, why would he choose to use warped spells in preference to those two choices?
On another note, I'd suggest Knowledge Devotion as a good way to increase your ranged attack rolls. You should have plenty of skill points to dump into Knowledge skills. And if Divine Insight is a Divination spell I'd be tempted to pick that up via Unseen Seer to guarantee the +5 bonus every combat.
There may be some anomalies where wotc's ever dependable designers have violated that general principle in spell level assignment, but I can't think of any off hand.
[...]
When I first saw the class I thought the ability was cool, but when I started building one I couldn't actually think of a spell I would want to warp. And for me, it's not a question of "rays vs saves", it's a case that I simply think the existing ray and orb spells are better than anything that the Spellwarp ability can produce.
Wing of flurry; level 4, uncapped force area damage spell. unfortunately it can get tricky to add a sorcerer spell to your wizard spell list, but this spell is really invaluable if warped.
Also, not to disprove your point , but there are good Spellwarp Sniper builds
Assuming, of course, scribe scroll isn't locked for different reasons.
As for picking up Precise Shot earlier, I'm not certain that won't hurt me later. Spellwarp Sniper 3 gives me that or if I've already got it, another feat which requires Point Blank Shot as a bonus feat. I don't have the BAB to pick up Improved Precise Shot, I don't want to blow yet another two feats on Dodge and Mobility to pick up Shot On The Run... Is there a feat that follows from Point Blank Shot that can be taken with a BAB of +4 and is worthwhile to someone that will be shooting with rays rather than an actual weapon?
Oh no, Scribe Scroll is just locked because it's a specific bonus feat rather than something I get to pick.
As for picking up Precise Shot earlier, I'm not certain that won't hurt me later. Spellwarp Sniper 3 gives me that or if I've already got it, another feat which requires Point Blank Shot as a bonus feat. I don't have the BAB to pick up Improved Precise Shot, I don't want to blow yet another two feats on Dodge and Mobility to pick up Shot On The Run... Is there a feat that follows from Point Blank Shot that can be taken with a BAB of +4 and is worthwhile to someone that will be shooting with rays rather than an actual weapon?
Can you use retraining (PHB2)?
I.e. take Precise Shot early on and then retrain the low level feat when you get it via Spellwarp Sniper.
Come to think of it, I probably can use retraining. I'm so accustomed to DMs rejecting retraining and rebuilding out of hand, I hadn't even considered using it with this DM that hesitates to disallow anything from the books. Thank you for pointing that out.