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Master Abjurer optimization

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Aharon
Feb 08, 2009 9:42:54 After looking at Treantmonk’s guide to Abjuration-Spells, I got interested and looked deeper into it, especially the Master Specialist.

There are several points that I think might be worthwhile (please correct me if they are less strong than I think, I’m rather new to optimising):

1) The 10th level ability of the Master Abjurer is to cast emanation abjurations centered on you or abjurations with a range of personal with a range of touch instead. One application obviously is to give some spells like karmic retribution to somebody who benefits from it more than you, like for example your BSF. Another application I thought of is Antimagic-Fielding somebody else. For both these options, however, a range of touch is nothing to be proud of. Are there ways besides Arcane Reach to get a touch spell a range? 60 feet is still rather limited. For the antimagic-Field thing, I thought of the metamagic feat Smiting Spell in the PHBII. It allows you to cast touch-range spells on ammunition. However, I got the impression that ranged weaponry isn’t very effective in high-level fights (Wind Wall etc.).
2) Also in PHBII is slashing dispel. It’s a 4th level Spell, dealing 2 points damage/level of dispelled spell. As it allows no save and no SR, I thought it might be a good idea to use the area version in conjunction with fell drain – as you make a caster level check for each spell affecting the creature, you should be able to dispel one spell effect, thus deal some damage and drain a level.
3) In Treantmonks’ thread, it was mentioned that there are numerous ways to get bonuses to your dispel check. When I looked through my books, I didn’t really find many – the only ones were Domain: Inquisition (+4) and an item in the MIC, which grants a competence bonus that is rendered irrelevant by the +5 competence bonus you get for being a master specialist. As the caster level bonus for slashing dispel caps at +10, the highest possible bonus would be +19 pre-epic, which is good, but not quite as good as the maximum possible, I’m sure.

I was thinking something like Cleric 1/Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 2/Abjurant Champion 4.
Race probably human, 28 pt. buy.
#2
steelwind
Feb 08, 2009 10:35:38 For a more optimized route, go with the tried and true Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 6/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Master Specialist +4, also known as the its almost impossible to kill me character. Make sure you take Extraordinary Spell Aim to poke holes in the antimagic fields you'll be laying down on enemy spellcasters but not yourself.
#3
pithica
Feb 08, 2009 11:10:20
2) Also in PHBII is slashing dispel. It’s a 4th level Spell, dealing 2 points damage/level of dispelled spell. As it allows no save and no SR, I thought it might be a good idea to use the area version in conjunction with fell drain – as you make a caster level check for each spell affecting the creature, you should be able to dispel one spell effect, thus deal some damage and drain a level.

I you're better off using the Targeted version rather than the Area version, as the area only allows you to dispel a single effect on any creature in the area, while the targeted potentially can get you all spells on a single creature (and damage dealt for each). Unless of course you're trying to Fell Drain multiple opponents or something.

3) In Treantmonks’ thread, it was mentioned that there are numerous ways to get bonuses to your dispel check. When I looked through my books, I didn’t really find many – the only ones were Domain: Inquisition (+4) and an item in the MIC, which grants a competence bonus that is rendered irrelevant by the +5 competence bonus you get for being a master specialist. As the caster level bonus for slashing dispel caps at +10, the highest possible bonus would be +19 pre-epic, which is good, but not quite as good as the maximum possible, I’m sure.

The caster level increases (which total +2) from Master Specialist are unnamed bonuses.

Elven Spell Lore (PH2) grants +2 unamed.
Magic Disruption and Mystic Backlash are both +1 from Complete Mage, but I think they're both Competence bonuses.
Orange Ioun Stone is +1 CL
Ring of Arcane Might (MIC) is +1 (unnamed) to CL

I was thinking something like Cleric 1/Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 2/Abjurant Champion 4.
Race probably human, 28 pt. buy.

No point going higher than Abjurant Champion 2 if you aren't a Gish.

Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/IotSV 7 is pretty solid. If you really want arcane Reach, Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 7/IotSV 7/Archmage 3 is likewise pretty solid. If you really want the extended and swift Abjurations , just take off two levels of Archmage and exchange for two fo AbC.
#4
tana_san
Feb 08, 2009 20:52:55 There’s a ACF in Comp. Champion that gives a wizard of 5lv a domain granted power instead of feat, so you can take inquisition domain power without dipping into cleric.
#5
Aharon
Feb 09, 2009 7:27:39 @Steelwind
Thank you, this is indeed a lot better.
@pithica
well, but the caster level bonuses are exactly that. I was looking for boni to the dispel check, so that I can still use for example a normal Dispel Magic when I'm in a tight spot.
I was thinking that fell draining was the way to go.
@tana_san
thank you.
#6
pithica
Feb 09, 2009 9:07:15 Elven spell lore is specifically to dispel checks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Aharon Feb 08, 2009 9:42:54	After looking at Treantmonk’s guide to Abjuration-Spells, I got interested and looked deeper into it, especially the Master Specialist. There are several points that I think might be worthwhile (please correct me if they are less strong than I think, I’m rather new to optimising): 1) The 10th level ability of the Master Abjurer is to cast emanation abjurations centered on you or abjurations with a range of personal with a range of touch instead. One application obviously is to give some spells like karmic retribution to somebody who benefits from it more than you, like for example your BSF. Another application I thought of is Antimagic-Fielding somebody else. For both these options, however, a range of touch is nothing to be proud of. Are there ways besides Arcane Reach to get a touch spell a range? 60 feet is still rather limited. For the antimagic-Field thing, I thought of the metamagic feat Smiting Spell in the PHBII. It allows you to cast touch-range spells on ammunition. However, I got the impression that ranged weaponry isn’t very effective in high-level fights (Wind Wall etc.). 2) Also in PHBII is slashing dispel. It’s a 4th level Spell, dealing 2 points damage/level of dispelled spell. As it allows no save and no SR, I thought it might be a good idea to use the area version in conjunction with fell drain – as you make a caster level check for each spell affecting the creature, you should be able to dispel one spell effect, thus deal some damage and drain a level. 3) In Treantmonks’ thread, it was mentioned that there are numerous ways to get bonuses to your dispel check. When I looked through my books, I didn’t really find many – the only ones were Domain: Inquisition (+4) and an item in the MIC, which grants a competence bonus that is rendered irrelevant by the +5 competence bonus you get for being a master specialist. As the caster level bonus for slashing dispel caps at +10, the highest possible bonus would be +19 pre-epic, which is good, but not quite as good as the maximum possible, I’m sure. I was thinking something like Cleric 1/Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 2/Abjurant Champion 4. Race probably human, 28 pt. buy.
#2 steelwind Feb 08, 2009 10:35:38	For a more optimized route, go with the tried and true Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 6/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Master Specialist +4, also known as the its almost impossible to kill me character. Make sure you take Extraordinary Spell Aim to poke holes in the antimagic fields you'll be laying down on enemy spellcasters but not yourself.
#3 pithica Feb 08, 2009 11:10:20	2) Also in PHBII is slashing dispel. It’s a 4th level Spell, dealing 2 points damage/level of dispelled spell. As it allows no save and no SR, I thought it might be a good idea to use the area version in conjunction with fell drain – as you make a caster level check for each spell affecting the creature, you should be able to dispel one spell effect, thus deal some damage and drain a level. I you're better off using the Targeted version rather than the Area version, as the area only allows you to dispel a single effect on any creature in the area, while the targeted potentially can get you all spells on a single creature (and damage dealt for each). Unless of course you're trying to Fell Drain multiple opponents or something. 3) In Treantmonks’ thread, it was mentioned that there are numerous ways to get bonuses to your dispel check. When I looked through my books, I didn’t really find many – the only ones were Domain: Inquisition (+4) and an item in the MIC, which grants a competence bonus that is rendered irrelevant by the +5 competence bonus you get for being a master specialist. As the caster level bonus for slashing dispel caps at +10, the highest possible bonus would be +19 pre-epic, which is good, but not quite as good as the maximum possible, I’m sure. The caster level increases (which total +2) from Master Specialist are unnamed bonuses. Elven Spell Lore (PH2) grants +2 unamed. Magic Disruption and Mystic Backlash are both +1 from Complete Mage, but I think they're both Competence bonuses. Orange Ioun Stone is +1 CL Ring of Arcane Might (MIC) is +1 (unnamed) to CL I was thinking something like Cleric 1/Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 2/Abjurant Champion 4. Race probably human, 28 pt. buy. No point going higher than Abjurant Champion 2 if you aren't a Gish. Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/IotSV 7 is pretty solid. If you really want arcane Reach, Abjurer 3/Master Specialist 7/IotSV 7/Archmage 3 is likewise pretty solid. If you really want the extended and swift Abjurations , just take off two levels of Archmage and exchange for two fo AbC.
#4 tana_san Feb 08, 2009 20:52:55	There’s a ACF in Comp. Champion that gives a wizard of 5lv a domain granted power instead of feat, so you can take inquisition domain power without dipping into cleric.
#5 Aharon Feb 09, 2009 7:27:39	@Steelwind Thank you, this is indeed a lot better. @pithica well, but the caster level bonuses are exactly that. I was looking for boni to the dispel check, so that I can still use for example a normal Dispel Magic when I'm in a tight spot. I was thinking that fell draining was the way to go. @tana_san thank you.
#6 pithica Feb 09, 2009 9:07:15	Elven spell lore is specifically to dispel checks.