Master Conjurer NPC - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Master Conjurer NPC

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
houkama
Dec 12, 2009 18:58:09 I am looking for reccomendations on optimizing a conjurer NPC. Since, he is a major NPC, who will be playing both sides of the story, I want him to be able to pack a punch when he needs to, but not outshine the PCs most of the time.

I want something that is extremely versatile so that I don't have to fudge it when/if the PC's have to fight him. So here's the main question: Incantatrix or Malconvoker? and why?
#2
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Dec 13, 2009 3:50:43 It really depends on what kind of Conjurer you're going for. Most builds I have seen for conjurers have been either blasting, summoning, or battlefield control types.

Blasting - Incantatrix - pile the metamagics on the Orb or whatnot of you choice and go to town
Summoning - Malconvoker - summon an army of the nastiest things on the list and sit back launching battlefield control/ minion buffs
Both - battlefield controller - works better at high levels

Build ideas
Blasting - Spellthief 1/ Wizard 5/ Spellwarp Sniper 5/ Incantatrix 9 - cast in light armor, cast greater invisibility, turn stuff into rays, and blast with added sneak attack damage

Summoning - Specialist Wizard Conjurer 1/ Cloistered Cleric 5/ Malconvoker 9/ Thaumaturgist 5 - Planning and Summoning Domains, Spontaneous Domain Casting: Summoning ACF

Both -Maybe...
Specialist Wizard Conjurer 2/ Master Specialist 10/ Incantatrix 8 - with Precocious Apprentice, very focused build but many metamagic possibilities.
Other ideas for battlefield controllers: Wizard 5/ War Weaver (HoB) 5/ Incatatrix 10, Wizard 5/ War Weaver 5/ War Mage (DL: AoM) 5/ Incantatrix 5, or Wizard 2/ Master Specialist X/ Malconvoker X/ Incantatrix X
#3
elthenar
Dec 13, 2009 5:27:36 If you take more than a few levels of Incantrix, take all ten. That capstone ability is absurdly powerful, and the rest of the class features are made of win too. A minor point about Malconvoker is that they have to be non-evil. As the DM, you can bend that rule of course but it is worth mentioning. If you want an NPC that is a bit crazy and chaotic, give this guy a level of Alienist. Alienist doesn't get a lot of love on the CO board, but there are some tricks to be pulled. It's easy to get into and does cost any caster levels, so it's worth a look. Combine 10 levels of Incantrix with at least one level of Alienist and you can do things like summoning 10 pseudonatural dire weasels who all have true strike and drain 1d4 con a round as a swift action. The 10 levels of Incantrix makes any full caster a powerhouse on it's own. Mix it with anything you like for flavor.

#4
houkama
Dec 13, 2009 6:06:16
Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there.

Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels.

I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy.

Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels.
#5
tdsaw111
Dec 13, 2009 12:52:28

Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there.

Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels.

I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy.

Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels.

Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites.
#6
spiral_rider_h
Dec 15, 2009 14:38:35 If you take Arcane Disciple and select the summoning domain, you can qualify for Thaumaturgist with divine caster levels. Keep in mind you'd still need the WIS score, though. My conjurer build is:

Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 7/Thaumaturgist 5/Malconvoker 5

You lose a caster level with Malconvoker, but it's only one at least.
#7
elthenar
Dec 15, 2009 15:47:18

Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there.

Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels.

I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy.

Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels.

Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites.

It doesn't really matter since he is the DM. It's easy to rely on DM fiat if your the DM.

#8
tdsaw111
Dec 15, 2009 16:26:46

Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there.

Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels.

I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy.

Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels.

Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites.

It doesn't really matter since he is the DM. It's easy to rely on DM fiat if your the DM.

Was mainly replying to the now bolded and red part. Just wanted to make sure he understood that normally there is a consequence to changing alignments with a prestige class that has a particular alignment or range of alignments as a Pre-Requisite. As such, by RAW he would no longer qualify and lose any abilities granted by the class until he once again meets the prerequisites.
#9
houkama
Dec 16, 2009 3:29:16
Yes. Good deal, since I'm doing a bit of alignment conflict already. (The heroes frequently kill other good characters because they are at war.) It wouldn't be hard for him to remain neutral.

Thanks for clearing that up nevertheless. I was thinking of core classes where you lose some abilities or just the chance to progress.
#10
awaken_D_M_golem
Dec 19, 2009 14:01:52 Realistically, an NPC Conj is almost as strong as a PC Conj.
Which is to say, it's Tier 1 material.
The smaller Wealth total, spent on various goodies, doesn't weaken it much at all.
How much do you want to scare the heroes ?!
(evil grin)

The party could surprise the Conj, and finish him off rather quickly.
The party could be surprised by the Conj, and be finished off rather quickly.
I'd make them shake in their boots a little, or maybe a lot !!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 houkama Dec 12, 2009 18:58:09	I am looking for reccomendations on optimizing a conjurer NPC. Since, he is a major NPC, who will be playing both sides of the story, I want him to be able to pack a punch when he needs to, but not outshine the PCs most of the time. I want something that is extremely versatile so that I don't have to fudge it when/if the PC's have to fight him. So here's the main question: Incantatrix or Malconvoker? and why?
#2 gorfnad_the_shiznit Dec 13, 2009 3:50:43	It really depends on what kind of Conjurer you're going for. Most builds I have seen for conjurers have been either blasting, summoning, or battlefield control types. Blasting - Incantatrix - pile the metamagics on the Orb or whatnot of you choice and go to town Summoning - Malconvoker - summon an army of the nastiest things on the list and sit back launching battlefield control/ minion buffs Both - battlefield controller - works better at high levels Build ideas Blasting - Spellthief 1/ Wizard 5/ Spellwarp Sniper 5/ Incantatrix 9 - cast in light armor, cast greater invisibility, turn stuff into rays, and blast with added sneak attack damage Summoning - Specialist Wizard Conjurer 1/ Cloistered Cleric 5/ Malconvoker 9/ Thaumaturgist 5 - Planning and Summoning Domains, Spontaneous Domain Casting: Summoning ACF Both -Maybe... Specialist Wizard Conjurer 2/ Master Specialist 10/ Incantatrix 8 - with Precocious Apprentice, very focused build but many metamagic possibilities. Other ideas for battlefield controllers: Wizard 5/ War Weaver (HoB) 5/ Incatatrix 10, Wizard 5/ War Weaver 5/ War Mage (DL: AoM) 5/ Incantatrix 5, or Wizard 2/ Master Specialist X/ Malconvoker X/ Incantatrix X
#3 elthenar Dec 13, 2009 5:27:36	If you take more than a few levels of Incantrix, take all ten. That capstone ability is absurdly powerful, and the rest of the class features are made of win too. A minor point about Malconvoker is that they have to be non-evil. As the DM, you can bend that rule of course but it is worth mentioning. If you want an NPC that is a bit crazy and chaotic, give this guy a level of Alienist. Alienist doesn't get a lot of love on the CO board, but there are some tricks to be pulled. It's easy to get into and does cost any caster levels, so it's worth a look. Combine 10 levels of Incantrix with at least one level of Alienist and you can do things like summoning 10 pseudonatural dire weasels who all have true strike and drain 1d4 con a round as a swift action. The 10 levels of Incantrix makes any full caster a powerhouse on it's own. Mix it with anything you like for flavor.
#4 houkama Dec 13, 2009 6:06:16	Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there. Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels. I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy. Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels.
#5 tdsaw111 Dec 13, 2009 12:52:28	Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there. Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels. I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy. Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels. Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites.
#6 spiral_rider_h Dec 15, 2009 14:38:35	If you take Arcane Disciple and select the summoning domain, you can qualify for Thaumaturgist with divine caster levels. Keep in mind you'd still need the WIS score, though. My conjurer build is: Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 7/Thaumaturgist 5/Malconvoker 5 You lose a caster level with Malconvoker, but it's only one at least.
#7 elthenar Dec 15, 2009 15:47:18	Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there. Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels. I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy. Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels. Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites. It doesn't really matter since he is the DM. It's easy to rely on DM fiat if your the DM.
#8 tdsaw111 Dec 15, 2009 16:26:46	Alignment restrictions are generally not a big deal. Also, there is nothing that says that a malconvoker loses abilities if they become evil. So I am free to mess around with the shenanigans there. Anyway, I am thinking of going for a versatile build that will net the most signature abilities. So Wizard 2/MS 3/Incantatrix 10/ Malconvoker 5. The NPC will start at level 18 so it is not important that it is viable at low levels. I am thinking of banning evocation, enchantment, and necromancy. Are there any must know spells/feats that he should have? I am thinking Cosmopolitan for keeping bluff up throughout the levels. Pretty sure that if you stop meeting a prerequisite for a Prestige Class you lose all abilities gained from that class until you once again meet the prerequisites. It doesn't really matter since he is the DM. It's easy to rely on DM fiat if your the DM. Was mainly replying to the now bolded and red part. Just wanted to make sure he understood that normally there is a consequence to changing alignments with a prestige class that has a particular alignment or range of alignments as a Pre-Requisite. As such, by RAW he would no longer qualify and lose any abilities granted by the class until he once again meets the prerequisites.
#9 houkama Dec 16, 2009 3:29:16	Yes. Good deal, since I'm doing a bit of alignment conflict already. (The heroes frequently kill other good characters because they are at war.) It wouldn't be hard for him to remain neutral. Thanks for clearing that up nevertheless. I was thinking of core classes where you lose some abilities or just the chance to progress.
#10 awaken_D_M_golem Dec 19, 2009 14:01:52	Realistically, an NPC Conj is almost as strong as a PC Conj. Which is to say, it's Tier 1 material. The smaller Wealth total, spent on various goodies, doesn't weaken it much at all. How much do you want to scare the heroes ?! (evil grin) The party could surprise the Conj, and finish him off rather quickly. The party could be surprised by the Conj, and be finished off rather quickly. I'd make them shake in their boots a little, or maybe a lot !!