Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 worshiper_of_moradin Nov 06, 2008 22:37:37	I've been playing D&D for about 3 years now and I'm starting to take an interest in playing a wizard. My only probelm is right now we're lower level (3 to be exact) and I was wondering, what kind of tatics should I use when I run out of spells?
#2 yamishinobi Nov 06, 2008 23:36:38	I've been playing D&D for about 3 years now and I'm starting to take and interest in playing a wizard. My only probelm is right now we're lower level (3 to be exact) and I was wondering, what kind of tatics should I use when I run out of spells? if you are preparing evocation, pick a reserve feat. Get complete mage. the fire resistance hasn't come yet, don't use up your spells, go for the reserve feat. Option A (you will regret this choice around level 6-9) Keep 1 kelgores firebolt 1 scorching ray, and all the rest utiltiy, never use the fire spells, instead, use the reserve feat they power, don't know the name, but it deals Xd6 fire dmage with a ranged touch. no save, no spell resistance. Option B, Arcane disciple (healing) Wand of CLW Option C, Assuming you are a Grey Elf (best core wizard) invest in a bow, a "non composite" shortbow Option D Hide like a coward, (easy if you are 5 feet or shorter and really skinny. (less than 26 inch waist) Hide behind anybody 5 1/2 feet or taller with at least 4 inch wider waist. rogue not reccomended. Hide behind a half orc archer if you have one. he will b at least 2 feet taller than you and 10 inches wider.) (good reason to be an elf or halfling, elves average 5ft-2in - 5ft-6in, so a 5ft-0in one is quite reasonable, especially with an 18-22 inch waist (elf) or maximum 4 ft 0 in halfling with a maximum 16 inch waist) Option D requires you to pay attention to character sizes to the exact inch.) and when your reach the negatives, you will be easier to carry.
#3 entropy_judge Nov 06, 2008 23:46:38	I've been playing D&D for about 3 years now and I'm starting to take and interest in playing a wizard. My only probelm is right now we're lower level (3 to be exact) and I was wondering, what kind of tatics should I use when I run out of spells? Get a Light Crossbow. What I would actually suggest, is any battle where it looks like you won't be really necessary, use it instead of a spell. Some really good 1st and 2nd level spells are Sleep, Color Spray, possibly Enlarge Person, Acid Arrow, Summon Monster, Scorching Ray, and Bull's Strength (or other buffs). Use the Crossbow as often as you can help it, and use Sleep or the Spray to take out a large group of enemies if necessary. Acid Arrow and Scorching Ray are basically there more if you need to deal damage to something *right now*, and Bull's Strength would be cast on the Fighter just before engaging the Big Bad of the session/area, so he goes down more easily and more quickly.
#4 RyndarLocke Nov 07, 2008 0:18:11	The reserve feats are in "Complete Mage" AT 3rd level you can get "Fiery Burst"
#5 Arcane_Guyver Nov 07, 2008 1:43:23	Get a Light Crossbow. What I would actually suggest, is any battle where it looks like you won't be really necessary, use it instead of a spell. This. Get real familiar with your firearm, as it will come through for you often in low-level play (when your ranged attack bonus won't really be that different from anyone else's). Feats that boost ranged attacks are nice in this regard as well, since Point Blank Shot & Precise Shot work equally well for many ranged spell attacks. Remember, as a wizard, you have access to powers that nobody else gets. Sure you can deal damage to enemies - that's cool, but any class can do that. Not every class can hurl web spells to screw up the environment or ray of enfeeblement to completely nerf enemy warriors. Use scrolls for oddball spells you may or may not need (stuff like knock), and your spell slots for things you know you'll want to cast. Wands are excellent for spells you cast constantly.
#6 ramses_iii Nov 07, 2008 3:43:52	Crossbow is the way to roll starting out. You should have Scorching Ray as one of your level 2 spells; I suggest scribing scrolls of it -- and once you hit level 5, I would take Craft Wand and create a wand of Scorching Ray. The wand should be your standard attack for a long time; you'll want want to drop a big area spell or debuff to kick in the big guns at the beginning of some battles, but after a round or two of this kind of setup fall back to the wand unless you really need to throw something down to end a battle.
#7 worshiper_of_moradin Nov 07, 2008 10:12:01	Thanks guys.
#8 Mad_Jack Nov 09, 2008 14:44:21	Wizards are smart guys, so the key thing is to remember that they always have something to contribute to combat. Sometimes it just comes down to creative thinking rather than game mechanics. The others have put forth most of the usual ideas - point blank and precise shot, reserve feats that let you pop people without actually wasting spells, wands, scrolls... If you don't have an appropriate spell/item for the situation, ask yourself, is there anything I can do other than shoot my crossbow? If the most constructive thing you can do at that exact moment is shoot somebody, then concentrate on picking off spellcasters, the lightly armored, weak and wounded. Taking out a smaller bad guy even one round earlier in the fight can get the tanks up in the big bad guy's face just that much sooner. However, non-standard combat tactics can often be more beneficial in a prolonged fight than just one more crossbow bolt in the ogre's butt - since you're the most likely to be on the outskirts of the fight you should be the guy carrying the alchemist's fire and other tossables, setting the curtains on fire, cutting the rope holding the chandelier, tossing bags of marbles under the enemy's feet, etc. Wizards can control a battlefield without having to use their spells. Even just simple stuff like remembering to overturn tables and such to get protection from having better cover and to prevent enemies from easily passing can change the course of the fight.
#9 yamishinobi Nov 09, 2008 14:59:14	Wizards are smart guys, so the key thing is to remember that they always have something to contribute to combat. Sometimes it just comes down to creative thinking rather than game mechanics. The others have put forth most of the usual ideas - point blank and precise shot, reserve feats that let you pop people without actually wasting spells, wands, scrolls... If you don't have an appropriate spell/item for the situation, ask yourself, is there anything I can do other than shoot my crossbow? If the most constructive thing you can do at that exact moment is shoot somebody, then concentrate on picking off spellcasters, the lightly armored, weak and wounded. Taking out a smaller bad guy even one round earlier in the fight can get the tanks up in the big bad guy's face just that much sooner. However, non-standard combat tactics can often be more beneficial in a prolonged fight than just one more crossbow bolt in the ogre's butt - since you're the most likely to be on the outskirts of the fight you should be the guy carrying the alchemist's fire and other tossables, setting the curtains on fire, cutting the rope holding the chandelier, tossing bags of marbles under the enemy's feet, etc. Wizards can control a battlefield without having to use their spells. Even just simple stuff like remembering to overturn tables and such to get protection from having better cover and to prevent enemies from easily passing can change the course of the fight. or if you are in a jungle, knock the trees on your foes with a sonic sphere (fireball, but sonic, still d6's, originally researched by the deceased elf sorcereress, Kira Moonsong. great, great, great, great, granddaughter of a powerful kobold sorcerer from the elven lands bordering cauldron. her 3rd cousin in law, Meryl has copies of the papers 10,000 gold worth of recipes. Sonic Arrow (scorching rays sonic cousin. for the same d6's 2,000 to research) Sonic Sphere (fireball, but sonic instead, still does the d6's. research fees, 3,000) Cone of Sound (as cone of cold, but sonic damage, this baby costs 5,000 to research. it still uses the d6's) this 3 spell bundle costs 10,000 gold pieces to research. basically, these 3 spells replace any damage spell i normally use. and are of both evocation and conjuration schools.
#10 Arcane_Guyver Nov 09, 2008 17:19:51	However, non-standard combat tactics can often be more beneficial in a prolonged fight... I would argue that any character can perform these actions and use these tactics, therefore it's not wizard-specific advice. This post did remind me, however, that wizards have Craft (alchemy), which can be used to purchase grenades at half price. For slightly more than the price of one alchemist's fire, you can instead chuck a sack filled with two vials of alchemist's fire at an enemy for double damage. Or go a step further and put four or ten in the sack... :D
#11 bergtann Nov 09, 2008 17:44:49	1: Reserve Feat. 2: Scribe Scroll. You should never need a crossbow.
#12 baneofelves Nov 09, 2008 18:05:05	take the collegiate wizard feat from complete arcane. It gives you tons of extra spells to add to your spellbook at each level, giving you more versatility.
#13 doomsought Nov 09, 2008 19:50:56	Be god, grab the Debuffs. Sleep is a must, but keep knock on hand, especially if your rouge disables a trap door that the enemy just happens to stand on.
#14 innabinder Nov 09, 2008 19:57:19	3rd level? 2nd level spells? Glitterdust rocks the free world.