Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Treantmonk's Guide to Wizards: Being a God
Merriam-Webster: ...one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
Introduction:
Yeah, before you tell me, I know, there are already Wizard threads out there for referencing. These are the primary 2 for the 3.5 rules:
Logicninja's guide to Wizards: Being Batman (By Logicninja)
If you didn't get it from the title - Logicninja's thread is the inspiration for this one. I agree with Logicninja on a lot of things and disagree on a lot of other things. The intention of this thread is for players to get different perspectives and opinions on the class from two different optimizers who play a lot of wizards. Wizards are great in that they give a lot of choice. My choices aren't always right for everyone - but they will likely be right for some.
I also really like Logicninja's style. I've emulated it to some degree here. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all.
The Wizard's Handbook (by Dictum Mortuum)
For those who don't know this - Dictum Mortuum is probably the busiest fellow on the OP boards. I've lost track of how many Handbooks he's maintaining (including the "Making Handbooks" handbook - no kidding). His handbooks present lots of options - and try to keep out personal opinion. Very useful for reference. However - Dictum Mortuum keeps it very broad and open - which is great - but different then you will get on this thread.
The Conjurer's Handbook by Echodork
This is a very specialized look at conjuration. Echodork said this - which has served as a starting point for defining roles in a party (I wanted to give credit):
Benign Transposition: Two willing subjects switch places. Like, the big, stupid Fighter and the handsome Conjurer who finds himself grappled. No somatic component. Unconscious creatures are always considered “willing targets,” even if they wouldn’t be willing if they knew what they were signing up for.
These are the CO boards - and the Wizard is generally accepted as one of the top 5 in power levels. I've read through both Logicninja's and Dictum Mortuum's threads (which offer different perspectives already) and think there's more perspective that can be given those looking for more options for the class. I wouldn't waste my time writing a long thread like this one if I didn't think I had something different to add to the conversation.Options are good. That's the one (and only) point I'll make on this entire thread that I will claim is indisputable. The rest is all based on perspective and opinion and can all be questioned and debated. Feel free to disagree with me - you won't be alone. Long as you understand that you are wrong 
A little side note about style Be prepared for me presenting a black-and-white D&D world. These are opinions - and I'm presenting them strongly, intentionally. Really no point in presenting what is essentially an opinion paper and being wishy-washy.
What do you mean God?
We've all heard that the standard party in D&D revolves around 4 iconic roles. For those who have spent the last 25+ years of their life NOT playing D&D those roles are: Meleer, Healbot, Arcane caster and Skillmonkey. The rest of us knew that already.
In other words - if you go back to Basic D&D there were 4 human classes. Thief (now we call them rogues to be politically correct), Magic User (now we call them Wizards since it sounds less boring), Clerics and Fighters.
However, rules have changed and party roles have changed. A party with the 4 iconic roles should do just fine - but I would define the roles differently.
Out of combat you have 4 roles:
Social ("The Fop"):
This guy thinks he's the leader. Whatever - he does the talking well everyone else lets him.
Sneak ("The Corpse"): This guy sneaks ahead to scout the enemy's lair and finds and disarms traps for the group. Why do I call him the "Corpse"? - reread what he does again.
Healbot ("The Gimp"): Anyone who spends his character's resources for healing is clearly the party Gimp. That said - you want a party gimp. Preferably - not you. (though it can be done with Arcane Disciple)
Utility Caster ("Everything Else"): The party transporter, the party Diviner. One way or another - this is the casters' role - in other words - this is you.
That's it - everyone else is just taking up space. You should have all those bases covered - but let’s face it - D&D is primarily about combat. No matter which of the above your character is good at, if he can't contribute in a fight - your character is a liability to your party.
In combat there are also 4 roles - these are the roles that get filled:
The Big Stupid Fighter:
This role involves two things: Doing HP damage to BBEG, forcing BBEG to attack you with his viscous weaponry. The Big Stupid Fighter is not always a fighter (though stereotypically he is). He may be a Barbarian, a Summoned Critter, or a Druid. In order to qualify as a Big Stupid Fighter he should be any character that actively tries to be the target of enemy attacks. For those who wonder why I would label this character as "stupid" regardless of their INT score - reread the previous sentence.
The Glass Cannon:
This role involves one thing: Doing HP damage to BBEG. The Glass Cannon is like the Big Stupid Fighter except he does not want to take damage. Usually this is not due to superior intelligence - but instead due to inferior HP or AC (or in most cases - both). The Glass Cannon is often a Rogue (Or Rouge for our 13 year old readers), a Gish, an Archer, or a Blaster (the inferior wizard).
When reality would entail the above two meeting a rather messy end - someone will need to make some adjustments to said reality in order for the above two to instead meet glorious victory. What other label could such a force be labelled as than "God"? Well - how about "Primary Caster" One label or another - this guy needs to make Reality his Witch (replace the "W" in your head.) in order to do his job effectively.
The Waste of Space: This is the character of the player who thought a Bard/Monk/Sorcerer multiclass was an excellent idea - or who thought healing was a good "combat" role. This character just doesn't fill any of the above roles well enough to be anything but a liability to the group. You probably have had one in your group. Heck, you probably have one in your current group. Don't sweat it - as long as it isn't you.
* Why isn't the Healer useful in combat? Good question. There are two ways you can live your "pretend" life - reactively or proactively. God will alter reality to prevent damage, a healer will try to do "damage control" (pun intended) after the damage has been taken. Simple truth: The mechanics of the game make preventing damage more efficient then healing damage after the fact. That's not to say a well placed "Heal" or even "CLW" never has use in combat - but if you're doing your job - it should never be required as a primary role.
How Wizard's fill the 8 roles:
As a wizard, you can technically fill any 4 of the non-combat roles, as well as any 4 of the combat roles. You just can't fill ALL those roles Despite what you may have read elsewhere - a wizard has limited memorizations and castings per day - no matter the size of his spell book.
In other words - it's not the SIZE of the spell book that counts - it's how you use it. Though let’s face facts - the SIZE is still pretty important...
The Fop: Charm person, Suggestion - you can fill this role if you are willing to waste...um, I mean "invest" the spells to do it. Personally - I would let anyone else willing to fill this role do so.
The Corpse: Invisibility, Summon Dead Celestial Monkey (SM I), Fly (move silently), Divination (for scouting) - yeah you can do this too - but honestly - this is a last resort - let anyone else fill this role first if it would involve any risk to your person. After all - look at the NAME! Also - if you find yourself spending a lot of spells to fill this role, and chose not to play a Beguiler - you may not be an idiot, but let’s face it - you aren't brilliant either.
The Healbot: The only way you can fill this role is with Arcane Disciple (healing). If you do get delegated this position - I can say with authority - "ASSUME THE POSITION". Save your crying for after the others are asleep. At least make sure the wands of CLW are bought with party funds or you can change "GIMP" to "CHUMP"
The Utility Caster:
Occasionally the Cleric can fill this role - but usually it will be you. Conjuration, Divination and Transmutation spells will usually be the ones required. Your speciality will be "Party Taxi" - but all the other stuff gets filled in here too.
The Big Stupid Fighter:
You can never PERSONALLY be the Big Stupid Fighter - but you can summon one. If your party lacks the BSF and you want to know how to fill the niche with your Wizard - you should scroll down until you get to my sig and click on "Mastering the Malconvoker" and I will guide you through the build of this wizard.
The Glass Cannon:
The Gish build and the Blaster both fill this role in very different ways. Personally - I'm not big on playing Glass Cannons - and will let others explain how to make a most excellent GISH build. It's amazing how many people on these boards drool over Gishes. "Oh please - can I use godlike power to become one of the pathetic grunts who get all dirty and bloody and risk death every battle?" The popularity is puzzling to me. Yeah - Gishes make great Glass Cannons - but I just don't see the appeal in NOT being God...
The Waste of Space:
Yeah - it happens. Give your wizard too many roles and he will run out of spells and be a waste of space before you can say "I suck". Multiclass your wizard and expect to fill this role until you get a few levels of your "Hybrid" PrC. Or skip the Hybrid PrC altogether and just suck forever. As in the above illustration - Drow wizard's really rock - well, at least they suck them.
God:
This is the role this thread is based upon. Three kinds of wizards alter reality so that the Glass Cannon and the Big Stupid Fighter think they are better than they are. Those three wizards are Battlefield Controllers, Buffers, and Debuffers. Your best bet is to do a bit of all of them - but you can make wizards exclusive to each role as well without sucking.
Three Ways to Play God:
Battlefield Control:
In order to be an effective battlefield controller - you should consider your primary goal to line up your enemies flanked by your Glass Cannon and Big Stupid Fighter one at a time and backwards, all while standing on their heads. This will make the BSF and the GC win the combat with little damage to themselves - and they will feel like "they" won. That's the point - you're God after all, let the mortals have their victory.
Debuffing:
In order to be an effective Debuffer - you should consider your primary goal to have your BBEG standing in front of your GC and BSF dazed, stunned, nauseated, STR = 1, Dex = 1, Level = 1, and Blind for good measure. This will make the BSF and the GC win the combat with little damage to themselves - and they will feel like "they" won. That's the point - you're God after all, let the mortals have their victory.
(Note to readers: Debuffing can more literally be termed as reducing attributes or levels of opponents - I extend the term to be anything that impairs or damages the abilities of the enemy - which is why I include things like "blinding" to be a debuff)
Buffing:
In order to be effective at buffing - you turn your Big Stupid Fighter into a Colossal, Stupid Fighter on crack, and your Glass Cannon into an Adamantium Chain Gun. This will make the BSF and the GC win the combat with little damage to themselves - and they will feel like "they" won. That's the point - you're God after all, let the mortals have their victory.
Which is better? It depends. They all rock - but Debuffing tends to be better against a single BBEG, while Battlefield Control tends to work better against multiple foes with my experience. Buffing is more of a tertiary role for GOD.
Which should you concentrate on? Depends on your stats - which is what we'll get into next.
What STATS does GOD have anyways?
Unfortunately - no matter how close to God you become - your DM is closer. The point-buy, Random Roll and Elite Array are the most common methods of attribute determination:
Any way you slice it - here's the simple rules I follow when making my God. Highest stat goes to INT - no exception. My CON is always at least 14. Whatever else I can afford goes into DEX. This is before Racial modifiers.
Random Roll: Put your highest roll into INT. Dex and Con should have your second and third highest roll, and the other stats get the dump. If your 3rd highest stat is at least 14, put your second highest stat into DEX, otherwise, your second highest stat should go to CON.
Elite Array: This one sucks. Best you can do is put the 15 into INT, the 14 into CON and the 13 into DEX. Might as well put the 12 into CHA, the 10 into WIS and the 8 into STR. Stupid elite array...
Point Buy (15): Ouch - Put 8 points into INT (15), 6 points into CON (14), and one point into DEX (9) and dump the rest.
Point Buy (22): Put 16 points into INT (18), 6 points into CON (14) and you're done. This one fits wizard to a "T"
Point Buy (28): Put 16 points into INT (18), 6 points into Con (14), and 6 points into DEX (14).
Point Buy (32): Put 16 points into INT (18), 6 points into Con (14), and 10 points into DEX (16).
You will notice that DEX is the most fluid stat. This will determine how much your character will rely on Ranged Touch spells. If you end up dumping DEX you will want to avoid these spells (don't worry - there are lots of solid spells that don't require to hit rolls) - if you mananaged to maintain at least 14 points of DEX, they can be quite good and should find a spot on your spell memorization slots.
The "To Hit" rolls are common for Debuffing spells - so if your DEX sucks, you are more of a Battlefield Controller/Buffer - that's OK, these are still solid options. Directly Debuffing is nice for a power trip though.
Easy enough?
What Race is GOD?
Your Best Choices are:
Human: Not your best choice, but always a decent choice, and human is ALWAYS listed first. The human benefits from a bonus feat (which is huge) and bonus skill points. There are no attribute or size modifiers - which makes the Human work best with low point buys (15 or 22) or Random Rolls that force you to dump DEX. The Human will work on other ways to maximize defence than AC and work on other ways to play GOD than "to hit" roll spells.
Strongheart Halfling: Gets the Bonus Feat (Still huge), a stat penalty to a dump stat, a bonus to DEX, and small size (which is good for both "TO Hit" and AC). This is pretty much just superior to a Human - but you will feel a little cheesy taking this race. If you are going the “Metamagic powered debuffing Ray spell” route – this is the race for you.
Whisper Gnome: Gets 2 stat penalties to two dump stats, gets 2 stat bonuses to two good stats. Gets Small Size (for To Hit and AC), 30 foot movement, and some other goodies too. You will feel a lot cheesy taking this race - but it is undoubtedly the best race for builds that concentrate on DEX. Also excellent for Ray casters.
Elf (Grey, Fire, and Sun - the INT elves): They all get +2 to INT without level adjustments, but they all get minuses to CON which is bad. You also give up the bonus feat - and are working with Medium size. The +2 INT is the best Stat increase you can get - but there are some heavy drawbacks to consider. This Race is for the builds that will be using Targeted spells that provide saving throws.
Halflings, Gnomes and Dwarves: These all get stat bonuses to a good stat, and stat minuses to a dump stat - but they also all have 20' movement without providing as many advantages as the above races. These aren't terrible choices - but they aren't your best choice either.
Other Races: Keep in mind that anything with an INT penalty or a Level Adjustment is bad (especially the latter). Nothing is as good as the Races above, but if you avoid INT penalties and Level Adjustments you can still be half decent.
What Alternate Class Features would GOD take?
Domain Wizard (UA Variant): If your DM is stupid enough to allow this - always take it. The best is either the Conjuration or Transmutation domains (big surprise) that contain almost without exception solid spells. Domain wizard basically will give you the benefit of specialization (1 extra casting per level of spell) without the drawback (no lost schools), oh yeah - you also cast your Domain spells at +1 level and you get to add them to your spell book for free. You are not limited in the number of times you can memorize your domain spells. So basically it is in every way superior to a generalist, and in most ways superior to a specialist. Your DM won't allow this unless he's a moron. If you don't take it when it's allowed - then you're the moron.
Specialist: Get one extra casting per level of spell and give up one or two schools that are full of lousy spells you didn't want to memorize anyways. This is an easy choice. Specialize in Conjuration or Transmutation to be the most effective GOD.
Focused Specialist: I like this option - you get to play GOD for longer than other wizards - and playing GOD is what it is all about. It does however further limit your range (so you can't fill as many of the non-combat roles - yawn.) Find a school to which you want to memorize lots of spells. I'll make it easy - they rhyme with Ronjuration or Ransmutation. When you are focusing your memorizations - you will want to think about this when picking feats - which I will touch on later.
Here's my thread onFocused Specialistsand why I like them so much.
Immediate Magic: Mostly, they suck. However, familiars can also be a mixed blessing. Here's how GOD chooses. If GOD is a Conjurer - he takes this (Conjuration Immediate Magic is great - like conjuration wasn't good enough already). If GOD is a Transmuter - he skips this.
UA Variants:
Fighter Feats: To me, giving up Scribe Scroll for Improved Initiative is a good deal.
Conjurer variants: Enhanced Summoning is Scribe Scroll for Augment Summoning. For a conjurer - who will do at least a little summoning - this is a good choice. Rapid Summoning - this would be good except you already took Abrupt Jaunt. Rapid Summoning is more for the dedicated summoner anyways - that's not you.
Transmuter variants: Spell Versatility - this is good - especially for focused specialists. Transmutable Memory - This is phenomenal cosmic power right here. However, the price is very high. Consider carefully.
Spontaneous Divination: I always want to take this - but there's always something else I want to do with my level 5 bonus feat - and by level 10 I'm PrC'ing. It looks darned good though.
Granted Domain Power: This is one of those things I often end up doing with my level 5 feat. Why settle for a bonus feat when you can do so many other things. Some domains grant class skills (which can be good for PrC requirements), some domains grant bonuses to certain spells or spell types (Inquisition, Evil, Good etc), and hey - some grant bonus feats - but not restricted to just metamagic.
Other Stuff: Nothing else grabs me as overly important for GOD.
GOD created stinky FEAT:
("Stop Treantmonk!!! - our ribs are breaking from the laughter")Your Options:
Flaws: If your DM allows you to take a flaw, take one. If he allows you to take 5, take 5. These are always worth it – and naive DM’s still think they are “well-balanced”.
The Metamagic focused Route: Take Arcane Thesis on at least one spell you plan to cast a lot and take a bunch of metamagic feats to apply to it. (For example - Arcane Thesis (Enervation), Split Ray, Twin Spell, Empower Spell, Maximize spell pretty much effectively debuffs anything). This route is practically made for Incantatrix's and Ultimate Magi. Does pigeonhole you a lot though - and is feat intensive.
The School focused Route: I like this option better, and therefore it is the option you should take. Take feats that apply to your specialized school, and maybe one or two metamagic feats to go with Metamagic School Focus. This option works especially well with Focused Specialists.
The "I want my familiar to be GOD too" route: It's amazing how many feats you can take that make your familiar better. Take them all and your familiar will be better than you. The question is whether it's because your familiar is so great, or because you aren't. Dictum Mortuum loves familiars - check out his Familiar Handbook thread for more information (no kidding - I told you he has a handbook for everything)
The "I think Metamagic is better than it actually is" Route: This is an all too common route where the character ends up with a ton of metamagic it can't afford to apply to its spells. Mostly this is just a waste of a ton of feats. The thing to realize is that although Metamagic can be good - it also adds levels to your spell - and even mid level wizards will be casting primarily low level spells. Metamagic is good if you have a trick to make it cheaper - otherwise it's strictly an "OK" option.
The "I wish I could be a lower level than the rest of the party" route: This is also an all too common route based on craft skills. Hint: crafting charged items (Wands, Staves, Scrolls and Potions) is the best way to lose XP without a lasting benefit.
Here's my suggestions for the Routes I would actually consider taking:
The Metamagic Focused Route: (Or - the slightly inferior but not terrible route)
Arcane Thesis: The basis for this strategy. Apply it to spells that benefit greatly from metamagic and that you plan to cast ALOT. Ray spells are a good choice. If going this route - you should take this multiple times - on different level spells. You probably can't afford to take it more than 2-3 times though - or you won't have enough feats left for the metamagic.
Split Ray: Basically a twin spell for half the cost but applicable only to Rays. Rays tend to be the best Debuff spells - so this is a good way to go.
Empower Spell: Proven over and over to be a mechanically better choice than Maximize most of the time. +2 levels for +50% to random results.
Maximize Spell: Although considered inferior to Empower - when you're piling on the metamagic - it is a good secondary choice after empower.
Twin Spell: When all the above are added to a Ray, and then you twin - well - that's a lot of Debuff.
Heighten Spell: An unfortunate necessity since Globes of Invulnerability can be of great distress for this build
The School Focused Route: (Or - I don't just want to be GOD - I want to be an AWSOME GOD route)
The Focused Specialist Conjurer:
Cloudy Conjuration: The first feat you should take. With the "Adjacent to caster" option you can place it between you and your enemy for full concealment until your next turn. It can also be used as minor battlefield control, and a small debuff. Is activated for free every time you cast a conjuration spell (even a cantrip)
Spell Focus/Greater Spell Focus: Lots of Conjuration spells do not offer saves, but many of the best spells of the school do. +2 DC is nothing to sneeze at - it makes a tangible difference to the chance of the enemy to succeed on that saving throw. The cost of 2 feats for that +2 may be high though. +1 with Spell Focus is almost a no-brainer though. It will help you qualify for Archmage, Master Specialist as well.
Sculpt Spell: Turn your 10' square Grease spell into 4 10' squares, or a 20' spread - or a 40' Cone - for +1 level metamagic.
Metamagic School Focus: Use Sculpt Spell for free on 3 spells per day. Grease, Cloud of Bewilderment, and any of the Fog spells are good choices.
Acidic Splatter: Not a bad choice for a conjurer since they have so many acid spells. Not hugely effective - but something to use when you run out of spells. Of more use at low levels - consider retraining later on.
Summon Elemental: Not a bad utility feat. This thing is way to wimpy to be of significant use to you in combat - but can be used to spring traps, do some minor scouting (like find out what's on the other side of the wall), set fire to things if you are a pyromaniac, put out fires if someone else is a pyromaniac. Not a bad feat selection at all.
Improved Initiative: Lay down your Battlefield Control before the enemy goes, prevent being flat-footed when the enemy goes. This is just a good option - no matter what the naysayers say.
The Focused Specialist Transmuter:
Spell Focus/Greater Spell Focus: Good for the same reasons it's good for Conjurer's. Maybe even more so.
Toughening Transmutation: This is very good at low levels - at higher levels you need another form of DR to "stack" this with. Preferably a X/- DR. Otherwise the x/magic will render it pretty useless.
Extend Spell: Lots of transmutation spells have long durations, and it's especially sweet to make long lasting spells last especially long with this Metamagic Feat. Note that Extend Spell makes the Rope Trick - trick useful a great deal earlier.
Metamagic School Focus: Pick three transmutation spells on your list and extend them for free. How about 3 hr/level spells? (Rope Trick, Greater Magic Weapon and Overland Flight come to mind immediately)
Improved Initiative: Good for the same reason it's good for the Conjurer. Maybe slightly less so.
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?
Other Feats that GOD will enjoy:
Minor Shapeshift: Basically you add your HD in temporary HP every round as a swift action. Later on you will be using Swift Actions for other things quite often - but this is still pretty sweet. You can choose some other options - but nothing as good as the HP.
Alacritous Cogitation: Basically spontaneous casting on one spell slot. When you consider the spells that you can potentially have in your spell book - this puts Sorcerer spontaneous casting to shame. I never have room for this feat - but someday...
Arcane Disciple: Add some non-wizard spells to your list. This isn't quite as good as it sounds since the spells are cast off of Wisdom. However - by adding the spells to your list, you also allow yourself the ability to use spell trigger items for that spell - even if your Wisdom sucks.
Knowledge Devotion: This isn't quite as good for Wizards as it is for Archivists - but the + to hit is good for Ray spells, the + to damage... - well, the + to hit is decent anyways.
Insightful Reflexes: If you ended up Dumping Dex - then your Ref Save is worse than bad. Ref is also the save most useful for avoiding HP damage (and you are squishy). This will help quite a bit in that regard.
Spell Penetration/Greater Spell Penetration: Lots of creatures have SR - and as you go up in levels - they become the norm. You just can't have enough Assay Spell Resistance spells for all of them. Spell Penetration is pretty much a must. GSP is a nice to have.
Craft Contingency Spell: No pesky “one at a time” limitation contingency. Contingency is one of those spells you feel a little bad about losing along with evocation. Just take this feat instead. Use it with 1st level spells (Hello Benign Transposition) for cheap contingencies.
There are lots of other good feats out there - but you MUST be out of choices by now anyways.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Spells and GOD - phenomenal cosmic power:
Save Or Die - Not as good as you've been told:
[sblock]
Yes, Save or Die is powerful - however, it is overrated. This is why:
Lots of enemies: You take down one and do little else to help your Big Stupid Fighter and Glass Cannon. You spent a high level spell doing so. Congratulations - you've been demoted from God to Glass Cannon. Ouch!
One Big Enemy: You either do nothing or everything. The Big Stupid Fighter and Glass Cannon are either in lots of trouble or are feeling useless. This is like the chess player who is addicted to using his queen - ends up losing it, and then sucks for the rest of the game. Use your lesser pieces (That's the big stupid fighter and the glass cannon - your peons) to your advantage - let them do the dirty work - your job is to make it easy for them, not to take their place. Try to take their place your spells will run out fast.
By Yourself: Now in this rare circumstance - save or dies are actually quite good. However - avoid this situation like the plague. If there is no Big Stupid Fighter, then YOU are the Big Stupid Fighter, except you aren't Big, and you're not a fighter (but you are stupid if you had any chance to avoid this ugly situation).[/sblock]
Treantmonk's Guide to Conjuration Spells: God's Tools
CantripN's guide to Transmuation spells
Tsuyoshi's Guide to Divination: God's Eyes
Treantmonk's Guide to Abjuration: God's Tools
Treantmonk's Guide to Evocation: God's Tools
Treantmonk's Guide to Necromancy: God's Tools
Treantmonk's Guide to Enchantment: God's Tools
Treantmonk's Guide to Illusion: God's Tools
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Prestige Classes for GOD - when just being GOD isn't good enough:
* Decent Choice
** Good Choice
*** Great Choice
DMG PrC’s:
Archmage ***: This is a great choice for a specialist or focused specialist since you already have Spell Focus (or should) for your chosen school. It will take you a whole one level of Master Specialist (see Complete Mage PrC’s) to get the Skill Focus (Spellcraft), so you only need Spell Focus in one more school to qualify.
Archmage is not a PrC you need to take all 5 levels of – but it certainly is a decent choice for 5 levels. Here’s a breakdown of the High Arcana abilities:
Arcane Fire: Skip this garbage. Yuck.
Arcane Reach: This is normally +2 level metamagic. Take it once – twice probably isn’t worth it.
Mastery of Counterspelling: I hate counterspelling – have them counterspell you.
Mastery of Elements: Unlike Energy Substitution metamagic – you can switch energy to sonic. Very few creatures are immune to sonic. This actually makes Acid Fog a decent spell. This is a good choice – but not a must have.
Mastery of Shaping: Must have. If you go Archmage and don’t take this – I will be very disappointed in you. This will have the appropriate holes/hallways in your solid fog spells – which makes me in love with this ability.
Spell Power: Adds CL to your spells. This is decent (also helps with Spell Penetration) – but not necessarily huge.
Spell Like Ability: A good choice for 9th level spells that you cast often. That’s it.
Basically – for 5 levels of Archmage I would suggest (in this order) Mastery of Shaping, Arcane Reach, Mastery of Elements, Spell Like Ability (shapechange or time stop), Spell Power
Also – use “specialist” slots to power the high arcane – never give up generalist slots.
Loremaster *: You need one useless feat for entrance and can get as much as 5 secrets in 10 levels - one of which replaces said useless feat. The other secrets are OK but not great.
Complete Arcane:
Fatespinner **: Levels 1-4 are great and easy to qualify for. Level 5 isn’t worth it. The abilities are all limited in use – but still, you are basically “The Fortune’s Friend” without the lost caster levels.
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil *: Yes – I acknowledge the abilities of this PrC are impressive, however, it is a pain to qualify for (SF and GSF abjuration??? WTF?) It also requires extensive level investment to pay off. It is a good choice – but it already gets too much love on these boards and there are lots of other great options for GOD.
Mage of the Arcane Order ***: Tired of being told that Focused Specialists lack spell versatility? Very well, take 7 levels of this and sacrifice “specialist” slots for casting spellpool spells. Problem solved. I’m in love with this PrC due to spellpool being so incredibly versatile and wonderful. One crappy feat required for entrance.
Wayfairer guide *: For a conjurer this is a very easy one level dip for some moderate teleportation bonuses with no drawback.
Complete Divine:
Sacred Exorcist *: Level one gives Turn Undead (yeah – you can’t use DMM, but there are a million divine feats out there that are now of use to you. (Divine Vigor, Glorious weapons). The second level gives detect evil at will if that is of interest to you.
Complete Mage:
Master Specialist **: Specialists should qualify automatically by level 4. However – waiting until level 6 to enter is wise (to take advantage of Granted Domain power or other 5th level granted alternate class features for wizard). You can use this PrC to get Greater Spell Focus as a bonus feat at level 3. The Skill Focus (Spellcraft) will help you qualify for Archmage. This PrC is a great 3 level dip – or in the case of Conjurers – decent for 10 levels (the 10th level ability is really good for Conjurers – if you can wait out all 10 levels).
Ultimate Magus *: This one is for the Metamagic Focused Route only – and even then consider the loss of caster levels. However – it is certainly worth consideration if you are going that route. If you do decide to go Ultimate Magus – use Beguiler as your other class. The skills rock, it gets as many castings as a sorcerer, and it uses INT as its primary stat. Don’t worry if you aren’t a fan of the spell list – the majority of your spell slots will go to power metamagic anyways.
Complete Scoundrel:
Malconvoker: ( 
can't rate this) Well – I love this PrC, but it’s not for GOD, it’s for Wizards who want to create Big Stupid Fighters. Deserved special mention anyways. The level 5 power is basically free twin on summon monster spells.
Complete Champion:
Paragnostic Apostle **: Easy, easy qualifier. Nepence once said to me that the first time he saw this PrC he vowed “To come back and check it every time I make a caster to see what it could add.” (I’m paraphrasing from memory). Nepence is a smart guy. This is an easy dip – go for one level or all 5 – either way it’s good. Knowledge is power abilities to consider:
Accurate Retort: +1 to hit with Ray Spells against creatures with NA. So basically +1 to hit. Not bad.
Backhanded Attack: OK – but very specific in use. If you love orb spells – this is worth considering
Call of Worlds: Decent for summoners – for you – not so much.
Discern Weakness: Take only in campaigns where you fight a lot of one type of creature
Divine Understanding: Skip me.
Energy Supremacy: Yawn. Might be OK for blasters – but not GOD.
Manifest Ethos: Great for blasters – for GOD, well, not terrible anyways.
Mind over body: Yawn
Mind over Matter: Take this. Greater Mage armor now gives the protection of full plate. (Preplan for the skill requirement – Knowledge (architecture) is not normally taken)
Mortal Coil: Yawn
Noble Presence: Yawn
Penetrating Insight: +1 spell penetration that stacks with spell penetration. Good choice.
See through the veil: Yuck
Spatial Awareness: Decent choice
If you go all 5 levels – I would suggest (in order): Mind over matter, Penetrating Insight, Spatial awareness, Manifest Ethos, Accurate Retort.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Building GOD:
The Focused Specialist Conjurer Battlefield Controller: - The Versatility specialist
This build is a Focused Specialist that will have lost little versatility over a generalist while gaining all those extra spell memorizations:
Stats: See my 22 point build suggestions. Increase INT for levels 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20.
Race: Strongheart Halfling (cheesy - but not as cheesy as a whisper gnome)
Alternate Class abilities: Level 1 (Fighter feats, Immediate magic). Level 5 (Domain granted power - Magic Domain - now you can use spell trigger items from any school)
Levels:
1: Conjurer (1)(Cloudy Conjuraton, Improved Initiative, Extend Spell)
2: Conjurer (2)
3: Conjurer (3)(Cooperative Spell)
4: Conjurer (4)
5: Conjurer (5)
6: Mage of the Arcane Order (1)(Metamagic School: Conjuration)
7: Mage of the Arcane Order (2)(Sculpt Spell)
8: Mage of the Arcane Order (3)
9: Mage of the Arcane Order (4)(Spell Focus: Conjuration)
10: Mage of the Arcane Order (5)
11: Mage of the Arcane Order (6)
12: Mage of the Arcane Order (7)(Augment Summoning)
13: Master Specialist (1) (Skill Focus: Spellcraft)
14: Master Specialist (2)
15: Master Specialist (3) (Rapid Spell, Spell focus - transmutation)
16: Archmage (1) Mastery of Shaping
17: Archmage (2) Spell Like Ability: Timestop
18: Archmage (3) Arcane Reach (Spell Penetration)
19: Archmage (4) Mastery of Elements
20: Archmage (5) Spell Power
What this build has going for it:
It's save DC's for Conjuration spells will be very high. It will have lots of castings per day - and can switch out conjuration spells for spellpool spells from non-conjuration schools.
It can also use spell trigger items from any school of magic due to the "Magic Domain" granted power.
The Focused Specialist Transmuter Buffer/Debuffer: - The DC specialist
This build focuses less on maintaining versatility and jumps right into a Buffing/Debuffing specialty. This build is made so DC's will be high - but has lots of Buffing spells to fall back on when the opponent has ridiculous saves or SR. In most combats he should start with a buff (maybe a haste) and then start debuffing come round 2.
Alternate class abilities: Focused Specialist (Transmuter), Fighter feats, Domain Granted Ability (level 5)
Race: Grey Elf
Stats (32 point buy): Int 20 (16 points), Con 12 (6 points), Dex 16 (6 points), Cha 12 (4 points)
1: Transmuter 1(Spell Focus: Transmuation, Improved Initiative)
2: Transmuter 2
3: Transmuter 3 (Spell Penetration)
4: Transmuter 4
5: Trasmuter 5 (Family Domain)
6: Master Specialist 1 (Toughening Transmutation, Skill focus: Spellcraft)
7: Master Specialist 2
8: Fatespinner 1
9: Fatespinner 2 (Minor Shapeshift)
10: Fatespinner 3
11: Fatespinner 4
12: Sacred Exorcist 1 (Divine Ward – Glorious Weapons)
13: Master Specialist 4 (Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation)
14: Paragnostic Apostle 1
15: Paragnostic Apostle 2 (Spell Focus: Conjuration)
16: Archmage 1
17: Archmage 2
18: Archmage 3 (Greater Spell Penetration)
19: Archmage 4
20: Archmage 5
This God uses Slow and Call of Stone as high DC debuffs while using Haste or Mass Snake's swiftness to basically give their own party 10:1 attack ratio (or therabouts - maybe not quite that much
Advantage of this build: This build will rely more on buffing than the previous Conjuration build. As such the Divine Ward feat will be of exceptional advantage – allowing allies to be targeted with touch spells at range. Later on – Archmage will allow basically the same thing – at which point you will want to retrain your Divine Ward feat for Glorious Weapons (basically mass align weapon).
The domain granted power will give a nice party-buff of +4 Dodge to AC to all allies around you as a free-action 1/day. This keeps the BSF's where they should be - around you as a shield.
The slightly higher CHA is to optimize the eventual Turning ability granted through Sacred Exorcist so it is usable more times/day.
Enemies will have a difficult time with the Tranmuter’s debuffs when the saving throw is altered through Fatespinner (and even worse when they make their save and the Transmuter forces a reroll). The increased initial INT score through the racial choice will also make DC's higher.
This character will focus on Haste or Snake’s Swiftness along with Polymorph for Buffing – the 3 free extends can be used for Greater Magic Weapons, Rope Trick (at low levels), or Overland Flights.
The Focused Specialist Necromancer/Ultimate Magus Ultra-Debuffer: coming soon (or at least eventually)
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Magic Items:
Wands:
Here's the straight goods on wands - generally - they aren't great. You are stuck with a lousy caster level, they're charged, and if you want a decent level spell they are hideously expensive.
The requirements of a good wand are as follows: Level 1 spell, Level 1 caster level, Spell gives no saving throw, doesn't grant Spell Resistance, and the spell is useful enough to use often despite the requirements. Then you are talking about a wand that is cheap (750 gp) and good. For those who like math - that's 25gp per charge.
Pretty restricted stuff - but not impossible - here's some examples of wands that are actually a good deal. You might want these as a wand instead of having them in your spellbook.
Benign Transposition: No save 1st level spell that you will have use for on multiple occassions. The wand restricts your range somewhat - but is well worth 750 gp.
Protection from X: An excellent wand - keep it for when you travel the Abyss or somewhere else where outsiders will have dominate person as a SLA at will.
Silent Image: Useful utility wand. I use mine if I run out of Wall of Stone spells. It does grant a save - the idea is to use it when the opponent is not likely to try to save.
Enlarge Person: A buff spell that should last through the combat.
True Strike: Grant yourself a +20 to hit next attack. Can be useful at low-mid levels for Ray spells you don't want to miss.
True Casting (CM): Grant yourself a +10 on your next spell penetration roll. It's a standard action - but a half-decent substitute for Assay Spell Resistance.
Get the idea?
(Note: There are a million-and-one ways to optimize wand use and to waste charges on Wands at a truly astonishing rate. The Rod of Many Wands, Metamagic Wand Grips, Dual Wand Caster are a few things that come to mind. If you really like charged items - and love depleting charged items as fast as possible - you are reading the wrong thread. In fact, Dictum Mortuum has a handbook for wand users that will give you all the methods to spend your money faster than you could ever hope to recover it - no kidding!)
Scrolls:
I hate scrolls - they are a one-shot item which (with my miserly ways) means I'll be too cheap to ever use any I have. They just sit there - declining in value to me as I level - makes me boil to think about it.
Also - a scroll for a spell you might cast only once in a blue moon is also often worth the dough.
Here's some examples of spells that make good scrolls:
Corpse Candle: You won't use it often - but sometimes you will really need it
Ethereal Jaunt: Again - a once in awhile useful spell
Get the idea?
Staves:
Staves are very powerful - they are also ridiculously expensive and charged. The more spells your staff has - the worse the deal is (since extra spells add to the value of a staff but not to the charges). Generally - I don't recommend staves unless it is a spell you cast very inconsistantly (you might cast it 4 times one day - 0 the next. The kind of spell you either need or is useless). In that case - have the staff specially made - with just that spell on it. Never get a staff with less than a 4th level spell (5th is better) - or you are paying for caster levels that you didn't need.
It's pretty restrictive - but here's a staff I would consider at high level:
Teleport: Spell I use often - but not everday. I always hate the slot this takes up on the memorization list - because when I need it - I NEED IT, but somedays I'll need it more than once, others I won't need it at all.
Potions:
Repeat after me: "Potions suck"
Rings:
Tend to be horribly overpriced. The ring of sustenance does not do what you may have heard. For a ring to be worth it - it either needs to be a minor effect (so not super-expensive) or a stupendous one.
Rings to consider:
Feather Fall: I like to use Phantom Steed as a long-duration super-fast fly spell at mid-high levels (Mid because you can get your CL boosted with other means than just levels). If you do this - this ring is a good investment - trust me.
Invisibility: Super expensive - but worth it once you can afford it.
Ring of Enduring Arcana: Not too expensive (6,000) and your spells are 20% harder to dispel.
Spellguard Rings: Tend to be of more use in groups where there are is one primary Big Stupid Fighter. In that case - very worthwhile. Cloudkill away!!!
Miscellaneous Items:
I love items that I can use over and over (I'm sure you've figured that out.) Here's some gems to consider:
(Note: I don't have MiC and I'm not getting it now with 4.0 just around the corner. Use these examples of a guide for how to pick the right magic item for your wizard when you look through the MiC)
Pearls of Power: These are EXPENSIVE - hey wait - 1st level pearls of power are cheap! Worthy to pick up a few 1st level pearls so you can keep casting and casting and casting.
Headband of Intellect: Get this ASAP - then upgrade it whenever you can afford to do so. It will grant you some extra spell castings and raise your DC on spells. (Later on - the Tome of Clear thought as well naturally)
Amulet of Health: Less important than the INT bonus - but being a little tougher doesn't hurt.
Cloak of Resistance: Good for any character - you too. +1 is cheap.
Heward's Handy Haversack: Also a must for any character - especially one with a variety of wands, scrolls and wands!
Heward's Fortifying bedroll: Super cheap - super good.
Armor and Shields:
It's expensive, but you can get armor and shield (bucklers) that have 0% arcane spell failure. You can then enhance them to give yourself a great AC. Personally - I tend to concentrate on the defensive spells - but Dictum Mortuum analyzes this option in his wizard's thread (see my link at the beginning of post)
Rods:
I love Rods as a way to get metamagic without wasting all my feats. I especially love the lesser varieties as I am cheap (as if you couldn't tell). Preplan though, when you pick a metamagic rod make sure you've already answered this question: "Which spell will I use this rod on?"
Extend, Lesser: Great for your all-day buffs (Mage armor, Greater Mage Armor, Create Magic Tattoo), Great for all-day utility (Rope Trick). One is great - two might even be worthwhile.
Enlarge, Lesser: Cheap way for double range. Definitely not worth taking the feat - but as a Rod - this could definitely be worth it based on circumstance. Keep it in your Haversack for Move Action readiness.
Silent, Lesser: Save for a rainy day (by rainy day I mean for when you have silence cast on you or you need to be vewy-vewy qwiet)
Quicken, Lesser: Painfully expensive but extremely powerful. You've spent all this investment on getting lots of spell memorizations - now find ways to burn them all off as fast as you can! This is not a rod to rush into - but pick it up at high levels instead.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Filling your memorization slots:
Despite what you may have read elsewhere - wizards do not have every spell they need whenever they need it. The goal of building your Wizard with Focused Specialist and Maxing out Int is to have as many as possible.
The next trick is to have the right spells in your slots. You can keep open slots which you can fill later in the day if you want - that comes down to personal play style. I tend to fill all my slots right away so they can be cast on a moments notice.
I'll give some examples of memorizations for a the Versitile Caster/Focused Specialist conjurer example above. I'll use a few different levels (5th, 10th, 15th) to give perspective.
5th level: Slots: 0: 6, 1: 7, 2: 5, 3: 4
0: Caltropsx3, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand
1: Mage Armor, Wall of Smoke, Grease x2, Expeditious Retreat (swift), Targeting Ray, Silent Image
2: Web, Glitterdust, Cloud of Bewilderment, Rope Trick, Invisibility
3: Stinking Cloud, Glitterdust (Sculpt spell meta), Bands of Steel, Haste
Recommended Magic Items: Rod of Extend (lesser), Wand of Benign Transposition, Cloak of Resistance (+1), Headband of Intellect (Totals 8750gp) (The Rod is probably your first priority here - the Cloak of Resistance is the most expendable)
Recommended Strategy: You aren't high enough level to just blow all your spells yet. Start each battle with one of your 3rd level memorizations and then assess your situation. If it should be easy going from here on, then cast down some caltrops and make use of your cloudy conjuration feat for minor battlefield control. If things are tough - go into 2nd and 1st level spells in following rounds. Keep at least 1 Glitterdust or Cloud of Bewilderment in reserve in case there are more combats than you expected.
10th Level: Memorizations: 0: 6, 1: 8, 2: 8, 3: 7, 4: 6, 5: 5
0: As level 5 example
1: Mage Armor, Wall of Smoke, Grease, Expeditious Retreat (swift), Targeting Ray, Silent Image, Blockade x2
2: Web, Glitterdust x2 (sculpt meta for free on both), Cloud of Bewilderment, Rope Trick, Invisibility, Create Magic Tattoo, Fog Cloud
3: Bands of Steel, Haste x2, Corpse Candle, Stinking Cloud, Dimension step, Mage Armor (greater)
4: Dimension Door, Solid Fog, Bloodstar, Wall of Sand, Assay Spell Resistance, Celerity
5: Teleport, Cloudkill, Wall of Stone, Overland Flight (extend for free), Wall of Good
Recommended magic items: Rod of extend (lesser), Headband of Intellect (+4), Pearls of power - level 1 (x 5), Rod of silent spell (lesser), Heward's handy haversack, Heward's fortifying bedroll, Amulet of health (+2), Cloak of Resistance (+2), Wand of True Casting (Total gp value: 39,750 - leaves some extra room for incedentals)
Recommended strategy: You now have a lot more spells. Use your rod of extend on your greater mage armor and your Create Magic Tattoo at the beginning of the day.
Cast blockades or swift expeditious whenever they're helpful and recover them with pearls of power. Start battles with a 4th or 5th level spell. Follow it up with 1st or 2nd level spells in following rounds. Use cloudy conjuration for defense (place in front of you). You stillcan't just waste spells or you will still run out - but you can nova at need without completely draining yourself.
You also have spellpool to swap out spells as required. Use it.
15th Level: Memorizations: 0: 6, 1: 8, 2: 8, 3: 8, 4: 8, 5: 8, 6: 6, 7: 5, 8: 4
0: As level 5 example
1: Wall of Smoke, Grease, Expeditious Retreat (swift)x2, Targeting Ray, Silent Image, Blockade x2
2: Web, Glitterdust x2 (sculpt meta on both for free), Cloud of Bewilderment, Rope Trick, Invisibility, Create Magic Tattoo, Fog Cloud
3: Haste x2, Corpse Candle, Stinking Cloud, Dimension step, Mage Armor (greater), Phantom Steed x2
4: Dimension Door, Solid Fog, Bloodstar, Wall of Sand, Assay Spell Resistance x2, Celerity x2
5: Teleport, Cloudkill, Wall of Stone, Wall of Good, Friend to Foe, Evacuation Rune, Shadow Evocation (sculpt for free), Transmute Rock to Mud
6: Freezing Fog x2, Tunnel Swallow, True Seeing, Antimagic Field, Dispel Magic (Greater)
7: Stun Ray (Extend for free), Choking Cobwebs (CS) (Sculpt Spell for free), Summon Monster VII, Brilliant Aura, Reverse Gravity
8: Maze, Plane Shift (Greater), Deadly Lahar (CS - huge cone slow effect), Chain Dispel
Recommended magic items: Ring of Feather Fall, Ring of Enduring Arcana, Headband of Intellect (+6), Amulet of health (+4), Metamagic Rod of Quicken (lesser), Metamagic Rod of Extend (lesser), Metamagic rod of Silent Spell (lesser), Heward's handy haversack, Heward's fortifying bedroll, and treat yourself to a nice metamagic rod as well. Should have lots left over for whatever else you like.
Recommended strategy: You are now flying at 240' on your phantom steed all day. The second is in case the first goes down. There are more spells on the list that simply enhance other spells (Celerity, Assay spell resistance) - since you can now afford more castings of these type of spells. There are lots of Battlefield controls, Buffs and Debuffs on the list. Use mid level spells for most battles - plus you can afford a high level spell for every battle with some left for reserve.
Originally posted by radicaltaoist:
I see missing from this:
Pyrotechnics: hey guys, who wants Stinking Cloud or mass Blindness at level 3?
Sleet Storm: Darkness + Grease
Spell Turning: To mock other gods
The full range of shadow spells from Shadow Conjuration to Shades: Come now, let people know how vast the ownage is.
Defenestrating Sphere: This is arguably the best evocation in CA!
Gust of Wind: No, I'm not on crack. This is a great metaspell. Every time the enemy thinks he's gotten out of your Pyrotechnic choking smoke/Stinking Cloud/Cloudkill/Freezing Fog, shove it back on him with a lowly 1st level spell slot.
Finally, you can summon outsiders who can heal too. Check the puppies with clerical casting.
Originally posted by CantripN:
PrCs and class options worth mention:
Changeling Wizard sub. level 1 - More spells!
Elf Wizard sub. level 1 - More spells!
Recaster - new spells and free metamagic.
Wyrm Wizard - weaker version of the above.
Spells worth mention:
Invoke Magic (LoM) - AMF? Meh.
Greater Fireburst (SpC) - Damage, the good version.
Darklight (SpC) - Darkness, the real kind.
Field of Resistance (CM) - SR for the whole party!
Heart of Water (CM) - Freedom of Movement for Wizards!
Heart of Earth (CM) - Stoneskin for free!
Wall of Force - Pure awesome.
Nerveskitter - ...
Greater Dimension Door - What's not to like?
Improved Blink - Again, why not take this?
Telekinesis - Good combat maneuvers, and Ghosts are helpless before your might!
Originally posted by archerpwr:
Treant, you've got style. I'll add something useful on the morn. Excellent spell analysis BTW.
Originally posted by chando:
Good reading, a well-rounded handbook.
but I have to point one error:
Loremaster **: You need one useless feat for entrance and can get as much as 5 bonus feats in 10 levels – that’s a great deal. Now you need to be a bit of a metamagic hog to qualify as well – but if you are – the bonus feats are even better. Want to use your secret for something besides a bonus feat? What’s wrong with you?
You can only take a secret once with the loremaster. So, only one feat for you (that just compensate de loss of a feat on skill focus, so its like skill focus for free). That said, the list of secrets you should choose should be something like: Feat, bonus reflexes, bonus fort, and then really any two depending on preference. Ray users want +1 to hit, you want will bonus if you dump too much Wis, or instant mastery for a few skill points.And one great thing with this class is that you have UMD as a class skill(and its core). Now your familiar (that have the same ranks that you have, and maybe better CHA
) can use all wands of web or other things you find it or cast spells from scrools you'd make, and will be just as having these spells quickned (whitout losing a swfit action, so, you can have one quickned too, or a swfit spell). Yeah babe, you are a god with a lesser god or a demi-power at your side.but really, a great handbook.
now I need sleep.
Originally posted by kids:
All the GOD references made me laugh
Good job!Originally posted by Dictum_Mortuum:
very nice treantmonk ^^
it's nice to see more people interested in wizards.
Originally posted by soluphobe:
^^^^
Agreed. But I didn't see any jokes commenting on the fact that, if you play this type of character, the CoDzillas will worship you. That's my only complaint.
Originally posted by tshern:
Well-written and a nice idea in general, too! However, I think you've made a minor mistake. Doesn't it take 10 points to increase your dexterity to 16 from 8? That is in the part describing 32-point buy.
Edit: How about adding Maw of Chaos to the list of Abjuration spells. Combined with a Time stop or something that prevents enemies from moving makes it a sad, sad spell.
Originally posted by jolkuna:
I find it somewhat interesting that you put Gish into glass cannons.. Depends of the gish I guess (and level of game). Otherwise very nice and lively guide to being a... god!
Originally posted by tshern:
I find it somewhat interesting that you put Gish into glass cannons.. Depends of the gish I guess (and level of game). Otherwise very nice and lively guide to being a... god!
Considering the HD I think it's pretty justified, especially without Abjurant Champion.Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
^^^ I agree that a Gish can get his AC pretty high, but the HP are always lower than a dedicated Big Stupid Fighter.
Also - a Gish's AC is largely dependant on spells - and therefore is fleeting.
The Gish in my experience tends to fill the Glass Cannon role moreoften than the Big Stupid Fighter role irregardless of AC. There are exceptions to every rule - but this is opinion-based as I mentioned at the beginning.
To me the quintessential Big Stupid Fighter is the Knight. A big meat-sack of HP and AC who actually has class abilities aimed at making the opponents attack him.
God loves his Big Stupid Fighter knight!
Originally posted by cannibalsmith:
Good reading. Even for non-wizards. You can't have too many reminders that battlefield control, buff, and debuff are the name of the game.
Originally posted by tshern:
I once played a gish, which was just jumping around hitting enemies for a relatively small damage (low-level) and being utterly unhittable while Jolkuna's charger killed everyone one by one. Good times. That was a good example case for this, I had high AC, but quite low hit points and vice versa.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
PrCs and class options worth mention:
Elf Wizard sub. level 1 - More spells!
Recaster - new spells and free metamagic.
Changeling Wizard sub. level 1 - More spells!
Wyrm Wizard - weaker version of the above.
I'll agree with the "weaker" part. Not a fan personally. If I give up caster levels - I better get HUGE returns.Spells worth mention:
Invoke Magic (LoM) - AMF? Meh.
Greater Fireburst (SpC) - Damage, the good version.
Darklight (SpC) - Darkness, the real kind.
Field of Resistance (CM) - SR for the whole party!
Heart of Water (CM) - Freedom of Movement for Wizards!
Heart of Earth (CM) - Stoneskin for free!
Wall of Force - Pure awesome.
Nerveskitter - ...
Greater Dimension Door - What's not to like?
Improved Blink - Again, why not take this?
Telekinesis - Good combat maneuvers, and Ghosts are helpless before your might!
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
I see missing from this:Pyrotechnics: hey guys, who wants Stinking Cloud or mass Blindness at level 3?
Sleet Storm: Darkness + Grease
Spell Turning: To mock other gods
The full range of shadow spells from Shadow Conjuration to Shades: Come now, let people know how vast the ownage is.
Defenestrating Sphere: This is arguably the best evocation in CA!
Gust of Wind: No, I'm not on crack. This is a great metaspell. Every time the enemy thinks he's gotten out of your Pyrotechnic choking smoke/Stinking Cloud/Cloudkill/Freezing Fog, shove it back on him with a lowly 1st level spell slot.
Finally, you can summon outsiders who can heal too. Check the puppies with clerical casting.
I've done an EXTENSIVE analysis of Summon Monster on my Malconvoker thread already - not going to be redundant.I don't know if you are on crack or not - but Gust of Wind doesn't move Fog spells - it disperses them. Also - Gust of wind eminates from you - so even if you could move the clouds - the direction would likely be the opposite of the way you would want them to move.
Otherwise - I pretty much stuck to spells I have experience with so can give first hand testimonial of them being good or overrated.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
^^^^Agreed. But I didn't see any jokes commenting on the fact that, if you play this type of character, the CoDzillas will worship you. That's my only complaint.
CoDzilla's dump INT, which means they are so stupid they think that they are Gods. It's quite sad really, but be nice to them anyways. God should be a benevolent God to the Big Stupid Fighter, and CoDzilla makes a pretty good Big Stupid Fighter.Heck, a Druid with Animal Growth can become a Really Big, Really Stupid fighter - and God likes that even better (attracts even more enemy attacks)
ADDED: My take on Save or Dies (overrated very badly) at the beginning of the Spell section.
Originally posted by CantripN:
Ehm... I've been playing Wizards for years... Are you sure Scrolls use your CL? As far as I recall, they use the one they were made at; Only Staves have that fancy CL clause.
Originally posted by Dictum_Mortuum:
Ehm... I've been playing Wizards for years... Are you sure Scrolls use your CL? As far as I recall, they use the one they were made at; Only Staves have that fancy CL clause.
i think CantripN is right.Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
My mistake - did I mention I hate scrolls???
And now I know that they are EVEN WORSE than I thought. Yuck!
As I mentioned - I never use them - though I occassionally own them. There's a reason I always swap out Scribe Scroll!
In my defense Dictum, you don't have a scroll casters handbook for me to learn these things. You better get on it
Originally posted by archerpwr:
My mistake - did I mention I hate scrolls???And now I know that they are EVEN WORSE than I thought. Yuck!
As I mentioned - I never use them - though I occassionally own them. There's a reason I always swap out Scribe Scroll!
In my defense Dictum, you don't have a scroll casters handbook for me to learn these things. You better get on it
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
I look at it this way:
Scribing a 1st level scroll is dirt cheap. 25gp and 1xp right? That's nothing.
Lets consider you use it A LOT for a second - so you are say, using 10 scrolls per session (probably more than you will actually use). Lets say this is a 20 session campaign.
So you've given your Wizard 10 1st level scrolls per session for 20 sessions - 200 scrolls.
The total cost? 5000gp. That's nothing. The total XP cost - 200xp - hardly measurable.
OK now lets consider that same wizard without scribe scroll. This said wizard will still use scrolls like water (just as much as the wizard with the feat)
The total cost? 10,000 gp. No xp cost. Can switch scribe scroll for Improved Initiative at level 1.
So the benifit of keeping scribe scroll in this excercise?
- you save 5,000 gp over 20 levels of play.
The Benifit of switching scribe scroll in this excercise?
- you get +4 to every initiative roll over 20 levels of play.
- you save 200 xp.
I have to say, I'm not horribly convinced this is worth a feat.
Am I missing something?
(Now I admit in a campaign that restricts the sale of magic items - crafting feats may be much better. However, most campaigns don't have such restriction)
Originally posted by archerpwr:
I look at it this way:Scribing a 1st level scroll is dirt cheap. 25gp and 1xp right? That's nothing.
Lets consider you use it A LOT for a second - so you are say, using 10 scrolls per session (probably more than you will actually use). Lets say this is a 20 session campaign.
So you've given your Wizard 10 1st level scrolls per session for 20 sessions - 200 scrolls.
The total cost? 5000gp. That's nothing. The total XP cost - 200xp - hardly measurable.
OK now lets consider that same wizard without scribe scroll. This said wizard will still use scrolls like water (just as much as the wizard with the feat)
The total cost? 10,000 gp. No xp cost. Can switch scribe scroll for Improved Initiative at level 1.
So the benifit of keeping scribe scroll in this excercise?
- you save 5,000 gp over 20 levels of play.
The Benifit of switching scribe scroll in this excercise?
- you get +4 to every initiative roll over 20 levels of play.
- you save 200 xp.
I have to say, I'm not horribly convinced this is worth a feat.
Am I missing something?
(Now I admit in a campaign that restricts the sale of magic items - crafting feats may be much better. However, most campaigns don't have such restriction)
Well, at level 1 (not so much past that), you have so very few spells per day that scrolls are gunna be pretty mandatory to keep from resorting to the longsword. Good for dungeon crawls where you want to prepare sleep, but know you'll need identify later.Originally posted by Ed-Zero:
I have to say that once again Treant, you made a excellent handbook!
One item that I think would be possibly be useful is a ring of continuous prestidigitation. As many others put it, it's wish lite. Obviously it's only handy in non-combat situations but it's not like your gonna be actually lifting your hand to write something down right? Have the mug lift itself up to your lips, etc etc. Mostly it's for displaying your power above your peons.. err. I mean party.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
I have to say that once again Treant, you made a excellent handbook!One item that I think would be possibly be useful is a ring of continuous prestidigitation. As many others put it, it's wish lite. Obviously it's only handy in non-combat situations but it's not like your gonna be actually lifting your hand to write something down right? Have the mug lift itself up to your lips, etc etc. Mostly it's for displaying your power above your peons.. err. I mean party.
Hey Ed!Where do I find that ring?
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Well, at level 1 (not so much past that), you have so very few spells per day that scrolls are gunna be pretty mandatory to keep from resorting to the longsword. Good for dungeon crawls where you want to prepare sleep, but know you'll need identify later.
How many sessions are you level 1? Maybe 2.The first session you don't have any scrolls you've scribed - since you don't have that steep 1xp cost necessary.
The second session you could have a couple as long as you've made some money in the first session. Of course - once again you may have just been able to buy some at that point.
However - I agree that first level is tough.
Originally posted by archerpwr:
How many sessions are you level 1? Maybe 2.The first session you don't have any scrolls you've scribed - since you don't have that steep 1xp cost necessary.
The second session you could have a couple as long as you've made some money in the first session. Of course - once again you may have just been able to buy some at that point.
However - I agree that first level is tough.
3 typically. My DM favors long dungeon crawls.Originally posted by Omen_of_Peace:
Before you get Teleport, you can't always get the scrolls you want when you need them... Even with Teleport, you need to not be too far from civilization.
One of my current wizards - level 10 - has a Quill of Scribing (CM) to scribe for him during the night. Since the group is in the wilderness, I think it's going to be useful.
That said, it took me a long time to get to like Scribe Scroll.
Originally posted by tshern:
Hey Ed!Where do I find that ring?
Not sure of that, but continuous Mage hand can be acquired from an item called Hand of the Mage. 900gp, straigth out of DMG.Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Before you get Teleport, you can't always get the scrolls you want when you need them... Even with Teleport, you need to not be too far from civilization.One of my current wizards - level 10 - has a Quill of Scribing (CM) to scribe for him during the night. Since the group is in the wilderness, I think it's going to be useful.
That said, it took me a long time to get to like Scribe Scroll.
That's not really "get the scrolls you want when you need them"If you are scribing a scroll - that means the spell is in your spellbook - and if you are going to wait anyways - you could have just memorized the spell.
Still not convinced - sorry.
Not saying scribe scroll is useless - but I think it's a long way from being good - and nowhere near being great.
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Not sure of that, but continuous Mage hand can be acquired from an item called Hand of the Mage. 900gp, straigth out of DMG.
It's a cheap item - which is good.It replicates a 0 level spell you probably have memorized anyways - which isn't very good.
You lose a necklace slot to gain a ring slot - which is Tomayto-tomahto
Nothing that it does makes me all that excited.
Originally posted by cyrocloud:
Just wondering why force cage isn't one of the evocation spells worth memorizing?
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
Just wondering why force cage isn't one of the evocation spells worth memorizing?
Sure. Forcecage is a decent spell (which you would expect from a 7th level spell) - but it is far from my favorite:- 1,500 gp for every casting - did I mention I'm cheap?
- Size - Forcecage will have limited use against Big Nasty Critters because of them being big.
- Escapability - forcecage won't hold casters who can teleport.
Heck - a 1st level conjurer with Abrubt Jaunt can *yawn* escape a forcecage as an immediate action.
Finally - spells that trap foes are good - but there are lots of them - and most of them do not cost GP.
Originally posted by davidwl:
I see missing from this:
Pyrotechnics: hey guys, who wants Stinking Cloud or mass Blindness at level 3?
Sleet Storm: Darkness + Grease
Spell Turning: To mock other gods
The full range of shadow spells from Shadow Conjuration to Shades: Come now, let people know how vast the ownage is.
Defenestrating Sphere: This is arguably the best evocation in CA!
Also, treantmonk - nice guide. Some prestige classes worth including (or linking to):
Shadowcraft Mage
Hathran
Incantatrix
War Weaver
Anima Mage
I think Ultimate Magus is a bit better than you rated it if you have the right build.
Best,
David
Originally posted by Treantmonklvl20:
A nice list of spells that I didn't know about. Thanks.Also, treantmonk - nice guide. Some prestige classes worth including (or linking to):
Shadowcraft Mage
Hathran
Incantatrix
War Weaver
Anima Mage
I think Ultimate Magus is a bit better than you rated it if you have the right build.
Best,
David
The other PrC's I do not know well enough to comment - and I do not own the books they are in.
Originally posted by the_shaman:
Wow, quite deep. I'd also like to mention a spell that can substitute Dragonskin as a NA-based protection: Spiderskin from Underdark. Instead of energy resistance you get a bonus to hide (not very good) and saves vs poison (potentially very good) equal to the NA bonus.
Originally posted by Endarire:
Thank you, Treantmonk, for this guide! It's years late - and the WotC forums are about to close - but this rekindled my interest in playing D&D 3.5 (and playing Wizards in this edition). I saw this guide perhaps a year after you released it. I loved it. Thank you again, Treantmonk!
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