Buying guides for early PFS prestige point purchases?

[FurtiveZoog]

I was wondering about what would be good prestige point purchases early in a Pathfinder Society universalist wizard's career. Any suggestions, or has this been covered in another guide?

For clerics and others with CLW on the spell list (and possibly those with Use Magic Device), it seems a Wand of Cure Light Wounds is a pretty standard purchase. But what about other classes, and for clerics after the first two points? (Obviously, it would make sense to save some for later needs, but the purchases seem really useful at early levels.)

I was thinking of a Wand of Mage Armor and/or Shield (for its anti-magic missile effect) and a Wand of Magic Missile and/or Color Spray.

[Quodak]

It's a good idea to grab a Wand of Infernal Healing as a Wizard.

[Lamontius]

Archer characters can benefit from spending their first 2PP on a Masterwork Compound Bow, appropriate to their STR score.

[wakedown]

You probably won't see your Shield wand used to counter too many magic missiles in your career. A wand of Shield makes a lot of sense if you plan to wade into melee with a 2H weapon and are multi-classed in some way.

A wand of color spray also won't net you much mileage, as it will be a DC11 saving throw, and you probably won't fire it off 50 times in your career. You'd be more likely to use that wand maybe ~15 times if you really pushed yourself to use it, and then you're doing that at the expense of spells you're casting that have a higher chance to land on enemies because they will have a higher DC saving throw.

A wand of mage armor and a wand of magic missile are staples. I've seen wizards go through the entire 1st level magic missile wand by 5th level.

Ultimately with wands, you want spells without saving throws. You can likely wait until you hear that you are about to head into a desert or a cold mountaintop before you'd invest in a wand of Endure Elements. Your party might be thankful for that, but then again I'd be torn between just buying the scrolls or getting a wand for that.

Personally, I like to use 2pp to buy 750gp of scrolls, which would give you five 2nd level spells on a single scroll.

Good scrolls for even a 1st level wizard to pick up with 2pp include: glitterdust (x5), resist energy (x5), invisibility (x5), darkvision (x5). You could also probably make cases for spider climb (x5) or levitate (x5) to deal with environment hazards where climbing is risky for yourself or certain members of the party.

[Ghist]

For Fighter I would pick wand of Protection from Evil right after getting the CLW wand. Obviously I would hand this wand to someone in the party with instruction of zapping me with it if they think I might get dominated or after I start acting all weird.

[thistledown]

Wand of abundant ammunition is a good early wand. But really, I buy a clw and then sit on my prestige until I have enough for a res, then start buying things.

[BigNorseWolf]

Don't be a universalist. There's no reason to.

1) Buy the wand of CLW anyway. Even if you can't use it, you can hand it to a party member to get your own wounds patched up. I know I don't like having to burn 2pp every other sessions because other people can't cover their own healing, and if the pizza runs our i won;t.

2) A wand of shield is good (because caster level doesn't matter and the duration is effectively "1 fight" whether you're first or 20th level. for mage armor, I'd get a pearl of power for 1k and get the all day protection of casting your own.

3) Start saving for your death. You absolutely need 23 PP on hand for a body recovery and resurrection. You can try to get rid of the negative levels later.

4) A wand of magic missiles is pretty bad. 1d4+1 damage as a standard action means something has gone horribly wrong. This is what your X times per day spells are supposed to cover. The problem with color spray is that, as a wand, it has a DC of 11 (10+1st level spell + 1minimum int mod to cast the spell)

[FurtiveZoog]

BigNorseWolf, There are two reasons for my guy to be a universalist: 1) it's character-driven, and 2) I am not good at optimization/tactics/etc. :P (I'm seriously thinking about the scroll scholar archetype...)

Is a Wand of Bless worth it for a cleric (after CLW)? No saving throw, but only a small bump to each character.

[EvilMinion]

Lamontius wrote:

Archer characters can benefit from spending their first 2PP on a Masterwork Compound Bow, appropriate to their STR score.

Caveat: you can get up to a +3 str bonus composite longbow for 2pp... anything more then that is outside the price range.

Admittedly, most archer characters won't have an 18 str, so probably won't come up, but good to keep an eye on.

But, since a masterwork composite longbow (+3 str) costs 700 gp... and 2 PP allows for up to 750 gp... you have 50 to spare!

So if you're after a +3 str bonus, get a darkwood composite longbow (a 730 gp value)

Of if you're after +2 str bonus, you can go for the afore mentioned darkwood (though only a 650gp), or a greenwood composite longbow (for exactly 750 gp)

[7heprofessor]

Specifically for wands, I have burned every single charge of the following spells by 6th level:

Silent Image: duration is not level-based, just concentration. A first level wand will create five 10ft. x 10ft. cubes of whatever you can image. I liked to have the party stand up against a wall and then I would create an image of the wall over us so we were effectively Invisible! No save unless they interact with the wall either.

Summon Monster I: it's a crappy spell to use in combat, especially in a CL 1 wand, but it's an AWESOME way to spring traps and provide the (very) occasional flanking buddy for the BDF.

Protection from Evil: a +2 deflection bonus to AC, +2 resistance bonus to saves and inability to be touched by evil summoned creatures for one minute is pretty swish for a standard action. But the real seller is the immunity to Charms and Compulsions as that works against everyone, not just evil people.

In hindsight, I would have used the Infernal Healing wand up as well.

However, I don't think wands are necessarily the way to go. Wakedown recommended my preference: scrolls. Then, add 'em to your book and make your own (if possible). That's what being a wizard is all about: options!

Finally, what exactly is your character reason for be a universalist? The only penalty is two-slots to memorize spells from two schools...

[FurtiveZoog]

7heprofessor - I really don't have a good reason to be a universalist, as I was joking with BigNorseWolf. At this point, it is the easiest since I am not sure what I want/need to do beyond a bit of everything. So, ease and ignorance, at this point. (I've also only played very low level characters so far.)

I am also not sure about bonded object vs. familiar. A crow or thrush familiar has been useful as a scout, but the ability to cast any single spell in the spellbook is also pretty attractive. Perhaps something for another search or thread.

[MICHAEL DANNEMILLER]

On the infernal healing kick, be careful using it in S5 scenarios. In 2 of the 3 scenarios we were surrounded by paladins, who, if bothered, could detect evil and get ticked that you detected as such.

[XMorsX]

If you have no clue about how you will procede with your character, choose diviner specialization. This way you get awesome school powers and you can change the divination prepared spells with your prefered spells (prefered spell, two-feat chain, can take multiple times). This way you can do a bit of everything without missing the potent powers of your specialization school.

Familiar is generally better, especially if you take one with a +4 initiative bonus and you couple it with Improved Familiar feat later on. However if this is not the case and it is not your type to control another character in battle, a bonded ring will serve you well.

[rangerjeff]

Oh, Black Bragg, such the pessimist. Infernal Healing 1st 2pp for any wizard. And if a stick-up-the-butt Paladin has a problem with that, you're a wizard, set him straight, he's the BDF, you're God.

Mage Armor memorize so it's a once a day thing, especially with Extend Rod. Shield, Wand of MM, Prot E, all little things that you'll probably never want to spend an action on.

Eventually you'll want some of the 2pp potions like Fly and Gaseous Form, and 2pp will also get you a snapleaf. And yes, you'll also want to save up 21pp for raise dead and body collection. But as a wizard, it's always most tempting to grab scrolls.

[Raymond Lambert]

I don't believe in saving 16/21 pp for raise, recovery, level drain, whatever. At least not early on. Spend those points on equipment that will keep you alive and avoid death all together.

[BigNorseWolf]

Raymond Lambert wrote:

I don't believe in saving 16/21 pp for raise, recovery, level drain, whatever. At least not early on. Spend those points on equipment that will keep you alive and avoid death all together.

the problem there is that there's no piece of equipment that can save you from everything, including a double nat 20 axe to the head.

[BigNorseWolf]

FurtiveZoog wrote:

BigNorseWolf, There are two reasons for my guy to be a universalist: 1) it's character-driven,

Oh come on, change the concept or modify it VERY slightly.

Quote:

2) I am not good at optimization/tactics/etc. :P (I'm seriously thinking about the scroll scholar archetype...)

Optimization is the easiest thing to change, since you can ask people in between sessions... like when two random people both tell you to not be a generalist...

You get an extra spell per level. Even if you memorize one spell per level of your opposition school you've STILL come out ahead.

For a beginner I'd recommend the arcane bond. Its possible to get a lot out of a familiar but you need to work at it.

[GM FurtiveZoog]

BigNorseWolf - It was my self-deprecating humor.

OK. Divination school it is, and saving PP for the raise after some early vital purchases, at least. I'll probably stick with bonded item because of its flexibility, especially if I put a lot of effort into getting good things into my spellbook. I have some time to think about it, at least, since I am only play PFS online and it is going to take awhile to get anywhere.

What would you recommend for the opposition schools?

The infernal healing wand would still bother me as more of a role-player than a strategist. It isn't technically an alignment violation, according to the PFS FAQ, but still...

[TorKa]

But the change is VERY temporary. We refer to it as feeling dirty. as a cleric I always have a CLW and Bless(one up each sleeve). Saves spell space for more important specific spells. As to your wands, decide what you cast sooo much that it would be easier to have it on a trigger.

[Pupsocket]

EvilMinion wrote:

Lamontius wrote:

Archer characters can benefit from spending their first 2PP on a Masterwork Compound Bow, appropriate to their STR score.

Caveat: you can get up to a +3 str bonus composite longbow for 2pp... anything more then that is outside the price range.

Or a Str+6 non-mw composite longbow. There's always Masterwork Transformation.

[XMorsX]

GM FurtiveZoog wrote:

What would you recommend for the opposition schools?

Enchantment as the first choice because many enemies are immune to mind-affecting spells and save or lose spells are a bit of a gamble. For a second choice, necromancy or abjuration are usually being chosen. I would suggest banning Necromancy and take it back later in the game with the discovery opposition research at 10 lvl or so in order to be able to use Enervation and some other nice high-level necromancy spells. Abjuration has some good spells that you don't want to pass, like Protection from Evil at the early levels and Dispel Magic later on.