|
As titled, I'll be making my first caster and going with Arcanist no less. I've played a few short homebrews in the past and had always gone with something like a Rogue or Fighter.
I know that a spellcaster is a whole different kind of animal and while knowledge of the basic certainly help, there's still plenty I don't know. To begin, I've read over the Arcanist entry in the playtest pdf a few times now to make sure I understand the main class features and how my spell casting, spells per day and prepared spells will work. Now I'm getting to the finer points and this is where I feel I could use some direction.
I've looked over some of the spell ratings and Wizard guides and while the former is certainly helpful the latter ends up seeming sort of moot because I'm not a Wizard. To sum up what I've got down so far;
Half-Elf
Dex 16
Con 14
Cha 15
Str 12
Int 20 (+2 from racial)
Wis 16
I'm thinking Eschew Materials for my first feat but I wouldn't mind relying on a spell component pouch if there is something better to choose. Then comes spell selection, I know there's probably a few staples like magic missile and color spray but there's so many even just from the wizard/sorcerer list that I'm not sure what to go with. At first level I can start with 8 level 1 spells after figuring in my Int modifier and have all level 0 already in my spellbook.
As for my gear and weapons I was just going to use the wizard kit listed in UE as a guide and pick up a staff and dagger.
Anyways, I think this should make a good start point if anyone would be kind enough to offer up some advice, tips or tricks. I'm really excited for this character and really appreciate any help to make it great and fun.
remember that eschew materials is only up to a limit on material cost, so you'll have to keep track fo which spells have components beyond that limit.
personal advice: spell cards. make them and keep them on-hand for easy referencing and use, instead of having to scan the source book every time it's your turn--make sure to write the book they're from and the page theyre on to resolve any ruling arguments before they start.
if you plan on summoning things? make a statblock card for them too
these will keep you from eating up time on your turns and save your GM (and you) a lot of headache
for playstyle: do what you want--you're a better sorcerer than the sorcerer (infinite 'spells known' based on spellbook/scroll copying), and a more flexible wizard than the wizard (you don't have to micromanage your spell slots--just pick your go-to's and some utility and throw the out as you need them as often as you need them).
read up on the wizard AND sorcerer guides in the sticky up top in the advice section here, since both can be helpful going forward.
here's a sample build i made to try out my arcanist-ing (it's a wordcaster and necromancer, but the core idea is still there--theyre super flexible, with the best of both wizards and sorcerers behind them):
str 16, dex 20 (5), con 20 (5), int 32 (5+2r), wis 16, cha 24 (5)
+5 int (level), +6 all (belt/headband), +5 int/+4 cha (book/wish)
traits
reactionary / gifted adept (undeath)
reservoir
11/40 (at start of day)
exploits
1 - bloodline development (draconic [white or silver]) or school understanding (necromancy)
3 - [see above]
5 - counterspell
7 - spell tinkerer
9 - dimensional slide
11 - counter drain
13 - metamagic knowledge (persistent spell)
15 - metamixing
17 - greater metamagic knowledge (bouncing spell)
19 - item crafting (craft wonderous item)
feats
1 - spell focus (necromancy), improved initiative
3 - varisian tattoo (necromancy)
5 - greater spell focus (necromancy)
7 - undead master
9 - bloodmage initiate (necromancy)
11 - dazing spell
13 - elemetal focus (ice)
15 - greater elemental focus (ice)
17 - spell focus (evocation)
19 - greater spell focus (evocation)
spell slots
7 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 5
words
0 - all 0-level effect/meta/target words
1 - alignment shield (alignment), burning flash (fire), dash (time), fade (concealing), fog bank (weather), force shield (armor), friendship (command), glide (flight), wrack (pain) | burst (target), line (target) | careful (meta), quiet (meta), simple (meta)
2 - accellerate (time), disappear (concealing), float (flight), frost fingers (ice), enhance form (body), energy resist (body), decelerate (time)
3 - undeath (death), servitor III (summoning), torture (pain), complex order (command), paralyze humanoid (binding), dimension hop (teleportation), lightning blast (electrcity), fire blast (fire), wind wall (wall), ice blast (ice), translate (language) | barrier (target)
4 - servitor IV (summoning), ice wall (ice), acid wave (acid), bestial form (change), ice blast (ice), unseen shell (concealing), sound blast (sonic), altered form (change), borrow future (time) | manifestation (meta), mind warp (meta)
5 - servitor V (summoning), stone wall (wall), crush will (command), dimensional jump (teleportation), far casting (language) | irresistable (meta), penetrating (meta)
6 - servitor VI (summoning), negation (dispelling), resist arcana (dispelling)
7 - servitor VII (summoning), dimensional shift (teleportation), caustic cloud (acid)
8 - servitor VIII (summoning), permanent paralysis (binding), thunder strike (electrcity), winter's wrath (cold)
9 - Servitor IX (summoning), control time (time), dimensional gate (teleportation)
undeath + [frost cantrip] CL 30
pardon the double-post, but a note: remember that the arcanist is still the playtest one--according to the paizo blog, they're actually getting buffed!
|
|
Thanks for the reply! As for still being in playtest, I figured that (from the looks of it so far) it would still be solid enough to run and it looks like a lot of fun besides. Plus my DM is slightly iffy on it and I figure if it doesn't appear to powerful then I have a better chance to play it.
The spellcards sound awesome, that's a great idea I'll be sure to use. I'll also take a look at both guides like you said so I can familiarize myself with everything since Arcanist pulls from both classes.