Arcanist, wizard, or sorcerer

[Bigdaddyjug]

So I was contemplating putting together a wayang arcane caster that focused on the snowball spell. I was going to take magical lineage and wayang spell hunter in snowball to be able to mix and match metamagic. The metamagics I was looking at are intensified, empowered, maximized, and rimed.

So I was all set to make this character a wizard, but the arcanist class has me intrigued, mainly because you can take a metamagic feat in place of any exploit. That would allow me to pick up Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and a few other goodies with my normal feats.

So, if you were building this character, a wayang snowball chucked, how would you do it?

[Create Mr. Pitt]

Maybe a one level dip in crossblooded sorcerer. Otherwise I'd go admixture evoker. That way you can work around potential immunities, have more spell slots, not impact casting time.

[Piccolo]

That, and the single classed Wizard is one of the more potent classes out there. You get high Knowledges, lots of skill points, and lots of spells to play with. Just be sure to compensate for the Wizard weaknesses like Fortitude and Reflex saves, and hit points.

[Athaleon]

You can take each exploit only once.

The "standard" blaster is an Admixture Wizard with a one-level dip in Crossblooded Sorcerer. Exploiter Wizard might be better for you, since your chosen spell is in Conjuration. The Admixture school power only works on Evocation spells.

Preferred Spell gives you a great degree of flexibility with metamagic, as you can switch out any prepared spell at any level with your chosen spell and chosen metamagic, and keep the standard casting time.

Heighten Spell and Persistent Spell will be essential to keep the DC's competitive on a first level spell.

Snowball has some nice perks in that it is not subject to Spell Resistance, and as an Instantaneous Conjuration spell, it ignores Antimagic Field. Still, focusing on a single target first level spell won't get you that much mileage.

[thegreenteagamer]

Snowball is on the Witch spell list, too. Winter Witch would be very thematic with it.

(It's also on the druid, magus, and summoner lists. Why limit yourself to the three you mentioned?)

[Bigdaddyjug]

I didn't realize it was on those spell lists. This is for PFS, so it has to follow those guidelines. For the person saying evoker wizard, remember snowball is a conjugation spell, so versatile evocation wouldn't work with it.

[Moto Muck]

I agree w/ Mr. Pitt- 1 level crossblooded sorcerer dip w/ admixture wizard is still the best blaster IMO at least in terms of sheer dmg in the long run though some GM's and players might consider it cheese-

I think an Arcanist would prob make a pretty decent blaster due to the extra feats- but I think the Arcanist's specialty is actually his versatility, particulary counterspelling and quick study

If you just want a single class blaster, I think admixture wizard is prob slightly better than arcanist just b/c of the quicker access to spells but the arcanist prob makes a better McGyver caster(exploiter wizard would prob do a good job of filling this roll too I think)

EDIT: didn't realize snowball is Conj but I maintain my opinion otherwise in regards to other blasts

[Bigdaddyjug]

I'm not looking for a traditional blaster. I already have one of those that throws out sick fireballs. This is a snowball chucker, and I mean the snowball spell, not admixtured fireballs. I don't plan on casting any damaging spells other than snowball and maybe the pit spells.

Winter witch archetype could be fun. I don't know a whole lot about witches though other than evil eye, misfortune, cackle, and slumber.

[Athaleon]

Conjuration or Exploiter Wizard. Magical Lineage + Wayang Spell Hunter to apply Dazing Spell for a +1 spell level increase.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Well snowball already staggers and I can add rime as well. Is dazing on top of that a big deal? Also, what exactly is an exploiter wizard?

[Moto Muck]

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

Well snowball already staggers and I can add rime as well. Is dazing on top of that a big deal? Also, what exactly is an exploiter wizard?

new wizard archetype which gets some arcanist exploits but gives up arcane bond and arcane school specialization- big trade off for arguably big rewards (IMO)

[Bigdaddyjug]

I'll have to look into that, thanks. I currently have the character built as a teleportation wizard.

[Athaleon]

Daze shuts targets right down, whereas a Staggered target can still cast a spell or make a partial charge with its Standard Action. If you don't want to Daze, use the traits to add Persistent for free.

Exploiter Wizard is an archetype from the Advanced Class Guide that trades out Arcane Bond and Arcane School for an Arcane Reservoir and the ability to take Exploits, like the Arcanist does. You get one Exploit at first level, plus one every four levels afterward. Some highlights for Wizards are:

- Dimensional Slide: Get out of melee free card. Unlike Shift (Teleportation school power), you still get the rest of your turn to act.

- Familiar: You gave up your Arcane Bond for the Exploiter archetype, now get it right back.

- Bonus Metamagic Feat

- Potent Magic: When you spend a point from your Arcane Reservoir to enhance a spell, you increase the DC or Caster Level by 2 instead of by 1.

- School Understanding: Take Divination (Foresight) to gain those Prescience rolls. If you're relying on a spell with an attack roll, even if it targets Touch AC, it's nice to be able to effectively roll twice and take the better result.

- Quick Study: Switch out a prepared spell for a different one as a Full Round Action. Risky in combat since you have to pull out your spellbook to do this.