Bigguyinblack |
I was considering creating a Blockbuster Wizard for the Emerald Spire module. (No spoilers please)
But I'm wondering if Arcanist is a better option. Delaying my spells by a level is a big deal but it might be worth it.
The plan for the Wizard (Admixture school) was to start with the traits Tomb Raider (+1 to Perception and K Dungeonering and Perception is a class skill) & Warrior of Old (+2 to Init). Spell Focus Evocation for free & Spell Specialization.
At 3rd level take Varisian Tattoo Evocation for +1 caster level.
At 4th level switch Spell Specialization to Fireball
At 5th level take Additional Traits for Wayang Spell Hunter & Magical Lineage
I'd pick up Improved Init at some point but as an Elf with 18 Dex and the Fleet-Footed trait I'd start with +12 as it is. (+4 dex, +4 familiar, +2 Fleet-Footed, +2 Warrior of Old)
I'd buy a lesser Selective rod in case my allies go before me or the room is crowded enough for backblast.
Note: Using Admixture to turn Fireball into a Cold spell and using Urea as a component adds 1 caster level to the spell. I think.
Arcanist is theoretically more powerful. After all I can use Consume Spells to fuel Potent Magic adding 2 more dice of damage.
I can in theory take Blood Arcanist Archetype for the Orc bloodline but losing 3 Arcanist Exploits when all I want is the Arcana ability doesn't appeal.
School Savant Archetype doesn't appeal much either since I'm losing 3 Exploits for it as well and I don't even get a free familiar out of the deal.
Occultist only sacrifices 2 Exploits for some added versatility but without taking the summon feats it doesn't feel worth it.
No Archetype might be best.
However I would need to take an Exploit for a familiar. I think the +4 to Init is worth it. Potent Magic is the main reason to go Arcanist.
I can probably use a lesser metamagic rod to make Iceballs 3 times a day to deal with the rare Fire immune allowing me to take School Understanding (Divination) and never be Flat-Footed. (I think I have better uses for my standard action then the Void - reveal weakness shtick.)
And Metamagic Knowledge because Greater Metamagic Knowledge looks like the best of a bad lot.
I can use exploits to regain much of what I would have had as Wizard so I think it comes down to the question of Is the Potent Magic Exploit on Fireball worth delaying my spell levels?
If anyone has ideas or opinions on any of this please share. Just realize that I plan to play a Blaster with some utility, Not a God Wizard or I guess possibly God Arcanist.
Cap. Darling |
I would go with arcanist and human to get focus and speciality at level 1. School savant for admixture School and magic linage( fireball for one of the traits) dont worry about exploits you loose if you want to blast admixture is the way to go.
At you wont get extra exploit feat until level 5 but there you Pick both Quick study and potent magic. Pehaps empower Spell or intensify at level 3. That will give you 10d6 fireballs at level 6 for a point. 10d6x1,5 at level 8 without point. 14d6x1,5 at level 10 and because you are a against you will only use one of your memoraised spells pr level on fireball.
Use burning hands until you get to level 6 or pretent you are a support caster until then if you dont like to get close.
Bigguyinblack |
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I would go with arcanist and human to get focus and speciality at level 1. School savant for admixture School and magic linage( fireball for one of the traits) dont worry about exploits you loose if you want to blast admixture is the way to go.
At you wont get extra exploit feat until level 5 but there you Pick both Quick study and potent magic. Pehaps empower Spell or intensify at level 3. That will give you 10d6 fireballs at level 6 for a point. 10d6x1,5 at level 8 without point. 14d6x1,5 at level 10 and because you are a against you will only use one of your memoraised spells pr level on fireball.
Use burning hands until you get to level 6 or pretent you are a support caster until then if you dont like to get close.
Your suggestion seems to be
Level 1 Human with Spell Focus and Spell SpecializationSchool Savant (Admixture) Wayang Spell Hunter & Magical Lineage traits both for Fireball
Perception is not a trained skill, No bonus to Perception from a familiar or race, Initiative bonus is maybe +3 from Dex.
Level 3 Burning Hands is already capped at 5D4 before any other boosts so Intensify Metamagic is appropriate.
Level 5 no Fireball yet but I want Empower metamagic. I can now take my first Exploit and can use Potent Magic to deal 9D4 Burning Hands or 10D4 with the Cold/Urea trick.
Level 6 switch Spell Specialization to Fireball and prepare Empowere Fireball as a 3rd level spell dealing 8D6*1.5 or 10D6*1.5 with Potent Magic. No point to using the Cold/Urea trick because 10d6 is the cap until I get a 4th level spell slot and can Intensify.
That is a lot of damage. Problem is I'm doing that with no Perception and a +3 Init modifier at best. So I pretty much have to buy multiple lesser Selective rods to not hit my allies who beat me and rushed in and be left out of most Surprise rounds entirely. I'm not convinced the tradeoff is worthwhile. I can't even pick up a familiar to help with Init until 9th level.
minoritarian |
I don't think you can switch the spell specialisation to fireball at 4th level as you can't cast fireball at that point.
I'd go with school savant and take admixture too.
Extra traits hurts you. Magical lineage and wayang spell hunter for the meramagic reduction are great but you'll have decent enough initiative and you're not going to be the primary perception check maker anyway. Putting ranks into it is fine but spending a feat in order to have enough traits to make it a class skill is more than you can afford.
MrRed |
I think your build is already solid. You want a 1 level dip into cross-blooded tatooed sorc (orce + element of choice) for a damage boost. I do not think that arcanist is necessary- I always had enough spell slots. A typical build-order with some options (stole it from some old thread in the past) might give you some ideas how everything combines:
Elf Evoker (Human is also good)
Abilities (20 point buy):
STR: 7 (-4)
DEX: 12+2 (2)
CON: 14-2 (5)
INT: 18+2 (17)
WIS: 8 (-2)
CHA: 12 (2)
Options:
Elf Race
Fleet-Footed (+2 Racial Ini, Run)
Evocation (Admixture) School
Familiar Arcane Bond
Take Elf Favored Class Bonus every level
Feats:
1. Wizard/ Evocer
Improved Initiative
-Magical Lineage: Fireball/ Fire Snake/ Chain Lightning Trait
-Seeking Haleen (Lore Seeker/ Wayang Spellhunter/ Warrior of Old)
2. Cross-Blooded Tatooed Sorceror (Orc/Draconic, take Varisian Tattoo)
3. Spell Focus (Evocation)
5. Spell Specialization
6b. Empower Spell
7. Greater Spell Focus/ Spell Penetration/ Improved Familiar
9. Craft Rod (MM Rods are pricey)/ Craft Something else
11. Greater Spell Specialization
11b. Quicken Spell
13. Persistant Spell/ Echoing Spell
15. Spell Perfection: Fireball
16b Greater Spell Focus/ (Greater) Spell Penetration/ Improved Familiar
As you said, if you combine everything for ini it can go very high very easily:
Dex +2 (or higher) Trait +2 Racial +2 Feat +4 Familiar +4 (+ Anticipate Peril) +4 (initiative on magic weapon, e.g. gauntlet. )
Watch out not to be a showkiller for everyone else as a blaster tends to end encounters quickly, i.e. warn your GM as from lvl 7+ things can become pretty powerful: If you chose Wayang Spellhunter+ Magical Lineage both on Fireball, you can cast empowered fireballs + selective (minor (!) rod) out of a 3rd level slot...
Also, you dont need to go Wizard, a fire-focused theologian cleric can become even more powerful...