My Zen archer just died and we have been missing arcane support for some time. I'm going Wizard again after years hiatus (3.0-3.5 almost exclusively was a wizard).
Yes I have read Trentmonks guide to wizards and on the whole agree with it. Going Evoker for the wall of fire ability.
I plan on grabbing toppling spell and Magical Lineage (Magic missle), all my magic missles are level 1 still and allow me 1-5 +18 (CL10 and int bonus of 8) trip checks? Yes please.
I also plan on trading favored class bonus for the conjuration one. 5 uses of Dimension door a day up to 300ft (I think it's 30ft/CL). Free DD is never bad.
I don't plan on being a full blaster (unless I can make it to 15th in which case Dazing (insert whatever I choose as a blast spell) is a go. I plan on being the all around reality altering buff/debuff/summoning GOD as a wizard ought to be.
My dilemma is that since we were on the cusp of 10th when we fought the slave lords, the GM is allowing everyone else to level to 10th (including me and the other guy who died). However they made off with our equipment so we get to buy gear as 9th WB.
So with 46,000k my options are
A) +6 int headband and 10k in other items.
B) +4 int headband, use 10th wizard feat for Arcane Discovery Golem Construction and have an Alchemical Golem named Steve (long story short he was a favorite albiet tragically clumsy apprentice who died in a terrible workshop accident and I couldn't bear to lay him completely to rest :) ). The golem is 18k + 16k (+4 int) = 12k left to spend on other items. Well really 9k because I plan on grabbing a Rod of Intensify for Make Whole. The rod will also become more useful as I level for other spells.
If I went the golem route I would have two 1st level spells used for mage armor (steve and myself, that would jack his AC to 27). And 1-2 2nd level spells used for Make Whole (The rod will make these 10d6 heals on steve and I plan on having bonded object so potentially 30d6 healing on steve at the cost of 1 spell slot and a 2nd level pearl)
The golem would give me added damage either through his ranged +15 8d6 random energy or +19 slamx2 1d8+8 +random effect (Plus his CMB of +21 means I could also use him to grapple squishies and such).
Anyways just looking for advice/overall thoughts on my choices.