Novack's page

Okay, we're all thinking it anyway so I'm just going to put it out there: Novack, your avatar's face is incredibly handsome.

Thank you so much. I think I have no other option than to simply return the compliment ;).

Counterspelling makes him the best against the scariest bad guys in the game, other casters.

It was already discussed. Counterspelling as an Arcanist isn't really that powerful, especially before 11th level (so for vast majority of games). Slower spell progression of Arcanists and common level advantage among "the scariest bad guys in the game", severely limits Arcanist's capability to counterspell anything crucial.

As an example you can consider effectiveness of Counterspell exploit in fight of 6th level party with Arcanist vs. 9th level Wizard BBEG. Hell, even 7th level Wizard would be pain in the #%$.

You can't drain off spell slots either, since that's very specifically a separate Arcanist class feature. You're effectively stuck with the staves and wands if you want more points in the pool.

Wands are too expensive. The most efficient way to regain Arcane Reservoir points are 2nd level scrolls made by yourself with bonus Scribe Scroll feat gained by Wizard at 1st level - 150 gp apiece.

I got even idea how to visualize consuming scrolls. You turn them into magic dust and then snort it like cocaine, because nothing beats junkie Wizard literally addicted to arcane power :D.

As I browsed messageboards for the last couple of days it was hard not to stumble upon numerous threads commenting on new classes and archetypes introduced in ACG. There are two statements that at some point appear in nearly every single one of them "Arcanist is overpowered", quickly followed by "Exploiter Wizard is even more broken." But is it really so?

I would like you to help me compare Exploiter Wizard to classic specialist Wizard.

As an Exploiter Wizard you give up your Arcane Bond and Arcane School for access to 5 arcanist exploits total (at 1st, 5th, 9th, 13th and 17th level). It is worth noting that you miss out on Consume Spells class feature and you don't gain access to Greater exploits. As far as I understand, RAW you cannot buy additional Explots via Extra Exploit feat.

Quick Study, Metamixing, Potent Magic, Dimensional Slide are certainly powerful, but are they really powerful enough to forgo extra spell slots, school powers and capstone abilities?

Since this is my first post on these messageboards, I think that some greeting may be in place, so "Hello" :).

I would like to ask your opinion about interference between Arcane School and Spellbinder archetype (presented in Advanced Race Guide - ARG).

Firstly, I'm curious how the Spell Bond works with the "specialist slot" restrictions (e.g. Can diviner swap his True Strike prepared in specialist slot for bonded Magic Missile?).

Secondly, I wonder if you can bond with a spell from an opposition school and be able to circumvent a "two-slot" requirement by exchanging it with your other memorizations (e.g. with spell in your specialist spell slot to spice things up :P).

Finally, I would like to know if you can exchange spells for metamagiced versions of bonded spells (e.g. swap True Seeing for Empowered Maximized Magic Missile :)).

Looking forward to see your answers.

Cheers,
Novack.