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There is something very appealing to me about a Universalist (Univ) Wizard with an Arcane Bonded object. Maybe it's a throw back to the old 1st/2nd ed days when wizards were typified as knowledge seekers and, more specifically, spell seekers.
From DMG 1st:
"A scroll of but a single spell becomes highly meaningful to the magic users in the game, especially when it is of a spell heretofore unknown. The acquisition of a book of spells from someplace in the dungeons or wildernesses of the campaign is a benison beyond price! PC and NPC alike will take great pains to guard scrolls and spell books. Magic-users will haunt dusty libraries and peruse musty tomes in the hopes of gleaning but a single incantation to add to their store of magic."
Those days are gone, alas. Most wizards I know specialise even within their speciality, and have little need to complete their spell collection. The Univ, however, who seeks to have that ultimate versatility for that one time in the day when he can cast any spell from his vast collection of spell-books, which he doesn't even have to be carrying around, recaptures these old mages to some extent.
[If I could humbly make a request for the Advanced Players Guide it would be to introduce an Improved Arcane Bonded Object Feat to allow arcane bonds to be used twice a day.]
The Univ is unlikely to carry all his spellbooks into danger. I would imagine the Univ will specialise in his day to day spells and keep these in a travelling spell book, with his main library kept at home. If, however, he's caught short and needs to memorise a particular spell that he's left at home, as long as he's got some spare pages on his travelling spell book and the necessary ink he can copy across any spell in his library via the Arcane Object (true?).
Ok, so we have this image of the scholarly wizard trying to build up his library and what do we encounter as soon as we look to build one these chaps: Hand of the Apprentice (HoA).
Out of all the wizard abilities this is by far the most "fighter like". Not only is it a weapon, but it's a normal rather than touch attack (the sorcerer/wizard saviour for these sort of things). Indeed, in order to get the most use out of this ability, your scholarly Univ must bring in some fighter abilities, leading to a somewhat strange looking wizard (IMVHO).
My 15 point buy 1st level Univ looks like this:
Human (+2 int) Wiz (Univ, +1 HP)
Str 12 Dex 13 CON 14 INT 19 WIS 7 CHA 7
HP: 9, AC 11
Feats: Martial Weapon (grtsword), Point Blank Shot
Skills: +9 and 1 rank on Know(Arc,Dung,Nat,Rel,TP), Ling & SpellC
Spells: Dis Undead, Light, Ray of Frost, Enlarge x2
HoA: 7x/day
Book (+): Burning Hands, Charm P, Color Spray, Exp Retr, Grease, MM, Sleep.
Cold Iron Dagger +1 (1d4+1), HoA +5 (1d4+2)
Silver Dagger +1 (1d4), HoA +5 (1d4+1)
When enlarged, 10' reach.
Large Greatsword +1 (3d6+3), HoA +4 (3d6+3)
There is one extra spell in the spell book which I paid 15gp for. Cost of everything here is < 150gp. I wondered about Shocking Grasp too, since I believe you can deliver the shock via the sword (true?)
The Large Greatsword, incidentally, is kept out of the Enlarge Person spell (just by letting go of it for a split second).
Given that the normal spell-casting side of this character is easy enough to handle - with whatever style you might want - the interesting things is how to keep HoA in the picture as you go up levels.
Certainly, by 3rd level, I would expect to own a MW cold-iron large greatsword and a wand of Enlarge Person. As a 3rd level feat I would take Arcane Strike. If I had the money, and it didn't feel too ridiculous, I might also own a MW silver large greatsword. So far I've used two feats, but now the whole HoA thing isn't taking up any of my spell slots.
Later on, though, Transformation and Giant Form beckon, the former in conjunction with Enlarge which might by then be swift (at 35K, a rod of metamagic Quicken lesser would do the trick), or of course the enlargement could be permanent. If it's allowed, I would also have Vital Strike as my 13th level feat, which means by then if I had something like a +2 Holy Greatsword I could be delivering 8d6 damage +str +arcane-strike +2(wpn) +1(pbs), and doing this 9x per day, at the cost of one high and one low-level spell. Still useful, I believe.
The only thing that worries me about all of this is the weirdness of having this scholarly wizard carrying this massive Greatsword around.
But anyway, what do you think?
Richard
I know he's a spell caster and you are interested in maximum casting level but I would consider a first level or second level of Ranger if you want to do this. It would save you a feat for the sword and give you some of skill bonuses. You'd also pick up a +1 vs Evil Outsiders if you chose that enemy.
Its cheesy perhaps to choose classes based on character equipment but if you went first level wizard you could take a Bonded Item. This could you a masterwork greatsword and your spellbook etc... for free. Second level wizard might make you buy the items depending on your DM.
Sigurd
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I very much considered that. Even 1st level fighter for the feat.
Then I thought about all the disadvantages of being 1 level behind in spell-casting (i.e. spells, caster level, overcoming spell resistance at -1, the wizard feats coming one later, the +1 on arcane strike coming one later, the Univ metamagic abilities coming one later).
I also wondered about choosing a Glaive rather than a Greatsword, for all the extra reach when you're enlarged.
And I also wondered about being an Elf and just using my longsword.
Richard
Elf would be good. You lose out a little on the HP, but gain a higher Dex to help with touch attacks and a back up long bow is never a bad thing. Also, the elf spellcraft bonus is nice at low levels. Finally, the longsword would allow a free hand to hold a wand, scroll, or something similar. Overall you lose out on some damage for a little more versatility and high touch attack chance both of which I think are more helpful for a wizard in the long run.
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On the plus side, if I carry a Large longsword around, I can wield it two handed albeit at -2 when I'm not enlarged, though without reach it's not likely to get a lot of use.
A large longsword does 2d6 points, 4d6 with vital strike. The greatsword, however, goes 3d6 and 6d6. Those extra d6 are so tempting ...
I don't think that carrying a large greatsword around stops you casting spells or using a wand. You just rest it on the floor with one hand and use the other. I know it looks a bit weird, but it seems to work.
Elf is good, though ...
Richard
It does not prevent you from droping an item, using the wand, and then picking the item back up. But being able to have both in hand while moving could be of value. While droping an item is a free action, picking one up can count for some time and sometimes provoke an AoO.