Best Scrolls and Wands for Illusionist

[Zombie Boots]

Hey folks.

I'm doing a little shopping and looking for the best Scrolls and Wands to gear up my 8th level Gnome Illusionist with. My ban schools are Evocation and Enchantment.
If you would like to suggest something in the range of your top 3 scrolls and top 3 wands I would more than appropriated that. I'm trying to get a feel for the fineries in Pathfinder as I see they have ever so slightly changed a few little things, which make big impacts.

Please and thank you in advance.

[VRMH]

Wands: Feeblemind, Charm Monster, Fly
Scrolls: Dispel Magic, Gaseous Form, Shatter

But ymmv.

You'll want a scroll of every spell that may, at one point in your life, under very specific circumstances, be really, really useful. And a wand for spells you want to spam, or need to apply to a lot of people.

[BobChuck]

Too vague.

What's your spell book like now? What's it going to be like in 2-3 levels? What are common enemies? Rare enemies? Common challenges?

Generally speaking, you should carry around scrolls of your spellbook spells that you don't expect to need often (don't normally prepare) but are still worth knowing (which is why they are in your spellbook).

For wands, you want spells that you don't know and don't plan to know soon but would still like to cast a great deal. For instance, as an illusionist, you probably don't plan on learning Scorching Ray or Fireball, but being able to toss them around a lot at mid levels would still be nice.

[james maissen]

Zombie Boots wrote:

Hey folks.

I'm doing a little shopping

That's great.

Managing consumables is an important part of any PC, but a wizard by its nature especially needs to be very proficient in this area.

You want to break things down by the economy of the price of them. You don't want to not have a 25gp item that would save you pain (or death) and on the other hand you don't want to spend thousands to save you hundreds.

So get an idea of the current cash flow that you get at your level. Realize that this will change as you continue adventuring.

Break things down into 3 categories:

1. Convenient. You use the item whenever you can. At your level the party may burn through wands of cure light for downtime healing to conserve on memorized spells for example. Scrolls of 1st level spells should fall here at your level for sure.

2. Situational. Something that has a great impact when its in the right situation. For example a scroll of command undead when facing some huge advanced mindless undead beast can wrap up the encounter. But its not something that you would burn 150gp on just to get something to carry your luggage. A scroll of fly to enable the party melee person to get up close and personal with a flying thug. A scroll of see invisibility (and/or glitterdust) when confronted by something invisible, etc.

3. Emergency. That scroll of fly was originally an emergency item when you were lower level and wanted a way to run away from a TPK. Now it might be a scroll of teleport. Its too pricy to use unless the party is going to die without its use. Think of this as major medical...

In practice I would go through the 1st level spells list for the wizard/sorcerer (and others if you can get a +1 UMD score) and buy 3 of each spell that you think should be useful and 1 of each that you think might be. A scroll of hide from animals let my party and I walk through what would otherwise have been a tough pair of combats. You never know, but go with the following: if I would ever pay 75gp for an item then pay 25gp for it now. Chances are that you'll get use out of 1 in 3. Moreover there are those that you would certainly pay far more for when the special circumstance arrives.

You might also consider a staff of a few 1st level spells. Particularly some of those that you've banned but might miss (magic missile or charm person for example) occasionally. It eats up your recharge for the day (or days if you use more often) but saves you double slotting them. Ostensibly you've picked your banned schools by spells you don't plan on casting often so this shouldn't be much of an issue. Likely it will be rare when you use this, then find yourself using a few then turn around and go weeks without ever using it.

Also, for your situation. What's the rest of your party? You should not be the only person looking at consumables.

-James

[Lyrax]

Mage armor and silent image are usually good bets for 1st-level wands.

[Zombie Boots]

Well answering the few generals.
Illuisionist (Shadow Focused), Minor to major dabbling in Conjuration thanks to recent treasure haul.
Party is:
Some varient of Fighter, that I am still a little unclear on.
Monk
Rogue going into bard
Druid

Common creature encounters are a huge question mark. The DM is using some 3rd party Chuthulu-eqse book. Undead and Abberrations are common, but I think humans still top the list so far.
Out of combat encounters seems to be the most common, which is why I am an illuisiontist being versatile in and out of combat.

[Oliver McShade]

Zombie Boots wrote:

Hey folks.

I'm doing a little shopping and looking for the best Scrolls and Wands to gear up my 8th level Gnome Illusionist with. My ban schools are Evocation and Enchantment.

Please and thank you in advance.

If your going shopping and looking to buy

Would go with Wands & Scrolls that have Evocation or Enchantment = As this is the area your weakest in. This helps fill in for the gap in spells you do not have. (You can use magic items that are in your ban schools, with pathfinder).