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Your base Int is to low for higher level play.
Level 12
Int 17Base+3Level+4Item= 24 +7modifier
Spell DC
Ability modifier 7+6spell level+2Greater spell focus=25
So with your highest level spell it only works some of the time. Low saves it works most of the time. So any thing that will incress your spell DC is more inportant to a caster then any thing else. Starting with a base 19 is alot more point. The only stats a arcane caster needs is Int and Con. Ray spells are ok but your better off focusing on save DC.
CR 12
Adult Copper Dragon
Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +13
Adult Green Dragon
Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +14
Lich
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +11
Purple Worm
Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +4
Okay, I see that. Easy to get caught up in "ooh, I can get a decent attack that actually does damage!"But anyhow: any others?
Doug M.
My druid has point blank shot and uses it on ray attacks. She also has precise shot and uses that on ray attacks too. She's pretty effective in combat. Deadly even. Of course this is 3.5 using the Spell Compendium where druids actually get some nice ray spells, but wizards do too. Being able to shoot your rays into combat without taking a -4 to your attack rolls, and targeting touch AC instead of regular AC is not a terrible build choice.
Plus I just sorta hate the "buy a six pack of magic missile and cure light wounds wands and just blast away until you reach level 5" approach.
Don't be so quick to give up a concept if you gave it some thought to begin with. Not every character has to be a cookie cutter wizard. A ray shooting wizard with the point blank tree of spells may not be the most optimized wizard, but if it's anything like my druid, well, she's a ton of fun to play.
Your base Int is to low for higher level play.
No it's not. 15 Int is the elite array's maximum score. Some people do play by the elite array.
The only stats a arcane caster needs is Int and Con.
Dexterity is actually more important than Con, initiative order is more important for a wizard than any other build save possibly an archery rogue. Here's an example of a human wizard build assuming a 20 point buy, this build is pragmatically optimized, without dumping. Since most
AP's go to ~15, I built it to that point. If you want to hyperoptimize, strength and charisma can be dumped, but don't dump wisdom. One failed will save and you're likely out of the combat entirely. Feat selection allows for the usual battlefield controller tactics with a dash of save or lose for when really needed.Int 19 (13)
Dex 14 (5)
Con 12 (2)
Wis 10 (0)
Cha 10 (0)
Str 10 (0)
All attribute increases in intelligence.
For Specialization I recommend Teleportation (Conjuration subschool).
The extended duration on summons is handy, and shift can be a life saver for things like escaping grapples.
Feats:
1: Tougness, Improved Initiative
3: Spell Focus Conjuration
5: Augment Summoning, Extend Spell
7: Improved Familiar (recommend Mephit w/ opposable thumbs)
9: Defensive Combat Training
10: Quicken Spell
11: Spell Penetration
13: Reach Spell (suddenly all those nasty spells with range of touch got a lot more attractive)
15: Persistent Spell, Greater Spell Penetration
Dexterity is actually more important than Con, initiative order is more important for a wizard than any other build save possibly an archery rogue.
I agree with this much.
And as a bonus if you have a ray casting wizard with the point blank tree, guess what you get to boost with high dex? That's right, your attack roll!
As for the WIS hurting your WILL save, that's true.. but in all honesty you target wizards with FORT saves (flesh to stone, etc) to make them go away.
Or you feeblemind them, which effectively turns them into a commoner and which they must save at a -4 normally, but a -6 if they dumped wisdom. In my opinion, dumping wisdom makes it far too easy for you to be removed from combat entirely.
That being said you were demonstrating a 15 point whereas my build was a 20 point buy, and the parameters definitely affect how you build. I give my players 20 point buy for AP's in lieu of 15, because as a DM I optimize the encounters and 20 point buy keeps it in balance.
Can we agree that you need STR/CHA less than you need one more point of INT and 2 more points of CON?
-James
Absolutely, I even stated in the aforementioned build that Strength and Charisma could easily be dumped. I offered a practical flexible build as a versatile baseline because some people prefer a more flexible character, and a lot of people disdain dumping in general. Hence it was an attempt at a neutral baseline.
As to Will vs. Fort it is not just feeblemind, there are whole schools of will saves spells as well, most of which are every bit as debilitating as the fort spells. Furthermore, I have never argued for dumping Con either, as I always go with a positive bonus. I'm not certain there is even a point of contention here.
Is a 20 int at level 1 more optimized than a 19 int? Absolutely, but a 19 int at level 1 is still an excellent wizard. Furthermore he's an excellent wizard who isn't a social pariah, every enchanters favorite target dummy, and heavily encumbered by only his spellbooks and one strength drain away from a dirt nap. Whether or not that tradeoff is worth it, will vary greatly from campaign to campaign and ultimately depends on the playstyle of the DM.
Is a 20 int at level 1 more optimized than a 19 int?Depends to what levels you see the game progressing. If you're going to 20th then you want the full starting 20.
Given the plethora of options that now exist for raising ability scores, even going to 20 that one point will make little overall difference. For example, if you just factor in level based attribute increases you are looking at a 24 or 25, which offer the same bonus. With a +6 headband its a 30 or 31, again the same bonus. If you additionally add a Tome of Clear Thought +5. it becomes a 36 vs. 35 where the 20 base does gain a 1 point advantage. So yes it is an advantage but hardly game breaking, and the character who didn't dump has more aggregate survivability. Furthermore, by these levels of the game, debuffs mitigate save DC's to the point that 1 point isn't often going to make a difference. Again it's playstyle but our campaigns tend to be gritty and tough, so when I build a caster I go for a little more overall survivability. If I was in a situation where I didn't think it was warranted I would take the 20 int build.
