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So I want to make a wizard/bloatmage for PFS who alternates between buffing transmutations and utility blasting. The bloatmage initiate feat helps this along by letting me increase my caster level by +1 with evocation spells, giving me a faster progression with magic missiles, bigger fireballs, etc.
I've got my first level set out here:
Boza
Human Wizard 1 (Transmuter)
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +1 (+3 when familiar is near)
DEFENCE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (Dex +2)
Hp 16 (1d6+10)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +2
OFFENCE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee dagger -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Ranged dagger +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Special Attacks telekinetic fist 7/day (ranged touch +2 [1d4])
Typical Spells Prepared (CL 1st [2nd for evocation spells], touch -1, ranged touch +2, concentration +5):
1st - burning hands (DC 16), enlarge person(B), grease (DC 15)
0 - detect magic, light, mage hand
Opposition Schools Enchantment, Necromancy
STATISTICS
Str 8 (-1), Dex 14 (+2), Con 16 (+3), Int 19 (+4), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 7 (-2)
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Alertness (when familiar is within 5 feet), Bloatmage Initiate (Evocation), Spell Focus (Evocation), Toughness
Skills Appraise +8, Knowledge (Arcana) +8, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge (History) +8, Knowledge (Nobility) +8, Perception +1, Spellcraft +8; Acrobatics +2 when balancing; AC penalty -3
Traits Adopted, Grounded, Magical Lineage (Magic Missile)
Languages Common, Kelish, Draconic, Osiriani, Ignan, Terran
SQ arcane bond (toad), physical enhancement +1 (already accounted for in dexterity)
Combat Gear alchemist's fire (3), scroll of mage armour, scroll
of silent image; Other Gear dagger, traveler's outfit, backpack, bedroll, silk rope (50 ft.), spell component pouch, spellbook, travel rations (8 days), waterskin, 15gp, 9sp
Spellbook 0 - all except enchantment and necromancy; 1st - Grease, Mage Armour, Burning Hands, Magic Missile, Enlarge Person, Snapdragon Fireworks, Touch of the Sea
BASE STATISTICS
AC 11, touch 11 (Dex +1)
Ref +2
Ranged attack +1
Dex 13 (+1)
CMD 10
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Wartbreath
Toad Familiar
N Diminutive magical beast
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (Dex +1, natural armour +1, size +4)
hp 9 (1 HD)
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +4
Defensive Abilities improved evasion
OFFENSE
Spd 5 ft.
Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 1, Dex 12, Con 6, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 4
Base Atk +0; CMB -3; CMD 2 (6 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Appraise -1, Knowledge (Arcana) -1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) -1, Knowledge (History) -1, Knowledge (Nobility) -1, Perception +7, Spellcraft -1, Stealth +21
SQ empathic link, share spells
I'm pretty happy with the character and build for first level, and I mostly want to know from someone who has played or seen a bloatmage played before: how many levels of bloatmage is optimal? I have no desire to go into a homicidal rage at ANY point in my career as a wizard. I like the idea of extra spells but I do not like the idea of killing a fellow PC or being killed in return (hence the high constitution and transmutation school so I can function easily with -2 con by leeching). I was considering going with six levels, thereby avoiding the second bout of corpulence, unless moving 10 ft. per round is not as big a handicap as I might think.
This is all for PFS, so I will be at max going seven levels. I just want the opinion of whether I just take three levels for a few extra spells, or go all the way through wizard 5/bloatmage 7.
Your PFS free spell focus feat has to be in the school you specialize in.
Therefore it can't be for evocation when you are a transmuter.
I'm about to play ome, so I'm also interested in seeing advice for bloat ages.
I''m thinking that by the time you get really corpulent, Overland Flight should be making most of your movement issues moot.
You are right it doesn't specify. Possibly I am thinking to an older version that did restrict where the spell focus went but I don't have proof of that even if I do recall correctly.
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You are right it doesn't specify. Possibly I am thinking to an older version that did restrict where the spell focus went but I don't have proof of that even if I do recall correctly.
It wouldn't have been a massive loss if I'd been unable to spell focus evocation, as snapdragon fireworks works really well with dazing spell come 3rd level spell slots (thanks magical lineage!). I've decided to go for the faster payoff of toppling spell magic missiles, although dazing will be nice too when level 5 comes around.
I'm intrigued by the bloatmage's ability to reuse slots (well, why else would I be shooting for this prestige class?). If anyone's played one, did it pay off? Was there ever risk of going berserk, or was it relatively easy to control bloat?
I'm picturing preparing many different spells for different occasions, and being able to use whichever I like because of the freedom the blood pool provides.
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Bumping one time. Any advice/tips/stories about bloatmages? Good metamagic feats to combine with blasting spells so they don't just blast?
This was actually exactly the sort of character I was just in the process of making, down to the transmutation/evocation bit. Bloat seems really easy to control, honestly. Only bloat when you've run out of your normal pool. Level 1, only use it in the most dire of emergency. Level 2 and 4, use the limiting ritual for the ability to take the -1 on the roll, just in case. At all other levels, if you bloat from an empty pool, you might often end up sickened, but you'll never berserk. Honestly, I'd take Bloatmage to 10... 15 if I could. ^_^
Edit: Make sure to invest in some sort of flying chair, boots of levitation or some other sort of fatman-conveying device. Not only will you stylishly float in your throne of power, it will prove handy in many an adventuring situation. Also, don't be afraid to polymorph yourself into a more athletic form when you need to. You'll lose access to all your blood stuff, but it is easier to seduce countesses and crawl through sewer pipes. Both tend to come up for my wizards more often than I'd care to admit.