I'm currently playing a bloatmage, and it's a lot of fun. The blood pool lets you cast extra spells, and eventually extra highest-level slots, though you have to watch out a bit for overbloating.
Replicating spells? Pearls of power. Scrolls. Wands. Your bonded item (if you're using it). By 8th or 9th level it's very hard to run wizards out of spells.
I'm playing a wizard who is probably going to become a savant, so I'm interested in peoples opinions also.
If you're playing a witch, skip the prestige classes. You'll miss getting those extra hexes and improving the ones you have.
That said, as a wizard, savant is interesting--like a loremaster, but playable. Plus, I'm a sucker for dispel magic and counterspelling, especially if I'm in a party with another arcane caster to play offense.
Agree with above. The whole point in being a witch instead of a wizard or other is the hexes. No PrC will advance hexes and spellcasting, so PrCs are an incredibly bad idea.
For a wizard, I really do like Savant. Of course, I've never been one of those "never lose a CL!" folks who absolutely refuse a PrC that costs you one on sight, if the PrC is good and interesting enough. Savant gets very powerful and versatile features, and some of it reminds me of the 3E Geometer PrC (from C.Arcane), which I really thought was cool.
The short story:
I think they're both good, but consider what you're giving up for them.
I really don't think the extra spells thing is the best part of the Bloatmage, I think it's the capstone power that sells it.
Savant is great for filling out your spell list. I'm personally not a fan, but if you need to get spells on other people's lists, it's certainly better than multiclassing or Mystic Thuerge.
As far as replicating the extra spells, the Primalist archetype sort of does that.
The odds aren't even as good as with the Bloat Mage bloating and it doesn't produce that many more spell slots. But technically it does get you repeat slots.
I should say it in your thread but I'm too lazy to find it: regarding your description of Savant, it only goes one level higher if the spell is not on your list. While I'd rather get totally new spells, you really can pilfer that Summoner, Inquisitor, etc... list for some true bargains. Especially to get high level spells if your game will never reach there. Inquisitor or Bard can get you Overwhelming Presence as a 6th level spell, for instance.
And I really do place a high value in being able to stick Breath of Life or Heal (get it from Adept and it'll be 6th level and thus elligible) on Contingency.
If the extra spells of a bloatmage can be replicated by pearls of powers, scrolls, wands, etc., what is the point of playing a bloatmage (beyond flavor)? Will the bloatmage make it easier to do so with higher level spells, save you money and/or item creation feats?
You get some small bonuses (natural armor, etc.), the capstone ability is cool, and you get your replicated spells ON TOP OF the pearls, wands, scrolls, and staves that all other wizards can use. Plus, a wizard 5/bloatmage 5 has 5 blood points and can cast his highest-level spell as an extra -- that's worth a LOT of money in scrolls, pearls, etc. Lower-level bloatmages can do the same at a risk, but after bloatmage 5 you can always cast your highest-level spell slots extra, maybe more than once depending on your bloating rolls.
I mostly like the flavor a lot, and discovered as I went that the extra power was quite considerable.
I should say it in your thread but I'm too lazy to find it: regarding your description of Savant, it only goes one level higher if the spell is not on your list. While I'd rather get totally new spells, you really can pilfer that Summoner, Inquisitor, etc... list for some true bargains. Especially to get high level spells if your game will never reach there. Inquisitor or Bard can get you Overwhelming Presence as a 6th level spell, for instance.
And I really do place a high value in being able to stick Breath of Life or Heal (get it from Adept and it'll be 6th level and thus elligible) on Contingency.
Hmm... I did mention that you should check out early entries on the 6 spell level classes, but I didn't think you could steal them for even earlier access spells.
I'm sure a DM would interpret it as otherwise, but I should mention it.
Don't see why, the class feature is quite explicit, if it's already on your list, you don't have to get it at +1 spell level...
Don't see why, the class feature is quite explicit, if it's already on your list, you don't have to get it at +1 spell level...
No I mean taking it at the level listed. A DM might rule that because it's on your list you get it at the level in which it is on your list.
Which AP are you playing?