Dear Abby,
I'm starting a Wizard for a friend of mine's game. I'm debating splashing 3 levels of Pathfinder Savant (Levels 6, 7, and 8).
Upsides:
Expanded Skill list- This game is going to be more investigation, role-playing and problem solving than combat, so having Perception, Survival, (and to a lesser degree UMD) Will be very helpful.
Spell Completion- The ability to use scrolls (and wands if I'm not mistaken) at my level with my DCs means I can really stock up on scrolls and not cry at the reduced effect. I feel like at 8th level when this gets unlocked, I will never have to worry about running out of spells, or not having the right spell prepped ever again.
Spells outside of my spell list- With 3 levels of Savant, I can add up to 2 spells from outside the normal Wizard/Sorcerer spell list. The real trick is which two spells would I want? Freedom of Movement is the first that comes to mind (its hard to cast spells when you've got a big ugly fighter grappling you). I'm not sure what the other one would be though.
Downsides:
Caster Level Lost- You lose a caster level at level 1. This basically puts me on par with a Sorcerer as far as spell progression.
Magic Aptitude- This feat is fraking awful. I don't need to be that good at Spellcraft (I'm starting with an Int of 20). UMD does require a pretty high roll to keep your wands rocking, but I don't really intend on using a lot of scrolls and wands that arn't on my spell list. In addition, the class lets me take 10 on UMD checks, and adds a bonus to UMD, Spellcraft, and Know: Arcana. Basically this feat just adds numbers to stuff I'm already going to be good enough at.
I'm taking the bonded object instead of familiar (part of the campaign is going to require that the party has no companions, so no familiars, animal companions, bonded mounts, leadership followers etc.) so I don't have to worry about having a familiar fall behind because of the lost 3 levels of Wizard.
So I'd like to know everyone's opinion. Is the spell completion bonus worth the loss of caster level? Are the extra class skills worth the loss of a feat (bear in mind, that I won't be able to make use of the new class skills until level 6). What 2 spells should I select as my esoteric spells?
So no advice yet, so like an impatient baby, I am going to bump my post.
If you are worried about the loss of CL, you could always take the Magical Knack trait to even it out:
You were raised, either wholly or in part, by a magical creature, either after it found you abandoned in the woods or because your parents often left you in the care of a magical minion. This constant exposure to magic has made its mysteries easy for you to understand, even when you turn your mind to other devotions and tasks. Pick a class when you gain this trait—your caster level in that class gains a +2 trait bonus as long as this bonus doesn't raise your caster level above your current Hit Dice.
Don't forget the additional downside of multi-classing out of wizard, though; you don't get to add 2 free spells per level to your spellbook.
What level are you starting at?
What object are you bonding with?
Which school are you specializing in (if any)?
If you are worried about the loss of CL, you could always take the Magical Knack trait to even it out:
You were raised, either wholly or in part, by a magical creature, either after it found you abandoned in the woods or because your parents often left you in the care of a magical minion. This constant exposure to magic has made its mysteries easy for you to understand, even when you turn your mind to other devotions and tasks. Pick a class when you gain this trait—your caster level in that class gains a +2 trait bonus as long as this bonus doesn't raise your caster level above your current Hit Dice.Don't forget the additional downside of multi-classing out of wizard, though; you don't get to add 2 free spells per level to your spellbook.
What level are you starting at?
What object are you bonding with?
Which school are you specializing in (if any)?
I won't be able to take traits (unless i take the additional traits feat) as the GM is doing something special for my traits.
I'm likely to choose a ring or an amulet, as I find that weapons and wands tend to get broken too easily. And I'm probably going to be able to get them enchanted at some point in the future, so I won't be out the item slot.
I haven't quite decided on my specialty school yet, but its probably going to be conjuration or a sub-school of conjuration (Conjuration is just soooo good). I think my banned schools are going to be Necromancy and Enchantment for character reasons.
On the plus side, while I won't get the two free spells for not taking a level of wizard, at level 2 and 3 of PS, I get a spell from another spell list at a level higher (and its not like I can't just buy scrolls).