I have never made a spellcaster that focuses on a specific school of magic with the intent of using mainly that type of magic. I am building an illusionist and want to increase the save DCs. I am a Gnome (obviously), but the only feats I know of that do what I need are Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus. Are there any other feats or traits that would help me in this situation?
Also, what is the trait that makes one spell of your choice incredible?
I have never made a spellcaster that focuses on a specific school of magic with the intent of using mainly that type of magic. I am building an illusionist and want to increase the save DCs. I am a Gnome (obviously), but the only feats I know of that do what I need are Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus. Are there any other feats or traits that would help me in this situation?
Also, what is the trait that makes one spell of your choice incredible?
I think the trait you are looking for is Magical Lineage:
Yes, Magical Lineage was the trait I was looking for.
Bump for feat assistance?
I feel you pain. I have build a Fey sorcerer (+2 compulsion)to stick one to the mighty DC. Now it feels it does little difference. A caster gets so little feats that à extra +1 or +2 seems à lot tout ask for.
Spell Perfection will double your Spell Focus/GSF bonus for your perfected spell.
Are 3.5 sources permitted in this game? If so, there is a prestige class in Complete Mage called the Master Specialist, which at its 4th level would grant you a +2 bonus to all the Will to Disbelieve DCs of your Illusions. You'd also get Skill Focus in Spellcraft at 1st level and Greater Spell Focus in your specialty school (i.e. illusion) at 3rd as bonus feats.
3.5 sources are not permitted. Spell Perfection will be nice down the line, but level 15 is a long way away when your level 1.
Welp, your only other choices that I can think of are Craft Wondrous Item, to get stat boosting items onto the character quicker, or being a witch instead of sorc/wiz and taking the Witch Knife feat, which would give you a +1 to the DCs of your Patron Spells (though the utility of this depends A LOT on the Patron you choose. Trickery is IMO the best option for DC Illusions, as it gives you Major Image, Hallucinatory Terrain, Mirage Arcana, Mislead, and Screen).
You will want to pick up the Gnome only feat: Effortless Trickery
it will take your concentration down to a swift action on stuff like silent image
Oh! Yes. I nearly forgot. You also have the option to invest four feats for another +2 on the DCs for a school of your choosing, however, unless your DM is a little flexible with RAI several of these will be wasted feats.
Feat #1: Skill Focus in a Knowledge skill of your choice.
Feat #2: Eldritch Heritage with the Arcane bloodline, taken as early as level 3.
This will give you Arcane Bond. Your DM may or may not allow you to have two Arcane Bonds, which makes it a wasted feat if they don't.
Feat #3: Improved Eldritch Heritage, taken as early as level 11.
This will give you either Metamagic Adept or New Arcana; if your DM is flexible on RAI, they may allow Metamagic Adept to work for prepared spells. Otherwise, you're better off with New Arcana, which gives you a new spell known. Yay.
Feat #4: Greater Eldritch Heritage, taken as early as level 17.
The payoff: a +2 bonus to DCs for a school of your choice.