Hello all, I tried this back a while ago with no reply and recently after viewing Jehova's Vacuum wizard I was hoping to do something along those lines. Originally I was intending to build towards construct creation, but seeing as I don't know how much wealth I'll actually have available in Kingmaker, I'm not sure on whether constructs would be worth it or not.
Thus I have decided to write out a sort of necromantic debuffer/save-or-die, more focused on bestow curse, suffocations, blindness, etc...
That being the case I was hoping to get some pointers and suggestions on how to go about getting high DCs (besides intelligence items of course) for necromantic spells.
NOTE: I'm currently level 3 and have already played so assume levels 1-3 of feats are unchangeable for now. I am a wood school wizard.
Here's what I had in mind thus far.
1st
Extra Traits
Cosmopolitan
3rd
Craft Wondrous Items
5th
Spell Focus (Necromancy)
Reach Spell (Metamagic)
7th
Leadership
9th
Opposition Research
10th
Persistent Spell (Metamagic)
11th
Varisian Tattoo
13th
Extend Spell (Metamagic)
15th
True Name
Quicken Spell (Metamagic)
17th
Spell Perfection (Mass Suffocation)
19th Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy)
20th
Immortality
Ok, so some things on what I was thinking. I already got the ok to use leadership from my DM, in fact he's pretty excited as he is making a few characters and will have me decide in game.
Opposition Research basically free's up all of the spell book to me. True Name is pretty awesome at 15th level, allowing 18HD outsiders.
I realize my first 2 feats are kind of soft. I will have plenty of use for Craft Wondrous.
Now, I do love the idea of Mass Suffocation being my Spell Perfection choice, however I was considering Bestow Curse what with it's multiple options and all.
Immortality is there for a reason. Besides not knowing of a great alternative at such a high level, the DM was contemplating that if we made it that high, he would consider running a campaign where we play in the same general setting, but different characters. Thus, I thought it'd be cool to make it so that my current character could still be alive and potentially be met in that next game.
The metamagics are the ones I've read are some of the best and most useful. A reaching bestow curse could be fun.
So what are your thoughts? Is this a decent set up? Is this even a solid way to go? Should I revert back to my plans of being Wizard King of Constructs?
improved initiative is pretty important, idk how much your GM will let you get out of leadership, but its important to have by level 7-9ish (preferably at lvl 1)
Very true. I may ask my DM to see if he'll allow me to switch out the Additional Traits feat at 1st level. For that feat I used Reactionary and a homebrewed trait (DM offered the idea) that gives me disable device... which I've been lead to believe our rogue doesn't have.
If that's no dice, I guess I could switch out Opposition research for Improved Initiative.
Currently my Initiative bonus is +4.
Thanks for the suggestion.
whats your familiar?
the compsognathus grants a +4 to initiative, and it stacks with the feat and reactionary, with a positive DEX you can easily get a +12 or +13 initiative as early as lvl 1
I was silly and went with the arcane bond. Although, thus far it's been really useful and no sign of the DM focusing on taking it from me... yet.
as long as you dont screw it up, you could get a really good item bond going too
but that makes improved initiative a staple for you
Opposition Research basically free's up all of the spell book to me.
The Opposition Research arcane discovery removes the penalties associated with one opposition school. The build you present has it only once; so the build will still have one school with opposition penalties.
Happiness --
MI
Malachite, Elemental Schools (like the wood school chosen here) have only a single opposition school.
Ignore Reach Spell; use a metamagic reach rod or spectral hand to cast touch spells. Get Greater Spell Focus (necromancy)
Likewise, use metamagic rods for Extend Spell and take Quicken Spell at 13th level, Spell Perfection at 15th level. A Lesser Rod of Quicken metamagic might be handy (since it can quicken up to 3rd level spells, and you don't have to burn 7th level slots to do it).
I'd urge Improved Initiative in there as well. Going first is excellent for any wizard, and really important for a debuffer.
Make sure you have debuffs that target all saving throws -- you never know what you're going to be up against. Most Necromancy spells are Will or Fort save; make sure to have something obnoxious with Reflex somewhere along the line.
And arcane bond is very useful for a debuffer -- pick the spell you need, when you need it, out of your book. Very handy.
If I only have rods of metamagic, could I even use the Spell Perfection feat? It says I need 3 metamagic feats as a prerequisite.
The main reason I was going with spell perfection is it doubling the effects of spell focus and such. I may consider switching it out for something less feat intensive, like spell specialization or perhaps preferred spell. I would lose some good spell DC, but gain some spontaneous casting.
I will definitely try to find a place for Improved Initiative as soon as I can.
Thanks.
You need the feats for Spell Perfection. Reach and Extend aren't bad by themselves, though for a debuff-type caster Persistent might be better (failed your save? roll again!)
If you're going to pump spell DCs, definitely Greater Spell Focus in there somewhere.
Very true. I think I'll switch out Varisian Tattoo with Greater Spell Focus as Tattoo improves CL where GSF improves DC. Granted improving CL isn't anything to scoff at, but not exactly what I'm aiming for.
Also, I'll make sure Persistent Spell is the first metamagic I go after.
Keep in mind that Persistent Spell is a +2 level feat, so you want to make sure -- is (say) Persistent Blindness better than Enervation?
Good point. I suppose I'll keep the metamagic feats set up the same. If I recall correctly, Spell Perfection is only for a spell you currently have and can use. If I do go for Mass Suffocation as the spell perfection candidate, it needs to be at 17th because that's when I can start using mass suffocation.
Although, I suppose I could just use it on normal suffocation, bestow curse or other things.
Truthfully the only reason I'm going after spell perfection is its increasing the DC of the save. Otherwise I would have probably gone for spell specialization line or preferred spells.
Thanks for the input.