Hey guys.
I am about to start a game as a lvl 1 diviner (foresight) and I was wondering if anyone has done something similar. If so what kinds of spells would you suggest?
You can do just fine with any 2 prohibited schools. The key is to focus on what you can do rather than what you can't. So if you still have Conjuration, Enchantment, Illusion and Transmutation find your offense there.
Level 1 Grease, Charm Person, Sleep, Enlarge Person(on a melee type), Color Spray.
Level 2 Create Pit, Glitterdust, Acid Arrow, Summon Swarm, Hideous Laughter, Unnatural Lust
Level 3 Spiked Pit, Stinking Cloud, Aqueous Orb, Haste, Slow
You kept all the best defenses except False Life, so it is really a matter of controlling the battlefield and buffing your party members. You are going to be a master of avoiding fights and hiding from enemies.
I play a similar character (Conjurer opposed Abjuration, Evocation) and he is more useful than I would have thought while almost unable to get the limelight.
At level 10 take Opposition Research Dsicovery to get back Necromancy.
At higher level prepare maximized enervations and have a Rod of Quicken Spell. Laugh at your enemy as you go first and reduce their effective level by 8.
At lower levels, focus on battlefield control and setting up buffs for your party. You'll often be going first so you will get to shape the battlefield.
I also recommend taking as many item creation feats as you can, if it is the kind of campaign where that is allowed. Improved Initiative is kind of a feat tax on this build because going after the fighter makes you much less useful. Dazing Spell, Persistent Spell and Quicken Spell are your best metamagic feats on this kind of build with Heighten Spell getting honorable mention as a prerequisite for Preferred Spell. I think Evocation is very strong with Dazing Spell, so if you go that way I would get it back with Opposition Research between 9 and 11.
1) Boost your initiative! Between always act in the surprise round and high initiative you should be acting (sometimes twice) before the enemy every time! Take reactionary (or another init boosting trait) a scorpion (for +4) and improved init. when you can. You should have close to a +10 out the gate, meaning you win initiative a lot! Buy one of those +1 ioun stones (don't remember which one off hand) for 500 gp when you can afford it.
2) I'd focus on battlefield control. You may want to pick up spell focus and greater spell focus conjuration. My favorite thing about conjuration is a large number of your best spells ignore SR. I hate dealing with SR, so when I make my knowledge check thats usually the first question I ask, and then I knock off all the spells I have memorized that need to overcome SR as options. I usually still have roughly 65% of my memorized spell list! Pretty good!
At level 1 take grease. Unfortunately there isn't a ton of spells at level 1. For your level 1 divination spell you probably want identify or comprehend languages.
Level 2 starts to open up some great options - including create pit, web and glitterdust. Your go to level 2 has pretty much got to be see invisibility.
Level 3 you have an array of great spells. This is where summon monsters start to get good, and you may want to consider picking it up. Other great choices are aqueous orb, mad monkeys and stinking cloud. The orb is your friend. Theres nothing like dropping a stinking cloud, having a few guys make their saves and run out, and dropping an orb and rolling them right back in it:) Your level three divination spell will probably vary depending on the campaign, tongues and Clairaudience/Clairvoyance are my notable shout outs.
Level 4 spells you get black tentacles (yay!). This can end many fights if you go first. You probably want a DDoor as a get out of harms way free card. For divination at this level I like arcane eye.
After this point it gets hard to pick spells as games and needs start to vary more wildly, but that should get you through the low levels.
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^+1 on everything Under a Bleeding Sun just said. If you don't mind the extra bookkeeping and 1 round summoning time, Summon Monster is also an excellent choice.
As for defenses, Mirror Image is my favorite low-level defensive buff. Shield and Mage Armor are great for getting your AC to respectable levels early on, but past the first few levels you're much better off with miss %; without armor/shield to enchant it's nigh impossible to keep up with enemies' to-hit bonuses.
As for early spells, since you get a Diviniation-only slot for each level, I would go with True Strike and have some handy alchemical items to toss around like Tanglefoot Bags. Keep in mind you can use True Strike with a Bull Rush to knock people back 15-20 feet! (though you might eat an attack of opportunity in the process)
Wow. Thanks a lot guys. I am used to playing fighters and other martial types and so the idea of going higher up through casting from the beginning is rather intimidating.
For story reasons some of this stuff will not be coming at the pace you all have mentioned.
This wizard is human with the following feats: (fast learner and improvisation) and she considers herself a thief. She will always be working on scrolls in the background as well to maximize utility.
As for the other party members, the only confirmed is a sword n board fighter (elf). He apparently has himself up to a 23 AC at lvl 1. Ill take it! So I guess ill concentrate on using magics that help keep him from being surrounded or exploited (illusion, charm, etc).
Thanks again...Ill definitely write this down so when i sit down with the DM we can be ready for the start.
After 3 years of grad school i can't wait to play again ha.
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The most important characteristic for survival, as a 1st level Wizard, is positioning. Where you stand, especially before combat begins, strongly influences how many attacks you take. You want to always position yourself so that surprise foes are not on you. Anticipate where the probable threats are, and avoid them. Always keep your allies between you and possible threats. The middle of the group is the place for you. Encourage someone tougher to take the dangerous rear guard position.
Of course...in the middle you're Fireball Bait, or any other AoE.
In the long run just do your best to walk softly and carry a big summons.
If your DM is alright with this feat, you should take it if you're going to focus on summons. Acadamae Graduate