Loremaster vs. Wizard.

[Letomo]

With all the changes to the straight Wizard for Society [no item creation, mostly], what advantage is there for staying as a straight wizard, versus going into the Loremaster Prestige class at level 8?

Related to that, since it requires 7 ranks of Knowledge skills, can you enter it at level 7, or is 8 the earliest?

[wraithstrike]

You would have to be a level 8 character, and a wizard can do things with the bonus feats such as metamagic and the arcane discoveries that are useful. Unless you are looking for a specific think the wizard is still the better choice.

[Letomo]

Hadn't thought about the discoveries, but with my Int [19, about to be 20], I can get one of the listed bonuses as a Loremaster [+2 to a saving throw, Toughness, or raise a skill from 0 to 4], at first LM level, then Any feat I want at 3rd LM level. Whereas, in same time as wizard, I would get, what, one bonus metamagic or spell focus feat? Or discovery, but for a conjuror, with a secondary focus in Enchantment, are any of those a major bonus?

[Jack Amy]

iirc, the loremaster doesn't get to add 2 spells to its spellbook whenever it gains a level, making it more costly to aquire your higher level spells.

Additionally, you would be missing out on your favoured class bonus, although this is a more minor thing.

[Harley Quinn X]

Yes, you'd lose the ability to gain two spells per level. You'd also lose progression in your school abilities, which depending on if you took a subschool of Conjuration, may make or break the deal for you. It will all depend on your character. I have two wizards, soon to be three, that I play in PFS and their needs/wants as far as builds vary a lot.

How specialized are you in conjuration/enchantment? Would you benefit from the Opposition Research or Fast Study discoveries?

[pauljathome]

There are also fairly significant entry requirements. If these fit your build then that may not be a problem but for many characters the entry requirements outweigh the benefits

[Letomo]

The entry requirements aren't a problem, the only one that wouldn't fit the build is Skill Focus Knowledge. Not gaining the spells, in Society that would be a bit more of a problem, I admit. Hadn't thought of that.

Opposition research doesn't look too needed. I did, somewhat stupidly, take Evocation as an opposition school, but then, I'm more about battlefield control than direct damage. We have an alchemist that deals out more damage than I can, or will be able to for levels and levels.

Fast study - how often has that come up, where it would be useful?

And, can't you take a discovery in place of the normal feat gained, not just the Wizard ones?

[Codanous]

I have a 10th level wizard who only prepares about half of his spells at the start of the day and leaves the other half open to fill in as needed. Fast study has really helped with that, being able to write a spell into his book in a minute, or finish filling out his spellbook in 10 has come in handy.

"We really need water breathing? Great, I don't normally prep that but luckily I left a slot open so I'll fill it in with that, just give me a minute."

I've found fast study to be pretty beneficial in society.

[Letomo]

Neat trick, hadn't thought of that! Not super helpful in an attack, but with just a short time, I can see how it would help.