Happy Fun Build Time #1 - Wizard... pacifist?

[FFVIIGuru]

Hello all! I had a good idea just a moment ago, and decided I'd maybe make a bit of a game out of it. Everyone on the boards always seems to want to optimize the best optimizations - God wizard, chill touch magus, etc. taking the best idea for a class and squeezing every drop out of it.

Let's take a step back. Why optimize the good ideas when we can optimize the weird ones?

I will soon be taking part in a game in which my group has set me a challenge. I'm a player. The challenge is, build a damageless evocation wizard. I like this challenge. I already have a build fleshed out, but I'm interested to see how you guys (or girls) would do it!

Full wizard, appropriate WBL, and level progression applicable. Specialization must be evocation (subschools allowed). Aside from that, have at it!

[blackbloodtroll]

Pacifists, no matter the class, don't really work, in Pathfinder, other than as a NPC.

[Duncan888]

Eh I got a helpful halfling cleric who uses channeling and merciful spells. The key is what type of pacifist u are. Are u ok with ally's who kill or are u against all killing. I suggest u subscribe to a more life and death are natural paths and death is part of life. Rebirth and the karmic wheel and all that. And as long as you do not kill yourself and try to save anyone who shows being worthy of saving. The rest u say perhaps your next life you will choose a better path.

[Caliban_]

I've had characters who are pragmatic pacifists - they always look for the non-lethal, non-violent option, but recognize that they live in a violent world and they aren't always given the choice.

[Just a Mort]

You're cheating yourself of 1 spell per day. Your opposing schools should be necromancy anddivination.

A strict reading of pacifism - are you allowed to cast harmful(but non damaging) spells on monsters? Are you allowed to summon creatures that will do hitpoint damage to monsters?

Most of the lineup will be conjuration/enchantment spells, evocation wizard you may be.

Lv 1 school spells: thunderstomp or hydraulic push
Lv 1 non school spells you can prepare: grease, colourspray(low lvs only), liberating command, enlarge person, mage armor, mudball, summon monster 1

Lv2 school spells: contingent action or pifering hand
Lv 2 non school spells: glitterdust(pls prepare several times), summon monster 2, web(situational), oppresive boredom, hideous laughter

Lv 3 school spells: daylight/windwall/hydraulic torrent
lv 3 non school spells: communal resist energy, stinking cloud, suggestion, summon monster 3, , fly, dispel magic

Lv 4 school spells: wall of ice/telekinetic charge
lv 4 non school spells: illusionary wall, summon monster 4, dimension door, greater invisibility, charm monster.

You get the idea. Spells are generally conjuration/enchantment based.

feats for summoning: Acadamae graduate, spell focus Conjuration, superior summoning. And oh, spell penetration amd greater so your spells with SR stick. Also, be an elf, cos they rock at SR checks.

[FFVIIGuru]

You're reading too much into the word pacifist. The intent is merely non damaging. This particular wizard doesn't care if he uses his spells to push enemies off cliffs to certain doom. It's a thought experiment, rather than a "Here's a character concept I'd like to try." So push it. Take it as far as you can.

[Avoron]

Disruptive Selective Distracting Cacophony (Magical Lineage/Wayang Spellhunter)

darkness spells: Darkness/Blacklight

spells that use combat maneuvers: Hydraulic Push, Thunderstomp, Gusting Sphere, Pilfering Hand, Battering Blast, Chain of Perdition, Hydraulic Torrent, Greater Thunderstomp

And the feat Kobold Style.

Some of these spells do a little bit of incidental damage, and the combat strategy isn't very powerful. But it would be loads of fun to play, and you could really work together with your party.

[RumpinRufus]

Wizards are one of the easiest classes to make into pacifist characters. Because 90% of their most effective options don't do damage anyway. The only thing you really lose is summoning.

The Generation subschool is best if you're limiting it to evokers.

Example spell list, with evocation spells marked (E):

1: Thunderstomp (E), Color Spray, Sleep, Grease, Mudball, Peacebond, Stunning Barrier, Bungle, Hypnotism, Charm Person
2: Pilfering Hand (E), Glitterdust, Web, Daze Monster, Hideous Laughter, Hypnotic Pattern
3: Chain of Perdition (E), Hydraulic Torrent (E), Greater Thunderstomp (E), Stinking Cloud, Suggestion, Hold Person, Charitable Impulse, Sleet Storm, Greater Stunning Barrier, Vision of Hell, Wall of Nausea, Slow
4: Resilient Sphere (E), Wall of Ice (E), Charm Monster, Rainbow Pattern, Bestow Curse, Fear
5: Wall of Force (E), Wall of Stone, Dominate Person, Hold Monster, Mind Fog, Waves of Fatigue
6: Forceful Hand (E), Leashed Shackles (E), Chains of Light, Mass Suggestion
7: Archon's Trumpet (E), Forcecage (E), Grasping Hand (E), Waves of Ecstasy, Mass Hold Person, Waves of Exhaustion
8: Clenched Fist (E), Telekinetic Sphere (E), Maze, Euphoric Tranquility, Irresistible Dance, Power Word Stun
9: Winds of Vengeance (E), Wish, Imprisonment, Dominate Monster, Mass Hold Monster, Overwhelming Presence

[LazarX]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

Pacifists, no matter the class, don't really work, in Pathfinder, other than as a NPC.

Depends on what kind of pacifist. the Treantmonk "GodWizard" is a technical Pacifist since he leaves the dirty work to his fellow party members.

Doctor Who is a pacifist never carries a gun, but he tends to inspire his companions to suicidal levels of bravery. Davros called him out on it once. So did Rory. (who then went on to do suidically brave things)

[RumpinRufus]

The life oracle I'm starting tomorrow is a pacifist. Authoritative Vestments and the Elven Serenity trait will hopefully allow her to avoid combats entirely.

Her spell list:

0: Detect Magic, Create Water, Enhanced Diplomacy, Guidance, Detect Poison, Light, Mending, Stabilize, Read Magic, Purify Food and Drink
1: Command, Protection from Evil, Liberating Command, Detect Undead, Comprehend Languages, Tap Inner Beauty, Shield of Faith, Sanctuary, Cure Light Wounds
2: Calm Emotions, Hold Person, Soothing Word, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand, Sound Burst, Early Judgment, Grace, Cure Moderate Wounds
3: Greater Stunning Barrier, Chain of Perdition, Dispel Magic, Charitable Impulse, Aura Sight, Neutralize Poison, Cure Serious Wounds
4: Dismissal, Air Walk, Debilitating Portent, Freedom of Movement, Restoration, Divination, Cure Critical Wounds
5: Greater Command, Wall of Stone, Breath of Life, Mass Cure Light Wounds

[RumpinRufus]

And there are lots of effective builds if you include nonlethal as well as pacifist.

Buccaneer Bard
Evangelist Cleric
Monk of the Lotus
Maneuver Master Monk
Sap Adept Rogue (or Ninja)
Merciful Spell Evoker (Wizard, Sorcerer, or Arcanist)
Blade of Mercy Warrior (any melee class)
Blue Rose Cavalier
Redeemer Paladin
Bludgeoner Archer
Heavens Oracle
Witch (any)

[Korthis]

As mentioned above, it's too easy. Enchantments are still on the table so MANY save or suck spells. Illusions for fun, haste for haste, conjuration for pits and the like...
Direct damage spells, while fun (I am actually about to play a direct damaging wizard on Thursday), are actually not as effective as the alternatives.

[XigXag]

XigXag is a 6th level PFS Heaven's Oracle/Sorcerer who has never killed a sentient being. Thus, a technical pacifist. He zaps things with Color Spray and leaves the coup de gras to others ...

Some types of pacifism:

* Can not kill. You can fight. You can even start fights. You just won't kill. Batman is the perfect example.

* Self defense only. You can fight & kill, but will only do so in self defense.

* Technical pacifism. You're not really a pacifist, you just don't do the dirty work yourself.

* Total Pacifism.

[Rerednaw]

For me the easiest Evoker pacifist just adds non-lethal substitution to all his evocation spells.

Otherwise spells as above. Plus I'd throw Confusion into the mix. Let the enemies who wish for combat fight each other.

My Witch used to use a great deal of Slumber because he didn't believe in killing...but given the rest of his PFS PUGs always went coup-de-grace he gave that up and went to debuffing instead.