Three Spells per Round - a Mystic Theurge build

[Kurald Galain]

Action economy wins combats, and everybody knows spellcasters are powerful. So, how would you like to cast three spells per round? It only works a couple times per day, but then, with a spell output like that combats won't last very long. Let's do some theory op to see how early we can do this.

First, the Warpriest can cast spells on himself as a swift action. This is normally paired with weapon attacks, but there's nothing stopping you from combining it with regular casting. Second, a warpriest doing this will run out of spells quickly, but a Mystic Theurge has slots to spare. Third, sorcerer has a bloodline with wisdom-based casting.

So I present: Warpriest 2 / Empyreal Sorcerer 1 / Mystic Theurge 10 / Evangelist 7. Race is human, for the bonus feat and +2 wisdom.

You can do early entry with the feat Equipment Trick (Sunrod), which makes your [light] spells count one level higher, and is explicitly "for all purposes". Other early entry tricks have been errata'ed out, but not this one. This might not make your GM happy, but I did say this is theory op. :smalltongue:

As a dual caster, you get the bonus spells from high wisdom on both sides. The Sacred Fist warpriest archetype also gets wisdom to AC, which is neat. Then it gets IUS, so a cheap Guided AOMF gives wis-based OAs, if you somehow need any. Traits like Empathic Diplomat let you rebase your favorite skill on wisdom; and Perception already uses wis. Overall, you're even SADder than a full caster. Finally, the trait Magical Knack keeps you at max caster level for sorcerer; warpriest is just one behind.

That's two spells per round. So how do we get three? Well, a Mystic Theurge can use the feat Lesser Spell Synthesis to cast two spells simultaneously, once per day. Take this feat as often as you can, and combine it with the warpriest's swift casting, and it may look like Dr. Strange! These swift-cast spells can only target yourself, but there are a few "aura" spells that buff or debuff everybody nearby while still targeting only yourself (e.g. Magic Circle Against Evil). Will this get you whacked with a PHB? Probably, but also theory op. :smallamused: If you want less cheese, just use defensive buffs, or pick a deity that grants e.g. Invis. At higher level, Quicken Spell and Spell Perfection can replace the warpriest's swift cast with our favorite sorcerer spell.

For example, by level 8 you have third-level arcane and divine spells. With 24 wisdom, that's 14/12/8 spells per day; wisdom applies to spell DC, your best skills, and armor class. Assuming four combats per day, you can open each combat with three spells on turn one and two spells on turn two (four LSS feats, so either don't go for Spell Perfection, or use the retraining rules). Think you'll run out of spells? You've got around 25% more than a regular sorcerer, so your endurance is pretty good. After ten levels of mystic theurge, the Evangelist prestige class can extend its progression, again in theory op. Alternatively, just go full sorcerer afterwards (which gives you more feats to invest in LSS, and a bonus feat). Either way nets you 9th-level arcane spells at CL20.

Finally, a Magus/Warpriest build can switch between arcane/divine/divine spells (via LSS) and arcane/divine/full attack (via Spell Combat), although this lacks the crazy wis synergy and is pretty MAD.

And that's how you get wise to action economy :smallbiggrin: Comments and suggestions welcome.

1. Warpriest, sacred fist, feat IUS, any two metamagic
2. Sorcerer, empyreal
3. Warpriest, feat Equipment Trick (Sunrod)
4. Mystic Theurge
5. MT, feat Lesser Spell Synthesis, divine L2
6. MT, arcane L2
7. MT, feat LSS
8. MT, arcane and divine L3
9. MT, feat Favored Prestige Class (MT)
10.MT, arcane L4
11.MT, feat Prestigious Spellcaster, divine L4
12.MT, arcane L5
13.MT, feat Deific Obedience, (Spell Synthesis)
14.Evangelist, arcane L6, divine L5
15.Evangelist, feat Quicken Spell
16.Evangelist, arcane L7
17.Evangelist, feat Spell Perfection, divine L6
18.Evangelist, arcane L8
19.Evangelist, feat LSS
20.Evangelist, arcane L9

or,
9. MT, feat LSS
10.MT, arcane L4
11.MT, feat LSS, divine L4
12.MT, arcane L5
13.MT, feat Quicken Spell, (Spell Synthesis)
14.Sorcerer, arcane L6
15.Sorcerer, feat Spell Perfection
16.Sorcerer, arcane L7
17.Sorcerer, feat LSS
18.Sorcerer, arcane L8
19.Sorcerer, feat LSS, Extend Spell
20.Sorcerer, arcane L9

[Mysterious Stranger]

The Equipment Trick specifies the spell is treated as one level higher, but does not actually raise the level of the spell. If all purpose does raise the level of the spell it would also require a 2nd level spell slot to cast. All includes restriction. Since neither class has a 2nd level spell slot at that level they cannot cast the light spell as a 2nd level spell. The prerequisite for mystic theurge is the ability to cast 2nd level spells.

Even if it worked it is highly limited due to the fact that 2 of those 3 spells have to be from the warpriest spell list, which is a slower progression, and are further limited to those equal or lower level than your combined spell ability.

The reality is that you would need to be a 4th level warpriest and 4th level sorcerer. That means at 20th level you will have 4th level warpriest spells, and 7th level sorcerer spells. Your caster level in sorcerer will be 16th but you won’t get the higher-level spells.

[Azothath]

I present the standard 17th level Wizard(diviner) Int:26 INIT:+13 with BO Amulet(prepare +6 SplLvl/d), Spell Focus(evoK), Varisian tattoo(evoK), and various metamagics casting a 4th level quickened spell triggering a Contingency:K6 to a 5th SplLvl spell then casting Time Stop:T9 to get off 2-5 spells (5.5 spells the first round). With another 4th quickened and Time stop he can get off several more spells the next round (10 spells on average (12 w the time stops) in first 2 rounds). 6 spells/rnd.
Likely prepared spell slots: 0th:4 1st:7 2nd:7 3rd:7 4th:7 5th:6 6th:7 7th:5 8th:4 9th:2+1(BO).
It sets a high standard.

[Azothath]

Mystic Theurge PrC
Combined Spells(Su): Prepare ([(MT Lvl+1)/2], max 5) SplLvl at +1 SplLvl, spell level cannot be lowered if on both spell lists (must choose higher SplLvl).

Lesser Spell Synthesis feat Full round action to cast 2 SplLvl<=Combined Spells limit spells of casting time = std actn.

Considering a WPrst 3, Sor 3, PrC-MT 10 (std build) leaving PrC-Evang 1 for later...

So yes, a MT WPrst/Sor could use Fevor(Su) to cast a warpriest spell on himself as a swift action. As he's WPrst 2 it'll be a First SplLvl spell... (PrCs notoriously do not increase base class abilities).

Then the MT WPrst/Sor can spend a full round action (goes off in next round) to cast Two 5th(or less) SplLvl spells from Sorceror or Warpriest spell list (via MT). It gets tricky with SplLvl and casting time as Metamagics take the worst option.

my RAW interpretation it is a bit different than what you posted.

===
PrC-Evangelist PFS note requires 6th level in a class.
Aligned Class (Ex): Evangelists come from many different backgrounds, and they show an unusual range of diversity. At 2nd level, the evangelist must choose a class she belonged to before adding the prestige class to be her aligned class. She gains all the class features for this class, essentially adding every evangelist level beyond 1st to her aligned class to determine what class features she gains. She still retains the Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saving throw bonuses, and skill ranks of the prestige class, but gains all other class features of her aligned class as well as those of the evangelist prestige class.
Can the "aligned class" be a PrC? That's a hard sell. The descriptive text in the PrC points out the assumption of a regular class. Warpriest or Sorcerer would be a valid choice.
From Prestige Class we have, Unlike the core classes, characters must meet specific requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Azothath wrote:

Considering a WPrst 3, Sor 3, PrC-MT 10 (std build) leaving PrC-Evang 1 for later...

Both the warpriest and sorcerer gain access to 2nd level spells at 4th level, not 3rd.

[Azothath]

Mysterious Stranger wrote:

Azothath wrote:

Considering a WPrst 4, Sor 4, PrC-MT 10 (std build) leaving PrC-Evang 1 for later...

Both the warpriest and sorcerer gain access to 2nd level spells at 4th level, not 3rd.

lol... true... I was more focused on the rest of it... edited to 4 4...

As he's WPrst 4 it'll be a First or Second SplLvl spell... (PrCs notoriously do not increase base class abilities). at least a tad bit better

Still, it doesn't come close to the standard specialist wizard. I'll note that I'm just using standard spells and such. Rapid time Mindscape, accelerated flowing time demiplanes etc are other ways...

[Azothath]

May the fourth be with you

[Kurald Galain]

Azothath wrote:

As he's WPrst 2 it'll be a First SplLvl spell... (PrCs notoriously do not increase base class abilities).

It doesn't have to. The warpriest's Fervor ability has no level restriction in itself, it just requires a "warpriest spell he has prepared". If a PrC allows you to prepare higher-level warpriest spells, you can use them with fervor.

Azothath wrote:

Then the MT WPrst/Sor can spend a full round action (goes off in next round)

A one-round casting time goes off in the next round; a full round action goes off in the same round; as noted here.

Azothath wrote:

PrC-Evangelist PFS note requires 6th level in a class.

...why would we expect a theory op build to be PFS-legal?

Azothath wrote:

Still, it doesn't come close to the standard specialist wizard. I'll note that I'm just using standard spells and such. Rapid time Mindscape, accelerated flowing time demiplanes etc are other ways...

Sure. I'm not saying this build is stronger than a wizard (wizard is the strongest class in the game, after all). I'm just saying that casting so many spells in a round (at level five, no less) is pretty funny. And, y'know, theory op.