It looks like I'll be able to play a Wizard in an upcoming AV campaign. And I want this to be a Runelord.
Human with medium armor at level 1, using a polearm every now and then - but that's absolutely just a fallback option when I have nothing better to do. Thesis will be spell blending.
I'm at a loss as to which Sin to choose, though. And I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers. WITHOUT SPOILERS, please.
Just a general idea which Sin might not work well in AV in particular. Because it gives up an essential school. Or because the school of the sin is a frequent immunity for the enemies there. Or because the granted focus spells simply don't have (m)any applications in AV. Stuff like that.
I'm playing a Wizard MC Alchemist (not free archetype) in AV, mid book 3. I've been a fairly general purpose caster and have dipped into many schools. At low levels he was a bit of a goof-ball/trickster/prankster: spells like agitate, hideous laughter. At higher levels he's still inspired by some of that, but more filling holes in the party's capabilities, moving into the primary buffer/debuffer). But that's been more of a party thing than the AP thing. So for me, losing access to enchantment would be hard, following by transmutation, then abjuration.
Evocation cantrips have been extremely strong for me as well, but as a party we don't have a dedicated damage dealer and really spread that around; and I've been the primary person to exploit weaknesses when they come up as a result.
From what I have seen of Abomination Vaults, it has a pretty good mix of creature types and challenge types. So it will be more based on your character and what party role you want to lean in to doing that will decide which Runelord path to take.