Some Advice on Building a Wizard

This is the first time I'll be playing a wizard character since my first ever campaign. That character was horrible (no specialization/variants and my friends neglected to tell me that I get extra spells for high Int).

This time I hope to make a wizard specializing in Enchantment or Transmutation. Also, note that my play style will be that of a controller/debuffer. My weapon of choice is the 3-ish Int Fighter that kills the enemies that I have incapacitated. I have a few questions concerning the build.

- First, is it more beneficial to be a domain wizard or a focused specialist?

- If I end up being a specialist, I think i'll get rid of Necromancy definately. I have read that giving up Evocation is not that big of a deal, but I would like some views on this.

- Is the extra spell/day from focused specialist worth giving up a thrid school? If so, what do you recommend?

- If I become a domain wizard, which domain is the best? (As far as I can tell, transmutation has the best consistently good spells)

- How useful is a familiar and is there anything I can take to replace it?


Some other notes:
- If I become a domain wizard, I am considering taking Incantrix, giving up Necromancy.

- If I become a focused specialist, I will take levels in Master specialist.

- At my D&D circle we follow an "anything goes, to a reasonable extent" policy. This means that we use any WotC printed material, including Dragon magazine; we all try not to do anything overly broken or classified as power gaming.


Thank you for your responses and advice.

In no particular order:

1. I like Focused Specialist
2. Transmuters rock!
3. Check out Unearthed Arcana (or the SRD) and PHB2 for things you can sub for familiars, as well as other alternative class features

Treantmonk's Guide to Being a God

Being Batman: The Logic Ninja's Guide to Wizards

Dragon mag also had a very nice familiar trade-off called Focus Caster, where you get an arcane focus (needed to cast all your spells) based on the school chosen. For transmutation, I think it's an instrument or tool. Anyway, the transmutation focus caster lets you add an additional target for any targeted transmutation spell you cast. Great for buffing and debuffing, effectively doubles your output. Until Wizard 7 (if you reach that high), the extra target only has half duration, but for any spell with instant duration or min/level or longer duration, that's not a big issue.

I will say, to counter Danny, I do NOT like Focused Specialist, I like having all or almost all of the schools open for picking when needed. But most optimization guides say to go for it if you're doing transmutation or conjuration, so whatever. (I used it once for an Illusionist, but that was because he was a Shadowcraft Mage, so the only spell he ever really cast was Silent Image, so that was a unique case).

IIRC, Domain wizards get extra spells at no cost. Generally getting something for nothing is superior to a tradeoff.

I could be wrong, I never really got to play a wizard. Then again, Prepared casters don't appeal to me much either.

If you're willing to take a 1-2 level dip in order to have a beaucoup of spells and greater punch to them, I recommend the Ultimate Magus (from Comp. Mage, I believe).
Ultimate Magus Handbook

If you go Begulier/Wizard, you can specialize in Wiz by dropping Illusion (and Necromancy is my other choice). The Beguiler side allows you the Illusion stuff. In addition, you only need Int for both sides. With Practiced Spellcaster you can increase your 'punch' with your spells by several caster levels, especially combined with the arcane power of the UM. Finally, the augmented spell-casting ability allows you to add metamagic to a spell by losing a spell of the same level in the other class. Thus, you can Maximize a 5th level spell by losing a 3rd level spell in your other class as opposed to requiring an 8th level spell. It essentially allows you to meta your spells without having to burn higher level spells (works great with Energy Substitution and later Energy Admixture).
Finally, unless your DM says no, if you're afraid of taking damage alot, I suggest the Reserve Feat Minor Shapeshift (from CM). It gives you temporary hp equal to your HD (sort of like getting damage resistance).

Thanks for the help. I didn't even think of looking in dragon magic or using UM, this could be an interesting build. Also, thanks for the links to the guides.

If you have no experience with Wizards I would suggest going for Domain Wizard with Transmutation domain, or Conjuration if you don't want Trans for some reason.

Focused Specialists are interesting alternatives but with 3 schools banned you are too restricted, so unless your build really calls out for more spell slots I would suggest you stick with Domain Wiz.

Yes, evocation is the easiest school to ban. There are a few good evocation spells, but you can cover for them (Contingency -> Craft Contingent Spell, Forcecage, just buy a scroll or two, it's one of those spells you don't need available 24/7 but when you need it, YOU NEED IT. Damage spells are easily covered by other schools.

Your familiar is going to pretty much suck till level 11 when you get Imbue Familiar with Spell Ability and can have your familiar ready actions to teleport you away from danger or do other useful stuff, like dispelling. Otherwise, your best shot for familiars are either the Raven (speech gives it limited UMD abilities) and the Hummingbird (+4 Initiative, if you are going elf, take the Elf Wizard substitution level for +8 Initiative instead.)

Is there anything preventing a combination of Elf Wizard and domain wizard? The domain wizard doesn't say it replaces specialization, it just says you cant have both. I don't want to cry RAW until I get my way, but this seems like a powerful, yet allowed combination. I figure it may be the Ur-Priest of arcane casters.

AFAIK, no, you can be an Elf Generalist and a Domain wizard. In fact, even with a +Int elf race like Grey Elf, it's probably the only way an Elf Wizard is mechanically worth playing... It's definitely not overly powerful. That would be Abrupt Jaunt.

Another thing I noticed that was rather painful when playing my one Focused Specialist: Any level you gain a new spell level, your ONLY non-speciality school spell of that level comes from your bonus spells for a high intelligence (if any). That may sound like nothing, but having to wait another level just to use a sexy new spell from some school other than your specialty school feels like...being a sorcerer.

Bleh!