Favorite Mage build

[Xanti]

I'm just curious as to what everyone's favorite Mage build is. Guidelines are as follows:
1. Only use races from PH1 or similar races. No level adjustment races.
2. Only think of spells from PH 1. No swift expeditious retreat or such in mind.
3. Feats from basically anywhere in 3.5e is fair game.
4. I have no specifics in mind as to a speclialization. I.E. blaster or cc or whatnot.
5. No multiclassing. Only 1 prestige class if you wish, but it's not necessary.

I'm looking mainly for race, feat build through 20, and spells in mind when making this build. Other than that, have fun!

 

[Dandu]

James Solomon Ozymandias

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Although I love running Transmuters and Diviners, I have, over the past few yers, fallen in love with the Mage-Brute concept- an Armor-wearing, weapon-swinging Sorc or BttlSorc with one of the Heritage feats that lets you channel spell energy into supernatural ranged attacks.

The one I actually got to use in play was a Human with Draconic Heritage and Draconic Breath, with Arcane Strike on the list of Feats to take.

Eventually, he would have added Still Spell & Battle Caster even though he wouldn't be casting much, just to maximize his flexibility. I probably would have also multiclassed into War-Mage or something similar to maximize his number of spell slots...all the better to channel with.

Alas, the campaign folded after just a few months.

I'd love to do a variant on this build using the Infernal heritage & Infernal Sorcerer Shout and the Msrshall class (Cha-boosting aura) to do a Black Bolt-themed character...

(Which might be extra-cool if used with an Anthropomorphic Dolphin or Bat...)

 

[n00bdragon]

Whoops! Browser Settings Incompatible

Congratulations on your choice of the most powerful class in 3.5. Such a choice gives you options. There is godhood if you wish, or you can choose to be some other more humble role if you desire.

Let's avoid the threadcrapping comments, thanks. Plane Sailing, enworld admin

 

[Herobizkit]

The most interesting 3.x mage I've played to date was a Dwarven Diviner who had full ranks in Profession (Barrister). He worked for an archaeological outfit as their resident expert in Trade Law, but would also travel with expeditions to assist in the research and acquisition of relics and magical items.

 

[Grogg of the North]

I played a wizard in a game where magic slowly drove people insane. I wrote down all my spells on pieces of paper and put them in my dice bag. Each morning when I prepared spells I would reach into my dice bag, pull out a slip and write down what it was.

It certainly made adventuring interesting and made for some very creative solutions.

 

[Razjah]

I played a halfling sorcerer once, in an Eberron game. I traded my familiar for the metamagic sorcerer variant so that I wasn't gimped by the full round crap.

Then I took almost every single battlefield control spell that I could spam every encounter. There were a bunch of encounters that ended after round 1. It was great. Also he carried a long sword, so that people didn't think he was a mage and try to kill him in the opening rounds of combat.

But the GM was an ass and stuffed us into corridors as often as possible. The druid was similarly gimped without being able to wildshape into large monsters and his bear waited around a lot. Character was fun to roleplay, he hated killing, so he let everyone else do that. He just made sure they didn't get hurt.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I've built a Transmutation specialist Wizard, Focus Caster (trade out familiar for an item that allows extra ability for your school of casting) War Weaver that I've really wanted to play.

The objective would be to drop 4 or more buffs on the rest of the party in the first round then sit back, basket weave and cheer the lads on while they kill things.

A buddy is supposed to be putting together a campaign for me to try him out in, but hasn't gotten around to it yet.

Does Warlock count? I like Warlocks.

 

[Razjah]

I've built a Transmutation specialist Wizard, Focus Caster (trade out familiar for an item that allows extra ability for your school of casting) War Weaver that I've really wanted to play.

I've wanted to play a war weaver ever since I got Heroes of Battle.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I've wanted to play a war weaver ever since I got Heroes of Battle.

Same here. One of the common objections to Wizards is they are so powerful, they outshine all the other classes. I figure this way, you use your magic to make the rest of the party think you're awesome by making them awesome, and everyone wins!