Favorite Mage build

[Razjah]

To expand my build from before: I got lucky and rolled an 18 and 16. 18 went to Cha, 16 to Dex so I had two 18s in my stats. basically everything else was 11-13. Also note, I rolled terribly for my HP. Multiple levels involved 2 or 3 hp. Getting 5 in one level was mind blowing.

Feats: Improved Initiative
Spell Focus (conjuration)
Enlarge Spell
Combat Casting (I took this after getting jumped in a barracks and forced to hide under a bed)

Notable Spells:
(1)Mage Armor
(1)Grease
(1)Ray of Enfeeblement (great for big scary dudes)
(2)Glittlerdust
(2)Web
(3)Dispel Magic
(3)Stinking Cloud
(4)Black Tentacles
(4)Enervation
(4)Globe of Invulnerability, Lesser
(5)Cloudkill
(5)Wall of Force

I only got to play the character up to level 11. But the pattern was battlefield control, and a few debuffs. Anything that would let me say "Game Over" or spam like hell. I eventually got Fireball to launch at hordes and that was fun, but shutting down whole zones of combat was the goal.

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!

I also really like how it lets you cheat on spells. One Bull Strength covers the whole party. It is a really interesting class, that really doesn't do anything broken and help play a support wizard.

 

[Manbearcat]

Do you want to be a Fighter/Mage/Thief?

Press Summoner Button.

 

[Xanti]

We're getting closer to what I had in mind. I am looking at wizard/archmage, gotten from treantmonk's guide. I like the sounds of the necromancy specialization, spamming ray of enfeeblement and the like.

Archmage requires two spell focuses form different schools and skill focus(spellcraft).

Im thinking of spell focus(necromancy)for one.

Remaining questions: assuming a human wizard, I'd like some recommended feat trees for lvls 1-20, suggested high arcana and how many levels to take there.

 

[Razjah]

Do you have to be a wizard? From the games I have played, sorcerer's are much better at spamming attacks like Ray of Enfeeblement. They get more spells per day, and if you want to spam spells, you don't need that many. You can always use scrolls as a backup for odd situations (even if you need to buy them) or see if someone else is willing to platy a wizard to cover the utility and make scrolls for the situational spells.

 

[Xanti]

No, I'd like to play a wizard. I've played sorcerer before and like to try something different. I'm kinda married to at wizard.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm kinda married to at wizard.

I dated a wizard for a while. My favorite part about dating a wizard was the buffs. But it turns out I need a more robust attack bonus in my significant others.

My favorite spellcaster has been the BURN EVERYTHING TO THE GROUND AND LAUGH AT WHATEVER'S LEFT kind of spellcaster. Which is why as a player I've tended to spammier, more-limited builds like warlocks and sorcerers.

 

[Nezkrul]

I'm just curious as to what everyone's favorite Mage build is. Guidelines are as follows:
1. Human (if flaws allowed, take 2, in this case: Weak Willed, and Vulnerable)
2. This build focuses on scorching ray and divine power, but utilizes lots of other good spells from ph1
3. flaw-iron will, flaw-empower spell, 1st-searing spell, Hum-split ray spell, 3rd-eschew materials, 6th-arcane disciple (Kord, War Domain), 7th-fiery spell, 9th-versatile spellcaster, 10th-extend spell, 12th-persistent spell, 13th-energy substitution (fire), 15th-energy admixture (fire), 16th-easy metamagic (energy admixture (fire)), 18th-easy metamagic (persistent)
4. Blaster/buffer
5. Sorcerer 6 / Incantatrix 10 / Sorcerer +4

Spells Known:
0's- arcane mark, mage hand, prestidigitation, stick, caltrops, read magic, detect magic, light, ray of frost
1st- magic missile, shield, ray of enfeeblement, grease, comprehend languages
2nd- scorching ray, glitterdust, spectral hand, knock, blindness/deafness
3rd- haste, slow, greater magic weapon, vampiric touch
4th- (d)divine power, evard's black tentacles, enervation, fear
5th- wall of stone, baleful polymorph, telekinesis, major creation
6th- greater dispel magic, disintegrate, acid fog
7th- greater teleport, limited wish, finger of death
8th- polymorph any object, mind blank, telekinetic sphere
9th- gate, foresight, bigby's crushing hand

instant metamagic persistent spell divine power so it lasts all day and now you have full base attack AND full spell casting.

 

[Xanti]

Now, this is what I'm talking about. I like that you outlines everything for me and now I'm interested. I'm an idiot so you're gonna have to help me out a little. I understand the majority of these feats and whatnot, but what you're going for is ray-ray fun?

What book is the Incantatrix in so I can look it up?

 

[Dandu]

It is in the updated 3.5e Player's Guide to Faerun.

The 3.0 version can be found online on the Wizard's website. It's the less powerful version.

 

[Xanti]

Which school or schools is/are suggested to prohibit in order to take the class?