D&D 5E 9th level NPC wizard, what is your "Minimum Personal Security" suite?

[Stalker0]

Imagine you have a the class NPC wizard in their tower or library or whatever. For them, its not a day of adventuring, not a day they expect to fight heinous evil....just good old research, some scrying, maybe a little divining, etc.

Now in said Wizard's perfect world, they would prepare no combat spells. After all, every spell prepared to blow something up is one less spell you have to do actual useful things. But....the world is a scary place, and you never want to be caught unprepared, so for your "personal security" you do maintain some combat focused spells.

Now the question....what would those spells be? What do you think a 9th level wizard who wants to be prepared for invaders (general trouble, nothing specific), but wants to utilize the minimum amount of prepared slots towards the effort as possible, would prepare?

Lets assume an 18 int wizard, so a total of 13 prepared spells in total. If it matters for your discussion, here are the spell slots per day such a wizard has access to:

5th - 1
4th - 3
3rd - 3
2rd - 3
1st - 4
Floating Slots (assuming one short rest) - 5

Also lets assume the wizard does NOT have access to magic items. So his own spells are what he's got.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

Teleportation Circle to get out of there if he has a minute to spare. Dimension Door and Fly if he's in a hurry, that's generally enough to escape most enemies.

Assuming survival is the priority. If he wants to defend the lair, it'll depend more on the layout of the place.

 

[dave2008]

Imagine you have a the class NPC wizard in their tower or library or whatever. For them, its not a day of adventuring, not a day they expect to fight heinous evil....just good old research, some scrying, maybe a little divining, etc.

Now in said Wizard's perfect world, they would prepare no combat spells. After all, every spell prepared to blow something up is one less spell you have to do actual useful things. But....the world is a scary place, and you never want to be caught unprepared, so for your "personal security" you do maintain some combat focused spells.

Now the question....what would those spells be? What do you think a 9th level wizard who wants to be prepared for invaders (general trouble, nothing specific), but wants to utilize the minimum amount of prepared slots towards the effort as possible, would prepare?

Lets assume an 18 int wizard, so a total of 13 prepared spells in total. If it matters for your discussion, here are the spell slots per day such a wizard has access to:

5th - 1
4th - 3
3rd - 3
2rd - 3
1st - 4
Floating Slots (assuming one short rest) - 5

Under this scenario I might be inclined to go with all utility spells and leave combat spells to magic items.

 

[Stalker0]

Under this scenario I might be inclined to go with all utility spells and leave combat spells to magic items.

Lets assume no magic items (as those are optional of course), a good point I'll put that in the OP.

 

[Iry]

Shield, Mirror Image, Tiny Hut, Dimension Door, and Teleportation Circle.

One spell at each level that excels at helping the wizard escape from dangerous situations. Preparing Tiny Hut is really nice, because the actual casting time is 1 minute. Then you have time to analyze the situation, possibly chat people up, or spend another minute to Teleportation Circle away if needed.

 

[Umbran]

Also lets assume the wizard does NOT have access to magic items. So his own spells are what he's got.

I think if you take scrolls off the table, there's something wrong with the picture. They have resources for research, but don't scribe any scrolls for emergencies?

This is like ignoring a class ability.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I would think the wizard would also like to prepare Greater Invisibility to assess situations that are questionable and gain an upper hand if the danger is manageable. And then, if too dangerous, Dimension Door out of there.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Don't tell people I'm a wizard until after I've gotten in touch with a noble backer who will arrange for all my security in exchange for the abominations unto the lord I can provide.

Then disguise one of those abominations as me to perform all personal appearance while I pose as the bumbling apprentice who will never amount to anything and is so distained by his master that kidnapping me would be pointless at best.

 

[jgsugden]

If I were a wizard, I'd cast Magnificent Mansion, Modify Memory (on myself) and Phantasmal Force (again on myself). Then a Couple Hideous Laughters on myself to keep me amused while I wait to reset my spells. That's be about it...

 

[Fenris-77]

Tiny Hut and Greater Invisibility plus an alarm ward of some kind. Once I know intruders are coming I cast Tiny hut somewhere obvious and go invisible. Then, while the mouth breathers are camped outside the Hut wafting for me to make my move I sneak out the back door and go find those Frost Giant retainers I hired a while ago and then kind of forgot about. Time to earn your keep boys!

Edit: I need a scroll in there somewhere I think. Which of course, I have, it's right here in pencil at the bottom of my equipment list.