1st level human wizard feats....any idea?

[Mistwell]

It depends on your type of wizard.

If you are planning on using a lot of spells that require an attack roll (such as rays like Ray of Enfeeblement, Scorching Ray, the Orb spells, etc...) then precise shot and/or point blank shot are good.

Some schools benefit greatly from spell focus, like enchantment and illusion spells. Others do not, like transmutation which has a lot of buffs.

If you are planning on using a lot of area effect spells (like fireball) then Sculpt Spell is one of the better metamagic feats with a relatively low cost as well (Complete Arcane).

If you are planning on using a lot of buff spells (like Mage Armor), then Extend Spell is one of the better metamagic feats with a relatively low cost.

If the list of source books includes a lot of other expansion books, and you have a theme in mind that involves cold or fire for example, then there are some fine metamagic feats in Frostburn (like Piercing Cold), and Sandstorm (Fiery Spell and Searing Spell).

Setting is also relevant. If you are playing an illusionist or enchanter or necromancer in the Forgotten Realms, then Shadow Weave Magic is pretty darn good for example.

I think improved initiative is overrated. You're not going to be in the front of your party for marching order, you probably don't have the fastest speed in your party, you don't get special bonuses for hitting flat-footed opponants (like rogues do), and getting the first shot off is sometimes less important than getting an accurate shot off that does what you want it to do (hit the target, do more damage to the target, get past the targets saving throws, etc...).

Spell Penetration and Counterspell stuff is way too early for a first level wizard. Wait for mid-levels before worrying about that sort of thing.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I am currently playing a Ftr/Sorcerer who took Transdimensional Spell as his 1st level Feat. The rationale- its a Metamagic Feat usable at low levels (it has a +1 SLA) and no prerequisites for a PC that will be using a lot of Metamagic Feats- several of which have a prereq of "any other Metamagic Feat," like Energy Substitution. (Originally, the choice was going to be Reach Spell, which turns a touch spell into a ray spell, but campaign pressures eliminated the usefulness of that choice.)

Its usefulness is highly dependent upon the type of campaign your PC will be in- I hadn't used that Feat- or really any of the PC's Metamagic Feats- up until last night, when it paid dividends. Our party encountered its first incorporeal undead...and my PC was the only one who could affect it.

If you're sure your DM is going to be tossing incorporeal creatures at you, its kind of a bargain. Otherwise, don't go for it.

 

[Chimera]

Everyone always wants to go first... Improved Initiative? The downside is if you do get a really good initiative and everyone else goes late in the round, then your foolhardy Wizard has just run out in front to cast his short ranged spell, and he's going to get slaughtered as the bad guys react and charge him.

Seems to me that it's often benefitial to go LAST in the first round as a spellcaster.

We call it "Batting Cleanup".

As others have said, Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot are a virtual requirement if you're going to cast a lot of 'melee touch attack' spells. Or relying on your crossbow after you've run out of spells.

Dodge: if your GM uses a fairly common House Rule to make it +1 to your AC against all opponents.

Eschew Materials: If your GM is the type to keep track of materials that might not be commonly available or are 'out of season' or some such nonsense.

Rapid Reload: If you're going to depend heavily on your light crossbow.

 

[Daredevill]

I'd go for spell pen.

It's always good to get that one early. Mid and high level you'll be taking the metamagic.

 

[Li Shenron]

When starting at 1st level I sometimes still take either Toughness or Dodge.

Point Blank Shot is very nice at low levels when you're out of spells, but later it becomes obsolete unless you plan to have a bunch of ray spells.

Spell Focus is ok if you prepare at least a few spells of that school, otherwise wait for later.

I wouldn't take any metamagic yet at 1st level, except Energy Substitution.

 

[ExMachina]

Check out in Complete Arcane on page 181, if your DM will allow it... Both Collegiate Training and Precocious Apprentice are excellent feats in my book.

 

[Question]

When starting at 1st level I sometimes still take either Toughness or Dodge.

Point Blank Shot is very nice at low levels when you're out of spells, but later it becomes obsolete unless you plan to have a bunch of ray spells.

Spell Focus is ok if you prepare at least a few spells of that school, otherwise wait for later.

I wouldn't take any metamagic yet at 1st level, except Energy Substitution.

But i thought you cant take energy substitution without having a metamagic feat?

 

[moritheil]

I second Precocious Apprentice. There's really no reason to take any other feat as a 1st-level wizard. For one feat, you get +2 to spellcraft, which is always useful, and you can start out with something like blinding color surge. Granted, it's only 1/day until you get 2nd-level spells, but it can easily turn the momentum of a low-level fight. Overall, the feat is immensely useful at low levels, and still somewhat helpful at high levels.

Collegiate Wizard is, IMHO, less useful. One can always play an elf generalist instead and reap similar benefits.

Improved Initiative is excellent, but only at mid to high levels where you have area effects that you need to dump before the melee crew charges in, or when counterspelling is a tactical option.

 

[ExMachina]

Collegiate Wizard is, IMHO, less useful. One can always play an elf generalist instead and reap similar benefits.

Except the fact that Elf generalist wizard gives you 1 extra spell known per level, Collegiate gives you two. Assuming the character gets to 12th level (just an arbitrary #) he/she stands to 'save' ~4,200gp and 12 days downtime. Assuming that the char scribes the highest level spell possible each time.

But...yes, I do like Precocious apprentice better, especially for lower levels, and if you go incantatrix, the +2 spellcraft is very useful.

 

[Malum]

RUNNING! ...sorry just a natural reaction