1st level wizard design

[Kamard]

Oh yeah. Get a torchbearer NPC and a couple of crossbows. When you are busy firing crossbow A, he can be loading crossbow B, and vice versa. Plus, when you die a miserable death from lack of hit points, he can drag your body out while J. Random Barbarian and friends (with more than 3-6 hp) are fighting the enemies.

 

[bret]

Don't forget to make as many scrolls of your attack spells as you can, that way you can focus memorization on other spells.

I strongly disagree with this.

You make scrolls of the spells you would seldom use, but that are lifesavers when you hit that special circumstance.

A scroll of Magic Weapon, for when you hit something with DR and someone in the group doesn't have a magical weapon. "Here, I'll enchant that for you, so you can go kill the gargoyle."

At slightly higher level, a scroll of Tenser's Floating Disk for if a comrade goes unconcious and you can't cure them enough to so they can walk on their own. You want one at about 3rd caster level, so you can carry enough weight for a person.

Again at higher level, a scroll of See Invisible for obvious reasons.

At much higher level, a scroll of Dismissal to get rid of that extradimensional creature.

Scrolls take care of the spells that are special purpose and you will not always be using. You want to memorize the spells that you will always be using, doesn't cost any gold or experience points to do so.


Something I forgot to mention: At first level, a ray of frost is actually worth casting. At higher levels, the damage just isn't there. At first level, 1d3 is enough to seriously hurt many of the monsters.

 

[Li Shenron]

You make scrolls of the spells you would seldom use, but that are lifesavers when you hit that special circumstance.

I agree completely.

Otherwise, make backup scrolls of defensive spells, in case you have an extra daily unexpected combat.

 

[Kamard]

Well, all right. I agree with you on that. But I also feel that you can never have too many attack spell scrolls.

So perhaps what should be said is:

Scrolls of attack spells
Scrolls of crazy random utility spells

Memorize defense/common utility spells.

 

[Kershek]

Don't forget to make as many scrolls of your attack spells as you can, that way you can focus memorization on other spells. Make a wand of your favourite attack spell as early as you possibly can. Brew a lot of potions. I guess here I am saying the item creation feats are spectacular.

Don't make scrolls of attack spells. They will have a low save DC because they don't take into account your high intelligence. For instance, a scroll of Color Spray has a DC of 11 instead of a DC of possibly 15 or 16 if you cast it yourself.

 

[strongbow]

Buy as many mules as you can. At 8 gold apiece, they are the cheapest charged items you can buy. They also have scent.

Any more info for us?

 

[efreet]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the useful information it's been really, really helpful - let's see if we can keep it coming for a bit longer.

Some of you have asked for more info...

Basically, I'm just wondering what the "standard practice" is for creating effective 1st level wizards and the best advice I can get my hands on.

It'll just be a "standard fantasy" campaign, I'll also be using the default array and average gold for 1st level (unless I can borrow some from other characters!). I can use any WotC source I want, I've a pretty big library and between us the group's got, more or less, all the WotC stuff. Unofficial stuff might be hard to get past the DM - but I can give it a try. (Also, Spellcasting Prodigy has also been vetoed - sorry!). I can buy scrolls and other minor magic - if I have enough cash.

Something I was thinking about was, maybe, Spell Mastery and Signature Spell (FRCS) - it'd give me some real flexibility. Thoughts?

Also, any more ideas on Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus. I know this has been recomended by some of you, but I was thinking that, unless I use a particular spell all the time (and cast it from memory), I may not get that much use out of it - at least at first level. So, if I took it I'd have to couple it with preparing burning hands, color spray, charm person etc. an awful lot.

I'm mainly looking for good idea as to how to get a nice broad starting spell choices, a good memorised spell repertoire and get this to mesh well with my feats, specialisation (if any) as well as any scrolls I can get before I start. I'll probably be human (for the feats and movement - though I can see the atraction of elvish weapon skills) and almost certainly be specialising - not sure what in yet though.

I've really liked the advice on survivability together with the posting of other peoples wizards - please keep it coming!

BTW: Does anyone know the starting gold and number of known spells for first level wizards, I've lent my PHB to another group member for the week and can't find the info in the SRD!

efreet.

 

[efreet]

Re: More information please efreet

1) Do you intend to multi-class at later levels, or stick with wizard because the group doesn't have one?
2) What do you want to focus on? Attack, Buffing, Metamagic, Item Creation, Uniqueness, Survivability, Power-gaming, Roleplay.
3) While all of us who play wizards have our own version of what is the "best", you are playing the wizard in the end. Tell us what you envision a wizard being like and what you would enjoy.
Help us help you

Woops, missed these.

I plan to be a pure wizard, all the way through!

I want to be, play-wise, an effective and powerful set of stats and abilities, but I'd also like to be able to create an interesting character and persona around these. How I go about this is going to depend on what interesting combinations I see coming up here.

I'm not sure what I want to focus around, so I'm asking for ideas.

I also don't want to be an "average wizard" so am looking for something a bit unique. I'd like to have a coherent and interesting set of spells and feats to work with, and see where I can go from there when I've a couple of levels under my belt. I don't want a standard wizard with a colection of miscellaneous spells and feats.

hope this helps,

efreet.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Dwarf gives a Con bonus (more hit points) and gives a bonus to saving throws.

Plus even more CON if you get yourself a Toad familiar. Plus they get bonuses to saves vs. magic.

Dwarf wizard is the way to go.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

Bah ... don't be a dwarf wizard with a lame-o toad familiar. It's just min/maxing.

I'd be an evoker and drop the Conjuration school. Mage Armor is great and you'll miss it, but eventually you'll get magic bracers that won't stack with it and you'll never miss Conjuration.