1st Level Wizard - What Spells Do You Take?

[Olaf the Stout]

I'm going to be playing a Wizard in airwalkrr's AoW pbp game. However I've never played a 3.xE Wizard before. I'm trying to pick my starting spells. I have a few ideas but I thought I would ask the posters of EN World what spells they choose when playing a 1st level Wizard.

The Wizard with have the goal of eventually casting all the spells in the PHB so I imagine that he will have a very Generalist approch, with no real concentration of spells in any one school. He will certainly not be a Specialist Wizard (that may not be the best thing to do from a powergaming point of view but I like the concept).

So which spells do you/would you choose?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I'm going to be playing a Wizard in airwalkrr's AoW pbp game. However I've never played a 3.xE Wizard before. I'm trying to pick my starting spells. I have a few ideas but I thought I would ask the posters of EN World what spells they choose when playing a 1st level Wizard.

The Wizard with have the goal of eventually casting all the spells in the PHB so I imagine that he will have a very Generalist approch, with no real concentration of spells in any one school. He will certainly not be a Specialist Wizard (that may not be the best thing to do from a powergaming point of view but I like the concept).

So which spells do you/would you choose?

Olaf the Stout

I would cast... MAGIC MISSILE.

 

[roguerouge]

Change self, magic missile, charm person, unseen servant, and summon monster I are the great universals, with shield, comprehend languages, sleep, and color spray being favored alternates.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Olaf,

Without wanting to give away anything: Burning Hands might be handy.
Grease is another spell that always seems to come in handy too. Unseen Servant is good as well and you can have a little fun with it when entering some of the town's establishments. Colour Spray can be surprisingly effective. Identify might be a good way of pulling in some income too.

I'd leave MM, Summonings and some of the better at high level than low level spells until later. The minor orbs from Complete Arcane are exceptionally well priced for 1st level spells but are not that useful until later levels.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Just so everyone knows, I'm not searching for hints and tips for the AoW campaign. I just want to know what spells you choose/would choose for your 1st level caster. I do appreciate the tip though Herremann.

The spells that I'm considering so far are Magic Missile, Mage Armour or Shield, Sleep, Colour Spray, Grease, Burning Hands, True Strike, Charm Person, Cause Fear, Ray of Enfeeblement, Chill Touch, Enlarge Person and Expeditious Retreat.

Summon Monster I can wait until I'm higher level. Spending 1 round casting to get a creature to appear for 1 round seems like a waste to me. Better to leave it until at least 2nd or 3rd level when I can get better value for money so to speak.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Aeric]

Charm Person + low-Wis humanoids = free followers.

 

[QuaziquestGM]

Mount.

Always useful.

Something out of reach? use horse as step stool

Bunch of enemies charging? Not with a horse suddenly appearing in thier path!

Think the corridor is booby trapped? Don't want to bother finding that statue that is suposed to hold down the pressure plate puzzle? Need to hoist the ko'ed fighter in platemale out of the pit?

Mount, the perfect level one spell....

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

If you anticipate fighting humanoids at all, at the first few levels, I find Daze to be one of the best spells. In my last two games, at level 1 it was more effective than any first level spell I had. Also, grease is amazing, and never stops being effective, but since it's round/level, I'd wait until level 2 or 3 at least to pick it up.

 

[charlesatan]

I'd also like to add that while Sleep is generally a useful spell at low-levels, it's casting time is 1 round.

Shocking Grasp also has the quickest pay-off although that also means you're getting into melee range.

Color Spray has a nice cone effect that at the very least stalls your opponents.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Mount.

Always useful.

Something out of reach? use horse as step stool

Bunch of enemies charging? Not with a horse suddenly appearing in thier path!

Think the corridor is booby trapped? Don't want to bother finding that statue that is suposed to hold down the pressure plate puzzle? Need to hoist the ko'ed fighter in platemale out of the pit?

Mount, the perfect level one spell....

I like your creative uses of the Mount spell. I'm not sure how my good character would feel about using it as a trap finder though!

Olaf the Stout