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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shin Okada" data-source="post: 5670579" data-attributes="member: 1956">Well, unfortunately, ToB would likely to be a banned book in the next campaign. When the book was released, we have examined the book and concluded that the book is a kind of 3.75e without proper editorial checks. Many of the materials in the book seem to be out of place in 3.5e and the book has some serious rule crushes which did not get appropriate errata.But maybe I can re-discuss about the book with my friends.Also, I am not sure if I prefer Wizard over Sorcerer or Warmage for the upcoming campaign. The DM says it will be a cliff-hanger campaign which we do not have much off-time during campaign, and also tend to have a lot of encounters per day. That will remove most of the strength from wizard.Now, here is my plan B,C and D.#Plan B5: Duskblade 4/Warmage 2 (Combat Casting, Battle Caster, Practiced Spellcaster: Duskblade, Practiced Spellcaster: Warmage)6: Warmage 2 (Close-Quarter Fighting)7: Abjurant Champion 18: Abjurant Champion 29: Warmage 3 (Arcane Strike, lean Shield spell as a 2nd level spell using Eclectic Learning)10: Abjurant Champion 311: Abjurant Champion 412: Abjurant Champion 5 (some feat)This build gives me full caster-level for Warmage and good caster level for Duskblade. Thus, I can enjoy Lessor Orb spells at maximum strength, can channel 5d6 Shocking Grasp, and also use Resist Energy as a Duskblade spell in appropriate CL. Also, after level 9, I can enjoy using Shield spell augmented by Abjurant Champion's class features.The main problem of this build is that in overall it lacks ranged firepower. I must wait till 10th-level to start hurling 3rd-level warmage spells.Also, when starting at level 5, all I can rely on is medium armor. That may give him miserable AC till he gets better one (hopefully a suit of Mithral Full-Plate or something).#Plan C5: Warmage 3/Paladin 2 (Battle Caster, Combat Casting, Practiced Spellcaster: Warmage)6: Warmage 4 (Close-Quarter Fighting)7: Spellsword 18: Abjurant Champion 19: Abjurant Champion 2 (Arcane Strike)10: Abjurant Champion 311: Abjurant Champion 412: Abjurant Champion 5 (some feat)This build gives me better saves (from CHA) and better Warmage spell casting ability. I can start using 3rd-level Warmage spells at level 8th.On the other hand, no Swift Expeditious Retreat, no Resist Energy, & no Shield spell (at Warmage 3, I cannot choose Shield even if I  use Eclectic Learning substitute class feature in PHB2).Edit: And... I have realized that there is no 1st-level abjuration spell in Warmage spell list. Thus, I must lean RESISTANCE as a 1st-level spell using Eclectic Learning! Thus, this build lacks flexibility in tactics. And lacks resistant to energy. Also, as he does not have Shield spell, he must rely on some nice Animated Light Shield for gaining Shield bonus to AC at higher level.#Plan D5: Dwarf, Wizard 4/Fighter 1 (Defensive Casting, Exotic Shield Proficiency: Gauntlet Shield, Scribe Scroll, Shielded Casting)6: Runesmith 1 (some feat)7: Runesmith 28: Spellsword 19: Abjurant Champion 1 (Arcane Strike)10: Abjurant Champion 2 11:  Abjurant Champion 312:  Abjurant Champion 4 (some feat)This build is more solid than the other two. Very good in defense (Full-Plate plus Gauntlet Shield while wielding a weapon and casting spells). And, start to hurl 3rd-level spells at level 6. He may not rely on Shield spell too much as his Gauntlet Shield is good enough.The main problem is the lack of spell-casting flexibility and the number of spell slots per day. In my experience, unless a wizard can predict what kind of foes he will likely to meet, he tends to end up not using some of his spells at all.Also, at level 5th, he is not yet a Runesmith and thus must rely on non-somatic spells only (or can't wear armor and shield).But, in overall, could be the most realistic build amongst those 3, I guess.</blockquote>

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