abjurer and specialist

[Tumbler]

I'm trying to build a sorceror who is focused on abjuration magic in general and counterspelling in particular. This leaves me with a few questions.

Are there any feats that increase effective caster level for dispelling checks?

What is the point of taking spell focus (abjuration) and greater spell focus except for qualifying for initiate of the sevenfold veil prestige class? What is the point of increasing the DC to resist abjuration spells?

Any general advice for abjurers is helpful.

Thank you.

 

[Solarious]

If you're going with a pure Abjurer, I don't think that you're going to get much help in the ECL department besides items like Arcane Might rings and Orange Ioun Stones (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). If you're serious about a counterspelling build, take Arcane Mastery. Taking 10 on all caster level checks is invaluable.

For SF (Abj), there are a few spells in that school that fall into that have saves, including warding spells (examples include Explosive Runes, Repulsion, Prismatic Wall/Sphere, Sign of Sealing, and Refusal), banishing spells (like Dismissal and Banishmen), and Reciprocal Gyre (wonderful anti-mage stuff). Besides, the Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil is quite a powerful PrC with full spellcasting progression. That's very important, by the way. The Spell Focus feats you need to get in are well worth it for getting in.

PS. Also, Geometer synergizes well with your counterspeller concept. Powerful Spellglyph gives you an additional +1 to Caster Level Checks (although you need to spend money to make them), and also wads you with some interesting and unique abilities (and grants you the normally divine-only glyph of warding series, which is a plus). Also comes with full spellcasting progression, which is wonderful and worth looking at in it's own right.