Arcane Trickster--Specialist Wiz or Generalist?

[Barendd Nobeard]

I'm working on my Arcane Trickster (human), and trying to decide whether or not to make him a specialist wizard.

I'm thinking of going Transmuter, with prohibited schools Enchantment and (this one hurts) Evocation.

Thoughts?

 

[Infiniti2000]

I personally don't find that the extra spell is worth the loss of two schools (or one with divination). I'm pretty conservative in spellcasting, though, so take it with a grain of salt. I find that a pearl of power or two or maybe even a ring of wizardry more than compensates for the extra spell. The bonus to spellcraft is almost entirely useless.

So, my recommendation is 100% into the Generalist column.

 

[blargney the second]

Ditto to infiniti2000. Wizards get extra spells per day from their Scribe Scroll.

-blarg

 

[Patlin]

My AT is a generalist wizard. I look in horror on the prospect of missing out on a school or two of spells! I have some serious spell greed. I also want to make the broadest possible use of Craft Wonderous Item.

 

[Krelios]

I'll chime in and agree. Versatility > +1 spell per day.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I'll chime in and agree. Versatility > +1 spell per day.

You mean, Versatility > +1 spell per spell level per day.

 

[Votan]

I personally don't find that the extra spell is worth the loss of two schools (or one with divination). I'm pretty conservative in spellcasting, though, so take it with a grain of salt. I find that a pearl of power or two or maybe even a ring of wizardry more than compensates for the extra spell. The bonus to spellcraft is almost entirely useless.

So, my recommendation is 100% into the Generalist column.

The extra spell at the highest spell level can have a lot of practical effects. A wizard needs to make tough decisions all of the way along in terms of wha tto cast and a few fewer options may be able to help with this.

Now, an arcane trickster tends to be down 3 caster levels from a pure wizard. At odd levels this will mean a 2 spell level lag. To stay competive as many high level slots as possible are really nice. Plus you will survive better at lower levels when the few number of slots actually matters.

It's true that this isn't perfect but I think that the trade-off is not automatically bad.

 

[TheGogmagog]

Does anyone have suggestions for alternate spellcasters for arcane trixter?

Obviously it's arcane based, so that rules out the divine casters. Within arcane you have the choice of Int based or Cha based. Int has obvious advantages for a rogue, there are Cha skills, but personally I'd rather have the skill points than +2 to a skill check.

Are there any other Int based Arcane casters that would be compatable with Arcane Trixter?

edit: I was looking at the alternate classes in SRD and the 'spellcaster' would be intesting. It seems you can chose arcane/divine, Int/Wis/Cha, and choose spells known from any spell list (when compared to the sorcerer) in exchange for familiar and a few spells per day.

 

[Krelios]

You mean, Versatility > +1 spell per spell level per day.

Doh! You're right, I do.

 

[Dog Moon]

Ahhhh! How can you possibly think to get rid of Evocation? Using Evo spells and combining it with Sneak Attack is part of the neatest part of the class.

I agree with the others that General is the best way to go. Personally, as an Arcane Trickster, I'd prefer Enchantment/Evo over all the others. Getting rid of Conjuration/Necromancer I think would be the best choice, excluding Generalist, that is.