Dual Specialist Wizard?

[magnusmalkus]

Is it possible? I don't think I recall reading anything in my collection that permits this. I did a search and saw one post in all the internet that referenced a Changeling Wizard... but i don't have any Eberron books... nor do I think the DM is allowing any Ebberon content.

I'd like to do a dual specialist Conjurer/Evoker - a blasting summoner.

Would it be under-balanced to take both and ban myself from 3 other schools? Or is 4 more balancing?

 

[Dice4Hire]

I am pretty sure that Complete Arcane or Complete Mage had a master specialist prestige class that allowed more narrow specialization, which is close to what you want. Maybe, instead of taking two in one school your DM would allow you to take one bonus spell in each school.

I do believe there was a feat in one of those books that allowed something similar too.

 

[Dandu]

Is it possible? I don't think I recall reading anything in my collection that permits this. I did a search and saw one post in all the internet that referenced a Changeling Wizard... but i don't have any Eberron books... nor do I think the DM is allowing any Ebberon content.

I'd like to do a dual specialist Conjurer/Evoker - a blasting summoner.

Would it be under-balanced to take both and ban myself from 3 other schools? Or is 4 more balancing?

Focused Specialist Conjurer, take advantage of the many blasting spells in Conjuration.

 

[TwoSix]

The dual specialization option you're talking about is specifically from "Races of Eberron", and is a set of substitution levels that lets you dual-specialize in illusion and transmutation as a changeling wizard. There are no other dual-specialization options in any WotC material.

That being said, a Focused Specialist Conjurer (and possibly going Master Specialist as well) has more than enough blast spells to summon and blast pretty well. Maybe grab the Fiery Burst feat for some extra at-will blasting if you really want some blast flavor.

 

[GaimMastr]

GaimMastr's on-the-fly Adjudication

I would allow a mage to specialize in as many schools as they want. Keep in mind for every specialization you have to pick 2 barred schools, preferably opposite. Optionally you could use the 2nd edition opposition school+1 variant. In 3.5 they further state divination as as only requiring you to pick one barred school instead of two. SO, this means the maximum specializations would be 3 and you'd be barred from every other school but one, Universal. You could specialize in universal but I'd argue that to be too unstable of a variant, but you'd be welcome to try. After all it is just a game.

Abjuration
Conjuration
Divination
Enchantment
Evocation
Illusion
Necromancy
Transmutation
Universal?



And then there is the focus specialist where you super specialize and pick 3 barred schools.

I like to pretend 3.5 adjudications don't exist because I never like the whole idea 3.5 was supposed to embody. That's why I treat both 3.0 and 3.5 as tandem rules systems unless they vary too wildly.

 

[Empirate]

Lost Empires of Faerûn also has the Spell Reprieve, Item Reprieve and Arcane Transfiguration feat line (with prereqs in this order), which at least lets you regain full mastery of one forbidden school for a specialist wizard. Still no dual-specialization, though.

 

[magnusmalkus]

It occurs to me now that specialization only really gives you one extra spell slot... the ability to learn spells of that school more easily is background/behind the scenes minutae that our group doesn't really deal with. Specialization does nothing to make your spells more difficult to resist, or do more damage...

And... even if I base it on the Changeling level substitution ability, dual specialization in that iteration of the concept does not give TWO extra spell slots; it just lets you use the slot to prepare a spell of either school...

Hmmm... and yes, focused specialist gives you 2 more specialist slots (for a total of 3 specialist slots) for the cost of one less regular 'daily' slot per spell casting level (and an additional forbidden school).

So... super specializing in conjuration - summoning fulfills the primary function ... and considering I want the character secondary function to be 'blaster', i can 'specialize' in the concept, at least, by getting Weapon Focus: ray so my ranged touch attacks are more likely to hit, and spell focus: Evocation so my damaging spells are harder to resist...

Yeah... I realize now i don't have to use the specialization rules function exclusively to improve his unique, 'specialist' concept.

Thanks folks!

 

[Empirate]

If you basically want a blasty conjurer, I'd opt out of Evocation completely, as per [MENTION=85158]Dandu[/MENTION]'s suggestion. Conjuration is probably the most varied and possibly the most powerful school of magic. It contains lots and lots of blasting spells, some of which are basically just like Evocation spells (e.g. Acid Breath is a Fireball, but with a cone-shaped area and acid damage; everything else is just the same). Some are arguably better, if more specialized, e.g. the Orb spell line (single-target d6/lvl blasts that don't allow save or SR, plus inflicting a short-term condition).

So why not skip Evocation completely already? A conjuration-specialized wizard can do it all, really, and Focused Specialist is actually a strong option for them. One of the benefits is that you only have to spend feats on one area of expertise. A feat lineup of Spell Focus: Conjuration, Augment Summoning, Sculpt Spell, Cloudy Conjuration and maybe a reserve feat will serve you well, and define the character well into the mid levels. Add in the Abrupt Jaunt ACF and you have one powerhouse of a character. For PrC choices, well, Master Specialist immediately comes to mind. Summoning-focused characters also do well with a level or two of Paragnostic Apostle, and of course, Malconvoker is a natural choice for such a character (but requires a bit more investment).

I've seen a build very similar to this in play, and it has impressed me time and again with its versatility and the sheer number of neat little tricks it can pull off.

 

[rulrick]

,t know either

Is it possible? I don't think I recall reading anything in my collection that permits this. I did a search and saw one post in all the internet that referenced a Changeling Wizard... but i don't have any Eberron books... nor do I think the DM is allowing any Ebberon content.

I'd like to do a dual specialist Conjurer/Evoker - a blasting summoner.

Would it be under-balanced to take both and ban myself from 3 other schools? Or is 4 more balancing?

but i played with a player who played his point blank sorceror, it was duel classed sorceror, and monk, surprisingly it worked out great, just take monk as the primary.. just imagine magic missel as a fist attack...

 

[Empirate]

but i played with a player who played his point blank sorceror, it was duel classed sorceror, and monk, surprisingly it worked out great, just take monk as the primary.. just imagine magic missel as a fist attack...

Welcome to the boards!

But seriously ...that's your first post? It's basically not at all concerned with the OP's question. We're not talking about multiclassing, but about single-classed Wizards (maybe with PrCs taken later), and about the possibility (or lack thereof) of taking dual specializations.