Epic level character question

[AuraSeer]

When the books refer to characters becoming epic after only ten class levels, that's ten levels of a PRESTIGE class. A rogue 5/ assassin 11 would be an "epic assassin", but NOT an "epic character"!

A Rog5/Asn11 is not a legal character. You cannot become an epic anything until you pass character level 20.

If a Rog5/Asn10 wants to gain more assassin levels, he needs 5 more levels of rogue first.

 

[Tom]

With that Fighter 10/Ranger 10 you mentioned, he IS only an Epic Character. He only becomes an Epic (inserty class name here) when he has OVER 20 levels in that class. HOWEVER, once you become an Epic CHARACTER you no longer gain saves and BAB as the normal class. Instead, you get it at the slower rate of an Epic Character.

See page 5, Class and Level Bonuses. "Regardless of the method by which you achieve 21st level, once you reach that point you are considered an epic character." So a 11 Fighter/ 10th Ranger is an epic character, right?

 

[Tom]

Not quite true. Your effective casterlevel continues to increase, and that's where the real benefit is! All effects that depend on level (range, duration, damage, etc. Ok, most damage spells cap out at some level or other, but there's a nice, little epic metamagic-feat that can help you with that.) still keep on increasing past level 20. More importantly, your increased casterlevel helps you beat that nasty SR so many epic characters and monsters have!

That restriction was overruled for my campaigns the same day I laid my hands on the ELH! I'd completely forgotten it even existed...

But my character's main theme is not being dependant upon saves or SR by casting personal spells like Mage armor, Shield, Invisibility, Blur, Displacement, Blink, Stoneskin, etc. I could start casting offensive spells, but I'm trying to figure out if I'll get 8th and 9th level Wiz spells (and spell slots) by going to 17th Wiz/6th Fighter (23rd character level). Also, can I start getting Epic Wizard Spells at 24th+ character level?

 

[James McMurray]

Yes, you will get 8th and 9th level spells, which means you'll qualify for Epic Spellcasting at 24th level.

 

[Pax]

Something you may want to consider, though, is going Fighter(6)/Wizard(10)/Eldritch Knight(10).

For a fighter/wizard, Eldritch Kngiht (DMG 3.5) is a "duh" choice -- you get 9 caster levels, and one bonus feat ... and full Fighter BAB progression.

Compared to what you are now, in fact, Fighter(4)/Wizard(3)/Eldritch Knight(9) would give you 11 caster levels (1 more than you have), 5 non-wizard bonus feats (as many as you have), 0 wizard bonus feats (2 fewer than you have), and a BAB of +14 (compared to your current +11). And you'd still be able to specialise.

Fighter(4)/Wizard(3)/Eldritch Knight(10)/SpellSword(10) would have been a good goal to work toward for level 27; you can still reach the PrC goals, it'll just take you until 9 levels later, right now. You'd have 21 caster levels (or 28 of 'em, starting towards that goal now), a BAB of +18, and plenty of pre-epic bonus feats.

Talk to yoru GM; maybe s/he will let you rearrange things, and pick up Eldritch Knight. It perfectly suits what you are NOW, as-is.