Going Epic...

[GuardianLurker]

Ok, I know this has been asked before, but I'll be darned/knitted/spun if I remember the answer.

Here's the situation :
I have a Conjurer 5/Alienist 10. (Or any other spellcaster/PrC-granting-effective-spellcasting-levels
combo.)

In order:
1) When can he gain levels in Epic Wizard or Epic Alienist?
2) What benefit does he gain from adding 6 or more levels of Wizard?

My understanding leads me to believe:
1) When his Character Level exceeds 20 AND he has reached maximum normal levels for the class.
2) Aside from bonus feats every 5 levels, and advancing his familiar, nothing.

Is that correct?

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

AFAIK, correct on both counts

 

[magnas_veritas]

My understanding leads me to believe:
1) When his Character Level exceeds 20 AND he has reached maximum normal levels for the class.
2) Aside from bonus feats every 5 levels, and advancing his familiar, nothing.

Is that correct?

1) Correct.

2) Urm, yeah, pretty much. You'll get a bonus feat at 20th level (assuming Wiz 5/Alienist 10 and back into Wizard), and a familiar. Of course, you also get your spellcasting.

So, you may want to go prestige class shopping.

Brad

 

[Pax]

Ok, I know this has been asked before, but I'll be darned/knitted/spun if I remember the answer.

Here's the situation :
I have a Conjurer 5/Alienist 10. (Or any other spellcaster/PrC-granting-effective-spellcasting-levels
combo.)

In order:
1) When can he gain levels in Epic Wizard or Epic Alienist?

First, you cannot get levels of Epic anything until your ECL (actual levels plus non-class HD plus Level Adjustment) is 21+. Second, note that it's not "Epic Wizard 1", it's "Epic Wizard 21". You cannot take Epic levels of a class, until you have every non-epic level of that class.

2) What benefit does he gain from adding 6 or more levels of Wizard?

• His caster level goes up by 6.
• He gets a bonus feat (at Wizard 10).
• He gains two attribute increases (one at each of 16th and 20th character levels).
• He gains six levels worth fo skill points.
• He gains one feat (at character level 18), and one Epic feat (at character level 21).
• His BAB goes up by 3
• He gains a +1 Epic Attack Bonus.
• He learns 12 new spells, which are added (free of charge) to his spellbooks.
• His maximum skill ranks becomes 24/12 for in-class/cross-class, respectively.
• He gains 6 new HD (d4 size).
• His saving throws improve by +2/+2/+3 (F/R/W)

My understanding leads me to believe:
1) When his Character Level exceeds 20 AND he has reached maximum normal levels for the class.

Exactly correct.

2) Aside from bonus feats every 5 levels, and advancing his familiar, nothing.

Incorrect. Aside from bonus feats and advancing his familiar ... he also gains the normal benefits of increasing his levels (HD, skills, saves, BAB, new spells learned and caster level if appropriate, a feat every 3 levels, and so on).

As well, as soon as your total ECL passes 21, you are an epic character. You may not qualify for Epic progressions of the Wizard class -- but your 21st level COULD be Alienist (11). Not that there's any point ... trust me, I'm a big fan of Alienist, and they get the shaft bigtime at Epic levels, IMO. But that's another issue.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Re: Re: Going Epic...

• His caster level goes up by 6.

But he doesn't gain any additional spells per day (by default) going from Wiz 10 to Wiz 11, correct?

Incorrect. Aside from bonus feats and advancing his familiar ... he also gains the normal benefits of increasing his levels (HD, skills, saves, BAB, new spells learned and caster level if appropriate, a feat every 3 levels, and so on).

Well, yeah. I guess I should have made clear that I was limiting myself to class features.

You may not qualify for Epic progressions of the Wizard class -- but your 21st level COULD be Alienist (11). Not that there's any point ... trust me, I'm a big fan of Alienist, and they get the shaft bigtime at Epic levels, IMO. But that's another issue.

Eh. I just picked alienist because it was the first PrC from T&B that had +10 effective spellcasting levels.

 

[Pax]

Re: Re: Re: Going Epic...

But he doesn't gain any additional spells per day (by default) going from Wiz 10 to Wiz 11, correct?

Since you're actually going form Wizard(10)/Alienist(10), to Wizard(11)/Alienist(10), the fact is you cast spells as a 20th level wizard. Simply follow the rules for a Wizard of 21st level, WRT how many spells you can cast of each level, per day.

Whichis to say: yes, absolutely correct.

Well, yeah. I guess I should have made clear that I was limiting myself to class features.

I was just making absolutely certain no misunderstandings were created. Besides, HP and BAB are class features, after a fashion.

Eh. I just picked alienist because it was the first PrC from T&B that had +10 effective spellcasting levels.

Ah. It's really a shame that Summon Monster IX really doesn't measure up tothe other 9th level spells (though I haven't given it a close, hard look in 3.5 yet).

I happen to be a BIG fan of the alienist class; it's just go so much FUN potential ... but it breaks down above level 16 or 17, IMO.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Going Epic...

Ah. It's really a shame that Summon Monster IX really doesn't measure up tothe other 9th level spells (though I haven't given it a close, hard look in 3.5 yet).

Actually, it's a tad bit better than it was before. The vrock got pushed back to Summon Monster VIII and the Barbed Devil, Hezrou, and Bebilith (yeah baby yeah! say goodbye to your armor! ) took its place in Summon Monster IX.

 

[James McMurray]

The addition of the 1,000xp cost to gating a creature definitely made SMIX the summoning spell of choice at 9th level as well.