How to level a wizard ? (feats, PrC...)

[Grenouillebleue]

Hello,

I'm currently playing a low-level wizard in a weekly campaign and reached level 5 yesterday (which nets me a free meta-feat). Level 6 will also give me a new feat.

This got me to wonder what the "best" feats for a wizard would be. I'm assuming a regular full-spellcasting evoker here (barred schools enchantment and necromancy), not a gish or an arcane trickster or any other non-pure caster.

I know going straight Wizard 20 isn't as powerful as taking PrCs but for the sake of argument, let's assume that I'll be doing juste that.

What feats are useful for such a character and in what order would you take them ? Also, what metamagic feats do you usually take and at what level ?

Here are some feats I deemed of value, but I have no clue as to when to take them.

I'm human, which gave me an extra feat at first level.

1) Spell focus (evocation), Able Learner
3) Greater Spell focus (evocation)
5) Still Spell*
6) Spell Penetration
9) Improved Toughness
10) Empower Spell*
12) Greater Spell Penetration
15) Silent Spell, Quicken Spell*
18) Improved Initiative
20) Maximise Spell

I can use PHB I & II and Complete Arcane/Adventurer/Fighter/Divine.

My stats at level 5, with the +1 from level 4, are:

STR 10
DEX 13
CON 16
INT 18
WIS 14
CHA 12

 

[Darklone]

I'd take Quicken at level 12 already. The rest looks traditional but good except for the last two.

 

[Krafen]

Extend Spell is an excellent feat.

I don't think Silent Spell and Still Spell are all that useful for a Wizard. Use metamagic rods for those, they are pretty cheap for the +1 metamagics.

 

[Grenouillebleue]

Extend Spell is an excellent feat.

I don't think Silent Spell and Still Spell are all that useful for a Wizard. Use metamagic rods for those, they are pretty cheap for the +1 metamagics.

I don't know about Silent Spell, but I thought a Stilled Blink or Dimension Door would be mandatory to escape those pesky grapples that can really ruin my day.

I agree that Extend Spell looks nifty, but since I'm supposed to be an evoker (and thus be a primary ranged damage-dealer), is it really useful for me ? What spells would benefit from it ?

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I don't know about Silent Spell, but I thought a Stilled Blink or Dimension Door would be mandatory to escape those pesky grapples that can really ruin my day.

I agree that Extend Spell looks nifty, but since I'm supposed to be an evoker (and thus be a primary ranged damage-dealer), is it really useful for me ? What spells would benefit from it ?

Dimesnion door is already stilled, no need to still one. All your defensive spells benefit form exztend, but I would pic up empower and suden maximize. I also think there is a sudden energy conversion feat(yes, I know that is not right) around somewhere. Can be great in a tight spot

 

[Grenouillebleue]

That sounds pretty nice... yup, I guess that's how I'll play it out.

Now that I have the feats (almost) planned, could I also have some advice on how to PrC this wizard ? I have read somewhere that the best time to get out of Wizard is at 6th level, which means right now.

Please, bear in mind that I can only play with the 4 completes I've mentioned (although Complete Mage might be allowed as well) and the PHBII, so no Incantatrix for me.

I'm looking for something that wouldn't hamper my spell progression and most PrC I've seen are pretty lackluster...

 

[nittanytbone]

There are awesome PrCs out there for wizards. Even Loremaster is superior to straight wizard. Familiars are fairly useless, so anything that is full-casting will offer better bonuses than a bonus feat every five levels!

For feats, I'd move Quicken spell up sooner. Empower spell is key for blasting. Finally, I'd consider Craft Wondrous Item if nobody else has it. You have enough feats to squeeze it in there and the whole party benefits from having access to it.

 

[Nifft]

Three words, my friend: Craft. Wondrous. Item.

It's easily the best way for a Wizard to stay ahead of the power curve AND be popular with his party.

Since you have so many metamagic feats, you might also enjoy Craft Rod.


Some general advice: Able Learner is a bit wasted if you have only one class. Evocation is also not your strongest option at high level (not the kind of Evocation that has a save, anyway -- wall of force remains awesome).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Grenouillebleue]

Ok for craft wondrous items.

This character has already started the campaign so I highly doubt I could change my specialization from evoker to something else.

However, I'm starting to wonder whether it was a good idea to get necromancy and enchantment as barred school since I lose False Life - and that's an awesome spell.

What barred schools would *you* choose as an evoker AND the only arcane spellcaster of the party ?

Abjuration ? No dispel magic... that really sucks
Illusion ? No mirror image, no invisibility of any kind... yuck
Conjuration ? No teleport or dimension door... yuck
Transmutation ? No haste, no slow, no polymorph, no rope trick...


Aaaaaack !

Edit: I might perhaps forego Abjuration altogether and take Necromancy instead.

 

[Dracomeander]

If your DM will allow Complete Mage, the Master Specialist from there would be the way to go to provide extra flavor for your specialization.

Otherwise for full spellcasting progression, your best bets are either Loremaster or Mage of the Arcane Order.