Level adjusted mage help

[TYPO5478]

First, I'm pretty sure my DM is going to see this, so I just want to make it clear, evilbob, I'm looking for suggestions; I'm not griping.

So here's the situation: up until a couple of sessions ago, I had a fairly straightforward 8th level human wizard. Then the party went up against a vampire, and as a result of a few bad rolls and tactical decisions (and being horrendously unprepared for such an encounter), we got our clocks thoroughly cleaned. We woke up 5 days later with a tremendous urge to drink blood and a niggling afterthought that we really should have coffins. By the way, all of this happened on the Plane of Shadow, so no sunlight to worry about.

Our DM took mercy on us and gimped the vampire template a bit, making our level adjustments +4 instead of the standard +8. We kept the DR, blood drain, ability adjustments, spider climb and some other stuff, but lost things like dominate and create spawn. But that's not the point. The point is that now we're facing encounters that are 4 or 5 levels higher than my casting abilities. The main problem I've run into is spell resistance; I just don't seem to be able to roll high enough to break through. Also, our opponent's saves have increased accordingly, but I'm lacking higher level spells to bring up the DC. Even with Spell Focus (evocation) and Spell Focus (enchantment), most things we're fighting seem to be making their saves pretty easily.

So the question is this: what can I do to increase my caster level checks and save DCs? Feats are low on the list, because it's going to take about another 42,000 XP before I get to level 9 to have one. Magic items are better, but buying them will be difficult; we've been pretty well ostracized by society because of our condition (not to mention our resident meathead went and intimidated our best magic dealer into refusing to associate with us). Any 4th-level-or-lower spells that ignore SR and don't have saves? I don't have a problem making ranged touch attacks. Even plain ranged attacks are okay.

The mêlée fighters are having an easier time of it. They've got DR and Str bonuses. The biggest thing I got was +2 Int. How would you make the most of it?

 

[James McMurray]

New character?

Seriously, four LA on a straight caster is a death sentence unless you start out with it early on and plan the entire character around overcoming it. And even then it's going to hobble you rather than kill you outright. Unless you think there's a cure anywhere in sight or don't mind being a utility caster, you're options are incredibly limited.

 

[IcyCool]

Start picking up all the spells you can that don't allow either saves or SR (or both). Don't cast any spells that grant these. You are a much lower caster level (that can't even be fixed with Practiced Spellcaster), so you need to be doing what little damage you can without the highly likely chance of it getting negated.

Barring that, start picking up fighter levels and use your spells for utility while hacking, slashing, bludgeoning or shooting your opponents.

 

[Wolfwood2]

First, I'm pretty sure my DM is going to see this, so I just want to make it clear, evilbob, I'm looking for suggestions; I'm not griping.

The mêlée fighters are having an easier time of it. They've got DR and Str bonuses. The biggest thing I got was +2 Int. How would you make the most of it?

Assuming you don't just want to trade-in for a new character...

First priority it to exploit area of effect spells that you and all your vampire friends are now immune too. For instance, Stinking Cloud will have no effect on your undead melee monsters, so just ground zero it around you. (No SR either.)

Spells like Confusion, Fear, and Crushing Despair do get stopped by SR, but because you don't have to worry about hitting your friends, you can coat the whole battlefield. One of your enemies is bound to fail his save and you make your check.

You can also afford to get into melee to use touch spells like Ghoul Touch, since if you get killed you'll just reform in your coffin.

And of course, buff spells like Haste and Bull's Strength and Blur will always be welcome from the group tanks.

Not that any of this will make your character not suck compared to the melee types, but you can at least play to your strengths.

 

[Lorgrom]

Use whats your biggest advatage, your Inteligence. Why should you worry about fighting when your "lackies" (aka the combative characters) who will do it for you. All you need to do is point them in the righ direction and give them some motivation. Throw in a spell or two to help cover what weak points they do have. Then sit back and when your enemies start running from your lackies. Gaseious form, follow them, you can then become solid right infront of them or wait till they are recovering, then go in for a snack. Remember they have to sleep while you don't. Time is your biggest ally.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Use whats your biggest advatage, your Inteligence. Why should you worry about fighting when your "lackies" (aka the combative characters) who will do it for you. All you need to do is point them in the righ direction and give them some motivation. Throw in a spell or two to help cover what weak points they do have. Then sit back and when your enemies start running from your lackies. Gaseious form, follow them, you can then become solid right infront of them or wait till they are recovering, then go in for a snack. Remember they have to sleep while you don't. Time is your biggest ally.

Because sitting back and doing nothing during combat isn't a lot of fun?

Sometimes the smartest thing to do isn't the same as the most satisfying. Everybody wants to feel like they're contributing to the fight.

 

[RedFox]

Ask if you can retrain as a Dread Necromancer?

 

[TYPO5478]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I have to say, I'm not interested in starting a new character. I just don't see it as an option, in-game or out. The character's condition has already made for some fascinating role-playing predicaments. I don't want to just start over (kind of a cheap way out), I want to overcome this obstacle. The character is searching for a cure, but in the meantime he has to deal with the condition. I'm looking for ways to use it to his advantage.

Taking levels in other classes is about at useful as trying to take feats: I'm more than 40,000 XP away from my next level. Plus, the original idea for this character was to become an archmage; fighter levels will definitely get in the way.

Thanks, Wolfwood, for reminding me of area spells, touch spells and vampire immunities. I'll definitely look into that, although I will have to be careful since not all of our party are vampires. Also, we are destroyed at 0 HP like most undead (no coming back for us), so strolling into mêlée is still not advised for a caster. Although gaseous form might be a useful (and appropriate) escape spell...

Perhaps I should have been more specific which abilities we kept and which we lost. Since I don't have my character sheet with me, here it is as best I can remember it.

Kept:
d12 Hit Dice
natural armor bonus +6
slam attack
Blood Drain (Ex)
Damage Reduction 10/silver and magic (Su)
Fast Healing 5 (Ex)
Resistances (Ex) - cold 10 and electricity 10
Spider Climb (Ex)
Turn Resistance (Ex)
Abilities: Str +6, Dex +4, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +4, no Constitution score.
Skills: +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks.
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, and Lightning Reflexes

Lost:
Children of the Night (Su)
Dominate (Su)
Create Spawn (Su)
Energy Drain (Su)
Alternate Form (Su)
Gaseous Form (Su)
Skills: +8 racial bonus on Bluff, Search, and Sense Motive checks.
Feats: Dodge

I'm pretty sure that's right, but I'll double check. Any specific spells you think might be useful? So far I've got acid arrow and stinking cloud, working on black tentacles. Maybe some from the Complete series? PHB2?

 

[Darklone]

Ack.

You know, I liked to use that kind of stuff for NPCs baddies and PC friends. The big famous wizard apprentice that everyone expected to surpass his master soon... who suddenly got lazy, bored and ... furry.

Afflicted lycanthrope with no chance to level up in the next decade.

Same for vampires and lichies... They'd be bored to death if it wouldn't be too late for that.

So get a hobby... to rule the world or something similar. Get cohorts, henchmen and other lackeys to do the dirt jobs for you... become an evil overlord... NPC.

 

[TYPO5478]

Use whats your biggest advatage, your Inteligence. Why should you worry about fighting when your "lackies" (aka the combative characters) who will do it for you. All you need to do is point them in the righ direction and give them some motivation. Throw in a spell or two to help cover what weak points they do have. Then sit back and when your enemies start running from your lackies. Gaseious form, follow them, you can then become solid right infront of them or wait till they are recovering, then go in for a snack. Remember they have to sleep while you don't. Time is your biggest ally.

That's the way it has been going so far and Wolfwood's right: it's pretty boring doing that.

Ask if you can retrain as a Dread Necromancer?

I probably could, but again, I'd have to wait until a level to do so. I'm looking for things that will help me right now.