Mage of the Arcane Order, Incantrix or Guild Mage of Waterdeep?

[Nightfall]

Well folks your old friend Nightfall has a bit of a dilemmia on his hands. I had been playing a Transmuter 4th level that died due to being tortured and then executed for crimes of murder, assault, and use of magic in a no magic zone. So now I've made up a Diviner who has Evocation as my prohibited class. But being 4th level I also like to think ahead. 5th level I get 3rd level spells...meaning I get access to three interesting Pr-classes, Incantrix, Guild Mage of Waterdeep and Mage of the Arcane Order.

My Diviner is more interested in learning stuff beyond the mortal planes AND also in being an accomplished map maker. (This way I know which cities to avoid! ) Anyway, what I'm after with this particular character (Nestor "The Sage" Athenon) is trying to be not a combative spell slinger BUT a compentant one as well as being able to have access to MUCH knowledge and lore as possible. I figured with Incantrix, banishing my summonings might work, or with either of the Mage Guilds, plenty of access to spells that I might use (including *crossing my fingers here* BoEM spells).

But as I said I don't know EXACTLY which one would suit me best. I'd like some opinions out there and PLEASE keep them limited this. I would love to use more d20 stuff...but the Dm that I am playing with is one that is "The Core is all!" Type deal. (I can sneak in some stuff from FR and other, suppliment WotC sources but sadly I doubt d20 stuff will come through.)

Anyway, thoughts, comments as welcomed.

 

[Sinistar]

The biggest draw of the Guild of Waterdeep is the guild itself. If you do not get the full guild then you are really only getting half of the class. Without the full guild set up, your access to spells is more limited and what you can draw on is less useful to you.
If your DM has the set up where it is either Waterdeep or an incredible simulation I would take that. If not, I would go with Incantrix.
But then what do I know?

 

[Nightfall]

Well I'm not sure about it, but I think I could convince him to let me have the access to all of the Waterhavdien type deal in terms of spell pools and such. I would like that too since I'd get a lot of the spells I'd like to use and/or spell books to keep me in the game.

 

[Sinistar]

I agree. If you can get access to a full spell pool, then that gives you lots of spells that you might not have access to another way.

Also, if your DM is hesitant to allow other material, you might convince him to put a particular spell in the spell pool. Then you could have it for an adventure and he could see how it works. If it is unbalanced or he doesn't like it then it is pulled from the pool without any real need of another explanation. That doesn't open up vast fields, but it does give you a little opening.

If you think you will get a fair shake from the spell pool then I think that is the way to go.

 

[Nightfall]

My thoughts too. I like Incantrix but honestly what draws me for this character is the fact I can add more spells to my spellbook (even as a specialist) AND the wide variety I can access via the spellpool. Mage of the Arcane order...well I don't feel like wasting a feat to get Cooperative Spell. Incantrix and the Guild Mage, I almost qualify for, at least after 5th level. That would however prove to be beneficial for me, since I could get more interesting spells like shadow strike and shadow twin. Course it would still be up to the DM to allow those spells.

 

[Crothian]

Personally, I perfer the Incantrix. Nothing wrong with the others, just personal preference.

 

[Nightfall]

Well you're allowed your preferences Croth. I just wanted one that would suit my character idea as well as give me some interesting abilities.

 

[tleilaxu]

if i recall guildmages get a 10% exp hit. that sucks

incantrix has many unique and cool abilities... see invisibility and ethereal, strike ethereal, free instant metamagic, item draining, immune to ability draining...

it is definitely one of the strongest PrC for wizard...

 

[Nightfall]

I think though the XP hit is worth it to get more spells, and get a some extra feats. Though I will admit, the other abilities of the Incantrix IS worth consideration.

 

[Hejdun]

May I suggest Loremaster, a very good PrC for Diviners.