Making a different kind of wizard

[Gnome]

I'm thinking of running a wizard for my next character, but I want to do something different build-wise. Not necessarily more powerful, just different. It's hard to explain what I mean by "different", though, but here's some examples with other classes:

bard: a meele focused bard maybe using a stronger race like goliath, and taking feats like improved toughness, battle caster, and arcane strike

sorcerer: taking a bloodline-related feat tree, like draconic heritage, etc.

I guess I'm looking for a twist or something a little interesting in terms of mechanics, or a way to play against type. Although I found the meele wizards thread quite interesting, that might be taking it a bit far.

Any suggestions? 1st level, Forgotten Realms, with starting stats of 15 15 15 13 13 13 (nice!).

 

[Particle_Man]

Go for a weird prestige class, like Green Star Adept?

 

[Pyrex]

Another player in a game I'm in went Duskblade->Green Star Adept.

It's good stuff.

 

[blargney the second]

How much of a spellcaster do you want to be?
-blarg

 

[pawsplay]

I once played a battle-axe wielding guy in a cloak, coated nearly head to toe in falcon droppings. He was a straight up wizard, although he could easily have been mistaken for a ranger at first glance.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

First, the simple stuff:

1) Find an unusual race with a +0LA. There are several in the core- Goblins & Kobolds for instance.

2) Use unusual equipment. That could be a weapon taken from an unusual source. It could be armor (check out Oriental Adventures, for instance). I'm currently running a Sorcerer with a 2 handed sword. You can even use something like an Exotic Weapon...but don't actually use it. Carry it around until you can burn the feat (or multiclass) to become proficient with it.

3) Dovetailing on that, use unusual tactics. Put one of those 15's into Dex- it will boost your AC, your initiative, and your ranged to-hits. Use a ranged weapon you're proficient with (crossbow, longbow if you play an elf, thrown/sling weapons if you play a halfling, etc.) to tag opponents at range. Choose Ranged Combat feats and "specialize" in Orb and Ray spells (which require ranged to-hit rolls). Take the metamagic feat that turns a touch spell into a ray (I believe its in CompDiv).

4) Be a specialist...but not one of the "blasters"- be an Illusionist, Diviner, or Enchanter, for instance. (BTW, since True Strike is a Divination spell, a Diviner using ranged weapons could be quite nasty at low levels.)

5) Use unusual spells & stay away from the iconic spells. Avoid Magic Missile & Sleep in favor of spells like Grease or Color Spray. I like Whirling Blade myself- used with a 2 handed edged weapon, it makes a good low-level mook-slayer, especially if its Sculpted into a ball instead of a line.

 

[taferial]

As a change of flavour i tend to go for themes i can get my teath into.

My last themed wizard was a rampant explorer and all 'round nosey guy. Focused entirely on movement enhanceing and detracting spells (the GM actualy let me adjust my spell list to fit this focus) things like fly and slow, grease, teleport were the staples but with some truely odd spells that nobody ever takes, as long as they affecte movement in some way they were fair game. He was fantastic to play.

Find a theme and run off with it.

My next one is going to be a toxic mage, poisons and acid all the way, the hell with actual in game effectiveness.

 

[EvilGM]

pick a small race: goblin, gnome, kobold, halfling would work well.

always be riding a dog, wolf, whatever. max that ride skill and take a mounted feat or three.

or you could go a stealthy route (might be nice coupled with a ranger or rogue level).

like Dannyalcatraz said, pick little used spells - that will really go along way.

 

[Gnome]

How much of a spellcaster do you want to be?
-blarg

No more than 1 level of a non-spellcaster progressing class, or two if the concept is cool enough to justify it. So, primarily a spellcaster with some kind of odd twist.

 

[Shadeus]

Go loremaster. Don't just be good with knowledge skills, be obsessed with knowledge. You are a horder and accumulator of knowledge using ESP and other spells to invade people's minds...to the point of blackmail if needed. How close to the evil line you want to take it is up to you. If you want to stay good, then maybe you don't invade people's minds for the purpose of blackmail, but to find out if someone is up to no good.