Making a different kind of wizard

[Plane Sailing]

FWIW this came up a while back in a post, but it would be fun to play a lantern archon PC. (LA +4, IIRC, but if your DM rules 0 LA, sweet!) Their only other problem as spellcasters is their lack of hands, which makes it hard to manipulate components and make gestures. Unless your DM allows you to jury-rig a variant Natural Spell feat, you'll wind up having to use Still Spell and Eschew Materials.

Of course, a lantern archon wilder could have quite a lot of fun...

 

[moritheil]

Of course, a lantern archon wilder could have quite a lot of fun...

Ah, how true. Hmmm . . .

 

[Plane Sailing]

Ah, how true. Hmmm . . .

Don't make me glow red. You wouldn't like me when I glow RED...

 

[JoelF]

I'm currently playing a wizard and went through the same thought process as many of the above posts. I wound up picking an abjurer, with enchantment and necromancy as barred schools, and to cover the missing enchantment (and not mess with sleep as a staple spell) I used color spray through about 5th level very effectively. Since then I've chosen to go for the ultimate abjurer PC - Initiate of the Sevenfold Veils, and have picked up hypnotic pattern and then later rainbow pattern to keep up the color based magic theme, as well as keep a good alternative to missing enchantment spells.

He's a lot of fun to play (the 5 Wisdom helps in that respect), and while he does use evocation spells, he normally only has a few memorized and uses abjurations and miscellaneous spells to great effect - he's particularly fond of otiluke's resilient sphere combined with dimension door, often sitting in the sphere after attacting the monster's attention, buffing up with protective spells, then DDing out to a strategic location.

 

[AnonymousOne]

Play a Kobold weilding a full sized Katana that specializes in illusion spells and has a stuffed toy kitten named Ralph who can operate under the effects of Otto's Irresistable Dance 2x per day and be directed much like a floating magic lantern from Dungeonscape.

 

[AnonymousOne]

Eventually pick up some reserve feats and improved familiar. Chainmail and sword flashing, walk and talk like a wild west gunfighter and just when your enemies are fooled into think you are some kind of warrior start lobing spells. Max out Concentration, Spellcraft, and Intimidate (a class skill for the BatSorc).

The Battle Sorc gives up his familiar doesn't he?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Don't make me glow red. You wouldn't like me when I glow RED...

They'd love you in Amsterdam!

 

[Sejs]

The Battle Sorc gives up his familiar doesn't he?

Nope.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Take 1 level in a warrior type class- any one, it doesn't really matter*- and take Still Spell.

Your mage will be proficient in at least Medium armor, and because of Still Spell, he will not have any ASF problems- ASF only applies to spells with Somatic components, and Still Spell negates the need for a spell's Somatic components. You'll be able to cast your spells in whatever armor you choose to wear, as long as you're proficient in it.

*If I had the option, I'd go with PsyWar or Soulknife for powers, access to Psionic Feats & style

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

ooooOOOOOOrrrrr....

Instead of an actual warrior class level, take enough levels of some class that gets 1) some kind of Armor Proficiency and 2) access to Silence (off the top of my head, Bard, Cleric, & Favored Soul- probably many more), follow with levels in Mystic Theurge and call yourself "Mage-Killer"