More Wizard [Megamagic] Questions...

[John Crichton]

Okay, I've been playing 3e for a while but even when I have been a DM I haven't had to deal with many magic users. I am creating a 7th Level Abjurer right now and I have to figure out my feats. I'm look thru the metamagic stuff and some of this stuff looks pretty useful. I know that there are many of the feats that aren't useful at all until you hit the double-digit levels. However, I'm looking for some input on what to grab for this wizard.

I'm also going back and forth on metamagic vs. item creation as I have dealt with neither before. I did a search and couldn't really find anything of use so any input (or a link) would be helpful for me. I know how the feats read and basically how they work but I am concerned about the in-game usage of them.

And to help things out a bit: I am making a 7th Level Dwarven Abjurer. He is the youngest of many siblings and feels like he has something to prove. He never really fit in back home because of his interest in magic. He does consider himself a battle-mage of sorts as he does like to get into the thick of things. The current party has an archer/cleric, barbarian/fighter, bard, and fighter/mage (going for arcane archer) so this character will be the primary arcane support the way I see it as he can cast 4th level spells. Thanks!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Ooh, Megamagic!

I wanna Megamagic feat!

-Hyp.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

There are many choices for your dwarven abjurer. Here is a sample feat chain for you.

Level 1: Scribe Scroll, Combat Casting
Level 3: Craft Wondrous Item
Level 5: Craft Wand
Level 6: Spell Focus (evocation)
Level 9: Empower Spell

The Empower Spell at level 9 allows you to prepare an empowered fireball or lightning bolt in a 5th level slot. A 9th level wizard in my game just did this and blasted the crap out of a ghostly opponent. Create lots of scrolls between adventures, mostly with utility spells you don't prepare much. Make those misc. items you need, like headbands of intellect and cloaks of resistance. Wands are a wizard's best friend. It's always nice to have a wand of magic missiles or fireballs when you run out of your own spells. Spell focus (evocation) will make your DC's higher for those empowered fireballs.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Well since you're an Abjurer, I suggest you go for the Extend Spell metamagick feat, and, if your DM lets you: Persistant spell frmo Magic of Faerun/Tome and Blood later at 10th. By the time you get it, you can have up a persistant shield for a nice 24 hr. +7 bonus to AC, and then as you level up you can use it for other spells.

Extend spell is very nice for your other abjurations, as well as transmutations like Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Endurance (and T&B Mental enhancing spells-Eagle's Splendor, Owl's Wisdom, and Fox's Cunning).

Once you hit 11th I suggest you get Elemental Immunity from Tome and Blood if you can, it's highly useful-and once you get 7th level spells you can start extending them. Using a rotation system, you'll be able to either make yourself immune to all 5 elements (taking up most of your 7th level spells) by extending them once and rotating them daily or 6 of your group members immune to a single element. At higher levels, you can make it doubly extended to easily get 12 or so castings in a 3 day rotation period. At a lower level, this can be used with Endure Elements to decent effect.

Hope this helps

 

[John Crichton]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. These are giving me a better understanding of how to plan for future advancement and my current build.

Any other suggestions out there?

 

[bret]

As an Abjurationist, I would definately be looking to get Extend Spell. Many of your specialist spells would benefit a lot from longer durations.

You failed to mention what your prohibited school(s) were.

I would also go with Craft Wonderous Items. It is a very flexible item creation feat.

I would wait until 9th level to get Empower Spell. In my opinion, the plus two spell levels makes it too costly to be useful before then.
You might seriously consider Silent Spell, so that a Cleric with a Silence can't completely shut you down. At 7th level, you would be able to do a Silent Dispel Magic.

Improved Initiative is very good, allow you to get your spells off before the opposing spellcaster can cast their spells. If you have a lot of combat spells focused in Enchantment or Transmutation, then Spell Focus makes sense. I don't care for it in Evocation, in my personal opinion it makes much more sense when focusing on the Save or Die spells.

So, without knowing more about your spell list, my suggestion would be:
1st: Improved Initiative or Spell Focus
3rd Craft Wonderous Item
5th Extend Spell
6th Silent Spell
9th Empower Spell

 

[Pax]

At later levels, Improved Counterspell / Reactive Counterspell seem thematic for an Abjurer, in the sense of being able to defend the party from hostile magics (just use Dispel and Greater Dispel).

 

[John Crichton]

As an Abjurationist, I would definately be looking to get Extend Spell. Many of your specialist spells would benefit a lot from longer durations.

You failed to mention what your prohibited school(s) were.

Oops. Enchantment.

You might seriously consider Silent Spell, so that a Cleric with a Silence can't completely shut you down. At 7th level, you would be able to do a Silent Dispel Magic.

Yeah, I really dig Silent Spell and have been really considering it for the reason you mentioned. I am definitely taking Extend Spell to get Persistant Spell at 10th Level. I have a bunch of defensive spells that I'll most likely be concentrating on. I'll put up the spell list later tonight.