Need help with Warmage/Wizard going for Ultimate Magus

[FoxWander]

Got a new campaign starting in a couple of weeks with 1st level characters. I'll be the arcane caster and I'm looking at, as I said, Warmage/Wizard then going into Ultimate Magus. I'm really excited about this game since I'll finally be gaming WITH my wife, rather than running the game or playing in her game.

We rolled for stats in front of everyone and I did awesome: 18, 17, 14, 14, 12, 12.

We'll be allowed any WOTC books, subject to DM approval. The setting will be Greyhawk- but the DM says he can fit in almost any character concept- as long as it's not broken or completely over the top, it should be ok. The stipulations he set initially are that all the characters know each other (at least vaguely) at start and we'll all be from the same town. But the town is a major crossroads, with a nearby port and a larger city- so that shouldn't limit anything.

With so many options though, I'm having trouble narrowing down a good character concept. I was hoping for some advice on what race and feats (both initial feats and ones to get soon) would work best.

Here are my initial thoughts, but by no means consider these set in stone- feel free to offer any suggestions. I've got time yet to tinker with the possibilities.

For race my first thought was a grey elf- the INT bonus will boost my wizard spells and my warmage edge, not to mention more skill points. I'll have a good CHA and DEX for warmage spells and ranged touch attacks, but my CON will suffer (though still give a bonus). I've also thought of a Whisper Gnome- I'll be avoiding melee so the low strength and small weapons won't matter, but I'll have the small size AC and attack bonuses, and normal movement- not too mention all the other whisper gnomes perks. Overall, I'd have higher stats with the gnome bonuses, but I won't have the 20 INT for warmage edge and such. But, I think we'll be going into Red Hand of Doom eventually (our hometown is Drellin's Ferry) and I've heard there are lot's of goblinoids in that- so the gnome attack bonus will be nice. However, I don't want to build my concept on possible future adventures- although I did think of Whisper Gnome before I knew about Red Hand. Any other ideas or suggestions for race?

Feat wise I want to capitalize on the Ultimate Magus 'Augmented Casting' ability, but I've never played a caster who utilized metamagic very much before. Which would be the best ones to take?

I've got more ideas I'm mulling over, but it's late and I need sleep. I appreciate any help or advice anyone has and look forward to reading it in the morning.

 

[FEADIN]

Because you'll have less high level spells than a single classed spellcaster but more low level I think you should take metamagic feats with low adjustment at start, 1 or 2 level to spend your low level spells.
Enlarge spell, Extend spell, Still spell, Empower spell are cool.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Hmm, depends on how cheesy you want to be. I'll give you the non-cheese option.

Pretty much any way you arrange wizard and/spontaneous caster you will be 11/11 at 15th level (unless you use cheese or questionable interpretations)

I do think warmage and wizard is a good combination, but get yourself a twilight mithril chain shirt ASAP so you have some AC, and no arcane spell failure. Anything more is too hard to work.

As for intelligence and race, I am not a fan of elves, so I cannot recommend one (against my principles) but it is a solid choice. Whisper gnomes are simply awesome and really should be +1 LA creatures, but are not, so they make an excellent racial choice.

As for feats, I would try to focus on ones that help both sides. Reserve feats are great for you as the warmage can always choose to use that kind of energy so the CL boost will help a lot. But i would just choose one, Fiery burst being my favorite. If you are in love with a different energy type, then go for that one.

With Ultimate magus, you definitely wnat a couple of metamagic feats to use its core ability, but I would not go above a +2 adjustment. Empower will always be good with a warmage, and widen is another one to look closely at. In Red Hand of Doom there are lots of encounters with multiple foes. Even Shape Spell might not be a waste of time. (Not a big fan of this one, though many people swear by it)

As for skills and such, you'll ahve few skill points, and i would recommend Able Learner if you are a human to get some low ranks (or one rank) in trained skills like tumble, and such. It is always nice to at elast get a roll, no matter how unlikely it is to succeed.

For spell choice, the warmage is obvious and unchangeable, though I would recommend usingthe PHBII variant that allow a wider choice of extra learning spells for spells you will use very frequently. For the wizard, go for utility, and the one feat in Complete mage that allowsa single spontaneous spell per day can be a lifesaver. I highly recommend it for primary caster.

Hope this helps.

DWM

 

[FoxWander]

Hmm, depends on how cheesy you want to be. I'll give you the non-cheese option.

Thanks for the non-cheese option. The DM is new to our group and I'm afraid our current game (in which he is a player) is pretty high on the cheese factor. I'm actually a little embarrassed by it, but it is a lot of fun. However, I'm trying not to scare the guy off with too much craziness because I think he'll bring some sanity to our more cheese-liking player's

For spell choice, the warmage is obvious and unchangeable, though I would recommend using the PHBII variant that allow a wider choice of extra learning spells for spells you will use very frequently. For the wizard, go for utility, and the one feat in Complete mage that allows a single spontaneous spell per day can be a lifesaver. I highly recommend it for primary caster.

Actually with the Ultimate Magus 'Expanded Spell Knowledge' I can add ANY spell I know to my Warmage spell list so I won't need the PHBII Warmage class option. (EDIT- plus I won't gain the Warmage 'Advanced Learning' ability anyway)

Utility spells for the Wizard side were my main motivation for this class combo going into UM. Warmage has the attack spells covered, so I'm free to load up on utility spells for Wizard. (Or I can double up for maximum carnage if I need to.) Utility and versatility are another reason I'm leaning towards Grey Elf (or any elf)- they have a 1st level substitution from Races of the Wild which will give me one extra free spell when I level AND the ability to prepare one additional spell of the highest level I can cast each day. That ability will go perfectly with 'Alacritious Cogitation' feat from Complete Mage that you reminded me of (Thank you very much!) This way I have a 'bonus' spell of my highest level to leave open for casting ANY spell in my book- pretty much the ultimate in versatility. That will eliminate the need to scribe scrolls for most of those seldom used but occasionally must-have spells.

Now I just need to find Thanee's spell list for the practical sorcerer and those 'most popular spell' poll results from awhile back. That'll give me a good base of spells to go for without getting overwhelmed by options again because of the Spell Compendium.

 

[FoxWander]

Thought of another good question for all the great minds here- what would be the best spells to add to the Warmage spell list via UM's 'Expanded Spell Knowledge'?

For those that don't know what that ability means for an Ultimate Magus- you can take spells from your Wizard spellbook and add them to the spells known for your spontaneous casting class, Warmage in my case. You gain the ability at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 and use it on spells which are half that level or lower: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th level spells (or lower) respectively. The spells don't have to be a particular school and their spell level doesn't change.

So what five spells of those level limits would be best to add to the Warmage spell list?

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Thought of another good question for all the great minds here- what would be the best spells to add to the Warmage spell list via UM's 'Expanded Spell Knowledge'?

For those that don't know what that ability means for an Ultimate Magus- you can take spells from your Wizard spellbook and add them to the spells known for your spontaneous casting class, Warmage in my case. You gain the ability at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 and use it on spells which are half that level or lower: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th level spells (or lower) respectively. The spells don't have to be a particular school and their spell level doesn't change.

So what five spells of those level limits would be best to add to the Warmage spell list?

Need more info. What race will you go with, and what is the feel of your character? Mostly blaster? Blaster-buffer? Sneaker? ect? You want to switch over spells you plan to use every single day. Or even 3-4 times per day.

 

[FoxWander]

Need more info. What race will you go with, and what is the feel of your character? Mostly blaster? Blaster-buffer? Sneaker? ect? You want to switch over spells you plan to use every single day. Or even 3-4 times per day.

I'm going with Grey Elf. The bonus to INT and the substitution level combo'd with Alacritious Cogitation (man, that's an awkward name) are too good for how I picture the character. Since I'll have blaster/utility down pretty between warmage and wizard, probably a secondary role as buffer or spy/information gatherer would work best. There are spells in both of those roles I could see needing to cast many times.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Thanee]

Don't forget Practiced Spellcaster, if you do not have full caster level.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Anguirus]

^ The class essentially offers built-in Practiced Spellcaster.

Also, WotC ruled in "Ask Wizards" that Expanded Spell Knowledge only lets you add spells from your wizard side to your spontaneous side is those spells are already on the spontaneous class' list. This was supposedly done so that sorcerers couldn't take "wizard only" spells like Mnemonic Enhancer. But, they say in the same entry that it would be a reasonable house rule to allow it. (Not to mention, consistent with other uses of the term "Expanded Knowledge" to name an ability!)

 

[glass]

So what five spells of those level limits would be best to add to the Warmage spell list?

What level are you starting at?

I ask because if you are going to play from low level then the answer is fairly simple: which ever spells you find yourself wishing you could cast more of (or cast often but not often enough to prepare every day).


glass.