New Wizard Build - Summoner (based on the PF class)

[Siberys]

I'm trying to convince the PF Kingmaker group I DM to switch over to 4e, but one of the players runs a PF Summoner that I have a feeling would have problems. He'd want a pet, summoning, arcane powers, and customization, so I built this Wizard build. And, hey, if we don't switch, I've still got the build to use later on, right?

Anyways, it can be found HERE (pdf file).

It's a Striker version of the Sentinel Druid with a tighter focus on the companion, done as a wizard build. Quite a mash-up, I know.

Answers To Some Possible Questions
Q: Why Charisma as the secondary?
A: Because the character I'm building this for had a high Charisma due to his class, which led to him being named the leader / Baron of their country. I wanted to preserve that, and it made fluff sense.

Q: Why the leather armor? Crossbow? Tomes, but no other implements?
A: The armor and weapon were callbacks to what the character was like in PF. He was a bit of a sharpshooter in addition to having a big fey monstrosity fighting for him. The tome was mostly me; I like the idea of him flipping through a book, finding the monster he wants to summon, and drawing it forth. That's why I included the Monstrous Manual and Fiend Folio class features, too.

Q: What's up with Evolution Surge?
A: The player's build for his eidolon in PF revolved around getting ridiculous numbers of natural attacks, so multiple attacks was a must. I wanted to leave in the normal 'Power Strike' damage bonus option, though. The movements were to give the power a bit more tactical thought behind it.

Q: Why did you make Haste an at-will?
A: It, along with Shield, were two of that player's favorite spells. I wanted to include them without giving broken options, which PF-like haste would have been. The most visible effect of the spell was giving an ally another attack, and that was easy to model in 4e.

Q: Why the Coordinated Assault option?
A: The character never used overtly offensive spells, and he wouldn't be much of a sharpshooter without a way to use that crossbow, aye? I left the option for normal wizard at-wills open, in case this saw use in the future or by someone else, but I wanted a weapon-based option available.

Q: Why restrict the daily powers to summonings or conjurations?
A: Why not? The other daily spells don't really have the feel I was aiming for. The table might get cluttered, but at least the initiative won't ever be. Not like it does in PF... *shudder*

Thoughts?

 

[GameDoc]

Very interesting.

I would make one suggestion given that this is an Essentials class, and that is that your write up be playable with nothing more than itself and Heroes of the Fallen Lands at the game table (i.e., no need to have PHB or Arcane Power in hand).

That would entail that the character either be allowed to select from wizard attack powers found in Heroes of the Fallen Lands (I'd probably give him cantrips as well) or that you go ahead and include 2-3 choices in the write up itself (not sure if HotFL powers include conjuration/summoning types; I don't have my copy with me at the moment).

Obviously, if you did the latter and picked existing summoning powers from other sources, you would not be allowed to post them into the write up wholesale and put them up here for us to see (although you can list them by name). I would at least give them to the player on a sheet so that the class write up is complete in and of itself.

Overall, I really like this. You ought to polish it up submit it to Dragon. Essentials definately needs more builds.