Plain Wizard - Viable?

[Falling Icicle]

Is it a good idea to be just a plain Wizard, or are prestige classes just too good to pass up?

 

[Pyrex]

Well, usually for a PrC you're trading two bonus wizard feats and familiar advancement for a slew of cool powers.

There are so many varieties of PrC's that nearly every wizard is stronger with a PrC than without.

 

[GlassJaw]

Plain wizard is certainly viable, and a good idea for the extra feats. How min/maxy is your group? If very, then you could take a look at some PrC's. Early in the 3.0 timeline, there was almost no reason to stay a single-class caster as the PrC's were almost always more powerful. The Complete books brought in the reigns a bit - and for good reason.

Buck the trend and stay single-classed I say!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

PrCs too good to pass up? Nah.

You do get a little power bump for free if you find a PrC that fits your style. It is not a given that such a PrC exists.

Another factor is that Spontaneous Metamagic can be very powerful (and is often houseruled for that exact reason). So sticking with straight Wizard to maximize your spontaneous metamagic options is a perfectly reasonable way to powergame.

 

[Falling Icicle]

How min/maxy is your group?

Not very.

The Complete books brought in the reigns a bit - and for good reason.

Buck the trend and stay single-classed I say!

What did the Complete books do to reign it in?

Another factor is that Spontaneous Metamagic can be very powerful (and is often houseruled for that exact reason). So sticking with straight Wizard to maximize your spontaneous metamagic options is a perfectly reasonable way to powergame.

Spontaneous Metamagic? Are you talking about the Sudden Metamagic feats?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Sudden. Yes. Thank you.

 

[GlassJaw]

What did the Complete books do to reign it in?

Fewer PrC's with full casting progression, and those that do are toned down a bit. Quite a few from the earlier splatbooks were rewritten.

 

[Klaus]

Is it a good idea to be just a plain Wizard, or are prestige classes just too good to pass up?

Whatever you choose, be sure to grab a couple of Reserve Feats from Complete Mage.

 

[Darklone]

Reserve and Sudden Metamagic feats really make the coreclass shiny.

 

[Bob the Destroyer]

Plain wizard is as viable as plain fighter or barbarian.