Touch Spell Mage

[jbush0]

Anyone got any ideas for making a mage who specializes in delivering spells via touch? I'm starting in a campaign soon with a 7th level character, and thought a wizard/sorcerer who excels at delivering touch spells might be interesting. Perhaps a Sorcerer/Monk hybrid? We are playing in the Forgotten Realms, and the DM has quite a few books with options to choose from (all the d20 FR books, all the non-campaign specific WotC books, most of the Scarred Lands books, etc.), but there is so much material there that I find it a bit overwhelming. Any suggestions? I suppose I'm specifically looking for the following:

Mechanics that allow a 7th level character to deliver a wide range of touch spells on opponents a 7th level party could expect to encounter.

Touch spells that may be particularly effective.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Justin

 

['o Skoteinos]

Hehe, I've built a wizard like that and things can get really cheesy:

For classes, go wizard with eldritch knight. General feats: Weapon Finesse (you want to get a high dex anyway) and the two weapon-fighting feats (if you manage to get two touch spells on your hands at the same time and if you think all the feats are worth it). A bit of cheating isn't wrong here, so take Militia (regional feat from Player's Guide to Faerun) to get rid of the level fighter you lose when qualifying for eldritch knight. Stats: high int, dex.

Low level:
Use the Books of Eldritch Might:
BOEM III has 2 feats, 1 that allows you to change an area evocation into a touch evocation with -1 spell level (7d6 as a second level touch spell) and a 2nd feat which gives you the ability to make an FRA with a touch spell (i.e. the touch spell doesn't discharge at the touch, but at then end of your round).

High level:
Get a race with many arms (thri-keen is a bargain at +2 LA (and here LA *IS* worth it, if you've read the other topic)) and get the multi attack feats (or the equivalent in 3.5). Then, using a Rod of Maximize Spell cast a Maximized Persistent Kiss of the Vampire (MoF). With each touch attack you hit, you deal 4 negative levels (-4 saves, skills, attack, effective level, -20 HP, lose the 4 highest level spells if a casting class). And if you've 10 levels in Eldritch Knight, you've got a decent BAB and a lot of attacks. =]

Also, replace all your arms with Arms of Nyr (in 3.0 anyway, since they stack) and get an extra pair of arms from an item from Savage Species. These arms cannot be used to attack with, but they can hold a Rod of Quicken Spell or some other useful item.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I'd suggest some form of eldritch knight - getting BAB higher is very useful for this sort of character!

As soon as you hit +8 BAB you can go for Improved Crit: Touch spells/Rays, depending which type of touch you use. Probably well worth it!

Reach spell feat is possibly well worth it. At high level the Arcane Reach Arcana and Arcane Fire from the Archmage class are well worth checking out... The requirements of that class are a little painful though and will need an early decision to go in that direction.

Arcane Tricster is another way to go - can deliver sneak attack by touch.... which has interesting possibilities.

 

[Darklone]

I would be interested to hear how you can use two touch spells at once... I thought that's not possible.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I would be interested to hear how you can use two touch spells at once... I thought that's not possible.

IIRC, I think there's a feat in Savage Species that lets you store 1 touch spell 'per appendage'. But it may well have a prequisite of 3+ limbs.

However, much as I love that book, there are a few things in it that I'd never allow within 200 miles of my game - that's one of 'em! It's also still 3.0....

 

[masternone]

I would be interested to hear how you can use two touch spells at once... I thought that's not possible.

Chill touch allows you to touch one target per caster level so if you have a bab of 6 or higher and a calster level of two or higher you could make two tuch attacks in one round. Also Scorching ray makes a second ray at 7th and a third at 11th caster level.

May I suggest that if you are going to be a touch attack spell caste that you look at arcane trickster, even though you will be giving up 3 caster levels the advantage of adding dice to you touch spells is great.

A 10th CL ( 3 rouge 5 wizard 2 arcane trickster) on a sneek attack with chill touch will be +5 + Str to hit and will do 1d6 ( chill touch ) + 3d6 ( sneeak atrtack) for 7 round before you need to cast a new spell. the method is very good for spell economey.

 

[Darklone]

Chill touch allows you to touch one target per caster level so if you have a bab of 6 or higher and a calster level of two or higher you could make two tuch attacks in one round. Also Scorching ray makes a second ray at 7th and a third at 11th caster level.

I know about Chill touch and perhaps even Produce Flame which both allow several touch attacks with one spell... but he was talking about two touch spells at once. Not several charges with one spell.

 

['o Skoteinos]

IIRC there was a spell that allowed it. Something with "bloom" in the title. If not then eshrew material components might take care of it:

cast touch spell 1, remains untill discharged, cast touch spell 2 (only verbal and somatic, so no discharging of touch spell 1) and then you have a touch spell on both your hands.

Don't know if that's legal or not. Probably not...

IMO, Arcane Trickster is not a really good build: you have to go through some trouble to get a sneak attack (and in your example 75% of the damage was sneak attack based), you give up valuable caster levels (just one caster level with the EK) and eventually you will want to switch to Kiss of the Vampire, since that is *the* best spell for this build.

 

[Saeviomagy]

[QUOTE='o Skoteinos]IIRC there was a spell that allowed it. Something with "bloom" in the title. If not then eshrew material components might take care of it:
[/quote]
I believe it's called spellflower or spellbloom. It lets you store a different charged spell on each forelimb.

cast touch spell 1, remains untill discharged, cast touch spell 2 (only verbal and somatic, so no discharging of touch spell 1) and then you have a touch spell on both your hands.

Don't know if that's legal or not. Probably not...

Nope, doesn't work. Touch spells dissipate as soon as you cast any other spell.

IMO, Arcane Trickster is not a really good build: you have to go through some trouble to get a sneak attack (and in your example 75% of the damage was sneak attack based), you give up valuable caster levels (just one caster level with the EK) and eventually you will want to switch to Kiss of the Vampire, since that is *the* best spell for this build.

Kiss of the vampire only lets you use enervation/vampiric touch once per round IIRC.

 

[jbush0]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies... I will begin tinkering at once. Thanks!

Justin