What Paragon Path would be good for a Hybrid SwordMage/Wizard?

[wyrdone]

We just hit level 13 and I'm thinking about changing my Swordmage/Coronal Guard to a hybrid Swordmage/Wizard.

I'm going for a shielding swordmage who has a few area/control powers to toss around. I took Enlarge Spell and Arcane Reach to make the most of my Close and Area spells.

I'm not opposed to taking Coronal Guard again, the temp HP are nice (especially with the lower HP total the hybrid has) and I like the protection the level 11 encounter power offers. That being said I don't really know the wizard paragon paths, so if one of those would be good for this hybrid let me know.

Here's what I've got so far. Items are unchangable:

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Hybrid SM-Wiz, level 13
Githyanki, Swordmage|Wizard
Swordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of Shielding
Hybrid Talent: Swordmage Warding

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 9, Con 18, Dex 15, Int 22, Wis 13, Cha 11.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 13, Dex 14, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 10.


AC: 29 Fort: 24 Reflex: 26 Will: 24
HP: 100 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 26

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +12, Insight +14, Arcana +19

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +10, Bluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Dungeoneering +9, Endurance +12, Heal +9, History +16, Intimidate +8, Nature +9, Perception +9, Religion +14, Stealth +10, Streetwise +8, Thievery +10

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency (Leather)
Level 2: Toughness
Level 4: Hybrid Talent
Level 6: Focused Expertise (Broadsword)
Level 8: Intelligent Blademaster (retrained to Arcane Reach at Level 11)
Level 10: Improved Swordmage Warding (retrained to Paragon Defenses at Level 12)
Level 11: Double Aegis
Level 12: Enlarge Spell

POWERS
Hybrid at-will 1: Storm Pillar
Hybrid at-will 1: Sword Burst
Hybrid encounter 1: Grasping Shadows
Hybrid daily 1: Sweeping Frostblade
Hybrid utility 2: Dimensional Warp
Hybrid encounter 3: Dimensional Vortex
Hybrid daily 5: Visions of Avarice
Hybrid utility 6: Fire Shield
Hybrid encounter 7: Transposing Lunge
Hybrid daily 9: Visions of Ruin
Hybrid utility 10: Illusory Wall
Hybrid encounter 13: Mirror Sphere (replaces Transposing Lunge)

ITEMS
Challenge-Seeking Broadsword +3, Counterstrike Leather Armor +2, Badge of the Berserker +3, Belt of Vigor (heroic tier), Warded Vambraces (heroic tier), Catstep Boots (heroic tier), Gloves of Piercing (heroic tier), Ioun's Revelation (level 3), Potion of Vitality (paragon tier)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

 

[KarinsDad]

Coronal Guard is pretty darn defensively potent. Just the type of thing you want for a Hybrid Swordmage / Wizard. Sword Burst especially needs defensive buffs to protect the PC. The temp hit points there for a partialy melee PC is going to be hard to beat.


If you are looking for offensive umph, Battle Mage has a nice encounter enemy only close burst attack called Forceful Retort. It also has a daily enemy only close burst and Arcane Riposte works well since the Swordmage typically has a free hand.


There really aren't that many other Paragon Paths that can beat either of these unless you were to multiclass.

 

[Prism]

I'm playing a swordmage with the unseen mage pp. Can go invisible a couple of times a combat on average which makes him very hard to hit and also does a little more damage. The two daily powers allow you to turn your allies invisible if you would rather the monster focus on you

I quite like wandering swordmage too

 

[Prestidigitalis]

I'm looking at Coronal Guard for my Swordmage + MC Wizard, though at the rate we're going it may be another year before we hit level 11. I can see how it would be powerful, but do you have any thoughts on whether the PP stuff makes encounters more interesting?

 

[wyrdone]

Thanks for the replies. Battle Mage does look interesting, as do Unseen Mage and Wandering Swordmage, but I think I'm going to stick with Coronal Guard. My main role will still be the party defender and that PP feels like it expands on that role the best. The encounter power that can save an ally from taking a hit, and the 14 temp HP whenever I use my Aegis of Shielding is just too tough to pass up.

I do think Paragon Paths make encounters more interesting. They add another encounter power to your character as well as a unique feature. Depending on your PP the feature can change how you use your character, or at least give them a new, fun option.