What's the weakest wizard specialty?

[Mark CMG]

Weakest class combo: wizard/infant

Weakest specialty: pastry wizard

 

[Mistwell]

Anyone that chooses Conjuration as a prohibited school is the weakest specialist.

That really depends on what suppliments you allow in your game. If you are going core-only, conjuration isn't all that...

 

[WarlockLord]

Evocation stinks. And banning abjuration is foolish.

 

[WhatGravitas]

That really depends on what suppliments you allow in your game. If you are going core-only, conjuration isn't all that...

Eh... even core contains Mage Armour, Summon Monster, Dimension Door, Teleport, Grease, Evard's Black Tentacles and Web. Essential self-protection (incl. fleeing) and battlefield control. That's a huuuge loss. Especially the 'porting stuff.

And don't forget the utility factor of Wall of Iron/Stone. Barrier... and Instant Fortification for your local lord!

 

[humble minion]

I'd argue that necromancy is the weakest, simply because it has no real unique capabilities that other schools cannot duplicate (better,in many cases), but requires you to give up two schools that DO have such capabilities to specialise in it. Any other specialist can cheerfully have necromancy as one of their prohibited schools and not lose out on all that much, but a necromancer has some very tough choices to make.

 

[LightPhoenix]

The answer varies, but overall I'd agree with Necromancy.

However, a large portion of Divination is completely dependant on the DM, which can therefore make Divination very powerful or very weak. Illusion and to a lesser extent Enchantment suffer the same problems, I think.

Evocation doesn't have a lot of utility in the long run, but at 5th level it's pretty potent.

 

[Sejs]

Illusion or Enchantment.


Illusions have the issue of the interaction/disbelief save, and there are a lot of things that are just immune to anything an enchanter can do.

 

[IanB]

Enchanters certainly have a feast or famine thing going on. Adventure is mostly about fighting giants? You're nigh unto a deity. Adventure is mostly about fighting undead? Hope you've got wands.

I'd probably argue that for most of the games I've been involved in, necromancy is the weakest specialty just because of alignment and/or roleplaying constraints.

 

[frankthedm]

I'd probably argue that for most of the games I've been involved in, necromancy is the weakest specialty just because of alignment and/or roleplaying constraints.

Death effects destroying the soul have a fine tradition in D&D pre 3E.

Even with the design choices made to thin out transmutation, it still gets way way too many spells.

 

[Drowbane]

I designed my current Planescape character to focus on the weakest Arcanist School... Necromancy.

Two words: Death Ward.

He makes sure to memorize alot of Dispel Magic, just in case.