Which PrC?

[Corlon]

In my friends new game he's running, I'm trying to decide which PrC to choose.

My character idea is a human conjurer that crafts lots of things (mainly random ones) and carries them around in a bag of holding (or a handy haversack, but an extra-dimensional space none the less).

I was thinking of becomoning a summoner (from Path of Magic) that gives you lots of stuff for summoning creatures, but I realized that summon monster spells really aren't good enough IMO to prestige in. However, I can't choose to not have a PrC because that would really be a waste of wizard levels (only a couple bonus feats and familiar abilities instead of a prestige class). So right now I'm thinking of being a Ring Sage (also from Path of Magic) which is basically everything to do with rings.

The character is level 8, and I'd like to know if any of you know some good conjuration school PrCs or make stuff PrCs, or if you can explain why summoning isn't so bad and is actually really good.

 

[Pax]

Summoning can be MUCh better, if your DM allows you to take the "Superior Summons" feat from Dragon #311, and if you have the Augment Summoning feat atop it. Max hitpoints makes your summoned critters much more durable, and the +4 str/con is helpful too.

It'd be even better if you were a cleric, or other class able to cast a Planar Ally spell; then you could take Thaumaturgist, which can actually be quite useful.

If you don't care much for sanity, you could go Alienist. The Pseudonatural template (especially combined with the Superior Summons feat) can make for some good, tough summons.

If you want to avoid summoning, though, staying Conjuror is still potentially a good choice; I'd pick up Archmage for Mastery of Elements, so you can cover any element you want.

 

[Corlon]

yeah, alienists...too weird for me.

And I think I forgot to mention, this is 3.0, not 3.5 so augmented summoning isn't cool yet

 

[youspoonybard]

looks at sig...

Why would you EVAR want to drink a monkey?

Drink a panda instead. Much better.

 

[hong]

However, I can't choose to not have a PrC

Yes you can.

because that would really be a waste of wizard levels (only a couple bonus feats and familiar abilities instead of a prestige class).

The horror, the horror.

 

[Deset Gled]

If you're willing to go the cleric route, I would recommend Contemplative with the Summoning Domain as your first prestige domain. It's granted power is casting all summoning spells at 2x caster level. Very helpful in longer battles, or in geting full utility use out of summoning spells. I've played a kobold with a similar build before, and its a very viable option for a cleric who has zilch for strength and/or constitution.

Another option that would strengthen the crafting of random items would be a Shaper (psion with focus on metacreativity). Fabricate is your best friend for getting around long item creation times.

 

[Pax]

yeah, alienists...too weird for me.

And I think I forgot to mention, this is 3.0, not 3.5 so augmented summoning isn't cool yet

3.0 ... ? Not a problem. Augment Summoning [3.0] is in Tome and Blood; it gives +1 HD of hitpoitns (no BAB or save increase form the HD, though).

And then you can use the spell Adrenaline Surge (Sor/Wiz 2, detailed in MotW, I think) ... which gives the same benefits as [3.5] AugSum: +4 enhancement to each of STR and CON for all yoru summoned animals for something like 1 round per level.

IMO, the trickis to always get 1d3 creatures from the list one level BELOW that of the spell-level you actually cast; IOW, Summon Monster V is cast ... make your choice from the SuMonIV list. The more warm bodies you can pump out, and the faster you can get them there, the better.

 

[Stalker0]

While this won't help you now, to really become a creator, its all about being a psionic shaper. They get spells like minor creation as a 1st level power!! Astral constructs rock, and with int as your prime stat, you can pump out the craft.

But as far as your condition goes, I've played an alienist before and they are a lot of fun

 

[nimisgod]

How about the Candle Caster [T&B]?

 

[Corlon]

The horror, the horror.

*gasp*
It is very horrible.

Adrenalin surge sounds pretty cool, and since the summoner doesn't kill any other abilities of the wizard at all, I'll probably choose him. The planeshifter would be pretty cool cause at lv 19 I could make my own demi-plane, but campaigns don't generally last that long for us...too fickle I guess.

And on the psionics thing, for some reason I hate psionics with a passion, I don't know why but I do.

Thanks for your input guys.

Oh yeah, and what does increasing the DC for summoning spells do? Does it do anything at all?