Wizards hang around reading and studying, but with their low base skills, they can't be very good at many knowledge skills. To be any kind of a successful wizard, they have to keep Spellcraft max'd and to be any kind of successful adventurer, they have to keep Concentration max'd. Most wizards are going to keep Knowledge: Arcana up there as well, so for a wizard with a 16 Int, that leaves 2 skill points per level to get any access to the knowledge in the books they read.
Wizard Alternatives
- Thread starter Zathraas
- Start date
The Blow Leprechaun
First Post
Just because they read a lot of books doesn't mean they read a lot of books in great detail on a lot of different subjects. D&D classes are always a trade off between specialization/generalization, with the assumption that the more generally able you are, the less specifically skilled. Wizards could take ranks in all the Knowledge skills and be a generalist, but then they're just not as good at any particular Knowledge skill as a specialist would be. This is pretty realistic. Wizards are not the font of general knowledge - Bards are, that's why they get Bardic Knowledge to help supplant any lacking in particular Knowledge types. And as someone pointed out in another thread about Knowledge skills, if you want to really crazygonuts on Knowledge skills you want to be a bard.Zathraas said:
Bard is a great choice as is the cloistered cleric option, both of whom get 6 skill points per level and all knowledge skills as class skills, but I am really just looking for alternatives for a wizard without multiclassing. I was hoping for a single classed wizard who has a better storehouse of knowledge.
The Blow Leprechaun
First Post
Personally, my favorite storehouse of knowledge is Archivist/Wizard/Mystic Theurge (no MAD as usually cripples a theurge), but none of those are great on skills.Zathraas said:
There's some suggestions on expanding your Knowledge base in notjer's tread: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=199249
If you just want a pure wizard with more skill points, go Loremaster. It's relatively easy to qualify for if you're a wizard, especially with the bonus feats.
In exchange for your familiar, you get 2 more skill points a level, a few secrets, and the Bardic Lore ability -- perfect for a skill-junkie wizard.
It's not flashy, but I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.
(Ironically, you can qualify for Loremaster from Bard at 7th level as well with a bit of careful spell selection.
)
In exchange for your familiar, you get 2 more skill points a level, a few secrets, and the Bardic Lore ability -- perfect for a skill-junkie wizard.
It's not flashy, but I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.
(Ironically, you can qualify for Loremaster from Bard at 7th level as well with a bit of careful spell selection.
)
more knowledge focused wizard: Alternate Wizard: Loreseeker
LOSE:
Summon Familiar (and can never get one through other means)
Bonus Feats at 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th
GAIN
4 skill points per level
Appraise, Gather Information, Heal, Search and Speak Language are added to the class skills for a wizard.
Lore: as the Bardic Knowledge ability as a bard of half the wizard level (min 1)
LOSE:
Summon Familiar (and can never get one through other means)
Bonus Feats at 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th
GAIN
4 skill points per level
Appraise, Gather Information, Heal, Search and Speak Language are added to the class skills for a wizard.
Lore: as the Bardic Knowledge ability as a bard of half the wizard level (min 1)
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