Wizard/ArchMage?

[Ahku]

Is it a good build?

I like the idea of being able to cast fireballs willy-nilly and not damage my party members...

But other than that does it do anything for the DC of spells cast, etc...?

thanks,

Ahku (aka: Roanoke)

[Sun Wukong]

You might be better off with a Sorcerer/Archmage, and a Sorcerer/Arcane Scholar/Archmage at that. Because the archmage abilities eat spells and Sorcerers get few spells more per level and can cast spantaneously.

As for DCs... the spell DCs remain the same. Unless you get the spell power feat to increase your caster level to 32, to get +1 your spell DCs.

[Hawke]

In order to do what you want to do (for full caster) you will need to obtain 8 level of AM. That is for the +1 CL x 3 and for the master of shaping.

Unlike the divine equivalent, AM has to give up one spell slot (depending on what you take) per ability taken. So if you took 10 levels of AM, you lose 5 spells. This can get steep. Very steep for wizards even specialized ones.

The suggestion for doing sorcerer is another way of going because you get a lot more spell slots as a sorcerer.

[Egg Shen]

But, as a wizard, if you find yourself always memorizing a certain spell, the spell-like ability feat for the archmage class can be pretty handy. Let's use IGMS as an example. If you always, without fail prepare one, then you can safely take it as a spell-like ability without really "sacrficing" anything. Instead of getting just one use out of it per rest, you get 3. Makes you fell a little bit like a sorcerer.

[Ahku]

Right!

That's kinda what i was mulling over....except using fireball and delayed blast fireball!
(Shaped, Empowered and Maximized)

And if i am reading the PrC correct i can change Fire into Cold damage with the fireball, delayed blast fireball spells? Is that correct?

This is primarily a RP (researcher) build, but i do want him to be effective in the field as well...

thanks for the feedback,

~Ahku (aka: Roanoke)