Thinking about Wizard build... Would appreciate advice

[Hawke]

besides the 5th then what level of BM gets the skip?

Level 10.

Yeah I found that out the hard way on IRC. I thought it was 9/10 too.

[Crockpot]

Hey guys, the people over at the guild are dragging their feet on my character. I'd enjoy getting in but it looks like they're just not going to allow it. It is insanely infuriating since I spent hours trying to get in and waited a long time before play for it.

Would anyone recommend something to replace Red Wizard with?

[aaron22]

you can be a red wizard and not be apart of the guild. they just offer advantages to such a class.

[Crockpot]

How does that work? The DM just hooked me up and is getting me in now. (Thank God) I heard that you're not allowed to take one level of it without being in the guild! I was told go to level 5, don't level up to 6 without Red Wizard or it won't work. Are you saying I can play as Red Wizard leveling up at will until I get accepted?!

[chad878262]

How does that work? The DM just hooked me up and is getting me in now. (Thank God) I heard that you're not allowed to take one level of it without being in the guild! I was told go to level 5, don't level up to 6 without Red Wizard or it won't work. Are you saying I can play as Red Wizard leveling up at will until I get accepted?!

No, you still need the approval from the DM Team (not the guild) because they grant you the Red Wizard qualification feat.

Basically your Background has to be Lore appropriate and you have to show adequate knowledge of Thay and the Red Wizards in order to ensure we are staying somewhat within canon FR lore. The Red Wizard Guild accepting you (or not) has nothing to do with your ability to take levels in the Red Wizard PRC, that requires a DM to give you the qualification feat which they won't do until you have received DM approval of your background.

So, have you submitted your background to the DM Team? You are required to take your first level of Red Wizard at level 6 so until you have approval and receive the feat from a DM you won't be able to level up your PC, unless later a DM agrees to de-level you.

[Crockpot]

After reading everyone's helpful posts, I have an idea. I truly hope I get some more criticism/ideas from this! Guys, don't hold back!

I am thinking...
Wizard 5/Red Wizard 5/Archmage 10/Shadow Adept 10

Please help out! I am looking to start making my character tomorrow or sooner!

[chad878262]

After reading everyone's helpful posts, I have an idea. I truly hope I get some more criticism/ideas from this! Guys, don't hold back!

I am thinking...
Wizard 5/Red Wizard 5/Archmage 10/Shadow Adept 10

Please help out! I am looking to start making my character tomorrow or sooner!

You really don't gain much past SA 3. Plus I think if you are going RW you are required to take 10 levels (though I am not certain of taht rule. Finally, Archmage is a fine choice if you are going to make evocation your opposed school since you can at least get some use from low level spells out of arcane fire. Were it me, I would go either:

A. W5/RW10/AM10/SA5 - Take SPIII, Arcane Fire and one Spell Like Ability of your choice. CL for Necromancy or Illusion will be sky high. Assuming INT 30 + Fox Cunning for 34:
10 + 12 (INT) + 1 (Prodigy) + 3 (Epic SF) + 6 (CL38 from RW and AM) + 2 (SA3) = 34 + Spell Level, thus Wail of the Banshee or Weird will have a DC of 43, 44 if you min/max and give up epic spells to fully maximize INT another 2 points. So if you want to maximize your potential I would go Necromancy as your specialization and take SF: Illusion as your second SF requirement for Archmage.

B. W10/RW10/AM6/SA4 - Take SPIII, drop Arcane Fire and spell like ability to gain a bonus feat in epic levels from W10. Can be used to either optimize INT further or gain an epic spell, whatever you want to do with it.

For casters Epic feats are like gold, so between the above two builds, I would make the pick that allowed me to end on an even INT and take Epic Spell: Vamp Feats and Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy. I'd have to put it together in the builder to figure which I like better, but I recommend you play around with it a bit and decide which you prefer.

[K'yon Oblodra]

While Chad is a fox in terms of builds I'd stay away from a build that has two DM approval classes for starters.

You'll need to come up with a background fitting for Red Wizard AND Shadow Adept which might be a bit rough for a beginning player but if you feel up for the challenge to for it

[chad878262]

While Chad is a fox in terms of builds I'd stay away from a build that has two DM approval classes for starters.

You'll need to come up with a background fitting for Red Wizard AND Shadow Adept which might be a bit rough for a beginning player but if you feel up for the challenge to for it

Not as difficult as you might think since in our timeline Shar is one of the accepted clergy's in Thay. For a Red Wizard I would say Shar/Shadow Adept is one of the easier backgrounds to come up with and get approved. Obviously Kossuth and other Neutral/Elemental deities are the most popular, but pre-time of troubles Bane was probably the biggest after Kossuth. However, Beshaba, Talona, Umberlee, Loviatar and Shar are all openly worshiped. Red Wizards are all about Power, but Shar hasn't shown her world eating self yet...Heck the ToT hasn't even happened yet! Thus what's to say a Red Wizard wouldn't worship and come to truly follow Shar as he was shown powers that can make his spells more deadly?

[K'yon Oblodra]

Thus what's to say a Red Wizard wouldn't worship and come to truly follow Shar as he was shown powers that can make his spells more deadly?

From what I read in the hints for people applying to the class thread I understood that people using the shadow weave are not aware of it being a creation of Shar which would make the aspect of knowingly pursuing power like this hard /impossible at least from my understanding.

They way one would learn of the shadow weave would be through a tutor that is capable of using the shadow weave although I have to admit I have no clue how said tutor learned of it in the first place XD.

[chad878262]

Class description would indicate otherwise... It requires Shar as a deity and it requires 'true believer' feat. Most people who draw from the Shadow Weave do so unknowingly, and are NOT Shadow Adepts. Shadow Adepts know exactly where the power is coming from.

[K'yon Oblodra]

I'd just advice to have a look at this :viewtopic.php?f=421&t=53521

[chad878262]

I miss DM Echo's posts... Such fun reads.

That said, the post just further calls out the accuracy of my statement. Shadow Adapt absolutely knows they are using the Shadow Weave. For a Red Wizard it is likely a situation where their master would have taught it to them after years of training and success at some task which proved their loyalty to their Master, and to Shar (just as per DM Echo's explanation!)

So again, for a Red Wizard, Shadow Adept RP fits in quite well. So long as you don't mind the heavy RP that entails, but heck, who has a problem with more character based RP lines???

[K'yon Oblodra]

Guess I misunderstood it myself XD