Can you recommend any good HiPs Wizard builds?

[Ahku]

Hello!
I am looking to try a wizard type character again (after many dreadful earlier attempts) and was told by other players the a Wizard with the Hide in Plain Sight ability is the best option.

Is this true?

Can anyone recommend some builds for HiPs Wizards?

Thanks,
~Wanna be a wizard

[chad878262]

The best is W26/SD4. CL30, 2 bonus epic feats from W20 and 25 in epics. Just go for maxing DCs in your school of choice.

A popular option is going W14/R3/SD3/AT10 for a HiPS RTA sneak attack build with CL 28 or R10/W7/SD3/AT10 for getting Epic Precision. My personal opinion is even with sneak attack damage on RTA's you're better off doing something else.

I like W5/EK9/A8/AT8. (thanks again for pointing me to that build Thids) It gets CL25, HiPS, PTWF and 7d6 sneak dice. mimics the Fighter/Mage/Thief from 2e D&D fairly well IMO.

W17/PM10/SD3 only gets CL27, but has insane defense between PM and HiPS. PM also makes getting SD easier.

whatever you decide, enjoy!

[Deathgrowl]

With a hipsing wizard, you're not going to be a DC mage, so it's a good idea to get some ASoC in there.

I have a wizard16/asoc10/sd4.

[Zkenic]

You definitely can build a DC HiPSter, as long as you dont mind a bit of min-maxing.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?298022

AC: 52=10(base)+6(GMA)+4(Shield)+6(ICE)+4(PM)+6(dex)+5(nat armor)+4(deflection)+4(Dodge)+3(Tumble)
HP: 230
Base Saves: Fort 15, Reflex 17, Will 19, meaning easy to get high 20s to low 30s saves, with capped +20 35/37/39 saves against spells
DC for Necromancy: spell level +30 = 10(base)+13(int)+1(SCP)+3(cl 29)+3(ESF)
Vamp Feast DC is either 39 or 42, I dont know if ESF(Necromancy) affects vamp feast.

You can swap out ICE if you want. It'll let you get extend, or spell penetration.

[Deathgrowl]

ESF doesn't count for epic spells. Epic spell DC is 25 + caster stat (+ spellcasting prodigy). So yes, 39 DC on vamp feast.

38 on wail. That's a bit low on a DC caster, but I will grant it still counts.

I'd personally feel much more comfortable with non-DC spells on a hips wizard, though.

[Zkenic]

ESF doesn't count for epic spells. Epic spell DC is 25 + caster stat (+ spellcasting prodigy). So yes, 39 DC on vamp feast.

38 on wail. That's a bit low on a DC caster, but I will grant it still counts.

I'd personally feel much more comfortable with non-DC spells on a hips wizard, though.

DC 39 Wail of the banshee with HiPS.

If I just go straight wizard I can get the DC 2 higher. Most high DC builds I get are always right around 40DC. Is there a trick I dont know to get into the mid 40s?

[Tsidkenu]

You need Shadow Adept (usually 4 levels) and/or Red Wizard or Cleric with (Advanced) Divine Spell Power to push DCs beyond the low 40's, in addition to min-maxed stats on a +2 INT/WIS race. Those kinds of builds usually won't have 'room' for SD in them.

[Lockonnow]

well if you have a high save you can survive dose DC wizard clowns from those epic spells and you know you can use spell so they cant cast those epic spells so what come down to it is you re magic

[Darkwind]

Am I missing something here? Unless you have a hybrid w/ sneak dice of some sort what is the benefit of a Hipster wizard? A pure CL30 (or close) wizard has all manner of spells to hide himself at will and is rather impervious to attack for the same reason. I ran an epic wizzy before RCR and it was pretty hard for me to get hit in melee even when absolutely surrounded by monsters because of the insane # of warding spells I had on that couldn't be dispelled.

Other than a secondary Modified by Hawke for Rule Violation #5 button beyond say Etherealness, Impr. Inviso, Greater Sanc, Gaseous Form, etc etc. what is the benefit here?

[chad878262]

Am I missing something here? Unless you have a hybrid w/ sneak dice of some sort what is the benefit of a Hipster wizard? A pure CL30 (or close) wizard has all manner of spells to hide himself at will and is rather impervious to attack for the same reason. I ran an epic wizzy before RCR and it was pretty hard for me to get hit in melee even when absolutely surrounded by monsters because of the insane # of warding spells I had on that couldn't be dispelled.

Other than a secondary Modified by Hawke for Rule Violation #5 button beyond say Etherealness, Impr. Inviso, Greater Sanc, Gaseous Form, etc etc. what is the benefit here?

The most difficult part for many players (including me) in learning to play a wizard in this game is positioning. HiPS-Mage basically takes this problem out of the equation because you essentially have instant invisibility whenever needed. It can be an Oh @#$! button, of course, but it can also be utilized to cast a spell, HiPS, re-position, cast another spell, etc. In this manner you do not need to have as many wards up and thus can use more spells to take out mobs, improving upon spell economy.

HiPS mage is certainly not the most powerful way to build a caster for those who are really good at playing casters. However, if you aren't the greatest at playing them HiPS can make it look like you are. Most times the most powerful build will not be very powerful in the hands of a novice. Meanwhile an easier to use, but less powerful build will be MORE powerful for that same novice. Ease of use and all that.

[Deathgrowl]

HiPS is just all around the best defensive ability in the game, provided you have the hide/ms to back it up.

You can cancel enemy casts with it, you can get out of overwhelming situations. Sure, you can do that with a quickened invisibility as well, but you only get to do that so many times. And even that can be too slow. HiPS is literally instantaneous.

[electric mayhem]

Until the enemy keeps engaging "the invisible you" and provokes your character to attack and drop invis/stealth. Rather annoying.

[Darkwind]

Very good points about positioning, and more importantly spell targeting / breaking. It is odd I never really considered the defensive part of the Hips since so many use it offensively. For the 3 level sacrifice and putting Practiced Spellcaster in to compensate that really is probably worth it in the long run given how "squishy" wizards are even w/ a full set of wards.

If I do another DC wiz of some sort I may actually just take the 3 level SD dip.

[metaquad4]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?206229

This is one I'm fond of.

You can also go http://nwn2db.com/build/?146996

But I'd take 3 SD instead of 4 there, since Blood Magus is 8/10 now.

Both are powerful, classic builds.