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Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 1:32 pm
by TheLier
I've been looking into builds recently, and I really feel like that I will have to go with ASoC+Wiz+Archmage, as PM,BM,SA are out of the picture, leaving no other viable PrCs, if I'm correct.

Is there a good reason, not to take it, in this case?

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:17 pm
by Rhifox
Wizard + Archmage is pretty typical, as far as wizards go. ASoC is very potent in NWN2 and always a good pick for wizards, though it has some manner of lore flavor that wizard and archmage don't. Of course if your character is the type of wizard that enjoys theoretical magical study rather than just practical, then ASoC is a fine fit. Aside from lore issues, the only reason to not go ASoC is if you want more feat versatility.

Frost Mage is another option to consider, if you enjoy an elementalist mage. Unfortunately there's no options for the other elements.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:18 pm
by Deathgrowl
It's the only way to make a DC mage without morally questionable PRCs.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:44 pm
by TheLier
Lorewise it fits nicely, but it could be omitted. This time the question was purely mechanical becuse as mentioned before, wizards can't really compete when it comes to being a blaster, and I don't want to focus on that.

Of course it is not bad, if this is the only legit option.

A question about focuses:

Which ones do you reccomend and why? Necromancy is obvious for me, but not so much the others. The "control" wizard idea seems very nice, but I do not know what would be ideal in this case.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:47 pm
by Deathgrowl
The good thing with adding asoc to a high DC wizard, is that you both get DCs for being a controller and metamagics to give you blasting capabilities. It makes you versatile.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:50 pm
by Rhifox
For DC wizards, spell focuses for Necromancy, Illusion, and Enchantment are all good. They all have many and great DC spells. Necromancy focuses on death effects, enchantment focuses on control, and illusion falls somewhere in-between.

Evocation and Conjuration are less useful as they are for blasting spells and the classes that are best at blasting (sorcs, shamans) have enough slots to afford to cast multiple times.

Divination is not good for combat, but can be good for RP if you are going to focus on scrying. Scrying is pretty limited on BG, though. Divination does have a few DC spells, but not enough to really benefit from focusing.

Abjuration is based off caster level rather than DC (dispels and resisting dispels), so focuses don't affect it at all.

Transmutation has Disintegrate and Petrify. It doesn't have much DC effects other than that, but just those two are godly.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 2:51 pm
by TheLier
Deathgrowl wrote:The good thing with adding asoc to a high DC wizard, is that you both get DCs for being a controller and metamagics to give you blasting capabilities. It makes you versatile.
Sounds about right, some blasting power might come handy anytime.

What is your opinion when it comes to spell focuses? Which ones would be the best for a DC wizard?

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 3:18 pm
by Deathgrowl
In my opinion, this is the order of good spell schools: Necromancy > Illusion > Enchantment > Evocation > Transmutation.

Necromancy is kind of obvious. Fear, Finger of Death, and most importantly Wail of the Banshee.

Illusion has Solipsism and Mass Blindness/Deafness. Weird is also acceptable. Normal Blindness/Deafness is good as well, despite being a level 2.

Enchantment has a bunch. Hiss of sleep, the hold person/monster line. Dominate line...

Evocation isn't great for controllers. Sunburst is good, but that's really the only one. However, I picked Evocation as second school for my archmage because this is where all the good aoe spells are. And they tend to be reflex vs half, so good DCs are nice.

Transmutation has two good spells: Disintgrate and Flesh to Stone. Both are level 6, unfortunately. Disintegrate is the highest damage single target spell in the spell book. 40d6. Can be maximised, and because it's an RTA, it can crit. 480 damage.

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 4:27 pm
by ctothep
Deathgrowl wrote:In my opinion, this is the order of good spell schools: Necromancy > Illusion > Enchantment > Evocation > Transmutation.

Necromancy is kind of obvious. Fear, Finger of Death, and most importantly Wail of the Banshee.

Illusion has Solipsism and Mass Blindness/Deafness. Weird is also acceptable. Normal Blindness/Deafness is good as well, despite being a level 2.

Enchantment has a bunch. Hiss of sleep, the hold person/monster line. Dominate line...

Evocation isn't great for controllers. Sunburst is good, but that's really the only one. However, I picked Evocation as second school for my archmage because this is where all the good aoe spells are. And they tend to be reflex vs half, so good DCs are nice.

Transmutation has two good spells: Disintgrate and Flesh to Stone. Both are level 6, unfortunately. Disintegrate is the highest damage single target spell in the spell book. 40d6. Can be maximised, and because it's an RTA, it can crit. 480 damage.
I love Illusion the most. With Greater Shadow Conjuration being fixed you now have Web as an illusion spell at spell level 7 aswell.

Solipsism, Weird, Mass Blindess, Web, Phantasmal Killer

Lots of great spells for an illusionist. Also the school with the best rp flavour imo :)

Re: Just throw good Wizard builds at me

Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 4:35 pm
by TheLier
Deathgrowl wrote:In my opinion, this is the order of good spell schools: Necromancy > Illusion > Enchantment > Evocation > Transmutation.

Necromancy is kind of obvious. Fear, Finger of Death, and most importantly Wail of the Banshee.

Illusion has Solipsism and Mass Blindness/Deafness. Weird is also acceptable. Normal Blindness/Deafness is good as well, despite being a level 2.

Enchantment has a bunch. Hiss of sleep, the hold person/monster line. Dominate line...

Evocation isn't great for controllers. Sunburst is good, but that's really the only one. However, I picked Evocation as second school for my archmage because this is where all the good aoe spells are. And they tend to be reflex vs half, so good DCs are nice.

Transmutation has two good spells: Disintgrate and Flesh to Stone. Both are level 6, unfortunately. Disintegrate is the highest damage single target spell in the spell book. 40d6. Can be maximised, and because it's an RTA, it can crit. 480 damage.
Thanks it will be Necromancy-Illusion then.