Question about Spell Power

[Akroma666]

I am trying to make a wizard build with Shadow Adept as well as Red Wizard. His specialized school is illusion, but I am getting the same DC's for both necromancy and Illusion?

I noticed that his DC's are lower than usual too;

At level 20;
Int of 23 for a +6 bonus. Has spellcasting prodigy (+1), RW Spell Power +4, SA Spell Power +1, Shadow Magic (another +2).

So shouldn't MY DC's for a lvl 9 spell be 10+6+9+1+4+1+2=33
So then why with Weird and Wail of the Banshee I'm only getting DC's of 28?

[Simian]

Spell power increases caster levels.

Hence, at level 20, you character should have the following DC:

10 (Base)
+ 6 (Int)
+ 1 (Spell casting Prodigy)
+ 1 (Spell power, epic caster bonus)
+ 2 (Shadow Magic)
= 20

But since you listed Shadow Adept Spell power at +1, it is likely you do not have six levels of Shadow Adept to get the +2 Bonus. Which would mean that you only have +1 to Illusion and Necromancy.

In this case, you should be getting the right DCs.

[Akroma666]

Spell power increases caster levels.

What do you mean by this? Like if I multi-class I get spell progression still?

[Simian]

Let us take a Wizard 10/Red Wizard of Thay 10 as an example.

We are looking at a level 20 caster. Howevever, since the RWoT prestige class provides +1 spell power for every two levels of the RWoT prestige class, we are looking at a total of +5 caster levels from Spell Power.

Therefore, instead of casting spells like a level 20 arcanist, our character casts spells like a level 25 arcanist.

Every third epic level grants you +1 to spell DCs. Hence, our character's spells are one DC higher, last longer, and possibly deal more damage than a regular Wizard 20.

Does this help?

[Akroma666]

It does! Thank you! What if you are level 30? Does that matter when it comes to having the +5 spell power?

[Simian]

Well, with Wizard 20/Red Wizard of Thay 10, you would have caster level 35. Hence you would have total of +5 to your spell DCs. A level 30 Wizard would only get +3.

Shadow Adept should provide +3 Spell Power at prestige class level 10. Hence a Wizard 10/Shadow Adept 10/Red Wizard of Thay, would have caster level of 38. Hence +6 to spell DCs.

But the thing is, I am not certain whether the spell power applies to all spell schools, or just to the one you've focused into.

[Akroma666]

But the thing is, I am not certain whether the spell power applies to all spell schools, or just to the one you've focused into.

Thats what I was wondering.. this is on the wiki;

Note: Although the description of this feat implies that the +1 bonus to DC is only for spells from the chosen school of Specialization, the +1 bonus to DC is actually applied to ALL of the Red Wizard's spells (it does not, however, affect the DC of Epic Spells from any school). It is unknown if the same goes for the +1 bonus to spell penetration. (Tested with an Wizard 10/ Arcane Scholar 10/ Red Wizard 8 with Practiced Spellcaster, Epic Spell Penetration. He should have 28+4+6 Spell Penetration plus an 1 for 1d20. Bigby failed Spell Resistance 40. Conclusion: It does not!)

[Simian]

Spell Spezialization and Spell Power are two different things.
Spell Spez just grants that +1 DC.
And according to wiki, Spell Power just affects your chosen school of magic.

Hence, to get that + 6 Epic Caster Bonus on either Necromancy or Illusion, you would have had to focused on either Necromancy or Illusion as your Wizard Specialization.

So, how about you tell us little bit more about your caster? Because, if you do not get the Spell Power from RWoT, and you do get the +2 DC from Shadow Adept, your DCs are entirely correct.

[Akroma666]

Oh, I understand where my DC's are coming from, they are coming from spez's from feats and a focus from the selected school! Now it makes complete sense.. If only I didn't have to drop Illusion to take Red Wizard Necromancy.. I want to do Illusion/Necro with a HEAVY focus in Necro First. I wish I could just choose to drop Enchant instead of Illusion and do a red focused in Necro like in PnP.

[Vukodlak]

Shadow Adept is not compatible with Red Wizard lore, applying to take both PrCs will get your app rejected by me. If you want an additional bump to your DCs as a Red then take Archmage.

[dzidek1983]

is a wizard / AM / Shadow Adept a viable build then?

[Aelcar]

is a wizard / AM / Shadow Adept a viable build then?

I cant possibly see a reason why not. AM is a degree of mastery, unlike RW that has a very specific lore. Archmage of Shadows...sounds good! It wouldnt even be all that powerful, compared to what you can do with AM/BM combos. AM/BM variants are much less than a glass cannon than you are, and have similarly high CL (general, not focused on 2/3 schools) and similarly high DCs. I think SA isnt in the list of AM possible cross-classing simply because it's an application class, and simply wasnt there when AM was released.