help with wizard at early levels (useful gear/spells)

[Tr011]

I start playing a relatively weak wizard and don't really know what to take to survive the first levels.
My character is a Dragonborn Aleithan Dwarf (Darkvision 90ft., some psionic powers and growing wings) with 10 Str, 13 Dex, 20 Con, 19 Int, 13 Wis and 10 Cha and the Domain Wizard variant

Item	Cost	Weight
Sundark Goggles	10gp	-
Bitterleaf Oil (nearly empty, 2 uses left, it's useful for my scales, weapons or the kobold of our party)	5gp	-
Spellbook	15gp	3lb
2x Flour pouch	2sp	-
Listening Cone	8sp	1lb
Twine, roll (50 feet)	1sp	-
Dagger	2gp	1lb
Bedrol	1sp	5lb
Backpack	2gp	2lb
Bell (damped)	1gp	-
Caltrops	1gp	1lb.
Candle	1cp	-
Flask (filled with Water)	3cp	3lb.
Ink	8gp	-
Inkpen	1sp	-
2x 1-pitch-flask Oil	2sp	2lb.
Rope 25ft	5sp	5lb.
Spell Component pounch	5gp	2lb.
Signet Ring	5gp	-
Courtier's Outfit	- (by house rule)	-
3 common Meals	9sp	-
Sack (empty)	1sp	1/2 lb
Club	-	3lb
Sling	-	-
at all	57gp, 4cp	28.5 lb

So I got a Club as primary melee Weapon for fights, the sling for ranged combat (I can get the bullets on my way).
A flask with water and 3 Meals will be enough I hope, I got a Bedrol to sleep and an empty Sack to loot (medium load out of fight after the first fight, which can be droped easily won't be a problem). But where can I cut enough to be not medium loaded by default? (1-3lb free would be nice, too)
Anyone got any idea what my wizard could need more and what he does not need?

[spacemonkey555]

Your first outfit doesn't count against your encumbrance, if you carried 2 you would have to count one of them. PHB pg. 131, first paragraph under clothing, last sentence.

[Tr011]

Wow nice thanks.
Any useful item I could need for up to 40gp?

[spacemonkey555]

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=4400.0

[Tr011]

Thanks^^ this helps really a lot. I now packed my belt and used most of the remaining gold and weight for expensive Dwarven Alcohol (flavor cuz Dwarf and saleable for more than it's worth outside of Dwarven Cities).

Btw: Does Magic Missle work with Fell Drain, Fell Frighten and Fell Weaken? I would take Fell Weaken and Fell Drain. (-4 Str and -1 level for one enemy + one per three caster levels, no save)

[Vicerious]

Yeah, they do. Using those metamagics with auto-hit spells like magic missile and its cousins is a favorite tactic.

[Sobolev]

I think you will be underwhelmed by Feather Fall and Tenser's Floating Disk as well, but YMMV.

[Tr011]

I thought of Tenser's Floating Disc for level3+ as a transportation method for various items. Also, there are so much uses in this spell like carrying wounded people, ignoring the terrain and so on. Do you know any other method for transporting useful but heavy gear? (Armor is i.e. good for loot & sale, but as a wizard I don't wanna carry it)

Feather Fall isn't needed at all, your right. (forgot I also can glide at level3 or something so I can't take much falling damage even unconcious from there on)

[ninjarabbit]

I wouldn't bother with damage spells at low levels, a light crossbow will give you similar damage output without costing you spell slots. At level 1 the spells I'd use are color spray, charm person, enlarge person on your big stupid fighter, and grease once you get a couple of levels.

I'd invest in a guard dog or two at 25 gps a pop and cross class handle animal. You can use it as a pack animal, it has scent so nothing at that level will sneak up on you, and at level 1 it's decent for combat. Leather armor might also be a consideration at level 1, it's +2 AC for only 10 gps and it's only 10% ASF and 0 ACF, leather armor barding for your dog wouldn't be a bad idea either.

[Kajhera]

I think you will be underwhelmed by Feather Fall and Tenser's Floating Disk as well, but YMMV.

Our warmage has found Tenser's Floating Disk to be his single most useful spell, but he is a warmage rather than a wizard.

[Tr011]

I first wanted to buy a dog, but then our 4-Int-Fighter got his 2-Int-Dog, so I decided it would be kinda lame to get a dog too (cuz they could both count as my dogs as long as he doesn't DM the campaign )
Reasons for Tenser's Floating Disc (~5% doesn't work, but rest does)

[ninjarabbit]

Another benefit of enlarge person is that it makes your BSF a bigger target.....literally. Attacks on your BSF aren't attacks on you.

[Tr011]

Another benefit of enlarge person is that it makes your BSF a bigger target.....literally. Attacks on your BSF aren't attacks on you.

That's right. And the Reach is a nice bonus, too.

Think my spells will be kinda:
Expeditious Retreat: By Wizard Domain. Not really awesome, but it is still OK.
Color Spray: By far the best for lvl1 imo. With a bit care not to stun my mates it will be kinda AoE Instant-Kill.
Grease: Useful in nearly all situations. Can even be used on weapons held by foes or I can get a team member out of that grappling orc's hands.
Enlarge Person: You said it.
Silent Image: With a bit imagination and a good idea it can be a fear effect without save for enemies. Also good out of combat.
Summon Monster 1: He should tank some strikes or flank with the party rogue.
Magic Missle: I think it is really the worst choice after looking thru the other spells. At least at level one. But dealing some damage may be useful.
Tenser's Floating Disk: Disk of all uses.

[Lycanthromancer]

Grease is basically only useless against rogues and factotums with 5 or more ranks in Balance, or creatures that fly with no need for holding things.

Heck, use it on the ground and you can even screw over epic level golems with it.

[Endarire]

Grease > Epic Golems
Is this more of a failure of golems or a win of Wizards?

[Unbeliever]

Grease > Epic Golems
Is this more of a failure of golems or a win of Wizards?

A combination of golem fail and somewhat spotty balance rules.  Then again, I think this is more or less appropriate for golems:  they're good at what they do, but they are ultimately clumsy, brainless automatons.

[Tr011]

At least it's funny to know, that a wizard can easily farm Golems xD