Author Topic: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard  (Read 8068 times)

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Crippen

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Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« on: September 13, 2011, 10:42:57 AM »
Hey, everyone!  I'm relatively new to Wizards in Pathfinder, and I'm looking for a little advice in a couple of areas.  Let me say first that I have read Treantmonk's excellent resource, but I'm looking for some additional input given the new resources available.

First of all, I'd like some help with feat selection.  My wizard is a level four Elven conjurer, teleportation subschool.  I'm staring at levels 5 and beyond, especially those bonus metamagic feats, and am feeling a little lost.  Here's what he looks like so far, including plans through level 7:  (Asterisks denote bonus feats)

1)  Scribe Scroll*, Improved Initiative
3)  Spell focus (conjuration)
5)  Persistent Spell*, Spell Penetration
7)  Improved Familiar

So, here's my plan:  Cast haste, then control the battlefield with conjuration spells like Web, Stinking cloud, the Pit line, Aqueous Orb, etc.  So, any suggested feats?  I've kinda got my eye on Spell Perfection for level 15, and I'm considering something like a Dazing Acid Fog.  I've asked the DM if he thinks Dimensional Agility (UC) could apply to the Shift power from the teleportation subschool, and if he lets it fly, then that will be my level 7 feat.  Past a certain point, I think that a permanent part of my prepared spells will be Greater Magic Weapon.

Another question I've got is regarding the quality of Black Tentacles.  At d20pfsrd, I clicked through some CR 7, 8, 9, and 10 monsters and took a gander at their CMDs, and it looks like CL+5, the CMB of the Black Tentacles spell, lags behind almost every monster that isn't a caster type.

So I guess my problem is that I've got a LOT of options, and I don't have enough experience to tell which ones will work out really well and which ones will end up being oft-regretted ink on my character sheet.  Feel free to throw in some suggested spells as well.  I've seen Solid Fog do good things in 3.5, but it's much less powerful in PF - is it still good?

Thanks!

--Edit--

I figured I'd give the rest of the party composition:  Fighter, Fighter, Magus, Inquisitor, Cleric, Oracle.  I was originally going to pick up Augment Summoning, but we've got two fighters who put out so much pain that I'd feel as if my summons were a waste.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2011, 10:48:41 AM by Crippen »

Solo

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2011, 10:43:37 AM »
What does PF have to enhance SoX spells?

"I am the Black Mage! I cast the spells that makes the peoples fall down!"

The Legend RPG, which I worked on and encourage you to read.

Crippen

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2011, 10:52:47 AM »
What does PF have to enhance SoX spells?

Is that Save or (insert fate)?  If so, then feats like Spell Focus for the relevant schools, Spell Perfection to up the bonus given by Spell Focus, or metamagics to increase the save or force it to be rolled twice.

I've got another question that I just thought of:  With so many fighters in a party, would summoning be worth it?  I confess that my original plan with Spell Focus (conjuration) was to take it into Augment Summoning, but fighters put out a LOT of pain, and it seems like the Forces of Evil (tm) would start ignoring summoned monsters past a certain point.

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2011, 02:45:31 PM »
Yes, the purpose of being a Summoner is so you can bring your own pawns to a game, but if there are already pawns present then it's a shtick that's not generally worthwhile.

I think I would suggest, instead, being a Transmuter, and spamming stuff like Haste and Slow.  Caster-types can be rocked by a well-placed Flesh to Stone, and opening up giant pits at your enemies' feet with Disintegrate is an amusing prospect.

Crippen

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2011, 03:25:31 PM »
I think I would suggest, instead, being a Transmuter, and spamming stuff like Haste and Slow.  Caster-types can be rocked by a well-placed Flesh to Stone, and opening up giant pits at your enemies' feet with Disintegrate is an amusing prospect.

Well, I've already played him through level 4, so he's stuck as a Conjuration specialist.  I certainly plan to CAST haste a lot, and Flesh to Stone is among the ones I've got my eye on later on.  Along that route, I was actually considering going all the way to Greater Spell Focus in both Conjuration AND Transmutation, and combine it with something like Persistent Spell and/or Heighten Spell to have a high DC on the caster-type killers, and good DCs on the more area-control effects of the Conjuration school.

And as far as opening pits, I think I'd prefer the Create Pit line instead.  I have a feeling (because it'd be what I would do) that creating a pit beneath your enemies with disintegrate would allow some sort of save to not fall in, similar to the Create Pit line.  Plus, the Create Pit line starts at level 2 spells.

Honestly, had I seen the Annihilation Lenses, or whatever, I probably would have gone Transmuter first, but them's the breaks.

Is it worth the ridiculous feat investment to get up to Greater Spell Focus in two schools?  I mean, are there enough other things worth spending feats on, or will I even need it if I reserve stuff like Flesh to Stone for caster-lookin' enemies?

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2011, 05:32:23 PM »
If it's just PF, then I don't think there really is enough worth spending feats on outside of Spell Focus/Greater Spell Focus.  Also, you have more feats than in 3.5e, anyway, so the opportunity cost really isn't terrible.

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Crippen

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Re: Looking for advice on a Pathfinder Wizard
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2011, 09:02:01 PM »
Snuggle up with Treantmonk in Pathfinder!

I've actually already read that, but thanks for the input anyways.  I'm looking for advice borne of experience with newer material, among other things, like the input on how Black Tentacles scales.  I may swap out my level 5 metamagic for Extend Spell, though, as it's only a +1 level bump, and there are other things to do with my level 5 spell slots than persistent stinking cloud.