Earth Dreamer optimization

[sirpercival]

So I just recently got thinking about a Dream Dwarf Diviner/Earth Dreamer build.  I started looking through what else to round out with (since ED is just a 5-level class), but I'm not really sure what's interesting/good.  I've never played a diviner before, so to anyone who has, your input is greatly appreciated.

I feel like a lot of the ACFs for diviners are lackluster, and the Master Specialist school esoterica are not so great either.  Unseen Seer is pretty good, but I'm not sure what to dip to make the most of the damage increase.  Divine Oracle would be nice for a 3-level dip...  Anyway, what do people suggest?

[skydragonknight]

Divine Oracle is pretty good, as are Insightful Divination feat (CM) and Spontaneous Divination ACF (CC). Diviner is one of the few I'd avoid Focused Specialist with, not only because of Spontaneous Divination but also you only have one banned school so you should play mostly like a generalist.

[Shiki]

On the contrary, I'd definitely go with Focused Specialist as a Diviner Wizard; consider what you can do with Uncanny Forethought (EoE).

[snakeman830]

I agree that you should not go with Focused Specialist.  Just ban Evocation, since you can mimic the entire school out of Illusion.

[X-Codes]

Wizard diviners are kinda hosed by the fact that the really good low-level divinations are Cleric only, not to mention Spontaneous Divination.

The big draw for Divination specialists, though, is that they drop only 1 school of magic.  While most can drop Evocation and Enchantment easily enough and be OK in the long run, losing spells like Sleep and Charm Person at level 1 hurts, and losing other things like Shatter and Suggestion are also bad.  Even Magic Missile finds decent usefulness at mid levels.

On the contrary, I'd definitely go with Focused Specialist as a Diviner Wizard; consider what you can do with Uncanny Forethought (EoE).

Only so much.  That's what.  Wise use of divinations are supposed to replace the need for the Uncanny Forethought feat.  Insightful Divination is also mandatory for Diviners, since they're the only specialists that don't have to blow a feat on Spell Focus (Divination) to get it.

[Shiki]

On the contrary, I'd definitely go with Focused Specialist as a Diviner Wizard; consider what you can do with Uncanny Forethought (EoE).

Only so much.  That's what.  Wise use of divinations are supposed to replace the need for the Uncanny Forethought feat.  Insightful Divination is also mandatory for Diviners, since they're the only specialists that don't have to blow a feat on Spell Focus (Divination) to get it.

Hhmm, I guess you're right. Still, it's not really a horrible choice, but yeah..

[sirpercival]

So we're looking at:

Dream Dwarf Diviner 3/Master Specialist 3/Divine Oracle 3/Earth Dreamer 5/Master Specialist +3/Unseen Seer 3

I cast divination spells at +5 CL, have access to the Oracle domain as well as 3 divination spells from any class list (one <=3rd, one <=8th, one <=9th).

Feats:
1 Scribe Scroll, Insightful Divination
3 Spell Focus: Divination
4 Skill Focus: Spellcraft (b)
6 Skill Focus: Knowledge (Religion), GSF: Divination (b)
9 Heighten Spell
12 Earth Sense
15 Earth Spell
18 Still Spell (b), free

If 2 flaws, then SpF: Div and SkF: knowledge (religion) go at 1st level and I enter Divine Oracle at 5th instead of 6th, take Earth Sense at 3rd, Heighten Spell at 6th, and Earth Spell at 9th, and then 12,15,18 are free.

Thoughts?

[sirpercival]

Alternative build:

Dream Dwarf Cloistered Cleric 1/Archivist 11/Earth Dreamer 5/Divine Oracle 3

You get the Knowledge domain, trade the Mind domain out for Knowledge Devotion, trade domain 3 out for Divine Magician to cherry-pick any wizard-only divination spells.  Is this no longer useful if you don't continue with CC?  Can you add the Divine Magician spells to your prayerbook?  I figured to use the Archivist bonus feat on SF:Knowledge Religion to qualify for DO...  +4 CL on divinations, lots of divination spells.