Changeling focused specialist - doable or sheer lunacy?

[Nox_Noctis]

Now - lets discuss progression: Wizard into Incatatrix into Red wizard?

The 3.5 red wizard really got nerfed bad. As per a literal reading of the schools to ban (and disregarding the example which contradicts this), a non-diviner specialist has to ban an extra 2 schools. For example, an abjurer red wizard would have to ban 4 schools. Depending on your interpretation on how it interacts with focused specialist, that would be 5 schools banned. Throw in incantatrix and that is 6 schools (which is the max, since you can't ban divination or your own specialized school).

I suppose that is as extreme as we can get.

Not to burst bubbles, but that's not quite true. You could be a specialist Diviner and find a way to ban 7 schools (might be hard), leaving you with just one school (whereas specializing in any other school leaves you with 2). Whether or not finding a way to ban 7 schools is possible isn't something I know, but if it is possible, that takes the cake (the cake of self-sacrifice). 

[Runestar]

Lets get the ball rerolling...albeit off a different tangent.

How many ways are there we can ban schools?

Red wizard
Incantatrix
focused specialist

Any more?

[Nox_Noctis]

Focused Specialist, Dual-Specialist Wizard, Incantatrix, Red Wizard (-6 schools)

So, you can have three specialty schools and... 6 banned schools... out of eight total schools. >_>
So, actually, since you can't ban Divination, you actually end up prohibiting one of your own specialty schools... There's a certain point where this just because dumb and we just crossed it.

[DavidWL]

On a side note, what is everyone's impression of the changeling specialist wizard substitution? At first glance, it looks like a very cool concept (specializing in 2 schools?), but I am wondering if it is a trap in disguise (much like monkey grip). You effectively give up 3 schools, for the ability to memorize either an illusion or transmutation spell in your bonus slots. Seems rather lackluster, once the novelty of dual-specialization wore off.

Morphic familiar is interesting, but has a tough time competing with the other variant features you could be swapping out a familiar for...

Certainly giving up an extra school of spells is not (at all) worth being able to specialize in 2 schools.  Monkey grip is way better than that - Monkey grip doesn't make you *less* effective.

Morphic familiar however is very interesting.  Combine that with improved familiar and it really becomes super interesting.

Best,
David