Vow of Poverty and wizards

[Endless Twilight]

Is Vow of Poverty an acceptable trade-off for a wizard specializing in conjuration? The campaign's to start at level 7, and I'm playing an Alienist (not optimized, I know-character and flavor reasons), and am thinking about throwing in Vow of Poverty, as my DM is quite amused by the concept of an Exalted Alienist, but is this worth it?

[PhaedrusXY]

How are you going to cast spells without components? And a spellbook?

[snakeman830]

Let's see, VoP specifically mentions clothing, simple weapon, 1 day's worth of food, and a spell component pouch.  Unfortunately, the Spellbook is none of those.

Bad idea, RAW.  If your DM rules that the spellbook does not violate the vow, then there are worse characters to use the Vow on.  Remember the restriction on spell component values.

[Bozwevial]

How are you going to cast spells without components? And a spellbook?

Sorry to say it, but this ends the thread. As supported by WotC's own articles: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20060616a

[Endless Twilight]

DM has ruled that he'll allow me to have my spellbook regardless.

[Bozwevial]

DM has ruled that he'll allow me to have my spellbook regardless.

In that case, you could theoretically do worse. Of course, I happen to be of the opinion that the money would be more valuable (especially since you'd miss out on a lot of good spells).

[Runestar]

There is also a feat in an issue of dragon which lets you swap out your familiar for the ability to learn spells without needing a spellbook. Only drawback is that now, you cannot acquire VOP at 1st lv (at least, not without flaws).

[Lycanthromancer]

DM has ruled that he'll allow me to have my spellbook regardless.

Yeah, you'll only get 2 spells per level, and cannot get any more in any way, shape, or form.

I'd suggest taking the feat that gives you 4/lvl, as well as the ACF that allows trading your familiar for the ability to write your spellbook in your own head. Don't remember the names, though.

Also, apparently the people in Save My Game have no idea how monks work. Or more to the point, don't work.

[Anklebite]

the ACF is called edeitic spellcasting, and it costs you both your familiar and scribe scroll.

[Lycanthromancer]

Kind of hard to protect your spellbook though when you can't cast any of the spells that would do so (due to their component requirements).

Maybe the OP should consider a spell-to-power erudite? All of the spells with gp-costs are auto-converted to xp-costs, instead.

[Bozwevial]

I think this is where I add that Uncanny Forethought would work well here. Of course, that's practically mandatory for a wizard anyway.

[Alastar]

Or you know... let's not go to VOP, it's a silly feat anyways.

[Endless Twilight]

Sounds like I'll pass on VoP, then. Was considering it mostly for flavor reasons (the reasons my character became an alienist are... complicated), and wanted to know if it was a good idea mechanically. The answer seems to be no.

Thanks, folks.

[Lycanthromancer]

I can only think of two times when VoP is worthwhile.

#1.) You're a druid.

#2.) You're a totemist.

And both of those only when you're in an extremely low-wealth campaign, though the druid is potentially about equal either way, depending on your exact playstyle and whether you can influence what items you can get.

[altpersona]

wiz X / unarmed swordsage X / jpm X / mindbender 1 (optional.. )


taking lots of spell mastery, and componentless spells..

only take 15 int, helps with the MAD... gave up on 9th spells early on... gets 9th lvl maneuvers and 5th? lvl spells

i dont know ToB or spell mastery enough to swear by it.. but it looks right to me.. ymmv

edit: double checked spell mastery... kinda sucks..

maybe work in lots of MotAO,

or SCM, illusions dont have alots of components..

[altpersona]

i think the scm works well actually, the fully cheesed version...

it only takes 1? spell

[lans]

In the complete arcane there is an alternative spell book that is tatoos. I think that works.

[PhaedrusXY]

i think the scm works well actually, the fully cheesed version...

You're going to be gimped compared to a full blown one (they can still cast all the normal spells that have expensive material components). But then again... a gimped SCM can still stomp all over most things.

[altpersona]

right, you have to accept right from the beginning that your give up loads of potential.

i was just throwing it out there that a vop wizard exists thats still > fighter..

[BowenSilverclaw]

i was just throwing it out there that a vop wizard exists thats still > fighter..

Like that's a challenge