GameBanshee Forums

What do you think is the most powerful build wizard?

Suggest race, stat points, weapons, feats, second class, anything you can think of.

Let me see... from my standpoint

Male Drow,

10 Strength

20 Dexterity

14 Constitution

20 Intelligence

10 Wisdom

8 Charisma

Wizards really don't make much use of Charisma, especially if the player doesn't intend to use them for dialogue. You can take the Charisma lower, if you want, and maybe raise Constitution even more. The more hit points a Wizard has, the better. Gotta love those spells that happen to hit them for whatever reason.

Fortunately, with their natural penchant for high Will saves, you would probably only want to raise Wisdom to 12 at the highest if you're REALLY concerned about Will saves, but, honestly, I wouldn't conern myself that much, from my experience.

Weapons, I suggest either a bow or a crossbow along w/ a staff or sword.

Feats, I'd suggest (to start off) Combat Casting. Later on, I'd suggest Improved Initiative (makes your spellcaster start casting their spell sooner). Unfortunately, I don't have my IWD2 manual on me at this moment, so I'll have to suggest some more feats later.

I wouldn't really suggest a second class for Wizards since their repetoire in spells can be quite a lifesaver in combat. If you really feel it's necessary later on, I might suggest either Fighter (to increase their effectiveness w/ a weapon) or a few levels in Rogue (mostly for a sneak attack along w/ spells that provide invisibility). Still, if you go w/ a large party, possibly 5 or 6 characters, I HIGHLY advise against multi-classing your wizard.

How about

STR 9
DEX 20
CON 20
INT 20
WIS 10
CHA 3 ?


Why drow? Why not aasimar or elf?

[QUOTE=Brynn]How about

STR 9
DEX 20
CON 20
INT 20
WIS 10
CHA 3 ?


Why drow? Why not aasimar or elf?[/QUOTE]

1) My only concern here is that you might have your Wizard carrying a number of things (particularly heavy equipment to be identified), so 9 Strength may or may not work.

2) Moon Elf could likely be done, given their inherited bonus to Dexterity. It's just that the 20 Int for Drow guarantees more spells from the start of the game. Aasimar I somewhat suggest against for their lack of a bonus to Dexterity or Intelligence. Their stat bonuses go more towards classes such as Paladins, Clerics, Druids, Bards, and Sorcerers. The one thing they have going for them as a Wizard is their minor resistance to certain forms of energy.

my fav is a tiefling wizard with these starting stats:
10
20
17
20
10
1

i like it more then a drow cuz it levels faster and doesnt have daylight blindness.

NOTE: this char is not for soloing, it is too weak to carry stuff, leave that to the half-orc barbarian

the best wizard is a sorc.

if you insist on being a wizard...

a. i tend to avoid the ecl races, instead use a few multiclass levels. for example - a drow wizard has the same "ecl penalty" as a human or elven rogue2 wizard x

b. i rank my stat priorites as such:

int - primary, max this. 18+
con & dex - should be above average or better. 16+
str - must be able to carry at least 30 pounds (un-buffed) 50 pounds is more than enough. 6-12
wis & cha - they don't have enough impact to matter, as a matter of asthetics and fear of losing my roleplay credibility i don't min them if it's avoidable but i don't put points in either.

feats:

go for at least spirit of flame, spell foci + gsf in necromancy & evocation. transmutation can be fun too. rapid shot is a decent choice as a backup to spells, esp if the wizard has access to bows.

leveling pace,

if they are in a bind for scrolls you can go for more rogue levels but beyond 3 begins to have negative impact.

[QUOTE=Raumoheru]my fav is a tiefling wizard with these starting stats:
10
20
17
20
10
1

i like it more then a drow cuz it levels faster and doesnt have daylight blindness.

NOTE: this char is not for soloing, it is too weak to carry stuff, leave that to the half-orc barbarian [/QUOTE]

I'd highly suggest that build myself, to tell the truth.

If you do want to create a sorceror, keep in mind that charisma is the most important stat for sorcs.

.


...would never use a pure wizard...-...as main casters sorcs are much better!


but wizards are best used in MC-builds:

- don't need CHA
- good synergies with INT
- bonus feats

try a male drow: fighter 4 - rogue 3 - barb 3 - wizard 20

stats: STR 18 - DEX 20 - CON 16 - INT 17 - WIS 4* - CHA 5

* you don't need to care about your will-save - cause:

- drow: +2 save, SR
- wiz: better will-saves!


.

lol u dont use a pure class anything

i hardly see a person being a barbarian, a fighter, a rogue....and then a wizard

[QUOTE=Raumoheru]lol u dont use a pure class anything

i hardly see a person being a barbarian, a fighter, a rogue....and then a wizard [/QUOTE]

Well apparently.. it would require quite good backround story.. but as for roleplaying aspect.. it is pretty much doable..

[QUOTE=Raumoheru]lol u dont use a pure class anything

i hardly see a person being a barbarian, a fighter, a rogue....and then a wizard [/QUOTE]


...you are joking ?!!

...as a male drow!!!


...the 2 most typical classes for male drow are fighter & wizard!

...and as drows being considered as devious & brutal a few barb & rogue levels fit in perfectly IMHO !!!


.

Being drow's culture (and most elvish's) very sophysticated, it's hard for me to consider them barbarians, although they have some very cruel customs.
The idead of barbarian for me is more linked to less "civilized/sophysticated" peoples, less prone to live in underground cities, more tuned to live in the wild nature. In that they can fit much better with wild elves (as race) and druid as class (obviously remaining within elven race and spellcasting class).

Personally I think that the best wizard build I have encountered is in the UPP.

Drow
Rogue(1)/Conjurer(x)

Str: 11
Dex: 20
Con: 16
Int: 20
Wis: 8
Cha: 5

Just for rogue skills and backup spells. You can change the build from Conjurer to whatever you like. But if I want a pure bombardier I go for sorc.

TK

[QUOTE=l__TK__l]Personally I think that the best wizard build I have encountered is in the UPP.

Drow
Rogue(1)/Conjurer(x)

Str: 11
Dex: 20
Con: 16
Int: 20
Wis: 8
Cha: 5

Just for rogue skills and backup spells. You can change the build from Conjurer to whatever you like. But if I want a pure bombardier I go for sorc.

TK[/QUOTE]


...and what do you do after level 21 ?


.

After that lev. you should make a choice: want an very effective spelcaster, increase wiz. lev. so you can break S.R. and your best spells (WotB, mass dominate, FoD etc.) will remain highly effective, or if you don't need extra firepower chose Silverdragon suggestion an take rogue/fighter lev., you end up with a support caster (best for buffs etc.) and an extra tank/fighter.
It depends on your party set up, if you have already 2 sorc., I would follow the tank route, while if you have only one sorc. maybe the pure wiz. route could be preferable.
BTW there is not an absolute best build, there are different optimal build, depending the party set up and the role you want for the char.

Well in JUPP there are very good wiz builds too:

Deep Gnome
Fighter(4)/
Paladin of Helm(3)/
Rogue(3)/
Illusionist(20)

Stats:
STR 16
DEX 20 ->
CON 14
INT 18
WIS 5
CHA 1

"Deep Gnome's natural spell resistance together with Holy Avenger's bonus means extremely high spell resistance!"

Also this built is very effective:

Deep Gnome
Rogue( 1 )/
Monk of the Old Order( 1 )/
Dreadmaster of Bane( 1 )/
Illusionist( 27 )

STR 2
DEX 20 ->5
CON 13 ->1
INT 18
WIS 20 ->1
CHA 1

"For the ultimate AC boost, wear Chimandrae's Slippers (or cast Cat's Grace), the Every God's Ring, Crow's Nest, Sunfire Talisman and Brazen Bands. Cast Shield, Ghost Armor, Haste, Barkskin and finally Tenser's Transformation if needed. Keep Expertise maxed at all times as you aren't going to hit anything in melee anyway. With all this, your AC may rise up to 72 without even casting Tenser's Transformation, and 77-80 with it."
Thank god for finnish JUPP yes FINNISH! hehee.

TK

A Tiefling Rogue 1/ Wizard (or Specialist Wizard, if need be) X could likely work out well.

I often wonder how, say, a Male Drow Paladin of Mystra ( Lvl 1? 2? 3?)/ Wizard X in a small party might work. You could have spell resistance coupled by Divine Grace (read: Higher saving throws), probably w/ starting stats like these.

10 Str
12 Dex
16 Con
16 Int
10 Wis
14 Cha

Please, people, I tried this on Interplay's board, and people really chewed me out for this (one actually quoting "It's ultimately crap"), so please try not to discredit this too much.

[QUOTE=Galuf the Dwarf]A Tiefling Rogue 1/ Wizard (or Specialist Wizard, if need be) X could likely work out well.

I often wonder how, say, a Male Drow Paladin of Mystra ( Lvl 1? 2? 3?)/ Wizard X in a small party might work. You could have spell resistance coupled by Divine Grace (read: Higher saving throws), probably w/ starting stats like these.

10 Str
12 Dex
16 Con
16 Int
10 Wis
14 Cha

Please, people, I tried this on Interplay's board, and people really chewed me out for this (one actually quoting "It's ultimately crap"), so please try not to discredit this too much.[/QUOTE]

Were you on IWD2 forum? I know silly question. But as for that charcater it works in small party, becuse in party of six you wont gain enough XP. But as for Interplay forum people there will flame everything that they didn't invent.

[QUOTE=FweL]Were you on IWD2 forum? I know silly question. But as for that charcater it works in small party, becuse in party of six you wont gain enough XP. But as for Interplay forum people there will flame everything that they didn't invent.[/QUOTE]

Yep. True that, fellow member. True that.

So, what would you advise for a party size for my Drow Pally/Wiz? 3 members, maybe 4? Oh wait, I actually had a thread in this forum about a year ago w/ a party of multi-class combos...

(Somewhat back-on-topic) What Brynn's looking at for a party, though, I'd love to know.