Wizard / PM build advice?

[Qaliya]

I am currently an 18/1/1 cleric and considering TRing into a wizard. My priorities for the character would be:

1. Deal lots of damage.
2. Be self-sufficient.

This suggest to me a pale master build. Is that a good approach? Can anyone suggest a build that will work well? Bear in mind that I'm a new character and don't have access to tons of fancy gear.

Thanks.

[FrozenNova]

Wizards are not good at dealing lots of damage in comparison to sorcerors.
What you want is a warforged sorceror.

[wax_on_wax_off]

Wizards are not good at dealing lots of damage in comparison to sorcerors.
What you want is a warforged sorceror.

FrozenNova is correct in that wizards are less about damage and more about utility with their spells. Still, they can deal just about the same amount of damage as a sorcerer with the biggest issue being running out of spell points too fast.

A sorcerer can be self sufficient and not be warforged (which suffers -2 potential DC compared to human/helf/drow). My TR'd sorcerer also had a PL:cleric and I took the active feat at level 3 (Past Life: Initiate of the Faith) which gave me enough self healing to do everything that I wanted to do, cure wands and heal scrolls fill in the blanks nicely. I really noticed the DC difference as all through the game nothing really saved against my spells (different at cap obviously).

Fleshy Palemaster or Warforged Archmage is a great build too, I'm playing one at the moment. They really have an amazing amount of versatility from being able to tank to CC to DPS. It's just that much fun. Possibly look at Lacer the Revenant, Fallen Angel and Paths Revisited for ideas and inspiration.

[Qaliya]

I'd like to eventually make a sorceror. However, since I have never played an arcane, my thinking was that I would be better off to start wizard so I can gain familiarity with the spells using a character that can change spells easily, whereas a sorceror cannot.

I really value flexibility... though I realize that conflicts with optimization.. and like the idea of a WF wizard as then I can experiment with both AM and PM. I probably won't be able to get super high DCs as a second life anyway, unless I spend a ton of time grinding gear, which I'm not likely to do.

Thanks.