building a battle wizard and wondering if masters touch will be usefull

[arcanehealer]

well will it be?
(I'm taking wizard the first level or 2)

[Vinos]

What's you level progression going be after the 1st 2 levels? If you're taking any fighter levels then you're better off taking them 1st

[sigtrent]

Well, if you like swinging weapons around.. yep it will help your damage abbility by letting you use better weapons. If you end up taking a martial multi class at some point it won't be so usefull any more.

Quite nice early on when you are still scavanging for decent equipment.

[Vinos]

Good thing about being a wizard is you're not married to any spell

[arcanehealer]

im gonna build him a few times and post the build that i like best here.

[Aspenor]

Hey Vinos...why is taking fighter level first better?

[arcanehealer]

here he is

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.80
DDO Character Planner Home Page

tanksalot 
Level 16 True Neutral Warforged Male
(3 Fighter \ 13 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 166
Spell Points: 1022 
BAB: 9\9\14
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 7
Will: 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 16)
Strength             14                    15
Dexterity            14                    14
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         16                    23
Wisdom                6                     6
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 16)
Balance               2                     2
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         7                    25
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                 -2                    -2
Hide                  2                     2
Intimidate            0                     9
Jump                  4                     8.5
Listen               -2                    -2
Move Silently         2                     2
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                7                    25
Search                3                     6
Spot                 -2                    -2
Swim                  4                    21
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction I

Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Cleave
Enhancement: Wizard Concentration I
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation I
Enhancement: Warforged Healer's Friend I

Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I

Level 4 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Elements I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Force I

Level 5 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Wizard Concentration II
Enhancement: Wizard Subtle Spellcasting I

Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell
Feat: (Selected) Improved Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Elements I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Force I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II

Level 7 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II

Level 8 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II

Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Great Cleave
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration
Enhancement: Wizard Subtle Spellcasting II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I

Level 10 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation II
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation II

Level 11 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar III

Level 12 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Penetration
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence III

Level 13 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Wizard Subtle Spellcasting III

Level 14 (Wizard)

Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell

Level 16 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Elements II
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Force II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar IV
Enhancement: Wizard Subtle Spellcasting IV

feel free to comment/critisize

[Vinos]

Hey Vinos...why is taking fighter level first better?

I prefer it becuase it makes those early levels go by a bit faster/easier. Starting with a level of d10 HP, bonus feat, and all weaps/armor makes soloing those goodblades ALOT smoother.

[arcanehealer]

lol every character that i make can solo the goodblades no problem

[Vinos]

lol every character that i make can solo the goodblades no problem

I didn't say one couldn't solo X with anything. It's just easier. Melee works better and faster at level 1-2. But you asked for advice and that is what I had. Take it or leave it. One feat I noticed you didn't have was improved crit. Is that intentional?

[arcanehealer]

yes it was i could get it at 15 but i was so far that by then i didnt see how taking it would help.

[Lithic]

Ive got a rogue/sorc battlemage who uses quarterstaffs. At first I thought I would be gimped, but it isnt THAT much worse than a greataxe. Plus it is easy to get nice ones off the AH or broker.

The problem with masters touch is if you get dispelled, you get an extra -4 to hit with all your weapons. If I reroll my battlemage (and Im seriously thinking of doing it), I wont even bother with masters touch and just keep my quarterstaffs.

[winsom]

You will want items uses of Divine Power too to gain the Fighter's Base Attack progression.

Masters Touch is great because it takes away the -4 attack penalty for all those smiting, paralyzing, holy burst weapons you might fight that wizards are not normally proficient with. My Rogue/Bard learned MT so she could use a paralyzing hand axe better.

the build you posted looks fine. I wonder why you value 3 fighter levels so much though?

When considering multiclassing a caster you should weigh the power gains between your highest level spell-caster class and taking another lower level warrior class. What is better for you? Fighter 2nd or Wizard 7th? Fighter 3rd or Wizard 13?