How would you build it?

[QuixoticDan]

I'm going to break my usual policy of randomly gimping characters and ask for help in gimping my next one. So, first I'd like to lay a few ground rules...

1) I'm a n00b. I haven't played a wizard much, my highest level character ever is a 9 cleric. I don't have 32-point builds yet.

2) I'm a broke n00b. I don't have good loot, especially for wizards. I don't have tons and tons of cash to throw on the AH for good loot...as my highest level character is a 9 cleric.

4) I don't mind playing a gimp. I don't like to gimp to the point the party suffers...but I don't have to build to be the ultimate 1-shot beast mega DPS killer massacre artist of all time. I'd just like to be useful in a variety of situations (including but not limited to DPS)...kinda why I want a wizard instead of sorcerer.

5) I know it's gimpy...but I'd like to roll with elf. RP reasons...he's my Bald Bard's brother.

5) I know it's gimpy...but I'd like to try for lightning and acid spec. I fully realize that this makes me gimpy, but yet another FoD/PK/fire-spoutin' cold sprayin' wizard doesn't excite me. Well, OK, doesn't excite me as much as people saying "hey, you got lightning to work?" I also realize it may not be mathematcially possible to have effective lightning and acid, especially compared to a fire or ice or instakill type build...but I also figure it might be a bit cheaper (and thus more possible for me as a player) to buy the bonus acid and lightning damage gear.

6) I know there are two number 5's. I'm that gimpy. Please feel free to call me a gimp.

There are many fine threads about wizard builds in general, but I haven't yet gone through them all...most of my above info is from skimming. I'd like a personally-typed response, but if some intelligent, experienced player has already been kind enough to write this, I'm perfectly happy with a simple link to that thread.

Thanks in advance for the feedback. Even if it's just "Aw, man, what a gimpy build!"

[Mad_Bombardier]

Drow Wizard (evil-twin, anyone? a Bizarro to your Bald Bard Elf. )
S8, D10, C14, I20, W10, Ch10

WF Wizard (your Bald Bard's assistant, who doesn't let on about his true arcane power )
S8, D10, C18, I18, W6, Ch6

Pure Wizard all the way (unless you want a 2Rogue/14Wizard Arcane Trapsmith Drow, which I can help with, too).

[Oreg]

Gotta agree with MB. Drow is an excellent choice.

[Kaldais]

I'm going to break my usual policy of randomly gimping characters and ask for help in gimping my next one. So, first I'd like to lay a few ground rules...

1) I'm a n00b. I haven't played a wizard much, my highest level character ever is a 9 cleric. I don't have 32-point builds yet.

2) I'm a broke n00b. I don't have good loot, especially for wizards. I don't have tons and tons of cash to throw on the AH for good loot...as my highest level character is a 9 cleric.

4) I don't mind playing a gimp. I don't like to gimp to the point the party suffers...but I don't have to build to be the ultimate 1-shot beast mega DPS killer massacre artist of all time. I'd just like to be useful in a variety of situations (including but not limited to DPS)...kinda why I want a wizard instead of sorcerer.

5) I know it's gimpy...but I'd like to roll with elf. RP reasons...he's my Bald Bard's brother.

Elf or Drow, max int. Str:10, Con:12, Wis:8, Cha:8/12 depends on RP or if you want UMD or not, rest into Dex.

Suggested Feats: Wizard: Max, Empower, heighten, Extend, Enlarge. General: Mental Toughness, Improved MT, Spell Pen, Improved SP,
Exotic Weapon(Repeating Xbow) <-- Swap this out when your DPS is no longer relevent. Skill Focus(UMD)(if you decide to take UMD). Insightful Reflex.

5) I know it's gimpy...but I'd like to try for lightning and acid spec. I fully realize that this makes me gimpy, but yet another FoD/PK/fire-spoutin' cold sprayin' wizard doesn't excite me. Well, OK, doesn't excite me as much as people saying "hey, you got lightning to work?" I also realize it may not be mathematcially possible to have effective lightning and acid, especially compared to a fire or ice or instakill type build...but I also figure it might be a bit cheaper (and thus more possible for me as a player) to buy the bonus acid and lightning damage gear.

You don't have to focus on cold/fire if you don't want to, but excluding them at all is not wise. A wizard is meant to be versatile, and has the ability to quickly adapt to the surrounding. That’s the reason, for my general questing spell list, I always keep 3-4 fire/cold spells, 1-2 lighting/acid spells, few debuffs, instant kills, CCs, 1-2 charms and buffs.

[Hadrian]

Ignore spell penetration and you should be able to enhance both fire/cold and lightning/acid most of the way. Choose one to fully enhance, and the other will be missing some of the higher level critical enhancements. Before you have your 750 +2 int tome, you can even save 6 APs on the third intelligence enhancement and possibly fully enhance both fire and lightning.

It actually seems to be cheapest to enhance fire damage via items, but it really doesn't matter what damage type you're doing. By the time you hit 16, it should be pretty easy for you to have at least a greater potency 6 item. They are worth virtually nothing now, and they will enhance all level 1-6 spell damage by 40&#37; no matter what damage type.

If you have drow, it would be a much better choice than going elf for practical reasons. It would be virtually as good as going with a 32-point build of another race.

The best part about going with a wizard is, if you should decide that you no longer like the idea of lightning/acid you can completely switch over to fire with an AP respec every 3 days, and change your spells over with a rest shrine or tavern. If you change your mind again or decide to balance things out, 3 days later you can totally change your build's focus again.

I would recommend taking at least one spell penetration feat at some point post level 10 in your build. As a pure wizard, you'll have the extra room to do so and in the late game you will probably want to get both levels of the spell penetration feats. here, you'll cut down significantly on the power of one of your elemental lines, but you can still have whichever you choose to make your secondary line enhanced up to 30% base damage and maybe the first level of crit enhancements.