Amount of UMD for a Wizard to make it worthwhile

[ariel7]

How much UMD to make using the skill points worthwhile for a pure caster? What about a 14wiz/2rogue?

I'm just wondering since so many builds stress it and I rarely use any

[Tyrande]

I would like 32, plus greater heroism such that you can cast heal without fail.

In reality, you can probably only reach 26.5 plus some action points for temporary skill increases.

[Chaos000]

probably enough umd for heal scrolls. Beats spending money on pots and/or continually casting via wand.

[Stamp3de]

14.5 Ranks
+5 Titan gloves
+6 Shroud item
+2 Luck bonus
+4 Gh
+3 Skill focus umd
+3 Cha bonus (starting cha of 10 + 6 item =
37.5

42.5 with lvl of rogue/bard

Raise dead requires 36 umd
Heal requires 40 umd

[samho]

14.5 Ranks
+5 Titan gloves
+6 Shroud item
+2 Luck bonus
+4 Gh
+3 Skill focus umd
+3 Cha bonus (starting cha of 10 + 6 item =
37.5

42.5 with lvl of rogue/bard

Raise dead requires 36 umd
Heal requires 40 umd

The only way to have more than 9.5 on your base rank, was you splash at least one level of rogue or bard.

+9.5 (Base)
+6 (Shroud)
+2 (Luck)
+4 (GH)
+3 (Skill Focus:UMD)
+3 (Cha, assume you have base 8, take +2 cha tome, and +6 item)
+3 (Golden Cartouche, I think this is much more easy to obtain than the Seven Fingered gloves)
30.5

40 (With rog / bard splash level, you got 9.5 more on your base)

42 (With Titan Gloves)

43-44 (With Shroud charisma item and +3 cha tome)

[Thrudh]

14.5 Ranks
+5 Titan gloves
+6 Shroud item
+2 Luck bonus
+4 Gh
+3 Skill focus umd
+3 Cha bonus (starting cha of 10 + 6 item =
37.5

42.5 with lvl of rogue/bard

Raise dead requires 36 umd
Heal requires 40 umd

Where do you get 14.5 ranks? You only get 9.5 ranks as a pure wizard

So that's a max of 32.5

And that requires a feat, and some serious grinding for raid gear. For a long time, you'll only be in the mid 20s, which is pretty much worthless except maybe for Race-restricted items.

[Vengenance]

Staying pure wizzard with char of 18 (9+3 tome+6 item) highest I can come up with is:

9.5 level
4 18 Char
5 Titan Glooves
4 GH
3 SF:UMD
2 Luck Item
6 Shroud Item
33.5

Since I can't at this moment fit in SF:UMD my UMD will only be a 30, which IMO isn't good for anything except wands or a raise dead on a 6 or better.

[M.D.madrax]

Umd is great for gaining access to heal scrolls, restore scrolls, and raisedead. Taking rogue is simplest way to achieve umd and the feat insightful reflex compliments the evasion that comes along with 2 levels of rogue. I have a wiz/2rogue and can testify that it is a very survivable and versatile build but that all being said its completely overkill in 99% of situations.

Make a Wf no need for umd can cast reconstruct immune to poisen and disease and level drain. By the time you get enuff ingrediants to make one double tier 3 upgrade youll have enuff extra small and mediums to make several ressurection clickies. And you can stroll threw vale quests like a god anyway to gain signet stones.

As for the the evasion being overkill on most characters this isnt true. But after you take into account the access to elemental resists and prots, stoneskin, and high reflex save taking half damage isnt that bad. Not like your going to be toe to toe with harry getting smacked with 4 db fireballs at once. But even if you did the extra hp from wf and the reconstruct should get you threw it.

[Hadrian]

It is very much worth taking on a wizard if you plan to play him for any significant amount of time. With the amount of Int you will have, you're going to have a lot of skill points that won't go anywhere better.

It may be a long while before you have the gear to really make the most of it, but at least you will have that option once you finally do get that gear.

Since it doesn't hurt anything, go ahead and train it up.

[Line-dog]

I prefer reconstruct scrolls. My skill points go into concentration, diplomacy, balance, spot, hide, move silently, haggle, and maybe even repair. Ottbot: 32pt WF pure wizard with a high con, and Insightfull reflexes. Immunities, lots of HP, crazy reflex saves, and self-healing FTW.

[jmonty]

I prefer reconstruct scrolls. My skill points go into concentration, diplomacy, balance, spot, hide, move silently, haggle, and maybe even repair. Ottbot: 32pt WF pure wizard with a high con, and Insightfull reflexes. Immunities, lots of HP and crazy reflex saves FTW.

ah yes, i need to take that feat on my wf wiz..

[Monkey_Archer]

Starting with 14 charisma or 12 for drow/WF.

Example stats:
Human:8/8/16/18/8/14
Drow:8/10/14/20/8/12
WF:8/8/18/18/8/12

9.5 ranks
4 gh
5 titan gloves
3 umd focus
2 head of GF
6 shroud item
---
29.5
+5/6 for 20/22 charisma
----
34.5 (35.5 human)

+2-5 human skill boost
===
37.5-40.5 UMD boosted


Also, a drow with 12 con 16 charisma could work... or human 14 con, 16 charisma.

Either way human makes the best umd wiz.

[MondoGrunday]

i had to splash rogue into my wizzy to reach respectable levels. I can cast reconstruct, res etc, even gh with good consistancy. I think I sit around 38 or so, with 2 levels of rogue to boost it up, 1st and last levels. it sucked waiting for evasion to cap, sheesh

[maddmatt70]

Where do you get 14.5 ranks? You only get 9.5 ranks as a pure wizard

So that's a max of 32.5

And that requires a feat, and some serious grinding for raid gear. For a long time, you'll only be in the mid 20s, which is pretty much worthless except maybe for Race-restricted items.

Next mod with a +4 cha tome and two more ranks a wizard hits 36.5 umd with 10 starting charisma. That is very close to no fail heal scrolls. With just a little tweaking of the starting stats a drow wizard could have 12 con 14 cha 20 int for a 38.5 umd. With a bard inspire comptence and if there is any other new way to raise skills via items next mod we are talking no fail umd heal scrolls for a pure wizard.. Umd is very worthwhile for a wizard and will become even more worthwhile as time goes on..

[maddmatt70]

Starting with 14 charisma or 12 for drow/WF.

Example stats:
Human:8/8/16/18/8/14
Drow:8/10/14/20/8/12
WF:8/8/18/18/8/12

9.5 ranks
4 gh
5 titan gloves
3 umd focus
2 head of GF
6 shroud item
---
29.5
+5/6 for 20/22 charisma
----
34.5 (35.5 human)

+2-5 human skill boost
===
37.5-40.5 UMD boosted


Also, a drow with 12 con 16 charisma could work... or human 14 con, 16 charisma.

Either way human makes the best umd wiz.

I wouldnt count skill boost for the purpose of heal scrolls.. You know heal scrolling in a jam which is really where the wiz would see alot of benefit..

[Monkey_Archer]

I wouldnt count skill boost for the purpose of heal scrolls.. You know heal scrolling in a jam which is really where the wiz would see alot of benefit..

I keep skill boost next to my heal scrolls on my hot bar for both my wiz and sorc (wiz is only at 32.5 umd atm, sorc is 39)
That extra boost really helps, I usually dont need more then 5 boost/scrolls per shrine anyway