The Melee Wizard: Advice

[Babale]

I started my Warforged Battlemage with a level of Wizard. I have 17 Int, 15 Con, and the rest in Str. With level up upgrades and Enchantments, I'll easily have 18 Con and 20-odd Int. Everything else, including items, will go in Str.

But the main reason I'm posting is for advice: How many levels of Fighter? Or is Barbarian better? I want to be able to melee well and still cast self-buffs, non-save damage spells, and a bit of Crowd Control.

[Anthios888]

In order to overcome your Base Attack Bonus Loss (1/2 progression), you probably want to start with a higher STR than INT and put the level up points there.

[Babale]

Good point, except that I'm planning on taking 1 or 2 levels of wizard, then a full BaB class for a few levels, then Wizard again. Because wizards can still hit monsters on Korthos, and because most of the early levels will be full BaB, I SHOULD be fine until my Str is higher.


Right?

[Monkey_Archer]

IMO, spliting focus between int and str is generally a bad idea... you will most likely end up as a sub-par melee and a sub-par caster. Try to max one or the other.

If you're maxing intel, start with 17 or 18 and put all level up points into int, make sure you take at least 17 wizard levels so you have access to 9th level spells.

If you're maxing strenth, start with 16-18 and put all level up points into str.

[EAB]

The best advise would be to just play a Wizard and not multi class. It's hard in the begining but just join a group. You will find that you will be using your spells for damage, same with wands and scrolls in a pinch. Once you run Water works, you get a decent external wand of acid. Otherwise if you are grouping and meleeing with your wizard gthen youa re not playing the class right and will make tghe healer made as they will have to be using all their SP to heal you and is not good for the group. My advise would be to play one of the other class. Caster classes are difficult to multi class and be a good resource to the team. You may be loving it at the lower levels. Around level 5 or 6 you will see how you fighting skills and magic skills won't be where they should for that level of quests. Not only that a lot of people won't want to group with you because of this.

[Phidius]

IMO, spliting focus between int and str is generally a bad idea... you will most likely end up as a sub-par melee and a sub-par caster. Try to max one or the other.

If you're maxing intel, start with 17 or 18 and put all level up points into int, make sure you take at least 17 wizard levels so you have access to 9th level spells.

If you're maxing strenth, start with 16-18 and put all level up points into str.

I'd so rep this if I hadn't given it all away already. Edit: Another day, another batch of rep points to give out

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Melee 
Level 20 Warforged Male
(2 Monk \ 6 Ranger \ 12 Wizard) 
Strength             16             
Dexterity            15             
Constitution         15             
Intelligence         11             
Wisdom               12             
Charisma              6             

All Level-Ups into Strength

Level Progression:
MWRWWWWWWMRRRRRWWWWW

And

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Caster 
Level 20 Warforged Male
(1 Fighter \ 2 Rogue \ 17 Wizard) 

                  Starting          
Abilities        Base Stats         
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          
Strength             16             
Dexterity             8             
Constitution         16             
Intelligence         18             
Wisdom                6             
Charisma              6             

All Level-Ups into Intelligence

Level Progression:
RWWWWWWWWWWWWRFWWWWW

The order that levels are taken in are for specific requirements for feats.

Skills can vary according to taste, but even though both builds include Quicken, I don't recommend ignoring Concentration.

[Phidius]

The best advise would be to just play a Wizard and not multi class. It's hard in the begining but just join a group. You will find that you will be using your spells for damage, same with wands and scrolls in a pinch. Once you run Water works, you get a decent external wand of acid. Otherwise if you are grouping and meleeing with your wizard gthen youa re not playing the class right and will make tghe healer made as they will have to be using all their SP to heal you and is not good for the group. My advise would be to play one of the other class. Caster classes are difficult to multi class and be a good resource to the team. You may be loving it at the lower levels. Around level 5 or 6 you will see how you fighting skills and magic skills won't be where they should for that level of quests. Not only that a lot of people won't want to group with you because of this.

No offense intended, EAB, but have you played a WF caster? It's not like they really need a cleric to heal them.

With the right gear (I'm looking at you, DoD and Torc), a WF caster closely resembles the Energizer Bunny...

[Goldeneye]

My 2cp:
Decide if you want decent DC's
if you only want caster-abilities for no-save damage spells, and buffs, then you can get away w/ a 14 INT or lower.

However, just be warned: at higher levels you will be disappointing because you will be a ****** caster and a ****** melee (trust me, I've tried)

[Stormslinger]

Dont thats my advise

[RicosQc]

But the main reason I'm posting is for advice: How many levels of Fighter? Or is Barbarian better? I want to be able to melee well and still cast self-buffs, non-save damage spells, and a bit of Crowd Control.

Ive a 11wiz/1barb.. you MUST have toughness feat and the higher you will have a strong INT higher will be your Total Sp so, I think 1 lvl of barb is enough to give martial weapons profiency AND the toughness enhancement(in addition of the racial toughness enhancements) would bring you to reach 200hp. pretty reasonable amount for a wizard =D send me a tell, Ricobot-wiz11/1barb

[Aranticus]

Ive a 11wiz/1barb.. you MUST have toughness feat and the higher you will have a strong INT higher will be your Total Sp so, I think 1 lvl of barb is enough to give martial weapons profiency AND the toughness enhancement(in addition of the racial toughness enhancements) would bring you to reach 200hp. pretty reasonable amount for a wizard =D send me a tell, Ricobot-wiz11/1barb

which a fighter will give as well