Wiz splash instead of UMD

[JollySwagMan]

So I'm still having fun with my 1 level splash into Wizard - here's what I've found so far:

*Extend + Robes of Duality = 6 minute Shield spell without need to UMD 5th and 10th level wands.

*Semi-UMD through character level allowing me to use scrolls that I don't have clickies for

*Semi-restricted use of Healing wands, though I believe this is due to Halfling dragonmarks as opposed to the Wizard splash.

*Unrestricted use of Arcane wands - such as Invisibility (cast on NPCs and healbots), Shield 10, Stoneskin, Resist Energy 7/11, Pro Energy 10, and Fireball for a better ranged option than most returning shurikens.

*And of course two other 1st level spell slots for Jump, Tumble, Merfolks, Exp Retreat and FF - mostly useful when pugging with folks who don't have gear expected of 10+ characters.

Should I take this character to level 20, I may consider a Lesser Reincarnate then. For the meantime, this 1 level of Wizard has passed its cost-benefit DC, for me at least.

So far on Argonessen I have encountered one other player with a similar idea, though they had 3 levels of Wizard. We even had the same robes and hairstyle. I can see the benefit of having a longer-duration Blur, but I think this comes at too much sacrifice to melee capability and fortitude saves. It may be possible that an investment into more levels of Wizard for the Fire spell enhancement line could pay off if one were to combine the Fire finisher, Maximise/Empower, the wraps from Threnal, Sup Inferno I pots and possibly some Fire/Arcane lore item - but carrying this all the way to Firewall seems far too specialised for my liking.

I'm currently considering a single level of Cleric on my current experiment, as this would allow pseudo-UMD on Raise Dead/Heal/Recitation scrolls, Empower Healing and DVs. This may fit into my playstyle, as I actually enjoy pugging and compensating for any weak links in the party. This is probably a habit of playing mostly Clerics in DDO. I already have a Clonk - he's a lot of fun, but has to go anonymous due to the demand for Clerics in pugs. In other words, my experiment is mostly an exercise in exhibiting self-sufficiency to pugs.

Yes, I am aware that investing points into Intelligence and Skill Focus: UMD would provide similar versatility with regards to wands, scrolls, and allow me to go Lawful Neutral instead. However, switching over to the gear required for effective UMD doesn't seem very viable in combat situations.


So, have any of you tried something similar? Perhaps a Monk with a splash into Cleric for Empower Healing on Dragonmark Heal/FOL finisher, or even a Life Magic/Negative-energy specced Monk for use with Fists of Darkness? It does not seem that the effect of Metamagic feats on Monk finishing moves will be 'fixed' anytime soon, so I am curious as to other possibilities.

[Angelus_dead]

Looks like you're making too limited of a comparison. It's not just a question of wiz1 vs UMD, but wiz1 vs UMD+monk20.

Monk20 has several cool features I wouldn't like to give up (especially since we know that cure wand thing won't last)

[AylinIsAwesome]

By taking a level of Wizard, you're giving up DR 10/Epic, Shining Star and several immunities from becoming a Lawful Outsider.


Also near end game, most mobs are immune or highly resistant to fire. You fire finisher will barely do anything, even boosted, against them.

[JollySwagMan]

1. The red text in my OP indicates that I am well aware of Monk 20. I call this build an experiment not only for the research into synergy between Monk abilities and certain classes, but because Lesser Reincarnating at 20 is already a consideration. It's not a given - that one level of Wizard may remain useful at level 20. But perhaps I should include more than one disclaimer to the effect that this build does not discount the benefits of Monk 20.

Monk 20 is awesome.

By no means is my experiment an attempt to dismiss the efforts of purists.

etc.


2. I don't use the Fire finisher much myself. Nor have I specialised my particular build for it. The paragraph in which I speculate as to possible specialisation should have included the 'useless at endgame' tag though. Still. I am interested to see if anyone has actually experimented with this.

3. How do we know that the Cure wand thing won't last? While it does seem out of character, so does the ability of multiclass characters to be able to use wands with just one level of the relevant caster class. Let alone the fact that Spell enhancement pots/items affect Monk finishers.


I appreciate your responses, but the red text in the OP is there in anticipation of posts preoccupied with Monk 20.

[Judo]

1. The red text in my OP indicates that I am well aware of Monk 20. I call this build an experiment not only for the research into synergy between Monk abilities and certain classes, but because Lesser Reincarnating at 20 is already a consideration. It's not a given - that one level of Wizard may remain useful at level 20. But perhaps I should include more than one disclaimer to the effect that this build does not discount the benefits of Monk 20.

Monk 20 is awesome.

By no means is my experiment an attempt to dismiss the efforts of purists.

etc.


2. I don't use the Fire finisher much myself. Nor have I specialised my particular build for it. The paragraph in which I speculate as to possible specialisation should have included the 'useless at endgame' tag though. Still. I am interested to see if anyone has actually experimented with this.

3. How do we know that the Cure wand thing won't last? While it does seem out of character, so does the ability of multiclass characters to be able to use wands with just one level of the relevant caster class. Let alone the fact that Spell enhancement pots/items affect Monk finishers.


I appreciate your responses, but the red text in the OP is there in anticipation of posts preoccupied with Monk 20.

Did Einstein "experiment" with jumping off cliffs? No, he could tell it
would be pretty silly to do so simply using Empirical data
.................................................. ...............................
Because its a known bug, it's not a "feature"

If you were a WF and repair light is where its at, then hellz yeah

I just dont see anything worth not having the extra damage

but to each his own

[Darkrok]

If you don't mind doing a LR at 20 though there's something to this build. Monks typically have the feats free to spend on that one extra metamagic feat. And the healing finisher alone would be amazing when boosted. As far as I can tell you still hit the bab's needed for twf/itwf/icrit/gtwf at 1/9/12/15.

I'd post the math on this but I'm not 100% sure on the stacking rules for metamagics, healing boosts, etc but off the top of my head I'd say a typically geared level 16 monk versus a level 15/1 monk would be looking at an average of mid-30's for healing ki to the low-90's. In the 30's that's a nice thing to throw out to take some pressure off of the healers. In the 90's that's something that can free you up to run raids with only one healer and to run a lot of regular quests without a healer or consumable use. I've seen builds accomplish the same thing with cleric levels but the wizard levels are really more useful when you're only talking about 1 level.

[unbongwah]

I've actually been tempted to take a wizard splash on a halfling monk for the metamagic feat to boost my `mark healing (the wiz wands are a nice bonus), then LR +1 to pure monk when I hit 20. The only question is which metamagic feat is best? I was leaning towards Maximize, since I presume I couldn't take Empower Heal and the Heal spell doesn't benefit from plain Empower. But do any of the finishers benefit from any of the metamagic feats?

[Darkrok]

I've actually been tempted to take a wizard splash on a halfling monk for the metamagic feat to boost my `mark healing (the wiz wands are a nice bonus), then LR +1 to pure monk when I hit 20. The only question is which metamagic feat is best? I was leaning towards Maximize, since I presume I couldn't take Empower Heal and the Heal spell doesn't benefit from plain Empower. But do any of the finishers benefit from any of the metamagic feats?

I'm assuming the finishers work the same as the dragonmarks and in any case with the dragonmarks you'll want to try to fit in both empower AND maximize. Neither will help your greater dragonmark but both stack on the least and lesser.

[Darkrok]

I'm assuming the finishers work the same as the dragonmarks and in any case with the dragonmarks you'll want to try to fit in both empower AND maximize. Neither will help your greater dragonmark but both stack on the least and lesser.

Just saw this in another thread:

MrCow said that none of the metamagics work with the light/light light finisher :[

MrCow knows everything...

Bummer! That takes away a lot of the reason to do a wiz splash.

[LunaCee]

Empower + Maximize + Superior Ardor clicky of appropriate level...

35-55 Cure lights (Reachable at level 5)
90-140 Cure serious (level 15)
262 Heal (level 15)

And that is before monk healing amp for yet another 20% and the new bracers from Sentinels in fire stance for yet another 25% healing amp, and then a greensteel quarterstaff with healing amps on it as a swap toy. *cough*

Can we say hello 80+ cure lights?

[Quijonsith]

Cleric/paladin/fvs empowered healing works with the healing finisher from reports on the Solar Phoenix build. Dunno about others.

The reason folks say that cure wands won't be worth it at end game is because the name of the game in healing is the 'heal' spell at 20, and it is only available in scrolls. Though honestly I think cure serious is a nice backup, which is wandable.

[Dark-Star]

None of the meta feats, max, emp NOR emp healing, work with the healing ki finisher.

[Quijonsith]

None of the meta feats, max, emp NOR emp healing, work with the healing ki finisher.

Be it that you have a cleric/monk in your sig, i'll take your word on it. I must have been thinking devotion enhancements.