Permadeath Arch-Mage 18wiz/2rog

[Krag]

I do not share your half-elf love but if you are determined to roll a fleshie why not go the Pale Master path?

[Irinis]

This is it exactly. Having the half-elf feat has prevented at least 3 guildies from rerolling.

Half-Elf was just USEFUL for SOMETHING! :jawdrop:

[Mangloid]

Move rogue level to 9 as stated above.

20 Concentration without the Quicken feat=spell casting interruption

If you're dead set on taking the spell focus enhancements then at least drop the spell focus evocation and add one spell penetration feat in its place

39 is umd your shooting for.

[Ancient]

If you go with Niac's as your early damage spell, then the conj focus works well and you can get by until you reach 8th level and have firewall. Niac's isn't good against skeletons, so you do take a hit on undead missions but there are plenty of other missions to get you to 8th level... then firewall takes over.

Greater spell focus is not required until level 12, so once you have firewall you can substitute away from conj focus if desired and follow your long term spell focus.

I love using Niac's at low levels and my favorite lowbie wiz build was already taking the Archmage pre-req feats. DPS is still quite possible as an arch-mage.

[Chai]

I think this would be a great crowd controller at low levels. Not all wizards have to mash the "kill them til they die from it" button over and over again. Crowd control is also a great way to not have mass aggro as a squishy wizard...

Sneak + charm is awesome in PD. When all of the mobs turn on their charmed buddy at the spawn point, it exposes them to attacks by the melee party members.

Even with both levels of rogue, this would acquire firewall at 9 (8 with 1 level of rogue so far...) - Just in time for necro 2.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

I do not share your half-elf love but if you are determined to roll a fleshie why not go the Pale Master path?

To be honest I am not dead set on AM. The hypno, MM, Chain missles, and Web SLAs interest me, and my goal is to be CC focused. Truthfully PM does kinda of interest me the more I read on it, but AM was the first PRE that really appealed to me. I am not a huge fan of Arcanes, which is why this is my first, and especially not of sorcs in particular. If you think AM is a bad choice then I am definitely open to hearing why you think that.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

I think this would be a great crowd controller at low levels. Not all wizards have to mash the "kill them til they die from it" button over and over again. Crowd control is also a great way to not have mass aggro as a squishy wizard...

Sneak + charm is awesome in PD. When all of the mobs turn on their charmed buddy at the spawn point, it exposes them to attacks by the melee party members.

Even with both levels of rogue, this would acquire firewall at 9 (8 with 1 level of rogue so far...) - Just in time for necro 2.

Agreed. My primary source of DPS, assuming I live, will be firewall, and my evocation SLAs. Mostly this is intended to be mana efficient crowd control with buffs (for the casting portion anyway) this is why my enhancements focus on fire/ice and force. I didn't invest much into the force crit line because it seemed more prudent to spend my limited AP o the lines for fire, as firewall is a persistent spell.


A word about charm. At low levels that is how I play, I charm half the room and then dismiss the survivors one at a time. I actually have the augment summoning feat and will respec that out later for the feat list in the planner export.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Move rogue level to 9 as stated above.

20 Concentration without the Quicken feat=spell casting interruption

If you're dead set on taking the spell focus enhancements then at least drop the spell focus evocation and add one spell penetration feat in its place

39 is umd your shooting for.

39 UMD being the DC for no-fail heal scroll?

[Chai]

39 UMD being the DC for no-fail heal scroll?

Its 40, but you will always roll at least a 1 so you need 39 for no fail. With rogue levels you can get there or at least close without having to farm raid gear you see on alot of builds.

36 for raise dead. 35 UMD for no fail..

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Move rogue level to 9 as stated above.

20 Concentration without the Quicken feat=spell casting interruption

If you're dead set on taking the spell focus enhancements then at least drop the spell focus evocation and add one spell penetration feat in its place

39 is umd your shooting for.

SF evocation is a Prereq for the evocation SLAs.

Those spell focus feats were necessary in order for me to qualify for the Archamge enhancements I selected.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Its 40, but you will always roll at least a 1 so you need 39 for no fail. With rogue levels you can get there or at least close without having to farm raid gear you see on alot of builds.

36 for raise dead. 35 UMD for no fail..

Hmm, I will probably have a hard time getting the no fail UMD then, as I am hesitant to lower my concentration any more to invest more into UMD. at level 20 this build has 17 UMD so realistically:

17 Ranks
4 Cha (with +6 item)
4 morale (Greater heroism)
1 Luck (VotM)
3 Skill boost

29 total?

Thats enough for 50% success on heal and 75% success on a raise. Is there anything that stands out that I can use as a source for more UMD?

[Gandalfs_Ghost]

Golden Cartouche from deleras +3 UMD.

But I wouldnt get too worked up about it, not like this toon is going to live that long anyway

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Golden Cartouche from deleras +3 UMD.

But I wouldnt get too worked up about it, not like this toon is going to live that long anyway

LOL Have I ever told you how funny you are?




Does anybody Have any comments about the feats and enhancements? I am almost positive there is room for improvement there.

[Chai]

LOL Have I ever told you how funny you are?




Does anybody Have any comments about the feats and enhancements? I am almost positive there is room for improvement there.

Max out those UMD ranks.

You can have 23 UMD ranks @ level 20

You said 4 MOD for cha after 6 item

3 for golden cartouche

-------------------------------------------
30 already

4 Greater Heroism

1 Voice of the master +1 luck to all skills

---------------------------------------------
35

I recommend using the Human skill boost here on a half elf, even with 2 levels of rogue you can get the full +5 skill boost - I believe its the human versitility line)

5 skill boost

----------------------------------------------
40 - no fail heals baby!!! (youre actually one over - pffft mine goes to 11)

Youre not the main healer but you can hit your skill boost and nail down a heal scroll with 100% success chance while not taking damage.

If you ditch a feat and take skill focus UMD, it adds 3 more. You would be at 38 without having to pop a skill boost while wearing golden cartouche and voice of the master.

Start your cha at an odd number and eat a cha tome at some point, which will give you 1 more mod, now youre at 39 which is no fail, not needing to use skill boost for heal scrolls.

If you do ALL of that AND do the human versitility line this means popping a skill boost and hitting a no fail heal scroll at level 15, only failing on a 1 at level 14, only failing on a 2 at level 13 etc... This means if you defy Ged...erm i mean death, and make it to 14 or so, your UMD will be useful beyond just being able to equip race restricted items. This is rolling through gianthold, the vale, reavers refuge, inspired quarter, and amrath knowing you have a decent shot at nailing down a clutch heal at a critical moment.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Max out those UMD ranks.

You can have 23 UMD ranks @ level 20

You said 4 MOD for cha after 6 item

3 for golden cartouche

-------------------------------------------
30 already

4 Greater Heroism

1 Voice of the master +1 luck to all skills

---------------------------------------------
35

I recommend using the Human skill boost here on a half elf, even with 2 levels of rogue you can get the full +5 skill boost - I believe its the human versitility line)

5 skill boost

----------------------------------------------
40 - no fail heals baby!!! (youre actually one over - pffft mine goes to 11)

Youre not the main healer but you can hit your skill boost and nail down a heal scroll with 100% success chance while not taking damage.

If you ditch a feat and take skill focus UMD, it adds 3 more. You would be at 38 without having to pop a skill boost while wearing golden cartouche and voice of the master.

Start your cha at an odd number and eat a cha tome at some point, which will give you 1 more mod, now youre at 39 which is no fail, not needing to use skill boost for heal scrolls.

If you do ALL of that AND do the human versitility line this means popping a skill boost and hitting a no fail heal scroll at level 15, only failing on a 1 at level 14, only failing on a 2 at level 13 etc... This means if you defy Ged...erm i mean death, and make it to 14 or so, your UMD will be useful beyond just being able to equip race restricted items. This is rolling through gianthold, the vale, reavers refuge, inspired quarter, and amrath knowing you have a decent shot at nailing down a clutch heal at a critical moment.

And this is what I am shooting for, but look at my skill point, enhancement, and feat allocation. This build is strapped for feats. I don't even have Quicken spell what feat am I going to give up for SF: UMD?

My feats are:


Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Cleric
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Enchantment (Pre-reqs fo Hypno SLA)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness (AM prereq)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Evocation (Prereq for Magic miccle and chain missles SLA)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Conjuration (Prereq for Web SLA)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment (Prereq for AM 4)

So the feats that I would like, but do not have are:

Spell Penetration
Greater Spell Penetration
Quicken Spell
Skill Focus: UMD

Where do I get these? I suppose I could give up the Web SLA, which would net me back some AP and a feat.

I was unable to fit in either the full line of human versatility or the second rank of racial toughness. Take a look at my AP, what should I give up? I really like the Web SLA, but suppose I could give that up to free up a feat.

Seeing as how I will not be running any epics, how concerned do I need to be about Spell pen, especially as I am CC focused?


These are more the kinds of advice I was hoping to get.

Thanks all, you guys are saving me alot of frustration later.

[Maelphyn_Maurpeg]

Preamble/full disclosure: I am not a respectable builder.

I know you have an interest in the Archmage PREs for mana efficiency, but have you putting together a Rogue/Sorcerer build? You wouldn't be able to get those cheap spells, but you'd have way more mana, and could use the higher Charisma for earlier, high UMD.

(I know - PREs are always alluring. I get drawn into VERY silly builds chasing them myself.)

[Mangloid]

I understand that you're trying to get the maximum you can out of the Arch Mage but you're trying to get too much out of it and in the process you're going to end up hurting yourself.

Drop The following

Feat: Spell Focus: Evocation (Prereq for Magic missile and chain missiles SLA)
Feat: Spell Focus: Conjuration (Prereq for Web SLA)

**Believe me or not, it's your toon. These sound really cool, but in the end they aren't.

Add the following:

Quicken<--this is a must have for you. It's not an optional. With only 20 concentration and no Quicken, you will be constantly interrupted while trying to cast spells.

Spell Penetration<--will help make up for one of the two you loose by going 18/2


After this I'm done. They always say that you can lead a horse to water, but ya can't make 'em drink. Good luck and hope it works out for ya. Peace.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Preamble/full disclosure: I am not a respectable builder.

I know you have an interest in the Archmage PREs for mana efficiency, but have you putting together a Rogue/Sorcerer build? You wouldn't be able to get those cheap spells, but you'd have way more mana, and could use the higher Charisma for earlier, high UMD.

(I know - PREs are always alluring. I get drawn into VERY silly builds chasing them myself.)

Disable device and search are both intelligence based skills, and I am able to get insightful reflexes for a decent evasion. I feel that the Wizard class has much better synergy for a rogue multiclass than does a sorc.

Also while it may seem inconsequential, I have a great deal of fun trying to loot all of the scrolls I need to complete my spell book.

Kind of like a scavenger hunt...




...of DEATH!

[Talltale-Storyteller]

I understand that you're trying to get the maximum you can out of the Arch Mage but you're trying to get too much out of it and in the process you're going to end up hurting yourself.

Drop The following

Feat: Spell Focus: Evocation (Prereq for Magic missile and chain missiles SLA)
Feat: Spell Focus: Conjuration (Prereq for Web SLA)

**Believe me or not, it's your toon. These sound really cool, but in the end they aren't.

Add the following:

Quicken<--this is a must have for you. It's not an optional. With only 20 concentration and no Quicken, you will be constantly interrupted while trying to cast spells.

Spell Penetration<--will help make up for one of the two you loose by going 18/2


After this I'm done. They always say that you can lead a horse to water, but ya can't make 'em drink. Good luck and hope it works out for ya. Peace.

Why the evocation? It seems like having two Spammable low cost spells is going to save me alot of sp and greatly increase my overall contribution to the group.

Also keep in mind my concentration is not going to be 20, lol. That is 20 before applying ANY items. So at the very least I expect I will have somewhere in the ball park of 40 or 42. Thats assuming a +15 item, +6 con item, +1 luck, and +4 GH.

So my question is not is 20 conc enough, but is 42 enough?

On the topic of the Conjuration... yeah I'm kinda starting to see where it may be prudent to give that up.

[Mangloid]

Why the evocation? It seems like having two Spammable low cost spells is going to save me alot of sp and greatly increase my overall contribution to the group.

Also keep in mind my concentration is not going to be 20, lol. That is 20 before applying ANY items. So at the very least I expect I will have somewhere in the ball park of 40 or 42. Thats assuming a +15 item, +6 con item, +1 luck, and +4 GH.

So my question is not is 20 conc enough, but is 42 enough?

On the topic of the Conjuration... yeah I'm kinda starting to see where it may be prudent to give that up.

1)They may be low cost spamable spells, but they are junk and you're not going to be using them. Fire Wall, Fire Wall, Fire Wall all the way up to Amerath (if you make it that far). PK,, FOD and Wail once you get them too. As a PD group the Enchantment will suit your need for good CC. So, tell me: When and where are exactly going to spam these spells? Nowhere.

--Once you get fire wall, it should be blur/displace, rage, gh, haste, run, run, run to gather up mobs then firewall and you jumping back and forth from one end of it to the other over and over until the mobs die. rinse and repeat.
--Pk and FOD those pesky hard to reach mobs.
--blur/displace, rage, gh, haste and run, run, run till yellow alert and gather the mobs up and Wail. rinse and repeat

MM, et, al. have no place and are a waste of your time.

2) You wont (or shouldn't) be wearing a +15 concentration item. There are far, far better things you should be wearing. So no, your concentration IS NOT good enough to not take Quicken.

Now drink the water LMAO, I'm tired of leading you to it over and over Starting to think I got a mule and not a horse