Evocation Archmage LOVE IT!

[ellamonster]

OK, look at my join date. I have played for a looonnnnggg time and I finally have my first arcane past 11, now actually to 13. I don't deny the usefullness of arcanes, they just weren't for me. I hate the firewall jumping back and forth solo although I know it is a good way to solo. I now LOVE the WF repair/force spec evocation archmage!!

For others out there that didn't care for arcane playing try this one! I do admit that getting past 11 for me was a chore, but at 12 I took the chain missle SLA, now with that the MM SLA and arcane bolt I frickin rock through quests lol.

Just wanted to spread my joy, I have been playing my wizzie more often than running epics and that is weird for me now lol.

[Dewboy691]

Can you post it? I've been looking for an Archmage build and it sounds like you found a good one.

[Cairo]

Can you post it? I've been looking for an Archmage build and it sounds like you found a good one.

Easy build - WF, Wizard, either 18 Int 20 Con or 18 Int 18 Con 14 Str (prolly better stat distribution here)

Something like this - this was quick and dirty though, im sure if you spent mre time on it, you could perfect it. This gets you Archmage V, both Missle Evo SLAs, near 300 base, naked hitpoints and almost 1800 naked SPs. This is the build that I wish my Halfling could be.

There ARE tomes listed, a full set of 1s, 2s, 3s, AND 4s, but the build does just as well without them. Just keep UMD and Conc maxed. I do highly reccommend getting AT LEAST the Int tomes.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.7.2
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Warforged Male
(20 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 292
Spell Points: 1764 
BAB: 10\10\15\20
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 7
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             14                    18
Dexterity             8                    12
Constitution         18                    24
Intelligence         18                    32
Wisdom                6                    10
Charisma              6                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11
+4 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+4 Tome of Dexterity used at level 20
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 20
+4 Tome of Intelligence used at level 20
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 20
+4 Tome of Charisma used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               1                    12
Bluff                -2                    11
Concentration         8                    34
Diplomacy            -1                    11
Disable Device        n/a                  n/a
Haggle                0                    11
Heal                 -2                     0
Hide                 -1                     1
Intimidate           -2                    11
Jump                  4                    11
Listen               -2                     0
Move Silently        -1                     4
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair                4                    11
Search                4                    11
Spot                 -2                     0
Swim                  2                     4
Tumble                0                     2
Use Magic Device      0                    11.5

Level 1 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Evocation
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Composite Plating
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Inscribe Scroll
Feat: (Automatic) Light Fortification
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Club
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Dagger
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Heavy Crossbow
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Light Crossbow
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Quarterstaff
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Throwing Dagger
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency: Unarmed
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Warforged Immunities


Level 2 (Wizard)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 5 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell


Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness


Level 7 (Wizard)


Level 8 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 9 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell


Level 10 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell


Level 11 (Wizard)


Level 12 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Evocation


Level 13 (Wizard)


Level 14 (Wizard)


Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration


Level 16 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 17 (Wizard)


Level 18 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Penetration


Level 19 (Wizard)


Level 20 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Enchantment
Enhancement: Wizard Master of Magic
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Heightening I
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Maximizing I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration II
Enhancement: Improved Concentration III
Enhancement: Improved Concentration IV
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation II
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation III
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar III
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar IV
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence III
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II
Enhancement: Warforged Healer's Friend I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I
Enhancement: Arcane Blast
Enhancement: Arcane Bolt
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage I
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage II
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage III
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage IV
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage V
Enhancement: Archmage Secondary Spell Mastery I: Evocation
Enhancement: Enchantment I - Hypnotism
Enhancement: Evocation I - Magic Missle
Enhancement: Evocation II - Gust of Wind
Enhancement: Evocation III - Chain Missles

Hit Points:
80 - Base
20 - Heroic Durability
22 - Toughness
30 - Racial Toughness
240 - 34 Con (+9 item + litany)
10 - Draconic Vitality
45 - Greensteel
20 - Minos
30 - GFL
20 - Ship Buffs
20 - Rage
537 Hitpoints self-buffed (unless i added this wrong, which is TOTALLY possible)

[ellamonster]

Yeah that's pretty much it Cairo. It might be worth noting that I had the stuff to make a Master Transmuters staff at level 12 too. It gives you a Superior Potency 6, I think that has a lot to do with my spells hitting so hard. I run with maximize and empower on as it affects the SLA but doesn't cost more!

[Cairo]

Yeah, Potency is key - though a nice Major Kinetic Lore item is nice too lol.

I also forgot - IIRC, its possible for this build to get around a 33-34 UMD, which at least gives you a CHANCE of using some scrolls and wands

[FuzzyDuck81]

For someone who doesn't normally like playing casters (all my clerics/FvS are melee based with spells mostly for healing & buffing with a couple of exceptions) the pewpew archmage is a lot of fun.. no faffing about with figuring out placement of AoEs, spell pen etc, just go out and blast away

[Aurora1979]

to throw my penny in the pot....

Im at level 16 on my Enchanter AM. All my arcanes prior were nukers and im really enjoying the slightly different playstyle...

[Chette]

I loved my evocation/force specced archmage too...until about level 11. That's when I realized that my free magic missile maxed out at 5 missiles, and thus after level 9 wasn't going to get any better.

It's a fun build, and you can get a lot dps out of your freebies, but I found that as I got higher and higher level, and mobs got more and more hp, that it just couldn't compare to traditional fire/ice nuking*. If you manage to make it work at end game, I'd love to hear how you're enjoying it

*I say nuking, but my archmage is actually not truly nuke specced, but enchant DC specced. However I was still able to fit in the fire/ice damage enhancements, just not the crit lines. I still found it higher DPS then when I was fully force specced...which made me a sad robot...I wish there was a bit more flexibility there, but Turbine seems to want us all slinging firewall

[ellamonster]

I loved my evocation/force specced archmage too...until about level 11. That's when I realized that my free magic missile maxed out at 5 missiles, and thus after level 9 wasn't going to get any better.

It's a fun build, and you can get a lot dps out of your freebies, but I found that as I got higher and higher level, and mobs got more and more hp, that it just couldn't compare to traditional fire/ice nuking*. If you manage to make it work at end game, I'd love to hear how you're enjoying it

*I say nuking, but my archmage is actually not truly nuke specced, but enchant DC specced. However I was still able to fit in the fire/ice damage enhancements, just not the crit lines. I still found it higher DPS then when I was fully force specced...which made me a sad robot...I wish there was a bit more flexibility there, but Turbine seems to want us all slinging firewall

Heh, yeah I figured I would probably end up LRing when I get to 20 and respec into enchantment for epics. Nice catch on the noticing the MM cap I don't run with normal MM so haven't noticed myself. I do love the exploding numbers on a party of mobs when you chain missle though muahaha that's awesome!

[Chette]

Heh, yeah I figured I would probably end up LRing when I get to 20 and respec into enchantment for epics. Nice catch on the noticing the MM cap I don't run with normal MM so haven't noticed myself. I do love the exploding numbers on a party of mobs when you chain missle though muahaha that's awesome!

Indeed! I love chain missiles against fire/cold immune mobs

[patang01]

I wonder if it would be worth the investment in Wisdom or Charisma (if you're going UMD anyways) to get a half elf Wiz FvS dillie so you can cast pretty much all the good divine scrolls without worrying about failure?

I'm thinking about TRing my once TR'd FvS to a Wiz just in order to get that extra spell pen before TRing him back to FvS again. I have plenty of +2 Tomes to waste on him plus it would be a 36 point build.

Never done arcane, but would love to try it out. Any ideas if that's sound or not?

[Chette]

I wonder if it would be worth the investment in Wisdom or Charisma (if you're going UMD anyways) to get a half elf Wiz FvS dillie so you can cast pretty much all the good divine scrolls without worrying about failure?

I'm thinking about TRing my once TR'd FvS to a Wiz just in order to get that extra spell pen before TRing him back to FvS again. I have plenty of +2 Tomes to waste on him plus it would be a 36 point build.

Never done arcane, but would love to try it out. Any ideas if that's sound or not?

I know somebody who did the FvS dill in the same situation (i.e. running a wiz to 20 just for the past life) and they loved it. Never tried it myself.

[Jaid314]

I know somebody who did the FvS dill in the same situation (i.e. running a wiz to 20 just for the past life) and they loved it. Never tried it myself.

you get a lot more mileage imo out of being a toaster.

[Cairo]

you get a lot more mileage imo out of being a toaster.

Indeed. Going HElf would give up reliable, good self-healing and racial immunities AND racial Toughness/Con lines in exchange for more Healing Amp and a Dilly that allows you to... self-heal.

Not a good tradeoff.

[William_the_Bat]

I love my h-elf evoker/enchanter archmage.

Anything I can't pew-pew, I can stop cold, and if I can't do either, I have tons of SP left over for maximized + empowered + heightened + extended boom-boom or roast-toast.

Yeah, WF healing is better than my cleric dilly... but then you have to be a WF.

Frankly, I just don't take much damage, because I have pink swirlies above everything that isn't dancing. And if that's not working, I have -tons- of SP left over to nuke old-school.

And yes, MM stops scaling up, good thing it's not your only pew-pew. speccing out for force and force criticals (potency + lore is a must) makes it still useful as far as the Vale, which I hit at level 12 and pwned. (chain missiles and arcane bolt and MM oh my!)

[Jaid314]

Indeed. Going HElf would give up reliable, good self-healing and racial immunities AND racial Toughness/Con lines in exchange for more Healing Amp and a Dilly that allows you to... self-heal.

Not a good tradeoff.

also +1 int, actually. but yeah, it's hard to argue with WF for archmage. when you start talking pale master, it gets a little bit less clear...

[Cairo]

(chain missiles and arcane bolt and MM oh my!)

And something else I learned last week - Prismatic Ray/Spray damage is Force-based.. yes, all the damage. No matter if it's fire, acid, elec, whatever, it's all based off your Force enhances and items.

So, full spec force AM? Go on, pop a Color Spray into that group of mobs, watch half of em die to the Violet Beam, the other half take 300pts of damage, and pop a Max/Emp SLA Chain Missile for another 300 to finish the rest of the group off!

[ellamonster]

And something else I learned last week - Prismatic Ray/Spray damage is Force-based.. yes, all the damage. No matter if it's fire, acid, elec, whatever, it's all based off your Force enhances and items.

So, full spec force AM? Go on, pop a Color Spray into that group of mobs, watch half of em die to the Violet Beam, the other half take 300pts of damage, and pop a Max/Emp SLA Chain Missile for another 300 to finish the rest of the group off!

Nice! +1 to you for the knowledge!

[Jaid314]

are you sure it only counts as one type?

[nucphyschem]

I had a human 20 wiz that I tr'd right back into a wiz thats now helf dilli cleric and yes i know some people don't care for the helf class at all. But I must say that people that say you can only self heal with it are off base I have saved several pugs from wiping because of my ability to heal. I also think taking anything beyond MM SLA is kinda a waste take the arcane bolt and blast tree it would be better in terms of sp drain to damage i think. I can't give exact numbers since i can never get an accurate read on if my enhancement lines are affecting bolt/blast.