What is a good race to use for experimenting with Wizards?

[Guthan]

I'm dead stuck between playing either an AM or a PM wizard and I do have vet status unlocked, but what race should I start? From what I heard WF make great AMs and Humans make great PMs, however I don't wanna make a wf archmage only to find I don't like him, because wouldn't I be gimping myself if I went PM? Because the WF doesn't synergize as well as a human and the same goes reverse for making a human PM and not liking him. I'm not sure what to do because I dont wanna feel like I wasted a slot due to me not liking one playstyle of the wizzy.

[sirgog]

Warforged are best by far for learning the class, they are much more forgiving to play at lower levels.

Pale Masters are pretty unimpressive from 1-11.

[Jaid314]

true. if you don't know what you're doing very well, warforged is by far going to be the most forgiving, especially for a wizard. if you don't have warforged, next best choice would be human.

[PopeJual]

Warforged are obvious choices for Archmage because of the self-healing, but you can also make a Pale Master WF Wizard with no problems, too. The only downside would be that you're "wasting" the WF self healing while you're in undead form, but you should be tough enough in undead form that it won't make much of a difference. There is no reduction in negative energy healing for Warforged. It's just regular Cure and Heal spells that are reduced for the toasters.

You can also have fun with a Half Elf if you want to go the fleshie route. You can pick up around 70 HP with the Barbarian dilettante feat and a few AP. The easy self healing is a HUGE bonus for WF, though.

If you want to play with both Archmage and Pale Master, just take both SF: Necro and SF: Enchantment. You can bounce back and forth between the PRE's every three days.

[voodoogroves]

You will find some vocal people who think there is no point to a WF Pale Master. If you look though, you'll find a number of capped WF Pale Masters who love the flexibility it provides.

If you have WF, I say build one who can do either. That isn't a horrible deal anyway, because your feat list is pretty useful regardless.

[phalaeo]

If you're unsure which PRE you want, I'd go WF- you can't really go wrong and there are a decent amount of WF PMs out there.

[noinfo]

Warforged are best by far for learning the class, they are much more forgiving to play at lower levels.

Pale Masters are pretty unimpressive from 1-11.

While this is true, I find many become overly dependant on the self healing aspect. While there are many good WF casters out there it is just something to be careful of.

[ColdNapalm]

Drow is also very good. The only race that can start off with 20 int.

[Jaid314]

Drow is also very good. The only race that can start off with 20 int.

they have other drawbacks though.

-2 con is unpleasant. being -4 points vs other races (if you have 32 point build or are TRing) is another drawback. the racial enhancements sucking horribly is another.

it's not so much that you can't make a good drow wizard. just that they have some pretty big drawbacks too...

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Drow is also very good. The only race that can start off with 20 int.

Human are only 1 behind drow (they start 2 behind but have enhancements to add one that drow does not), and they are +2 con, +1 feat, +1 skill point/level

Drow are generally a weaker choice.

[ColdNapalm]

they have other drawbacks though.

-2 con is unpleasant. being -4 points vs other races (if you have 32 point build or are TRing) is another drawback. the racial enhancements sucking horribly is another.

it's not so much that you can't make a good drow wizard. just that they have some pretty big drawbacks too...

Well I find the lack of con less distressful then most. The 28 point buy is less of an issue due to the bonus stats you get (honestly going 16 int and using the +2 int to get 18 int gains your 2 points right there vs a 32 point buy and 18 int...if you feel you really need more points). I do accept the downside when doing TR...but as a character your testing out, that seems less likely to be an issue . Okay so the racial enhancement is kinda bad, I do admit.

[Jaid314]

Well I find the lack of con less distressful then most. The 28 point buy is less of an issue due to the bonus stats you get (honestly going 16 int and using the +2 int to get 18 int gains your 2 points right there vs a 32 point buy and 18 int...if you feel you really need more points). I do accept the downside when doing TR...but as a character your testing out, that seems less likely to be an issue . Okay so the racial enhancement is kinda bad, I do admit.

well, it isn't like they're completely unworkable.

they're just not (imo) as easy to run with as human. if you're looking for the best choice to try out new things, i'd go human (assuming warforged isn't available, or is undesirable. if warforged is available, definitely go warforged, the self-healing is worth a lot!)

[Rawel_San]

Drow are quite definitely workable. I will admit they are more a flavor build then anything since Human is atm
strictly better since the +1 int drow gets ends up being odd in end game gear unless you use house D pots. Still especially for a beginning player the +1 int might be nice. And as a human you will end up being probbably short
a few AP's if you really want to take advantage of everything.

That said for a first timer/build testing I would recommend WF or human.