34-point Warforged Archmage Build

[Nitesco]

I plan to TR my first life Warforged Archmage as soon as I've finished gearing it out. I've had a look at some of the threads for these types of builds and this is what I've come up with. I am still relatively new to Wizarding and want to know if there are any major holes or flaws in this build.

Thoughts so far:

I have heard good things about Insightful Reflexes. Will taking this feat mitigate enough damage to make it worthwhile? What will this help me against the most?

Is Wizard Spell Penetration III worth the AP?

Have I taken enough enhancements to cover DPS? I have gone with Acid, Cold and Electricity to boost my dot's. Is having acid worth it for the Abbot and Lailat?

Is Spell Penetration IX mandatory on this build?

Have I placed too much emphasis on defence?

Note: After some consideration I have decided to fit a permanent Deathblock item and the ability to maintain 100% fortification while under Yugoloth effects into my gear setup.


The Build

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Level 20 True Neutral Warforged Male
(20 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 272
Spell Points: 1780 
BAB: 10\10\15\20
Fortitude: 12
Reflex: 6
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             10                    12
Dexterity             8                    10
Constitution         20                    23
Intelligence         18                    31
Wisdom                6                     8
Charisma              6                     8

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 Intelligence used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               1                    11
Bluff                -2                    10
Concentration         9                    32
Diplomacy            -2                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                  n/a
Haggle               -2                    -1
Heal                 -2                    -1
Hide                 -1                     0
Intimidate            0                    10
Jump                  2                    12
Listen               -2                    -1
Move Silently        -1                     8
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                    10
Search                4                    10
Spot                  0                    10
Swim                  0                     1
Tumble               n/a                    1
Use Magic Device      0                    10

Level 1 (Wizard)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Enchantment
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Wizard)


Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Initiate


Level 4 (Wizard)


Level 5 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Conjuration


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


Level 7 (Wizard)


Level 8 (Wizard)


Level 9 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Necromancy


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


Level 11 (Wizard)


Level 12 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy


Level 13 (Wizard)


Level 14 (Wizard)


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


Level 16 (Wizard)


Level 17 (Wizard)


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


Level 19 (Wizard)


Level 20 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Master of Magic
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: Corrosive Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Glacial Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Charged Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Deadly Acid I
Enhancement: Deadly Ice I
Enhancement: Deadly Shocks I
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation I
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation II
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation III
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation V
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation I
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation II
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation III
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation V
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation I
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation II
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation III
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation IV
Enhancement: Storm Manipulation V
Enhancement: Repair Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration III
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar III
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence III
Enhancement: Wizard Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage I
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage II
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage III
Enhancement: Wizard Archmage IV
Enhancement: Archmage Secondary Spell Mastery I: Conjuration
Enhancement: Archmage Spell Mastery I: Necromancy
Enhancement: Archmage Spell Mastery II: Necromancy
Enhancement: Conjuration I - Grease
Enhancement: Conjuration II - Web
Enhancement: Enchantment I - Hypnotism

Abilities

Strength - 20 (+5)
Dexterity - 11 (0)
Constitution - 32 (+11)
Intelligence - 42 (+16)
Wisdom - 15 (+2)
Charisma - 9 (-1)

I will swap in an Epic Flameward and use a Bunny Hat for UMD (assuming these are still available in the store).


Gear

Head - Epic Sacred Helm
Eyes - Greensteel +45 HP Concordant Opposition Goggles
Neck - Epic Torc of Prince Raiyum-de II (+6 Strength )
Trinket - Litany of the Dead
Back - Epic Envenomed Cloak (Toughness)
Belt - Epic Lion-Headed Belt Buckle (Greater False Life, +1 exceptional Strength)
Wrists - Bracers of the Demon's Consort
Hands - Greensteel +6 exceptional Charisma skills SP Gloves
Ring - Rahkir's Ring (+2 exceptional Intelligence)
Ring - Omniscience
Boots - Epic Rock Boots (Greater False Life, +1 exceptional Strength)
Body - Epic Diabolist's Docent (+1 exceptional Constitution, Heavy Fortification)
Main Hand - Epic Ornamented Dagger/?
Off Hand - level 16 Ornamented Dagger/?

I am not really sure which item effects stack with feats and enhancements so I haven't planned out exactly what I will want to be using as far as Greater School Focus items are concerned. I will be using the Epic Ornamented Dagger and the level 16 Ornamented Dagger for dot's. If I can't fit Greater School Focus on weapons, I can slot it on bracers and use those instead. I will have to figure out which of the staves is best, it would be ideal if one could cover the +2 Foci in Enchantment and Necromancy.


DC's

Necromancy: 10 base +16 intelligence modifier +9 heighten spell feat +1 wizard active past life feat +2 greater spell focus feat +2 archmage spell mastery II enhancement +2 greater focus item +1 yugoloth potion +1 intelligence shrine = 44 DC

Enchantment: 10 base +16 intelligence modifier +9 heighten spell feat +1 wizard active past life feat +1 spell focus feat +2 greater focus item +1 yugoloth potion +1 intelligence shrine +1 phiarlan entertainer = 42 DC

Conjuration: 10 base level +16 intelligence modifier +9 heighten spell feat +1 wizard active past life feat +1 spell focus feat +1 archmage spell mastery I enhancement +3 epic focus item +1 yugoloth potion +1 intelligence shrine = 43 DC


Spell Penetration

8th and lower: 20 caster level +2 spell penetration feat +2 greater spell penetration feat +3 wizard spell penetration III +2 wizard passive past life feat +3 greater spell penetration VIII item +1 dice = 33 Spell Penetration

9th and lower: 20 caster level +2 spell penetration feat +2 greater spell penetration feat +3 wizard spell penetration III +2 wizard passive past life feat +1 scholar of the twelve +1 dice = 31 Spell Penetration

(I have assumed that when an SR check is made, I can include +1 for the simulated dice roll.)


HP

272 planner +100 constitution +45 greensteel +30 greater false life +20 toughness +10 draconic vitality +40 yugoloth potion +20 constitution shrine = 537 HP


Saves

I will add these in later when I have time to calculate them.


Please feel free to share your thoughts on this build. What would you do differently and why?

[Vellrad]

Epic lion headed buckle itself contains +6str, no need to duplicate it.
I wouldn't waste 6AP on +1 spell pen on TRed wizard.

[Nitesco]

Epic lion headed buckle itself contains +6str, no need to duplicate it.
I wouldn't waste 6AP on +1 spell pen on TRed wizard.

Actually I will leave +6 Strength slotted so that I can swap in other belts without dropping Hitpoints. I slotted Greater False Life on my boots to accomodate this. This leaves nowhere to slot Blindness Immunity though.

Will less than 30 Spell Penetration on level 9 spells be good enough do you think?

[Vellrad]

Its not enough/not enough, its that 6AP can be spent way better than that.
Minor spell pen 9 item can be duplicated by taking ship buff (scholar of the 12).

Cannith crafting offers greater spell focus on various slots.

[Nitesco]

I got a +3 INT tome, but I think I'll hold off on TR'ing until I see the expansion.

[PadrePio]

About insightful reflex: in my experience, with my 32pt wf archmage, it's a wonderful feat to take: the ability to Save on a fireball from an abishai in eChrono or fireballs from efreetis in eAdq or some abbot's spells is priceless.

about the gear setup, i'd go with archmage set from tod, because those 15 seconds of higher caster level are awesome for spell penetration.
also you might want to take off those demon consort bracers, because that negative level hidden effect it's just that bad.


you also might want to take some repair enhancement at some point

[Vellrad]

About insightful reflex: in my experience, with my 32pt wf archmage, it's a wonderful feat to take: the ability to Save on a fireball from an abishai in eChrono or fireballs from efreetis in eAdq or some abbot's spells is priceless.

about the gear setup, i'd go with archmage set from tod, because those 15 seconds of higher caster level are awesome for spell penetration.
also you might want to take off those demon consort bracers, because that negative level hidden effect it's just that bad.


you also might want to take some repair enhancement at some point

I don't know the proc rate, so I can't be 100% correct, but wizard tod sets are forcing to you to resing from carrying anything in the belt slot, as theese belts are absolutely useless after buffing after shrine/quest entrance. If proc rate is high enough, it may be justified to resign from a 1 clothing slot, otherwise its not so hot.

[PadrePio]

I'm not sure about the proc rate either, but I'm 100% sure it procs while using scrolls and (gotta check on this) while using clickies too. Still it can be a nice boost to your spell penetration, the damage of some spells and the duration of some other spells (buffs, discoball etc). I mean, if you don't need. A boost to your spell pen, it's useless, but on a second life wizzy can still be something useful.

[Alternative]

If you plan on soloing epic content insightful reflexes make life a lot easier, not only does it cut most of spell damage by half, it also prevents you from being knocked down by cometfalls.

Acid damage is okay as a secondary choice after cold, but note that abbot will be immune to most of your acid spells due to his mantle - spells lvl4 and lower don't work, so no acid rain/blast.

As stated, demon bracers proc nasty negative levels and warforged aren't immune to that, doesthward doesn't prevent them either. Consider bracelet of madness from hound, it can cover your spell pen 9 if you equip it with an item from madness chain, I was told spell pen 9 stays even after you remove the second item.

As for the staves, abbot staff is probably the best for an archmage, it covers +2 enchantment and necromancy. Epic inner sight might be harder to get but it covers +2 to all spell schools.

[PadrePio]

As stated, demon bracers proc nasty negative levels and warforged aren't immune to that, doesthward doesn't prevent them either. Consider bracelet of madness from hound, it can cover your spell pen 9 if you equip it with an item from madness chain, I was told spell pen 9 stays even after you remove the second item.

Yes, it's confirmed to work that way.

[Nitesco]

Well I got a Litany today so I will lose Archmagi and Spell Penetration IX. I will have to start running HoX for a Bracelet of Madness now. If those set bonus effects are WAI, it could be the solution to my spell pen problems. I kept the 3rd tier of the Spell Penetration enhancement trained for now and I respecced my elemental damage to 7/1/1 in cold and electric, with just the first damage tier on everything else.

So I'm rocking a 46 buffed Intelligence on my 1st life WF AM, with 43 Necro and 42 Conjur/Enchant DC's. Really just need a Torc now and I'm set. I'm still hoping to loot an Omniscience too, if I ever get around to running a VoD.

[dazzenl]

save for later use

[Nitesco]

save for later use

Check the date on the last post.

[aristarchus1000]

save for later use

You can save without bumping the post, check out thread tools in the top right corner.

And yes, this build is a couple updates old.

[Nitesco]

save for later use

One piece of advice if you're planning on on a similar build, start off in Shiradi Champion not Magister. There are other builds on this forum that will tell you which elemental lines and SLA's to develop. I never ended up TR'ing this, I was too busy with the XPAC, then started playing other games for a while. I used my free LR to change things around a bit instead. Also, there are more informed and experienced people on these forums that can give you better advice than I can on Wizard builds. I suggest you start a new build request thread for the best possible results.