Creating a solo Wizard build

[GlassJaw]

What do I do about the traps that aren't "most traps"?

Practice and learn to avoid them, buff and zerg through them, watch MrCow's videos, die. Those are basically your options.

The nasty ones that come to mind and that always give me fits are the fire room in STK, whirling blades in TR, whirling blades in Chains of Flame, and WizKing in general, although right now, ANY trap in an Elite quest is going to be nasty because the trap scaling is all our of whack and presumed to be bugged.

Again, if you know the exact trap location and when/where they are triggered, you can get through them. The problem is that you usually have one chance because once they are sprung, if you didn't get through it, you are going to be taking it in the chops. Having evasion (and the ability to disarm them) gives you some built-in fudge factor.

That said, if you are primarily planning to run on Normal or even Hard, it's less of a concern. But on Elite, the chance to get one-shotted is much higher.

[Fungi]

I really think you are going to regret the ranged feats on a wizard build. You will end up being bad at ranged and mediocre at casting. Augment summon is also a pretty weak feat since summoned monsters are pretty wimpy.

[jackmcbarn]

I really think you are going to regret the ranged feats on a wizard build. You will end up being bad at ranged and mediocre at casting. Augment summon is also a pretty weak feat since summoned monsters are pretty wimpy.

I have an Iron Defender practically all the time though, and I plan to do regular damage with a crossbow and debuff enemies with spells.

Here's my idea up to level 13:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Yrukcaster 
Level 13 True Neutral Warforged Male
(12 Wizard \ 1 Artificer) 
Hit Points: 113
Spell Points: 890 
BAB: 6\6\11
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 10
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 13)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            14                    14
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence         18                    21
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 13)
Balance               2                     2
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         7                    19
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        8                    18
Haggle                2                     2
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  2                     2
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                 -1                    -1
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         4                     4
Open Lock             6                     6
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                     5
Search                8                    21
Spot                  4                    16
Swim                 -1                    -1
Tumble                3                     3
Use Magic Device      0                     0

Level 1 (Artificer)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+2)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Augment Summoning
Spell (1): Conjure Bolts
Spell (1): Repair Light Damage
Spell (1): Shield of Faith
Spell (1): Resist Energy
Spell (1): Enchant Armor
Spell (1): Enchant Weapons


Level 2 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Mental Toughness
Spell (1): Charm Person
Spell (1): Sleep
Spell (1): Summon Monster I
Spell (1): Feather Fall
Spell (1): Mage Armor
Spell (1): Acid Spray
Spell (1): Hypnotism


Level 3 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Spell (1): Niac's Cold Ray
Spell (1): Grease


Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (2): Invisibility
Spell (2): Flaming Sphere


Level 5 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (2): Scare
Spell (2): Scorch


Level 6 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Improved Mental Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes
Spell (3): Fireball
Spell (3): Repair Serious Damage


Level 7 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (3): Stinking Cloud


Level 8 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (4): Wall of Fire
Spell (4): Ice Storm


Level 9 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Casting
Spell (4): Shout
Spell (4): Acid Rain


Level 10 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (5): Ball Lightning
Spell (5): Cyclonic Blast


Level 11 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell
Spell (5): Symbol of Pain
Spell (5): Mind Fog


Level 12 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Luck of Heroes
Spell (6): Mass Suggestion
Spell (6): Chain Lightning


Level 13 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Spell (6): Circle of Death
Spell (6): Reconstruct

[tboner]

I have an Iron Defender practically all the time though, and I plan to do regular damage with a crossbow and debuff enemies with spells.

Here's my idea up to level 13:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Yrukcaster 
Level 13 True Neutral Warforged Male
(12 Wizard \ 1 Artificer)

with 1 level of arti, your dog will only be level 1 - totally worthless. You are also stuck at tier 3 runearm charges since you can't get the enhancements for more - so arti splash isn't worth it.

[jackmcbarn]

What does Rogue give me that Artificer doesn't though?

[t0r012]

What does Rogue give me that Artificer doesn't though?

Evasion
And rogue skill boost

Evasion can be huge skill boost 1 not so much.

[jackmcbarn]

So there's really no sense in taking just one level of anything but Barbarian?

Here's a pure wizard I'm thinking, planned out to level 7 so far:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 7 True Neutral Warforged Male
(7 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 69
Spell Points: 439 
BAB: 3\3
Fortitude: 5
Reflex: 6
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 7)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            14                    14
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence         18                    19
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 7)
Balance               4                     7
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         7                    13
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     3
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  2                     2
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                 -1                    -1
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         4                     7
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                     4
Search                4                     4
Spot                  2                     5
Swim                 -1                    -1
Tumble                4                     7
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Move Silently (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Mental Toughness
Spell (1): Repair Light Damage
Spell (1): Charm Person
Spell (1): Feather Fall
Spell (1): Sleep
Spell (1): Summon Monster I
Spell (1): Acid Spray
Spell (1): Hypnotism


Level 2 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Spell (1): Niac's Cold Ray
Spell (1): Grease


Level 3 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Repeating Heavy Crossbow
Spell (2): Flaming Sphere
Spell (2): Invisibility


Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Spell (2): Scare
Spell (2): Scorch


Level 5 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Improved Mental Toughness
Spell (3): Fireball
Spell (3): Repair Serious Damage


Level 6 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (3): Stinking Cloud


Level 7 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Move Silently (+0.5)
Skill: Spot (+0.5)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Spell (4): Ice Storm
Spell (4): Wall of Fire

[BlueSilence]

I usually like my casters pure. That just sounded as if I had many but actually I only have a first life, 28pts, lv 17 wizard and so far it has not been impossible at all to solo (or solo + hireling)* with it. Of couse I can not talk about end game content yet but I think you would do fine staying pure if you follow the tips that more experienced players have posted here already. You could even solo some low-mid level quests on elite with a hireling*. Cleric hirelings with Divine Vitality are really, really useful. At low levels Kendra (lv 5) and Marissa (lv 9?) are my favorites.

Things would definitely be easier by splashing two rogue levels especially since traps on elite are deadly and for those heavy loaded traps quests I have had to group (a very good experience, Im just shy).

Learning/Knowing the quest is a huge plus for when you want to re run it solo at a higher difficulty, trying optionals you couldnt get before or whatever you want =)

I remember the reason I picked wizard over sorcerer is because I wanted to experiment with many spells and get to know better how they work in this game (but inscribing almost any spell can be platsinking so careful). Knowing which spells work better for each quest is also a big advantage.

*I think some people consider the use of hirelings as non-solo but thats a different topic. Anyways, use them!

And... uhm... thats it. Uhm... remember to have fun always... and I... think I better stay away from the reply button for now =)