A Gnomish Focus
Illusionist(37), Rogue(3)
Gnome

Main aim here was to achieve a high Spell Penetration with as high a dc as possible in 3 schools (Necromancy, Conjuration and illusion). Evocation was not considered as the main spells of use IMHO here don't have a save (IGMS, ILMS, Bigbys Interposing, Bigbys Grasping, Ice Storm)
This lends itself to a very versatile character, who's dcs in those schools are only 2 points off the maximum possible when taking into account INT boosting items (ie. DC 28 for Necro, Conj & Ill. DC 22 for all other schools barring Enchantment)

Generally a healthy quantity of HP for a mage, although toughness could be taken sooner. Epic Mage Armor can also be dropped in +5 environments, as it is not truly necessary in such scenarios.

Anyway... I am currently using him to good effect on a PW. Tests in the Novice to Epic Mod were satisfactory so far at least.

Here he is.

STR: 10
DEX: 8
CON: 18
WIS: 8
INT: 18 (34)
CHA: 8

01: Illusionist(1): Spell Penetration, {Scribe Scroll}
02: Illusionist(2)
03: Illusionist(3): Greater Spell Penetration
04: Illusionist(4): INT+1, (INT=19)
05: Illusionist(5): Extend Spell
06: Illusionist(6): Spell Focus: Conjuration
07: Illusionist(7)
08: Illusionist(8): INT+1, (INT=20)
09: Illusionist(9): Greater Spell Focus: Conjuration
10: Illusionist(10): Spell Focus: Necromancy
11: Illusionist(11)
12: Illusionist(12): INT+1, Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy, (INT=21)
13: Illusionist(13)
14: Illusionist(14)
15: Illusionist(15): Empower Spell, Silent Spell
16: Illusionist(16): INT+1, (INT=22)
17: Rogue(1)
18: Illusionist(17): Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
19: Illusionist(18)
20: Illusionist(19): INT+1, (INT=23)
21: Illusionist(20): Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
22: Illusionist(21)
23: Illusionist(22)
24: Illusionist(23): INT+1, Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor, Epic Spell Focus: Conjuration, (INT=24)
25: Illusionist(24)
26: Illusionist(25)
27: Rogue(2): Epic Spell Focus: Illusion, {Evasion}
28: Illusionist(26): INT+1, Great Intelligence I, (INT=26)
29: Illusionist(27)
30: Illusionist(28): Great Intelligence II, (INT=27)
31: Illusionist(29): Great Intelligence III, (INT=28)
32: Illusionist(30): INT+1, (INT=29)
33: Illusionist(31): Great Intelligence IV, (INT=30)
34: Illusionist(32): Epic Spell: Epic Warding
35: Illusionist(33)
36: Illusionist(34): INT+1, Great Intelligence V, (INT=32)
37: Illusionist(35): Great Intelligence VI, (INT=33)
38: Illusionist(36)
39: Rogue(3): Toughness, {Uncanny Dodge I}
40: Illusionist(37): INT+1, (INT=34)


Hitpoints: 366
Skillpoints: 384
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 20/20/17
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +11, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 19
AB (max, naked): 20 (melee), 19 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 18/21
Spell Casting: Wizard(9)

Skills:
Appraise 42(54)
Concentration 43(49)
Craft Armor 8(20)
Craft Weapon 8(20)
Disable Trap 42(56)
Lore 43(55)
Open Lock 42(41)
Search 42(54)
Set Trap 31(32)
Spellcraft 43(55)
Tumble 40(39)

Spell Penetration of 43+1d20
Spell Quantities (Unbuffed/ No Items)
Cantrips 5
1st 8
2nd 8
3rd 8
4th 8
5th 7
6th 7
7th 7
8th 7
9th 6

39th level feat 'Toughness' can be swapped for any that you feel may be more appropriate (eg: Armor Skin, Hellball, Greater Ruin, Great INT, etc).

Good overall skillset thanks to the Rogue levels opening them up.

Feedback as always is appreciated.

Edited By Grimnir77 on 05/17/09 15:00

Cool idea. One question though: why three Rogue levels? If you drop one of the Rogue levels and replace it with WIZ, you'll get another WIZ epic bonus feat. Drop Toughness* and take 2 GRT INT feats, and your DCs go up by 1. Gives you a final INT of 36, which adds another level 1, level 5, and level 9 spell per day.

You'd lose Uncanny Dodge, but you've got no DEX anyway, so you're really losing nothing there.

*Or you could even drop Epic Spell Pen if you want the HPs from Toughness, since you're going to have lots of caster levels anyway.

Anyway, nice Wizzie build.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!! Actually that is a very good idea Cinn. However, the reason there are 3 levels of Rogue, and I Should have made clear this point but I forgot, is that it is the only character restriction on the PW I play on (ie. a minimum of 3 levels of each class type taken).

In situations where you are not restrained by this, then by all means drop Rogue to 2 and Increase WIZ by 1 to improve INT overall as you suggest.

Thanks for that... seems too obvious now!

Epic Spell Penetration however I find more useful, particular during the life of the build, rather than assuming you hit 40th immediately. Personal taste at the end of the day I feel. Awesome DCs on 3 schools, cool build. Although the skillpoints are quite exceeded don't you think?

Quote: (ie. DC 28 for Necro, Conj & Ill. DC 22 for all other schools barring Enchantment)

28 and 22? that sure is wrong written or something, I'm not such an expert in DCs, but with 37 caster levels, 34 INT and Spell Focuses on 3 schools the DCs should be way higher than that.

Edited By Thaxll'ssyllia on 08/23/06 03:53

Quote: Posted 08/23/06 03:52:35 (GMT) -- Thaxll'ssyllia

Awesome DCs on 3 schools, cool build. Although the skillpoints are quite exceeded don't you think?

Quote: (ie. DC 28 for Necro, Conj & Ill. DC 22 for all other schools barring Enchantment)

28 and 22? that sure is wrong written or something, I'm not such an expert in DCs, but with 37 caster levels, 34 INT and Spell Focuses on 3 schools the DCs should be way higher than that.

Thaxllyssyllia, try reading it as 28+ spell level and 22+ spell level, respectively . The OP has the math right (or at least in agreement with mine ).
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(I enjoy writing parenthetically (a lot)). DC = 10 + INT modifier + Spell Focus feats + Spell Level.

= 10 + 12 + either 0 or +6 + spell level

= 22 or 28 + spell level.

So koolthursday's correct.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!! Cool wiz build, Samphus: playable, and lovely twist re: multi-schools. This be one studious Gnome

Thax: as to DCs, the formula be: base (10) + stat. mod. (12) = 22 unfocussed schools; + 6 for focussed school(s) (+2 spell foc; +2 grtfoc; +2 epicfoc) or, DC 28; to that no., add the spell level, and then to this add your stat boosts/enhancements also ...

edit: hey, CD -

Edited By TyrTemplar on 08/23/06 06:17

Thanks to all for your responses. I have to admit it has led me to make a change to it already... see below.

BTW, Thax the initial skillset is correct in terms of quantities, I rechecked it just to make sure.

Gnomish Focus V2
Illusionist(38), Rogue(2)
Gnome

Bearing in mind the first version was based on a PW restriction (ie. 3 levels minimum in each class), this is a more optimised version.

Main changes are that all spell DCs increase by 1 (thanks Cinn), HP drops by 40 points however, Spell Penetration increases by 1 to 44+1d20 and an extra 1st & 9th level spell are available without INT boosting Items.

Truth be told, I think I would prefer to play this version... maybe I need to find another server that would let me!

STR: 10
DEX: 8
CON: 18
WIS: 8
INT: 18 (36)
CHA: 8

01: Illusionist(1): Spell Penetration, {Scribe Scroll}
02: Illusionist(2)
03: Illusionist(3): Greater Spell Penetration
04: Illusionist(4): INT+1, (INT=19)
05: Illusionist(5): Extend Spell
06: Illusionist(6): Spell Focus: Conjuration
07: Illusionist(7)
08: Illusionist(8): INT+1, (INT=20)
09: Illusionist(9): Greater Spell Focus: Conjuration
10: Illusionist(10): Spell Focus: Necromancy
11: Illusionist(11)
12: Illusionist(12): INT+1, Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy, (INT=21)
13: Illusionist(13)
14: Illusionist(14)
15: Illusionist(15): Empower Spell, Silent Spell
16: Illusionist(16): INT+1, (INT=22)
17: Rogue(1)
18: Illusionist(17): Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
19: Illusionist(18)
20: Illusionist(19): INT+1, (INT=23)
21: Illusionist(20): Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
22: Illusionist(21)
23: Illusionist(22)
24: Illusionist(23): INT+1, Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor, Epic Spell Focus: Conjuration, (INT=24)
25: Illusionist(24)
26: Illusionist(25)
27: Illusionist(26): Epic Spell Focus: Illusion, Great Intelligence I, (INT=25)
28: Illusionist(27): INT+1, (INT=26)
29: Illusionist(28)
30: Illusionist(29): Great Intelligence II, Great Intelligence III, (INT=28)
31: Illusionist(30)
32: Illusionist(31): INT+1, (INT=29)
33: Illusionist(32): Great Intelligence IV, Epic Spell: Epic Warding, (INT=30)
34: Illusionist(33)
35: Illusionist(34)
36: Illusionist(35): INT+1, Great Intelligence V, Great Intelligence VI, (INT=33)
37: Illusionist(36)
38: Illusionist(37)
39: Rogue(2): Great Intelligence VII, {Evasion}, (INT=34)
40: Illusionist(38): INT+1, Great Intelligence VIII, (INT=36)

Hitpoints: 324
Skillpoints: 380
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 20/20/17
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +11, Mind Effects: +2
BAB: 19
AB (max, naked): 20 (melee), 19 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 18/21
Spell Casting: Wizard(9)

Skills:

Appraise 42(55)
Concentration 43(49)
Craft Armor 7(20)
Craft Weapon 7(20)
Disable Trap 42(57)
Lore 43(56)
Open Lock 42(41)
Search 42(55)
Set Trap 5(6)
Spellcraft 43(56)
Tumble 40(39)
Bear in mind there are a further 24 points left over.

Spell Penetration of 44+1d20
Spell Quantities (Unbuffed/ No Items)
Cantrips 5
1st 9
2nd 8
3rd 8
4th 8
5th 7
6th 7
7th 7
8th 7
9th 7

It may be that you would want to drop Epic Spell Penetration for Toughness in this version. up to you really.

Edited By I...Samphus on 08/23/06 09:29