Spellcasting Powerhouse (DnD Optimized Character Build)

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 References 3 Game Rule Components 3.1 Race and Templates 3.2 Classes 4 Progression

[edit] Introduction

Tired of your spells being weaker than you'd like? Want an extra boost in spellcasting power? Watch swarms of enemies fall in batches to your powerhouse abilities. (Offer not currently available to divine spellcasters, psionic manifesters, meldshapers, or non-arcane mages.)

What we try to do is take the Wild Mage PrC and make up for the caster level penalty with the Practised Spellcaster feat.

[edit] References

Player's Handbook, Complete Arcane

[edit] Game Rule Components

[edit] Race and Templates

Any.

[edit] Classes

Build A (With Ultimate Magus Levels) Note: I have only input the minimum required skills/feats to take the prestige classes. All other skill and feat choices are left to your own preferences. Also, for the Effective Caster Levels, I have not included the Wild Mage +3-1d6. It does get tricky since you can add the bonus from Practiced Spellcaster at whatever point it gives the most bonus. I believe, at some point in the progression, due to the Arcane Spell Power class ability of the Ultimate Magus, the Wild Mage level adjustment will always end up providing a bonus. At any rate... here's my best shot at the progression:

1 - Wizard 1 - Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 4, Knowledge (the planes) 4, Spellcraft 4, Use Magic Device (cc) 4/2 - Feats: Magical Aptitude, Empower Spell - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 1

2 - Wizard 2 - Skills: Spellcraft 1(5), Use Magic Device (cc) 1(5/2.5) - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 2

3 - Wizard 3 - Skills: Spellcraft 1(6), Use Magic Device (cc) 1(6/3) - Feat: Practiced Spellcaster (Wizard) - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 3

4 - Wizard 4 - Skills: Spellcraft 1(7), Use Magic Device (cc) 1(7/3.5) - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 4

5 - Warmage 1 - Skills: Spellcraft 1(8), Use Magic Device (cc) 1(8/4) - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 5 (4 + 1 prac), Warmage 1

6 - Wild Mage 1 - Feats: Practiced Spellcaster (Warmage) - Effective Caster Level: Wizard 6 (4 Wiz + 1 Wild + prac), War 5 (1 + 4 prac)

7 - Ultimate Magus 1 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 8 (4 + 1 Wild + 2 prac + 1 arc pow), War 7 (1 + 1 UltM + 4 prac + 1 arc pow)

8 - Ultimate Magus 2 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 9 (4 + 1 Wild + 1 UltM + 2 prac + 1 arc pow), War 8 (1 + 2 UltM + 4 prac + 1 arc pow)

9 - Ultimate Magus 3 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 10 (4 + 1 Wild + 2 UltM + 2 prac + 1 arc pow), War 9 (1 + 3 UltM + 4 prac + 1 arc pow)

10 - Ultimate Magus 4 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 12 (4 + 1 Wild + 2 UltM + 3 prac + 2 arc pow), War 11 (1 + 4 UltM + 4 prac + 2 arc pow)

11 - Ultimate Magus 5 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 13 (4 + 1 Wild + 3 UltM + 3 prac + 2 arc pow), War 12 (1 + 5 UltM + 4 prac + 2 arc pow)

12 - Ultimate Magus 6 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 14 (4 + 1 Wild + 4 UltM + 3 prac + 2 arc pow), War 13 (1 + 6 UltM + 4 prac + 2 arc pow)

13 - Ultimate Magus 7 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 16 (4 + 1 Wild + 4 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow), War 15 (1 + 7 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow)

14 - Ultimate Magus 8 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 17 (4 + 1 Wild + 5 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow), War 16 (1 + 8 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow)

15 - Ultimate Magus 9 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 18 (4 + 1 Wild + 6 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow), War 17 (1 + 9 UltM + 4 prac + 3 arc pow)

16 - Ultimate Magus 10 - Effective Caster Level: Wiz 20 (4 + 1 Wild + 7 UltM + 4 prac + 4 arc pow), War 19 (1 + 10 UltM + 4 prac + 4 arc pow)

Any arcane spellcaster or Wildmage can take this optimization, so long as their caster level is third or higher.

Note: Another extremely powerful combination is taking this in combination with the Ultimate Magus PrC detailed in the Complete Mage. The full information for this PrC can be found on the Wizards website. Take 4 levels of wizard and one level of a spontaneous spellcasting class(I chose warmage). Then take a level of Wild Mage. After that continue with Ultimate Magus to increase your CL in both of your arcane casting classes. The Wildmage's ability states "ANY time you cast a spell roll a d6..." You can take Practiced Spell caster twice, each time choosing a new spellcasting class onto which the benefits are supplied. You want a REAL spellcasting powerhouse, I suggest the Ultimate Magus version.

[edit] Progression

None. This optimization has a static effect that does not scale with character level.

NOTE: Keeping track of differing CL's with the UM can be tricky. Be sure to be careful when keeping track of the Practiced Spellcaster caster benefits as they can be applied at different time to either offset the adjustment from Wild Mage or to boost the base caster level before the Wild Mage adjustment is applied, depending on the die roll.

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