Do you play as specialist wizard? I dont want to play as sorceror (I love the wizard soul, scribing scrolls) wizards cast 4 spell per level plus 2 or 1 with int bonus. I have 5-6 spells per level. is it a good idea to be a specialist wizard and have 1 additional spell per level. The opposite schools are really critical. One thing is for sure I cant live without evocation also necromancy spells are useful. Diviner looks like the only option because you lose only conjuration spells. The cost is too much in other schools. What about abjurer you lose transmutation and illusion.

Before the rules changed, I used to take illusionist because only necromancy
was forbidden, and I hardly ever used those spells. Now, I would not specialize
because you lose abjuration, too.

Having an extra spell is nice, but I prefer having as many schools available as
possible.

<center>Nightowl2</center>

i'd vote against the spec mages too. it just seems like you lose way too many spells, there is not more "edwin" factor where you give up almost nothing to gain more spell power. now they are far too limiting imo.

i've finally gone over to the dark side w/ a sorceror after using spec mages in almost all of the previous games (bg1+2, iwd, nwn)

one point of concern is for example the feats that enhance a certain elemental form of damage, (all fire spells do 20% more for example) there are fire spells in both evocation & conj. (both exclusive to another) so losing one school means not getting the full powerplay out of the chosen feat. to ad further insult, chosing a school that has conj & evocation as possible choices knocks out a lot of the combat prep spells (haste, bulls strength)

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all that being said, the charming punk sorcerer grates on my nerves, and i miss the rollplay of having a greyed sage in a pointy hat in the party.