Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - wizard and pale master questions (SoU and HotU class spoilers)

ScottG · 10-12-2004, 03:46 PM

I think its one extra spell to cast per spell level per day for the specialist.

The Necromancer gives up Divination spells (i.e. like TrueStrike, See Invisibility, Premonition, True Seeing, etc.)

http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwint...elone.php#null

The nice thing here is that these are not offensive spells so they don't need to be cast many times during battle (nor are they dependent on caster level for effectiveness). This allows the use of the spells via an item with the spell or a spell scroll. In otherwords a true seeing spell is better utilized via an item that can cast once per day (or similarly).

If used properly the wizard/sorcerer can be the MOST powerful class - period! The Palemaster levels are simply a bonus to your Wizard class AND it really isn't a melee class. The AC increases are nice an add to your mage armor or epic mage armor. The immunity to criticals makes you immune to criticals AND backstabs - which is VERY important for a spell caster. There is NO detriment to being a Palemaster.. Past level 20 your spell casting DC checks do NOT improve, and additionally the Palemaster suffers NO "spell per day reduction": Every 2 levels, the pale master gains additional spells per day, as if they had leveled in their previous spell caster class. This gain only applies to spells per day and not caster level.

Make sure however, that beyond level 20 you start to intermix additional Wizard levels to coincide with epic feats (epic spell) selection so that you can get those cool spells at the right time by spending as few additional levels as a Wizard as possible (the key here is your spellcraft skill). Notice that epic feat selection "Epic Warding" (the best defensive spell) is not available untill your character has 34 in spell craft - which isn't possible until at least character level 31. From there you'll want to coincide that skill increase with a character feat selection. Use an Epic Leveler mod to play with the character creation so that you get this right (along with the epic spells you want).

Things you need to do to make the Class combination the most powerfull:
1. Select your Wizard levels above level 20 carefully for the epic spells you want.
2. Choose spells that are offensive (both of the Issacs Missle Storms are AWESOME).
3. Choose spells that have no save and if possible no spell resistance. In particular Element Shield and Melstith's Acid Sheath - which work nicely with Greater Stoneskin (but not premonition.. which is OK because as a Necromancer you can't cast it anyway).
4. Make sure you keep adding to your Intelligence because it effects your spell penetration vs. an opponents spell resistance. (by level 40 you should be at least 26 in intelligence.)
5. Add at least one level of Shadow Dancer to get the "hide in plain sight" feature and have VERY high Hide and Move silently skills by getting the minimum level required for the class and saving up a LOT of points to plow into these skills when you do choose this class. In particular this will allow you to get close to an opponent for your death touch OR Vampiric touch. The nice thing here is that Vampiric touch scales with your levels without topping-out.

10-12-2004, 03:46 PM	#4
ScottG Drow Warrior Join Date: June 13, 2003 Location: Never Never Land Age: 55 Posts: 267	I think its one extra spell to cast per spell level per day for the specialist. The Necromancer gives up Divination spells (i.e. like TrueStrike, See Invisibility, Premonition, True Seeing, etc.) http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwint...elone.php#null The nice thing here is that these are not offensive spells so they don't need to be cast many times during battle (nor are they dependent on caster level for effectiveness). This allows the use of the spells via an item with the spell or a spell scroll. In otherwords a true seeing spell is better utilized via an item that can cast once per day (or similarly). If used properly the wizard/sorcerer can be the MOST powerful class - period! The Palemaster levels are simply a bonus to your Wizard class AND it really isn't a melee class. The AC increases are nice an add to your mage armor or epic mage armor. The immunity to criticals makes you immune to criticals AND backstabs - which is VERY important for a spell caster. There is NO detriment to being a Palemaster.. Past level 20 your spell casting DC checks do NOT improve, and additionally the Palemaster suffers NO "spell per day reduction": Every 2 levels, the pale master gains additional spells per day, as if they had leveled in their previous spell caster class. This gain only applies to spells per day and not caster level. Make sure however, that beyond level 20 you start to intermix additional Wizard levels to coincide with epic feats (epic spell) selection so that you can get those cool spells at the right time by spending as few additional levels as a Wizard as possible (the key here is your spellcraft skill). Notice that epic feat selection "Epic Warding" (the best defensive spell) is not available untill your character has 34 in spell craft - which isn't possible until at least character level 31. From there you'll want to coincide that skill increase with a character feat selection. Use an Epic Leveler mod to play with the character creation so that you get this right (along with the epic spells you want). Things you need to do to make the Class combination the most powerfull: 1. Select your Wizard levels above level 20 carefully for the epic spells you want. 2. Choose spells that are offensive (both of the Issacs Missle Storms are AWESOME). 3. Choose spells that have no save and if possible no spell resistance. In particular Element Shield and Melstith's Acid Sheath - which work nicely with Greater Stoneskin (but not premonition.. which is OK because as a Necromancer you can't cast it anyway). 4. Make sure you keep adding to your Intelligence because it effects your spell penetration vs. an opponents spell resistance. (by level 40 you should be at least 26 in intelligence.) 5. Add at least one level of Shadow Dancer to get the "hide in plain sight" feature and have VERY high Hide and Move silently skills by getting the minimum level required for the class and saving up a LOT of points to plow into these skills when you do choose this class. In particular this will allow you to get close to an opponent for your death touch OR Vampiric touch. The nice thing here is that Vampiric touch scales with your levels without topping-out.