Wizard guidelines . . .

[PoAccountM]

Well, I'm building a Wizard, and I've selected Illithid as my sub-race (going Gnome for base).

So, here's some questions:

How necessary are high saves? I realize the Hells require at least 60 to survive, but from what? -- traps, enemy attacks? Because currently, assuming they're just as necessary, I intend on going:

Str. 9 (8), Dex. 10, Con. 17 (16), Int. 17 (22), Wis. 8, and Cha. 14, splashing a level of Monk for Evasion and Paladin for the bonus to saves. That would bring Reflex, my lowest, with Lightning Reflexes and Legendary Reflexes to about 58, 59, to 63, 64 at lv. 60. That said, is the Paladin level necessary, or can I afford a penalty of 9, bringing it down to 55 at 60 by not taking the two feats?

Further, how necessary is focus in Transmutation or Necromancy? I plan on getting focus feats in Evocation, Illusion, and Enchantment, but when it comes to the books and the Legendary feat, I want to know what they're useful for (Necromancy seems to me useful for primarily three spells, of which I think I can substitute for others).

Also, on Empower and Maximize . . . I'm netting Extend for sure, but how useful are the former two? Ninth level spells will be occupied by, well, ninth level for sure, as with eighth and seventh . . . I suppose the lower spells could be made more powerful, but I have those lined up primarily for buffs. Thoughts?

So, what's the general consensus, I suppose?

[dodrudon]

Empower and maximize are both very useful. For instance, max ice storms do more dmg than horrids or thunderclaps in certain situations. However, it breaks loot. Silent spell is also nice to get two tiers of FoD (probably gonna have MS in 9th so can't empower). Basically, other than for Evocation and Necromancy and epic spells, there's no reason to get spell foci (that sounds so much cooler than focuses). Transmutation epic is very helpful in the right situations (be creative), and not getting necromancy will hurt you outside the hells (don't know if hell creatures are death immune or not). One focus I might drop is illusion, however it costs less because you went gnome so it's almost obligatory.

So bascially:
Evo - a must for dmg spells
Ill - epic you can do without, however convinient it is, but as a gnome you get the sf for free so it seems almost a waste not to get it
Necro - need this to be effective outside of hells sometimes with wail/fod, though you can definitely do without it, though it will be very painful and others will look at you funny, and it helps with horrids fort or half dmg save, which is one of your staple spells (aoe, long range, and doesnt break loot, its like thunderclap but cant be evaded and has a better dmg type)
trans - useful for epic only, ppl rarely ask for keen, and the harder creatures are all crit immune anyways
div - useless
abj - useless
conj - i forget, the epic is meh outside of hells, really just for show, and isn't terribly effective, it can be fickle

Sometimes I wish I had extend, mostly for tenser's (though the HPs usually due to combat not timer), elemental shield, mestil's acid sheath (convinient before, now even more useful with acid immunity), and globe of invulnerability (though that's limited use because abilities are what you're mostly worried about).

Dock your con by 2 and stick it somewhere else if you can, 1ac isn't really gonna mean much when your AC sucks anyways.

[borges]

Those are the same classes and starting stats for the Thid Gnome Wiz that I have planned (though base CON is 15, which goes to 16 after all racial adjustments). For save feats, I'm going with Luck of Heroes + Legendary Luck, as well as Epic Reflexes. Max saves at 60 of 64 Fort, 65 Will, 63 Reflex, which is plenty good for a caster in Hells.

FYI, Yomi's recent post on saves is extremely helpful for planning. You can find it here: highergroundpoa.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=Tavern&action=display&n=1&thread=3623

Regarding metamagic feats, as others have mentioned, you really need Silent (or Still), Empower, and Maximize. Bosses are much less stressful when you have 60+ IGMS (or 40+ FoD) queued up. I dislike Extend, for the reasons that dodrudon pointed out. Also, I don't want to use 7-9 spots for improved buffs, as that's the sweet spot for your most damaging spells. I already have Shadow Shield at 7, Premonition and GS at 8; that's quite enough IMO.

With respect to foci, I will never again build an arcane caster that doesn't have the transmute wall. It's just too useful in Pyramid and Hells. Evo and Necro are, for me, non-negotiable. If you prefer falling meteors to instant finger- or wail-induced death, Necro can be switched out for a focus with a more useful epic. The Illusion epic is very useful and I am strongly considering sacrificing 2 INT points to fit it in on my next Wiz. Some kimono-wearing caster types seem to like the Divination epic; I do without it. Finally, there is the ever-popular Balor. I have been very pleased with this epic, as it allows me to speed through the Maze and pack some extra punch on Thid runs. Nice to have, though not as essential as the big, round rock wall.

[PoAccountM]

Ah, okay. Well, it's looking like the feats will line up fairly well; I assume the post about the two constitution meant dexterity, in which case they were there for reflex saves, though it appears I may be able to get away with it.

Thanks for the tips!

[supertrooper33]

On this topic, what are the advantages, if any, of going pure wiz vs. a 1 level splash build? Splash gives you more ac, saves, disc. - anything from pure?

[calad]

well you only go pure if you enjoy the path of pain and suffering, becasue this will be you after a few weeks
If you can handle it, then by all means go for it, if not then I would recomend a splash

[chainlink]

Slightly better spell penetration and spell effects (better damage, better protection). No such thing as perfection though as there are some trade-offs with either route, monk route to give evasion and ac, paladin route to give shield prof and saves bonus or both (although this does not give anywhere near the benefits of a Sorc with both these classes). Monk gives you ac from tumble and from Wis so its normally 7-9 ac depending on how much you put in this stat and with the assumption you're not using anything but robes or touting a shield (no guarantee on this with the new shields which is why you won't necessarily get a big ac boost with them if you have a monk level).

[dynneroth]

I have a one level splash of rogue. I think I probably should have gone a two level splash to get evasion. It would definitely help keep my butt out of the fire in the maze. But the one level of rogue isn't too bad.

[chainlink]

What does one level of rogue give you? If you're taking one level of anything else on a wizard build surely its got to be monk.