Pure Searching Wizard (for Open, UR & BUR Subraces)

[Hercules]

I haven't been able to crunch the numbers yet, but I would go

1)
Drop paragon feat that gives legendary Conj. in my opinion Conjuration is debatable anyhow (tough choice )
or
2)
try to get a augment / usable item that either gives you sufficient points in search without spending the 2 feats.
Then use the 2 feat for something else :-)

I know this would be like choose between Cholera and Plague, but thats the price you haver to pay to be a elf wizzy/sercher I guess.



Sincerely
Herc

[Raj]

Consider that crossclassing intelligence into PL (up to 41 ranks at 79), with +50 from items, +34 from 78 intelligence (double demi, pl stats, +16 item, arti), +2 from elf you hit the 127 cap to search skill w/o need to invest any feat. A quite common item with the embroided (uncommon rarity) augmentor gives 3 more points to reach the cap a bit earlier.

Obviously not a option for newbies, but such final build wouldn't sacrifice anything in order to be a third-class rogue (no auto 20, no active searching, need to lose slots to gear for searching, no guildmaster glint option).

[Hercules]

Sept 23, 2013 11:29:15 GMT Raj said:

Consider that crossclassing intelligence into PL (up to 41 ranks at 79), with +50 from items, +34 from 78 intelligence (double demi, pl stats, +16 item, arti), +2 from elf you hit the 127 cap to search skill w/o need to invest any feat. A quite common item with the embroided (uncommon rarity) augmentor gives 3 more points to reach the cap a bit earlier.

Obviously not a option for newbies, but such final build wouldn't sacrifice anything in order to be a third-class rogue (no auto 20, no active searching, need to lose slots to gear for searching, no guildmaster glint option).

this was something in the lines I was aiming for ...and then some ... ...and then some more...
I think Raj hit the mark pretty well here. Should be all info you need.
The rest is up to personal taste / needs / wants from the build.


Herc

[chirality]

I think it's interesting and potentially valuable for learning players who are looking for a searcher build but want to retain pure spell power (without relying on CL ego) and aren't as reliant on outside sources for high/maxed skills (obviously the value of such a build will vary dramatically from player to player). The fact that it's a demonstration of non-rogue wizard is cool. There's an enormous lack of up-to-date builds all around but especially wizards.

I would not pursue this build myself but other than personal preferences, it's cool to see such pure wizard who doesn't rely on rogue splash and/or demi+high stat gear to work as searcher (although again the value of this is debatable).

Can't remember last time I saw LSA Search in a build actually

I would also go elf and skip LSA Search as well, and also a tweak or 2 to school selection.

It may be worth noting (for new/learning wizard/search players) that unless you're very familiar with secret spots on given map/runs, lack of elf keen senses can be frustrating (or at any rate, not lacking it is nice).

Well, which do you prefer to look at Test: human or elf!

[SallerAseph]

My 0.005 cents and my personal opinion:

I am not sure I would drop anything for a searcher elf. Being human gives you 1 extra feat pre epic, which you could use for the enabler feat for the LSA search. If you go elf you are already 1 feat behind pre epic and in addition you would lose 1 more feat at LL levels or paragon levels.

Its obviously your call, but that cost is pretty steep in my humble opinion. Pre epic you can live without 1 metamagic feat as long as you get empower and either still/silent/extend. Maximize is ok but not absolutely crucial and I went without it after reincing now.

All this being said, Elf (which is the base race I went for after reinc) does have some nifty things - being immune to sleep being one of the greater ones in certain areas of the mod.

IF you decide to drop something, I would consider dropping extend in your build - but that would demand some good gear (for instance a silence ring). Reasoning being there arent THAT many buffs that you would extend, however it comes at the steep cost of not being as able to juggle your spell slots and what to memorize where I guess

Hope it comes together for you my friend

EDIT: Considering what TheRajah said you can possibly skip LSA:Search and compensate with augs and or para levels - which I would consider a supreme solution. You once said in a thread (I think): Nothing is worth +1DC on a spellcaster and losing that feat would get you +2 DC in a school you like I guess if you take either a LL focus or a para focus instead (some feat shuffling probably required but you know that drill)

Best regards Samir

[Test]

Sept 23, 2013 11:29:15 GMT Raj said:

Consider that crossclassing intelligence into PL (up to 41 ranks at 79), with +50 from items, +34 from 78 intelligence (double demi, pl stats, +16 item, arti), +2 from elf you hit the 127 cap to search skill w/o need to invest any feat. A quite common item with the embroided (uncommon rarity) augmentor gives 3 more points to reach the cap a bit earlier.

Obviously not a option for newbies, but such final build wouldn't sacrifice anything in order to be a third-class rogue (no auto 20, no active searching, need to lose slots to gear for searching, no guildmaster glint option).

I have never suffered from a need to drop slot items for search items on this style of wizard, as a helmet is the usual item that is used (imo) for gaining the skill bonus.

That is a very good point about the level 80 options. I will add a Level 80 version of the build that makes use of that as I keep doing these updates.

[Test]

Sept 23, 2013 13:54:42 GMT chirality said:

Can't remember last time I saw LSA Search in a build actually

My Palemaster uses it as well. To be blunt I initially put it on the Palemaster so I could sometimes take the searcher spot on runs - however it simply worked so I kept it. That build is quite old now though.

[Test]

Lots of updates - not yet finished though. I have put in the table for different versions of the build and started working on the maximised version for level 80 toons (Elf race) following the discussions in this thread. Big thanks to Raj !

Next steps (over the next few days) are to keep working on the notes to support the build, to finish filling in the build table for the Lvl60-79 and lvl 80 versions, then to start adding in the Open and UR versions of the build.

More ideas welcome - I would like to make this as positive a build for site as possible.

chirality If you would like to write a wee note about your preferred schools explaining why you prefer them I would love to include that in the build too so that there are more options for people looking at it.

[chirality]

Well, with that comment I just meant to address herc's mention of personal taste: i.e. agree (i would do build a bit diff personally but that is preference)

I liked the way you explained your desire to pick the schools you have chosen, so I didn't think it was useful to debate schools

[Deleted]

Unfortunately with no PSF the DC suffers rather noticeably. Of course with only 4 schools instead you'd have 3-4 extra pre-epic feats, which is why most people end up going the 6 school route. Wizards just aren't in a very good place at the moment as their "bonus" feats are rather laughable as a bonus and knowing all spells is only good in a handful of situations. It's nice to have an updated wizard build for PL though

[Test]

Sept 23, 2013 23:15:26 GMT @laser said:

Unfortunately with no PSF the DC suffers rather noticeably. Of course with only 4 schools instead you'd have 3-4 extra pre-epic feats, which is why most people end up going the 6 school route. Wizards just aren't in a very good place at the moment as their "bonus" feats are rather laughable as a bonus and knowing all spells is only good in a handful of situations. It's nice to have an updated wizard build for PL though

You are obviously right about the DCs Laser. I strongly suspect Abjuration is about to become a lot more important looking at this - and no doubt the new level 80 areas will bring other spells to the forefront as well (peraps in unexpected schools - the way that Divination and Enchantment became more popular not so long ago). My belief is that within a couple of months of the new areas being dropped all arcane builds will desperately need to be updated so that they reflect the base requirements for the new areas.

[Deleted]

That's true. On the opposite site higher saves means that the marginal gain from +2 DC means more for new areas. DC/Save difference (the main benefit of PSF) of 17 instead of 15 is 14% more effective. A DC/Save difference of 12 instead of 10 is 22% more effective.