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SoD
2008-10-15, 07:21 AM
I was bored earlier today, and was flipping through random books. Eventually, I ended up thinking of a Changeling Wizard Focused Specialist (Transmutation/Illusion dual specialist. It's a racial sub. level) Master Specialist. Which would need to have four barred schools. 3 for dual-specialisation, 1 extra for focused.

Not Illusion/Transmutation/Divination, for obvious reasons.

I'm thinking Necromancy/Evocation/Conjuration/Enchantment.

I'm looking at this from an optimisation point of view. Are these the four schools to bar?

Tempest Fennac
2008-10-15, 07:24 AM
Evocation is seen as weak due to focussing on direct damage, Necromancy contains some useful de-buffs, Enchantment is good apart from the fact that a lot of creatures are immune to those spells, and Conjuration is a really good school, so barring that is a bad idea.

Kurald Galain
2008-10-15, 07:27 AM
Don't drop conjuration, it's one of the best schools around. Also, it can sub for evocation in a pinch.

Evocation is a common drop because direct damage isn't such a great tactic. Necromancy is an easy drop if you're not evil (not that all necro is evil, mind you). Enchantment has obvious overlap with illusion (mind screws) and transmutation (buffs). Abjuration is a difficult drop, primarily because of dispel magic, but it can't hold up with conjuration in terms of awesomeness.

Tempest Fennac
2008-10-15, 07:30 AM
I forgot about Abjuration. If you have a Cleric, that school isn't that important. If you're the only caster, it's pretty much essential. If I were you, I'd drop Evo, Abj, Enc and Nec for that build.

monty
2008-10-15, 09:05 AM
Since you're prohibiting four of the remaining five schools (not counting Divination), I think a better question is, "Which school to keep?" I agree with Conjuration.

valadil
2008-10-15, 10:19 AM
Enchantment and Illusion both focus on will saves. Since you're focusing on Illusion you probably won't get much mileage out of Enchantment.

Evocation is widely regarded as the most droppable school. It does have a few awesome effects, but they can be duplicated with shadow magic.

Necro is awesome, but expendable. Normally I wouldn't drop it, but if you're dropping 4 schools you'll probably have to.

Conjuration is in my opinion the best school. If I had to play a caster with just one school of magic it'd be conjuration. It targets every save. It has spells without SR. And it does damage via the ever popular orb spells.

That leaves Abjuration. I agree that it may be expendable depending on your group.

Sstoopidtallkid
2008-10-15, 12:04 PM
You're sure you wouldn't want to be a Diviner and save a school? Anyways, there are 8 schools:
Abjuration:Has a few vital spells(Dispel Magic, Magic Circle) but can be dropped if you have a Cleric to cast those.
Conjuration:Vital. No-saves, Ranged Touches, Buffs, SoDs v every save, Battlefield Control, Direct Damage. Never drop.
Divination:Good, and unbanable. May want to spec in this to keep one more school.
Enchantment:Mind-affecting spells are ignored by a buch of monsters, and all of it's spells allow a Will save which you already have Illusions for. Drop.
Evocation:Drop. Direct damage sucks, and Conj is better at it anyways.
Illusion:Fun, flavorful, and allows Shadow Evocation. Not great, but useful. Maybe drop, except you're spec'ing in it.
Necromancy:Lots of no-save debuffs, affecting things that no other school hits, but it doesn't have the spells to keep up with Conj or Trans. Drop if you have to.
Transmutation:Great. Focused Spec in this, never look back. Every buff worth the action is in here, as is a bunch of good BC and Fort SoD. Never drop.