I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
I do, that’s why I usually play my spellcasters as specialists, trying out specific schools (including the lesser-known spells). I find it’s more fun to use a spell I’ve never used before than trying to have the most optimal.
I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
I do, that’s why I usually play my spellcasters as specialists, trying out specific schools (including the lesser-known spells). I find it’s more fun to use a spell I’ve never used before than trying to have the most optimal.
Yeah, I can definitely see that. Once I've had more wheel time going the optimization rout, I'll probably mix it up and try different things. Right now what's your favorite mage class and/or subclass, and why?
I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
I do, that’s why I usually play my spellcasters as specialists, trying out specific schools (including the lesser-known spells). I find it’s more fun to use a spell I’ve never used before than trying to have the most optimal.
Yeah, I can definitely see that. Once I've had more wheel time going the optimization rout, I'll probably mix it up and try different things. Right now what's your favorite mage class and/or subclass, and why?
My favourite is Enchantment. The lower-level subclass features are both good for evading attacks when things get spicy. And Split Enchantment is just plain awesome. 🙂
My favourite is Enchantment. The lower-level subclass features are both good for evading attacks when things get spicy. And Split Enchantment is just plain awesome. 🙂
I can see that. I never played one, but Hypnotic Gaze looks great. There are some downsides to the ability, but it doesn't burn any resources so you're never worried about conserving spell slots. And if they fail their save there's no follow on saves if you're willing to use your actions to maintain it. I can imagine for a creative player there are lots of out-of-combat uses as well.
I really want to try Evocation Wizard and take all the AOE damage spells. SO many encounters end up with both sides all mixed in together and with Sculpt Spells there's never a bad time to nuke all the things :) Unfortunately the level 6 and 10 abilities suck hard. Level 2 and 14 are amazing.
My favourite is Enchantment. The lower-level subclass features are both good for evading attacks when things get spicy. And Split Enchantment is just plain awesome. 🙂
I can see that. I never played one, but Hypnotic Gaze looks great. There are some downsides to the ability, but it doesn't burn any resources so you're never worried about conserving spell slots. And if they fail their save there's no follow on saves if you're willing to use your actions to maintain it. I can imagine for a creative player there are lots of out-of-combat uses as well.
I really want to try Evocation Wizard and take all the AOE damage spells. SO many encounters end up with both sides all mixed in together and with Sculpt Spells there's never a bad time to nuke all the things :) Unfortunately the level 6 and 10 abilities suck hard. Level 2 and 14 are amazing.
Dude, you hit the nail on the head - it doesn't burn resources, so you can use it over and over again. Having this always in your back pocket is great, even if you're out of spell slots. The other benefit, is that once it hits, you can maintain it indefinitely - essentially a poor-man's Hold Person.
Secondly, instinctive charm is a Reaction - rare for a Wizard subclass (I can only think of Arcane Deflection at the moment). And again, limitless.
As for Evocation - I absolutely love you for going that route. Lots of people consider it a weaker subclass but I think it works way better in practice than it does in theory. Maps are always filled with obstacles and allies, and being able to throw a big damage AoE into the middle of a melee is a huge boon. Utilizing the damage of something like Cone of Cold (exempting 6 of your allies from the damage) can change the face of the battle.
For some build ideas you could try:
- Fire specialist with Feats like Elemental Adept Fire or Flames of Phlegethos
- A Crushing specialist with the Crusher Feat, and spells like Earth Tremor, Ice Storm, Storm Sphere, Bigby's Hand, Whirlwind, Meteor Swarm
- Maximize Thunderclap with Elemental Adept Thunder and use Sculpt Spell and Potent Cantrip to really become dangerous if you get surrounded. A really quick way to take down a bunch of minions
My favorite spellcasting class is the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer. It's features are really good, including having a whole extra 10 leveled spells known beyond what other Sorcerers. I particularly like pairing it with the Eladrin, and a 3 level dip into Celestial Warlock, which gives access to a teleport ability at L1, the ability to Long Rest in 4 hours, access to Cure wounds and Agonizing Eldritch Blast, and Pact Magic, which can be used to create a few extra spell slots wile the rest of the party is finishing their long rests.
I also like the Abjuration Wizard on a Deep Gnome with the Svirfneblin Magic Feat. The ability to replenish the temporary hit point buffer for free, and getting to add additional bonuses when counterspelling are pretty good. A level dip into Artificer is really good for giving you access to Cure Wounds and Faerie Fire, on top of a couple more cantrips. And if you take a 3-level dip into Armorer Artificer, you can be a wizard in full plate armor that you enchanted yourself.
Taking one level of Rogue, before branching into Creation Bard is really good on skills, and you get extra abilities for making things out of nothing, and animating objects. Combined with the Thieves Tools proficiency, being able to create Lockpicks if you're in a prison or manacles could be a really cool moment
I am typically a martial-leaning player, but I do have a wizard, a bard, and a recently started sorcerer. I agree that prepping spells has been difficult as a wizard. Often when I try to mix it up and take different spells, I miss the ones I didn't prepare, so I'd say 75% or so of my prepared spells are the same ones every day unless I know we're going into a very specific situation.
My bard and sorcerer are much easier. Your spell choices become tied very closely to your character since you only get a few, so most picks are either must-have spells or something that really jives with the character concept. I tend not to retrain unless a spell has proven to be particularly worthless. When I've played paladin and artificer, I've pretty much treated them as working this way too even though they can be much more flexible. I will prepare something specific if the day especially calls for it though.
I have yet to play a cleric or druid in more than a one-shot, and I have to say the spell selection is probably part of that. "Getting" to pick from your entire pool every day gives me choice paralysis. I think it's a great feature, but my brain doesn't like it.
I am typically a martial-leaning player, but I do have a wizard, a bard, and a recently started sorcerer. I agree that prepping spells has been difficult as a wizard. Often when I try to mix it up and take different spells, I miss the ones I didn't prepare, so I'd say 75% or so of my prepared spells are the same ones every day unless I know we're going into a very specific situation.
My bard and sorcerer are much easier. Your spell choices become tied very closely to your character since you only get a few, so most picks are either must-have spells or something that really jives with the character concept. I tend not to retrain unless a spell has proven to be particularly worthless. When I've played paladin and artificer, I've pretty much treated them as working this way too even though they can be much more flexible. I will prepare something specific if the day especially calls for it though.
I have yet to play a cleric or druid in more than a one-shot, and I have to say the spell selection is probably part of that. "Getting" to pick from your entire pool every day gives me choice paralysis. I think it's a great feature, but my brain doesn't like it.
One trick with Wizards is to differentiate between ritual spells and non-ritual spells. First, determine how many spells you can prepare. Choose all of your must-haves for that number, but only choose non-ritual spells. Now go back and the choose all of your top ritual spells like Find Familiar. Only prepare the non-ritual spells, or prepare them first.
Reason being, so long as ritual spells are in your spell book you can always cast them as rituals. Even if you did not prepare them for the day. You just can't cast them as actions using a spell slot.
Also wizards can use scrolls. Make generous use of your money and downtime for lots of them.
Ring of Spell Storing is also great so you can have your Shield and Absorb Elements ready for use when needed, but you can reserve your prepared spell slots for the higher level fun spells you might need on that adventuring day.
Also wizards can use scrolls. Make generous use of your money and downtime for lots of them.
Ring of Spell Storing is also great so you can have your Shield and Absorb Elements ready for use when needed, but you can reserve your prepared spell slots for the higher level fun spells you might need on that adventuring day.
Spell scrolls are consumable magic items that can be used by any character who has the spell on their class’s spell list. Reading the scroll requires an ability check if it is at a higher level than what you can normally cast or if you attempt to copy it into a spellbook.
You can craft or buy spell scrolls. Here is an excellent article covering scrolls for 5e.
My wizard spends all his money just copying spells from the spellbooks I've found, I don't have any extra for scrolls. I see the strategic benefit, but it pains me to spend money on consumables when I could use it for permanent spells.
And yeah, I never prepare rituals but taking them out of the equation I still have 35 spells and can only prep 16. Might just be my DM being overly generous with spellbooks and less so with gold. Definitely makes me more conscious of that balance when I DM for a wizard. Sounds very much like a First World Problem, but it really does kind of stress me out.
I see the strategic benefit, but it pains me to spend money on consumables when I could use it for permanent spells.
That's why you scribe them into your spellbook from the scrolls. Yeah, it takes a check and the scroll is used up in the scribing process, but once it's in your spellbook you always have it to prepare like any other spell you've scribed. I get not having the money for it though, that's the struggle of wizards lol.
I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
Forget about choosing spells. You want real pain? I'm playing a wizard who just hit 8th level and has picked up THREE different spellbooks from enemy casters during this campaign... and has had almost no time to transcribe spells from any of them
Polymorph, Fly, Greater Invisibility, even Dispel Magic and Misty Step, all just sitting there, unaccessible
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
Forget about choosing spells. You want real pain? I'm playing a wizard who just hit 8th level and has picked up THREE different spellbooks from enemy casters during this campaign... and has had almost no time to transcribe spells from any of them
Polymorph, Fly, Greater Invisibility, even Dispel Magic and Misty Step, all just sitting there, unaccessible
lol I bet Order of Scribes is looking really good right now. You can copy them all in your book in the time it takes to sit down and drink a cup of coffee.
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I like to mix it up between playing martial classes and spell casters. Right now in one campaign I'm level 4. Knowledge Cleric 1, Divination Wizard 3.
The Struggle: I want ALLLLL the spells! But I can only choose and prepare a finite number. Not literally all, but I want a lot more than I'm allowed to prepare. At least Wizard can put ritual spells in their book without needing to prepare them to use them.
Does anyone else have a hard time having to pass on really good spells?
I do, that’s why I usually play my spellcasters as specialists, trying out specific schools (including the lesser-known spells). I find it’s more fun to use a spell I’ve never used before than trying to have the most optimal.
Yeah, I can definitely see that. Once I've had more wheel time going the optimization rout, I'll probably mix it up and try different things. Right now what's your favorite mage class and/or subclass, and why?
My favourite is Enchantment. The lower-level subclass features are both good for evading attacks when things get spicy. And Split Enchantment is just plain awesome. 🙂
I can see that. I never played one, but Hypnotic Gaze looks great. There are some downsides to the ability, but it doesn't burn any resources so you're never worried about conserving spell slots. And if they fail their save there's no follow on saves if you're willing to use your actions to maintain it. I can imagine for a creative player there are lots of out-of-combat uses as well.
I really want to try Evocation Wizard and take all the AOE damage spells. SO many encounters end up with both sides all mixed in together and with Sculpt Spells there's never a bad time to nuke all the things :) Unfortunately the level 6 and 10 abilities suck hard. Level 2 and 14 are amazing.
Dude, you hit the nail on the head - it doesn't burn resources, so you can use it over and over again. Having this always in your back pocket is great, even if you're out of spell slots. The other benefit, is that once it hits, you can maintain it indefinitely - essentially a poor-man's Hold Person.
Secondly, instinctive charm is a Reaction - rare for a Wizard subclass (I can only think of Arcane Deflection at the moment). And again, limitless.
As for Evocation - I absolutely love you for going that route. Lots of people consider it a weaker subclass but I think it works way better in practice than it does in theory. Maps are always filled with obstacles and allies, and being able to throw a big damage AoE into the middle of a melee is a huge boon. Utilizing the damage of something like Cone of Cold (exempting 6 of your allies from the damage) can change the face of the battle.
For some build ideas you could try:
- Fire specialist with Feats like Elemental Adept Fire or Flames of Phlegethos
- A Crushing specialist with the Crusher Feat, and spells like Earth Tremor, Ice Storm, Storm Sphere, Bigby's Hand, Whirlwind, Meteor Swarm
- Maximize Thunderclap with Elemental Adept Thunder and use Sculpt Spell and Potent Cantrip to really become dangerous if you get surrounded. A really quick way to take down a bunch of minions
Good luck on your Wizard :)
-
My favorite spellcasting class is the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer. It's features are really good, including having a whole extra 10 leveled spells known beyond what other Sorcerers. I particularly like pairing it with the Eladrin, and a 3 level dip into Celestial Warlock, which gives access to a teleport ability at L1, the ability to Long Rest in 4 hours, access to Cure wounds and Agonizing Eldritch Blast, and Pact Magic, which can be used to create a few extra spell slots wile the rest of the party is finishing their long rests.
I also like the Abjuration Wizard on a Deep Gnome with the Svirfneblin Magic Feat. The ability to replenish the temporary hit point buffer for free, and getting to add additional bonuses when counterspelling are pretty good. A level dip into Artificer is really good for giving you access to Cure Wounds and Faerie Fire, on top of a couple more cantrips. And if you take a 3-level dip into Armorer Artificer, you can be a wizard in full plate armor that you enchanted yourself.
Taking one level of Rogue, before branching into Creation Bard is really good on skills, and you get extra abilities for making things out of nothing, and animating objects. Combined with the Thieves Tools proficiency, being able to create Lockpicks if you're in a prison or manacles could be a really cool moment
I am typically a martial-leaning player, but I do have a wizard, a bard, and a recently started sorcerer. I agree that prepping spells has been difficult as a wizard. Often when I try to mix it up and take different spells, I miss the ones I didn't prepare, so I'd say 75% or so of my prepared spells are the same ones every day unless I know we're going into a very specific situation.
My bard and sorcerer are much easier. Your spell choices become tied very closely to your character since you only get a few, so most picks are either must-have spells or something that really jives with the character concept. I tend not to retrain unless a spell has proven to be particularly worthless. When I've played paladin and artificer, I've pretty much treated them as working this way too even though they can be much more flexible. I will prepare something specific if the day especially calls for it though.
I have yet to play a cleric or druid in more than a one-shot, and I have to say the spell selection is probably part of that. "Getting" to pick from your entire pool every day gives me choice paralysis. I think it's a great feature, but my brain doesn't like it.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
One trick with Wizards is to differentiate between ritual spells and non-ritual spells. First, determine how many spells you can prepare. Choose all of your must-haves for that number, but only choose non-ritual spells. Now go back and the choose all of your top ritual spells like Find Familiar. Only prepare the non-ritual spells, or prepare them first.
Reason being, so long as ritual spells are in your spell book you can always cast them as rituals. Even if you did not prepare them for the day. You just can't cast them as actions using a spell slot.
Also wizards can use scrolls. Make generous use of your money and downtime for lots of them.
Ring of Spell Storing is also great so you can have your Shield and Absorb Elements ready for use when needed, but you can reserve your prepared spell slots for the higher level fun spells you might need on that adventuring day.
How are scrolls used?
Spell scrolls are consumable magic items that can be used by any character who has the spell on their class’s spell list. Reading the scroll requires an ability check if it is at a higher level than what you can normally cast or if you attempt to copy it into a spellbook.
You can craft or buy spell scrolls. Here is an excellent article covering scrolls for 5e.
My wizard spends all his money just copying spells from the spellbooks I've found, I don't have any extra for scrolls. I see the strategic benefit, but it pains me to spend money on consumables when I could use it for permanent spells.
And yeah, I never prepare rituals but taking them out of the equation I still have 35 spells and can only prep 16. Might just be my DM being overly generous with spellbooks and less so with gold. Definitely makes me more conscious of that balance when I DM for a wizard. Sounds very much like a First World Problem, but it really does kind of stress me out.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
That's why you scribe them into your spellbook from the scrolls. Yeah, it takes a check and the scroll is used up in the scribing process, but once it's in your spellbook you always have it to prepare like any other spell you've scribed. I get not having the money for it though, that's the struggle of wizards lol.
Forget about choosing spells. You want real pain? I'm playing a wizard who just hit 8th level and has picked up THREE different spellbooks from enemy casters during this campaign... and has had almost no time to transcribe spells from any of them
Polymorph, Fly, Greater Invisibility, even Dispel Magic and Misty Step, all just sitting there, unaccessible
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
lol I bet Order of Scribes is looking really good right now. You can copy them all in your book in the time it takes to sit down and drink a cup of coffee.