Hey all. Long time DM getting ready to turn player for the first time in a few years! I’m going wizard but need help picking between abjuration and divination.
The love abjuration for the theme. I’m considering playing a hypochondriac gnome that’s terrified of everything! I like the idea of constantly buffing your ward with spells and choosing when you to use that ward for your allies.
Portent, on the other hand, just seems like one of the most powerful abilities in the game. The only downside is you only get it twice.
I see these two as completely different because one is pumping up your ward with a handful of hit points here and there. You use it often but with little benefit. While the other is a game changing ability that you only get to use twice per long rest.
Thoughts?
EDIT: I wanted to revist this question now that we have the other players classes decided. We'll have a moon druid, war cleric, and horizon walker ranger. To me, abjuration seems better for this particular group because of the low hit dice of the party (though I can't really help them until level 6). But maybe a well timed usage of portent against a DM attack roll kind of has the same effect of mitigating damage.
My point is, if you be a deep gnome, t level 4 you can take the Sirvneblin Magic feat, which allows you to cast Nondetection at will, that's an abjuration spell, so between fights you can bring your ward to full health. This makes you able to take a hit.
Divination is a powerful school, though my problem with Portent is how little you can use. It's still great, though you can count on your Ward with abjuration, but not always with Divination.
I get abjuration gets used more but it just feels a little one note to me. Your only ability is “gain hit points” till level 6 when it becomes “give others hit points.”
Sort of. Keep in mind that the abjurers ward stacks with temp HP. It's not just about gaining hit points, it's about making sure you are there to do the other stuff that wizards can do. Portents are strong but you only get 2 per long rest. Lucky feat simulates some of it at 3 per long rest. You could split the difference and go Lucky Feat Abjuration (good luck getting your DM to sign off on that as your human variant feat).
Basically, do you want a really powerful ability that you can use twice a day and then do other wizard stuff, or do you want to use a "just" powerful ability to help ensure that you're around to do the other wizard stuff.
Also, Kafue is on to something. Alarm at first level for that ritual buff to the ward plus nondetection at will without components. This gnome is paranoid. Throw in sage background for the personality trait "I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets." I want to play that character.
Yeah, the abjuration gnome wizard I have built is a hypochondriac and suffers from paranoia.
I took the Haunted One background from Strahd and his trinket is a necklace full of random holy symbols, because you just never know which one will work.
Portent is so powerful but I agree, once you use it twice it’s kind of like, “Now what?” Plus, I just have trouble building a backstory off that theme.
Just played an abjuration wizard to 20 (well 19 then 1 into rogue for expertise) and took luck. He's pretty damn insane. Wizards are long game for sure. You'll hate it from 1-4 as you are by the weakest of any class. You'll still feel behind at tier 2, but not as bad as you can fireball here and there. Tier 3 you'll feel useful and have lotsa tricks. At tier 4 you are basically a god that can't be killed lol
I just played an AL game where one of the party was a level 10 abjuration Wizard. For most of the session he was a shield nanny. Counterspelling the enemy mages (who were almost certainly casting fireball) and using the ward to soak up a little damage for the tank. Then he straight up ends the final encounter with a few spells (banishment and sleep).
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Hey all. Long time DM getting ready to turn player for the first time in a few years! I’m going wizard but need help picking between abjuration and divination.
The love abjuration for the theme. I’m considering playing a hypochondriac gnome that’s terrified of everything! I like the idea of constantly buffing your ward with spells and choosing when you to use that ward for your allies.
Portent, on the other hand, just seems like one of the most powerful abilities in the game. The only downside is you only get it twice.
I see these two as completely different because one is pumping up your ward with a handful of hit points here and there. You use it often but with little benefit. While the other is a game changing ability that you only get to use twice per long rest.
Thoughts?
EDIT: I wanted to revist this question now that we have the other players classes decided. We'll have a moon druid, war cleric, and horizon walker ranger. To me, abjuration seems better for this particular group because of the low hit dice of the party (though I can't really help them until level 6). But maybe a well timed usage of portent against a DM attack roll kind of has the same effect of mitigating damage.
Portent definitely has its "Aha!" moments, but arcane ward is something consistent that you can count on.
I prefer abjuration.
I've been wanting to play a Halfling divination wizard with the Lucky feat for a while now.
Yeah, that’s crossed my mind too. Just thinking about it already makes me feel bad for the DM.
meh. Easy counter enough for DM if it’s a problem.
”hey guys. Did you notice Gnomeo (not your name but roll with it) isn’t the only divination wizard around these parts?”
Blank
Deep Gnome.
Deep Gnome feat.
Abdjuration.
My point is, if you be a deep gnome, t level 4 you can take the Sirvneblin Magic feat, which allows you to cast Nondetection at will, that's an abjuration spell, so between fights you can bring your ward to full health. This makes you able to take a hit.
Divination is a powerful school, though my problem with Portent is how little you can use. It's still great, though you can count on your Ward with abjuration, but not always with Divination.
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
I get abjuration gets used more but it just feels a little one note to me. Your only ability is “gain hit points” till level 6 when it becomes “give others hit points.”
Sort of. Keep in mind that the abjurers ward stacks with temp HP. It's not just about gaining hit points, it's about making sure you are there to do the other stuff that wizards can do. Portents are strong but you only get 2 per long rest. Lucky feat simulates some of it at 3 per long rest. You could split the difference and go Lucky Feat Abjuration (good luck getting your DM to sign off on that as your human variant feat).
Basically, do you want a really powerful ability that you can use twice a day and then do other wizard stuff, or do you want to use a "just" powerful ability to help ensure that you're around to do the other wizard stuff.
Also, Kafue is on to something. Alarm at first level for that ritual buff to the ward plus nondetection at will without components. This gnome is paranoid. Throw in sage background for the personality trait "I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets." I want to play that character.
Good points. Thanks.
Yeah, the abjuration gnome wizard I have built is a hypochondriac and suffers from paranoia.
I took the Haunted One background from Strahd and his trinket is a necklace full of random holy symbols, because you just never know which one will work.
Portent is so powerful but I agree, once you use it twice it’s kind of like, “Now what?” Plus, I just have trouble building a backstory off that theme.
Abjuration all the way, then take luck. Best of both!
Brilliant! You’re a god amongst men!
lol
Just played an abjuration wizard to 20 (well 19 then 1 into rogue for expertise) and took luck. He's pretty damn insane. Wizards are long game for sure. You'll hate it from 1-4 as you are by the weakest of any class. You'll still feel behind at tier 2, but not as bad as you can fireball here and there. Tier 3 you'll feel useful and have lotsa tricks. At tier 4 you are basically a god that can't be killed lol
I just played an AL game where one of the party was a level 10 abjuration Wizard. For most of the session he was a shield nanny. Counterspelling the enemy mages (who were almost certainly casting fireball) and using the ward to soak up a little damage for the tank. Then he straight up ends the final encounter with a few spells (banishment and sleep).