I am currently playing thru Out of the Abyss and our group is about to hit level 4. (We are using Milestone leveling) And I can't decide what to do. I am playing a Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome) Wizard and our group rolls for stats when we start and I had a couple of good rolls for starting stats of -
10Str - 15+1(16) Dex - 16Con - 18+2(20) Int - 14 Wis - 10 Cha
I had thought about taking the Resilient Constitution Feat to help with concentration on spells but since I am a Transmutation Wizard I will basically get that Feat for free at level 6 with the Transmuters Stone. So after realizing that I am just not really sure what to do ? Take the ASI and put 2 more points into Dexterity to bump my AC up another point ? Or Constitution to get myself a couple more Hit Points ? This campaign only goes to level 15 so I will only have the opportunity to get a total of 3 of these throughout this campaign. So I've been trying to plan ahead. Any help / suggestions are very much appreciated.
Increase your Dexterity to increase your initiative rolls, your Dexterity saving throws, and your AC
War Caster feat
Increase your Constitution to increase your HP and your Concentration checks, but only after you take War Castet
Alert feat
Lucky feat
Those are all great choices since your Intelligence is already 20. I’d tend to lean towards the 3 feats but that’s just me personally.
I almost forgot until you just mentioned it, that we’ve kinda house ruled that no one’s taking the “Lucky” feat :(
However I completely agree with the other feats. Alert was one that I really liked. Going first in combat seems really beneficial for a Wizard.
I’ve been leaning heavily (in my mind) about just bumping up my Dexterity or Constitution. But the feats have me torn. I figure with The Transmuter’s Stone for proficiency in CON saves, and Warcaster giving out advantage on CON saving throws to maintain your concentration on a spell. I “should” be able to keep most spells up.
And I guess I could just bump DEX and CON later at levels 8 and then 12 ? But I really still want the Alert feat as well....
With the Alert feat you’ll be able to get off a concentration spell while you can target all of your opponents without targeting any of your allies. Once everyone gets into melee your options as to which spells you can use are more limited.
With the Alert feat you’ll be able to get off a concentration spell while you can target all of your opponents without targeting any of your allies. Once everyone gets into melee your options as to which spells you can use are more limited.
So I've sat down and did the math which really narrowed down my options. At least I think it did? Haha.
Take ASI – Bump DEX from 16 to 18
= AC +1 from 13 to 14 AC (or 17 AC with Mage Armor)
= Initiative +1 from +3 to +4
= DEX Saving Throws +1 (Not Proficient) from +3 to +4
Take ASI – Bump CON from 16 to 18
= HP +4 total. To go from 30 to 34
= CON Saving Throws +1 (Not Proficient, yet) from +3 to +4
Take Feat – Alert
=Initiative +5 to go from +3 to +8 total
= Can't be surprised while I am conscious.
= Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against me as a result of being unseen by me.
Take Feat – Warcaster
= Gain advantage on CON saving throws to maintain concentration on a spell when I take damage.
= Perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
= When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather than making an opportunity attack. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature.
What really looks the best way to go to me is either bumping up DEX to 18 or taking Warcaster. There's just not enough benefits (at least that I can see?) to taking the CON bump. And the Alert feat's +5 to Initiative (while super awesome) just doesn't seem as alluring as the other two options. I think that taking Warcaster is a must. I just have to determine whether to do it now or to wait until level 8 ? Decisions..... decisions.....
How often have you ended up making Concentration saves? That should answer your question for you.
I haven’t had too many yet. Maybe only one or two? But I’m also only (about to be) level 4. I’ve heard/read that from around level 5 and up concentration becomes a much bigger thing to have to deal with. At least that’s what the TreantMonk guy has said in some of his Wizard videos on YouTube.
That’s up to you and how you play your wizard. You could end up finding that you’re making them every session and you could also end up almost never making them. I’ve found that they’re a mix, sometimes they happen and sometimes they don’t.
If you are worried about concentration saves then warcaster just gives a bonus that doesn't scale but is helpful right away. At level 3 spells you should be getting spells like haste, slow, hypnotic pattern, and fly which use up your concentration if you are going control. If the dm likes targeting you then you could potentially take tough as well. But honestly because of the bump to con saves increasing con is still good it just doesn't look that sexy. Treantmonk is of the opinion that dex is better than con but I believe that con is better than dex for wizards but they are both good. I guess the decision of how important initiative is is the question of how much does your dm like to cluster enemies together in the beginning of combat so you can hit them with an aoe if you win initiative? If he likes to cluster then together then dex is a little bit better if he spreads them out then con is better. Also your stats are really good.
I was originally really feeling that the Alert Feat was what I was going to do, but now I think it's for sure either the DEX bump or the Warcaster feat. I did have this crazy idea bouncing around in my head of taking the Squat Nimbleness feat for a a +1 bump to my DEX score, Increase my walking speed by 5 feet, gain proficiency in the Acrobatics skill, and also get advantage on any Dexterity (Acrobatics) check I make to escape from being grappled. AND then at 8th level taking the Resilient DEX feat to bump my DEX score by another +1 to bring it to 18 total, and also gain proficiency in DEX saving throws. So then finally at 12th level I would take the Warcaster feat. But in sitting here and thinking about it that may be way too late to take the feat..... Oh! and the main reason I got off the Alert feat train was my DM asked me if there was any low level (uncommon) magic items I would be looking for and I found this Weapon of Warning which gives you advantage on Initiative rolls which is good enough for me to not want the feat that bad anymore
I am a fan of moderately armored for a spell caster with a ASI/Feat available. With your dex wearing half plate with a shield your AC would be 19 before any magic pluses and 24 with a shield spell. You can use your shield and wield a wand or staff in the other hand.
I'd do that before bumping DEX. You will get much more out of it.
I am a fan of moderately armored for a spell caster with a ASI/Feat available. With your dex wearing half plate with a shield your AC would be 19 before any magic pluses and 24 with a shield spell. You can use your shield and wield a wand or staff in the other hand.
I'd do that before bumping DEX. You will get much more out of it.
The Moderately Armored feat has the "Prerequisite: Proficiency with light armor" and since I am a Deep Gnome Wizard I do not have this proficiency :(
Ah, sorry. The character that I am familiar with doing that was a bard so I didn't see the fine print.
Burning a feat on lightly armored and then moderately armored is an option for you instead of bumping Dex and Con. Bumping your attributes would give a small boost in AC, Init, saves and hp versus a significant bump in AC. Might not quite be worth two feats but that might depend on how likely you would be to find +2 or +3 magic armor and/or shield.
Squat nimblness does give a +1 to dex, perhaps you might couple that with another +1 dex feat like lightly armoured and get all the things you are after.
Squat nimblness does give a +1 to dex, perhaps you might couple that with another +1 dex feat like lightly armoured and get all the things you are after.
Squat Nimbleness + maybe the Fade Away feat which gives also gives a +1 to DEX ? or maybe the Resilient DEX feat for a +1 to DEX and proficiency in DEX saving throws ? There's such an array of options that I truly am having a pretty hard time figuring it out. Mostly because I don't want to take something and it be a waste.
If you are being targeted a lot by the DM and getting lots of AoOs, don't underestimate the AoO replacement clause on warcaster.
Squat nimbleness does have some nice benefits that always work (speed +5 is definitely nice if you are trying to avoid getting hit, and bumping your dex is nice particularly if you are planning on the second +1 dex feat anyway). The other things are likely more dependent on your DM and how they deploy creatures against you and how your party reacts to that deployment.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I am currently playing thru Out of the Abyss and our group is about to hit level 4. (We are using Milestone leveling) And I can't decide what to do. I am playing a Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome) Wizard and our group rolls for stats when we start and I had a couple of good rolls for starting stats of -
10 Str - 15+1(16) Dex - 16 Con - 18+2(20) Int - 14 Wis - 10 Cha
I had thought about taking the Resilient Constitution Feat to help with concentration on spells but since I am a Transmutation Wizard I will basically get that Feat for free at level 6 with the Transmuters Stone. So after realizing that I am just not really sure what to do ? Take the ASI and put 2 more points into Dexterity to bump my AC up another point ? Or Constitution to get myself a couple more Hit Points ? This campaign only goes to level 15 so I will only have the opportunity to get a total of 3 of these throughout this campaign. So I've been trying to plan ahead. Any help / suggestions are very much appreciated.
Also here's the link to my character.
https://ddb.ac/characters/11029180/EqAOTk
That’s a tough one.
Those are all great choices since your Intelligence is already 20. I’d tend to lean towards the 3 feats but that’s just me personally.
Professional computer geek
I almost forgot until you just mentioned it, that we’ve kinda house ruled that no one’s taking the “Lucky” feat :(
However I completely agree with the other feats. Alert was one that I really liked. Going first in combat seems really beneficial for a Wizard.
I’ve been leaning heavily (in my mind) about just bumping up my Dexterity or Constitution. But the feats have me torn. I figure with The Transmuter’s Stone for proficiency in CON saves, and Warcaster giving out advantage on CON saving throws to maintain your concentration on a spell. I “should” be able to keep most spells up.
And I guess I could just bump DEX and CON later at levels 8 and then 12 ? But I really still want the Alert feat as well....
Ugh.... This is tough!
With the Alert feat you’ll be able to get off a concentration spell while you can target all of your opponents without targeting any of your allies. Once everyone gets into melee your options as to which spells you can use are more limited.
Professional computer geek
Good call ! +1 for Alert feat
So I've sat down and did the math which really narrowed down my options. At least I think it did? Haha.
Take ASI – Bump DEX from 16 to 18
= AC +1 from 13 to 14 AC (or 17 AC with Mage Armor)
= Initiative +1 from +3 to +4
= DEX Saving Throws +1 (Not Proficient) from +3 to +4
Take ASI – Bump CON from 16 to 18
= HP +4 total. To go from 30 to 34
= CON Saving Throws +1 (Not Proficient, yet) from +3 to +4
Take Feat – Alert
= Initiative +5 to go from +3 to +8 total
= Can't be surprised while I am conscious.
= Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against me as a result of being unseen by me.
Take Feat – Warcaster
= Gain advantage on CON saving throws to maintain concentration on a spell when I take damage.
= Perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
= When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather than making an opportunity attack. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature.
What really looks the best way to go to me is either bumping up DEX to 18 or taking Warcaster. There's just not enough benefits (at least that I can see?) to taking the CON bump. And the Alert feat's +5 to Initiative (while super awesome) just doesn't seem as alluring as the other two options. I think that taking Warcaster is a must. I just have to determine whether to do it now or to wait until level 8 ? Decisions..... decisions.....
How often have you ended up making Concentration saves? That should answer your question for you.
Professional computer geek
I haven’t had too many yet. Maybe only one or two? But I’m also only (about to be) level 4. I’ve heard/read that from around level 5 and up concentration becomes a much bigger thing to have to deal with. At least that’s what the TreantMonk guy has said in some of his Wizard videos on YouTube.
That’s up to you and how you play your wizard. You could end up finding that you’re making them every session and you could also end up almost never making them. I’ve found that they’re a mix, sometimes they happen and sometimes they don’t.
Professional computer geek
I was originally really feeling that the Alert Feat was what I was going to do, but now I think it's for sure either the DEX bump or the Warcaster feat. I did have this crazy idea bouncing around in my head of taking the Squat Nimbleness feat for a a +1 bump to my DEX score, Increase my walking speed by 5 feet, gain proficiency in the Acrobatics skill, and also get advantage on any Dexterity (Acrobatics) check I make to escape from being grappled. AND then at 8th level taking the Resilient DEX feat to bump my DEX score by another +1 to bring it to 18 total, and also gain proficiency in DEX saving throws. So then finally at 12th level I would take the Warcaster feat. But in sitting here and thinking about it that may be way too late to take the feat..... Oh! and the main reason I got off the Alert feat train was my DM asked me if there was any low level (uncommon) magic items I would be looking for and I found this Weapon of Warning which gives you advantage on Initiative rolls which is good enough for me to not want the feat that bad anymore
I am a fan of moderately armored for a spell caster with a ASI/Feat available. With your dex wearing half plate with a shield your AC would be 19 before any magic pluses and 24 with a shield spell. You can use your shield and wield a wand or staff in the other hand.
I'd do that before bumping DEX. You will get much more out of it.
Current Characters I am playing: Dr Konstantin van Wulf | Taegen Willowrun | Mad Magnar
Check out my homebrew: Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | Feats
The Moderately Armored feat has the "Prerequisite: Proficiency with light armor" and since I am a Deep Gnome Wizard I do not have this proficiency :(
Ah, sorry. The character that I am familiar with doing that was a bard so I didn't see the fine print.
Burning a feat on lightly armored and then moderately armored is an option for you instead of bumping Dex and Con. Bumping your attributes would give a small boost in AC, Init, saves and hp versus a significant bump in AC. Might not quite be worth two feats but that might depend on how likely you would be to find +2 or +3 magic armor and/or shield.
Current Characters I am playing: Dr Konstantin van Wulf | Taegen Willowrun | Mad Magnar
Check out my homebrew: Items | Monsters | Spells | Subclasses | Feats
Feats all the way.
Squat nimblness does give a +1 to dex, perhaps you might couple that with another +1 dex feat like lightly armoured and get all the things you are after.
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
Squat Nimbleness + maybe the Fade Away feat which gives also gives a +1 to DEX ? or maybe the Resilient DEX feat for a +1 to DEX and proficiency in DEX saving throws ? There's such an array of options that I truly am having a pretty hard time figuring it out. Mostly because I don't want to take something and it be a waste.
If you are being targeted a lot by the DM and getting lots of AoOs, don't underestimate the AoO replacement clause on warcaster.
Squat nimbleness does have some nice benefits that always work (speed +5 is definitely nice if you are trying to avoid getting hit, and bumping your dex is nice particularly if you are planning on the second +1 dex feat anyway). The other things are likely more dependent on your DM and how they deploy creatures against you and how your party reacts to that deployment.