In your opinion what are the must have arcane caster feats?

[Legacy_Lich Larloch]

               Thanks guys.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_The Amethyst Dragon]

               I'd say Spell Focus (in the one or two schools you intend to use the most).  Makes saves vs. your spells more difficult, which leads to fewer spells needed in the long run to be effective.

Scribe Scroll if you can spare a few xp and gp, to build up a stockpile of utility spells (so that you can devote your spell slots for spells you really want to pour caster levels into, such as your damage spells or short-duration enchantments).
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shadooow]

               all metamagic feats, that is: extend, still or silent (depends if you are AC or no-AC caster), empower and maximize spell

then Epic Warding
and Epic Mage Armor (unless no-AC caster, then this is pointless)
other epic spells are very weak given they can be used only once per rest

if you are high AC caster and you do rely on Expertise, you should get combat casting and improved combat casting to avoid aoos

if you are sorcerrer and you want to cast in armor, then automatic still spell is a must
if you are DEX or CON based caster then dont waste feats on spell focuses, your DC will be too low anyway, if you give all ability points into caster ability then you may take some spell focus, mostly its for necromancy as those are the spells that can kill target instantly

spell penetration is not very much usefull generally, but certain modules and mainly PWs have many monsters with 32spell resistance so if your caster level is not equal or higher than 31 you could use spell penetration feats.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par ShaDoOoW, 26 octobre 2011 - 09:35 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Lich Larloch]

               Thanks for answering guys I really appreciate it.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Craft Wand is very popular especially on PWs that modify the resultant caster level and charges.

If going spell focus route... when at least 4 spare feat slots are available, 2 schools can be focused.  If starved, choose the most useful one to epic spell focus.  Wizards have several feats to spare but sorcs/bards do not.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lich Larloch]

               What caster level do scrolls and wands cast at by default? Are they still useful with the default values?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Johnnydigs]

               Spell Focus: Evocation and Greater Spell Focus: Evocation. You can't go wrong with Evocation!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               

Lich Larloch wrote...

What caster level do scrolls and wands cast at by default? Are they still useful with the default values?

That depends on the scroll. For standard bioware scrolls, it's often 2 × IL − 1, where IL is the spells innate level. But, the actual level is determined by 2DA files and how the scroll item was created in the Toolset, so there are many exceptions (e.g. flame weapon, firebrand, etc.) to that. You have to look at the scroll to be sure. If a sleep scroll says, for example, "Use Sleep (2), Single Use", that means the spell will be cast as if by a second level caster. Spells cast from scrolls have a saving throw DC fixed at 13 + IL, and neither ability scores nor spell focus feats apply (even if the scroll was created by a character using scribe scroll).

(BTW, the NWN Wiki has a list of the spell scrolls created by the scribe scroll feat. It's worth consulting that as some scrolls are a relative bargain to create and some are a poor deal.)

Because of the fixed-(and-usually-low)-caster-level behavior, scrolls may be very powerful at lower levels, but sometimes not very useful at higher levels, where more creatures have spell resistance and higher saving throws. Most people still find many scrolls useful for removing negative effects (such as scrolls of heal, remove poison, etc.), debuffing (e.g. the Breach spells), and for buffing (though those low-caster-level buffs can be easily dispelled by higher level casters). Even damage dealing scrolls of the no-save variety can be put to good use against opponents without spell resistance.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Learning...
I always thought a scroll spell was launched at the spellcaster's very level.  Like a regular spell, only more costy.
Well, I never use scrolls anyway.
All I do is packrating them. Like anyone of us. Our only NWN player's duty. 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 27 octobre 2011 - 08:39 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Shia Luck]

               

Johnnydigs wrote...

Spell Focus: Evocation and Greater Spell Focus: Evocation. You can't go wrong with Evocation!

Actually, this is the one school I wouldn't take focus feats in. (I also don't use evocation spells much as there's far better spells out there tho.... certainly there's something about being able to blow stuff up that's fun, but it's not really that effective... anyway). The main reason is enemy saves, evasion, Improved evasion and dexers in general).

Basically, there's a too large subset of dangerous character builds that will either make the save or use evasion to half or negate the damage. Depends on context and environment and your build of course, but better to go for focus in necromancy or enchantment where it is vital to have a high DC and keep a few fireballs etc around for the mobs who will likely fail their save whether you hve focus:evocation or not.

As far as the OP goes, the metamgic feats are vital. Silent (or still) Empower and maximise are vital. Extend is incredibly useful but cartain builds can miss it out. Most importantly, realise that these feats are not for their damage, (well, not ONLY for their damage), but for the ability to move spells around in your spellbook to different levels.

Have fun '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

jmlzemaggo wrote...
Learning...
I always thought a scroll spell was launched at the spellcaster's very level.  Like a regular spell, only more costy.
Well, I never use scrolls anyway.
All I do is packrating them. Like anyone of us. Our only NWN player's duty. 

Getting a bit OT with this discussion, but a main advantage of casting via items like scrolls, wands, rods, etc. is that there is no concentration check (virtually uninterruptable) and no chance of arcane failure while wearing armor.

Scribing scrolls and crafting wands becomes even more attractive once a player reaches the level cap on a server since XP no longer benefits them (except to fuel their reserve for crafting magical items, that is '> ).  UMD users, especially,  may provide a viable market to recoup some/most/all of the gold spent to craft those items.

Getting back to recommended feats quickly... depending on which spells your arcanist decides to specialize in may determine if Spell Pen feats are actually the better route.  There are many spells that provide no saves yet still check for SR, in which case, Spell Pen is the way to go.  Also, the higher level the caster the less Spell Pen feats are beneficial since the SR needs to be so high (over 66 for a level 40 caster with ESpPen) that even spells with SR checks can no longer be resisted by the opposer.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Well, I used to be an "evocation" fanatic.
Probably that man thing... you know, the "boum, boum, boum..." idea of life. But I kind of find it ineffective in the end as well. It almost never finishes the job, I mean the target... Which other schools tend to do better.  Now if I go through the evocation spells list, there is one I would definitely miss for not being at its full power... Actually, I think I like cleric's spells even better... 
as a fearful single player only... 
Multiplayers, where the only true NWN lies...
And I said lies, not lies. 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 27 octobre 2011 - 12:52 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               

HipMaestro wrote...
Getting a bit OT with this discussion, but a main advantage of casting via items like scrolls, wands, rods, etc. is that there is no concentration check (virtually uninterruptable) and no chance of arcane failure while wearing armor.

Scribing scrolls and crafting wands becomes even more attractive once a player reaches the level cap on a server since XP no longer benefits them (except to fuel their reserve for crafting magical items, that is '> ).  UMD users, especially,  may provide a viable market to recoup some/most/all of the gold spent to craft those items.

Getting back to recommended feats quickly... depending on which spells your arcanist decides to specialize in may determine if Spell Pen feats are actually the better route.  There are many spells that provide no saves yet still check for SR, in which case, Spell Pen is the way to go.  Also, the higher level the caster the less Spell Pen feats are beneficial since the SR needs to be so high (over 66 for a level 40 caster with ESpPen) that even spells with SR checks can no longer be resisted by the opposer.

First a HipMaestro can never be OT.
Also since... it's a short for both, you're always OT. Okay, so, end of the english lesson here, time for mine:
- "no concentration check, no arcane failure while wearing armor".
I simply didn't know that, so I might have to... thank you. Again. 
Just see that it never happens again... 
What is that "Spell Pen" short? I'm not certain I understood it plainly, but if I did, you might have a hard time answering that one... :innocent:
Unless you decide to flee back to hibernation again... 

In short?
Thanks, Hip!
How come you know so much when sleeping six months a year... 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 27 octobre 2011 - 01:08 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Lich Larloch]

               I'm going to focus on Necromancy spells guys.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shia Luck]

               

Lich Larloch wrote...

I'm going to focus on Necromancy spells guys.

Good choice....

May I reccommend Tenser's amazing shovel, Isaac's sacrificial chicken and Mestil's acid stain removal (Grave dirt on your knees is not a good look, trust me   )

Have fun '>