Sentinal of Bharri build help requested.

[ConBrio]

I'm interested in making a Sentinal of Bharri, but I'm not too knowledgeable about DND so I am requesting help.

What I have in mind:

Human Wizard - 32 point buy

8 STR
10 DEX
16 CON
12 WIS
18 INT
8 CHA

Probably unoptimal stats. I'm not sure which is more important, Dex, Wisdom, or Constitution. I'll eventually have Bear Form so maybe Wisdom is better.

Specialization: Divination
Banned School: Enchantment
Familiar: Bat/Hawk/Rat (not sure which bonus is most useful)

Level 1: Sacred Vow, Vow of Obedience.
Level 3: Improved Initiative
Level 5: Craft Wondrous Item

I believe at level 5 I can graduate into the PrC.

Level 6: Quicken Spell
Level 9: Extend Spell
Level 10: Empower Spell
Level 12: Still Spell
Level 15: Silent Spell, Widen Spell
Level 18: Heighten Spell
Level 20: Maximize Spell

Thoughts? I'm not sure how useful most of the metamagic feats are in practice. I know Quicken Spell is considered useful. I'm also not sure if having low dex is going to be a problem.

[sirpercival]

You don't get the bonus feats at 10, 15, and 20 unless you're taking levels in Wizard.  What was your plan after SoB?

What's your concept for the character?  A nature-based diviner who likes to turn into bears?  I might throw on Earth Dreamer to round out the build...  Con is definitely going to be more important than Dex or Wis.  Wis you only need for Will saves and you have good Will saves anyway, and if you're usually a bear then your Dex won't matter but Con dictates your hit points.

You have too much metamagic.  You're probably not going to use much of that ever, and even if you get rid of most of it, unless you construct methods of reducing your metamagic cost you will probably not use what you have very often.

EDIT: If you do tack on Earth Dreamer, you'll take Earth Sense (which you need a 13 Wis for).

[ConBrio]

You don't get the bonus feats at 10, 15, and 20 unless you're taking levels in Wizard.  What was your plan after SoB?

What's your concept for the character?  A nature-based diviner who likes to turn into bears?  I might throw on Earth Dreamer to round out the build...  Con is definitely going to be more important than Dex or Wis.  Wis you only need for Will saves and you have good Will saves anyway, and if you're usually a bear then your Dex won't matter but Con dictates your hit points.

You have too much metamagic.  You're probably not going to use much of that ever, and even if you get rid of most of it, unless you construct methods of reducing your metamagic cost you will probably not use what you have very often.

SoB says I get +1 to my prior casting level. So wouldn't I still get the bonus feats as if I had leveled up as a Wizard?

My character concept is pretty much what you said.

And I figured I had too much metamagic. What should I do with those extra feats?

My character progression was basically going to be: Wizard until level 5 (when I go SoB), finish up SoB, and then finish up with Wizard.

[sirpercival]

The "+1 caster level" gives you increases to your spellcasting progression only, not other class features like bonus feats (otherwise there's no point in NOT taking a prestige class).  But the wizard bonus feats are rather few and far between, so I would recommend going with another prestige class to round out the build and not wizard.

If you don't like the Earth Dreamer idea, there are other options -- Master Specialist, Divine Oracle, etc.

For example: Wiz 3/Master Specialist 2/SoB 10/MS +5

What do you see your party role being?  What's the point of the bear form -- will you be using it for melee, or just to hang out in?

[ConBrio]

The "+1 caster level" gives you increases to your spellcasting progression only, not other class features like bonus feats (otherwise there's no point in NOT taking a prestige class).  But the wizard bonus feats are rather few and far between, so I would recommend going with another prestige class to round out the build and not wizard.

If you don't like the Earth Dreamer idea, there are other options -- Master Specialist, Divine Oracle, etc.

For example: Wiz 3/Master Specialist 2/SoB 10/MS +5

What do you see your party role being?  What's the point of the bear form -- will you be using it for melee, or just to hang out in?

Good point. Anyway I'll have to look up Master Specialist, and Earth Dreamer. Thanks for the suggestion.

My party role will probably be casting, and maybe melee if the situation calls for it. The bear form is mostly for flavor though.

[ConBrio]

It just occurred to me that enchantment at least has some out of combat utility. Evocation seems to be the least useful school of magic.

[sirpercival]

Yes indeed, since it can be completely replicated (for the most part) by illusion.

[Halinn]

It just occurred to me that enchantment at least has some out of combat utility. Evocation seems to be the least useful school of magic.

Contingency, forcecage, wall of force, resilient sphere. Even delayed blast fireballs out of a time stop. Enchantment is pretty much totally shut down with immunity to [Mind-Affecting].
It's usually not a big loss to ban both, though. If you're not set on being a diviner, conjurers or transmuters are quite good.