How to build a blaster caster?

[Burpcycle]

I have a vague idea of a damage-based spellcaster in an upcoming 3.5 game, starting at level 3. It's not set in stone, and I could easily tweak the idea to be a warblade, but I was wondering - how do I do this? I've never built a damage-based character in 3.5, I've always played utility or skill-based characters.

[Tonymitsu]

Generally it's all about the feats

At the most basic level you take... say, Fireball.

-Using Energy Substitution you make it deal Electricity damage instead.
-Then you apply Born of Three Thunders to make it half electricity, half sonic damage as well as stun and knock back opponents on a failed save.

Now Fireball is a triple threat damage/debuff/CC spell, and instead of Fire damage (which boatloads of monsters are resistant to), it's electricity and sonic.  And it's still a third level spell.
Other useful blaster feats may include Split Ray and Energy Admixture.  Spellwarp Sniper is a possible blaster prestige class.
The Mailman is probably the archetypal blaster magic user, though it uses sorcerer not wizard.

Others can probably help more.  I'm not very good with blasters.

[SorO_Lost]

But I can be. I'm one of the Black Mages running around on here.

First of all you need a goto spell. You're specialty spell. Ideally it's not the highest one you can cast so you can apply some Metamagics with it. SpC's Orb of X is a goto favorite, 15d6 cap, no SR check, even has a secondary minor debuff. However you can use quite a few other things, including oddballs Laim's finger Darts or Shivering Touch to nuke their Ability Score(s) away.

Pick one and abuse the crap out of Metamagics. The mailman link someone already posted uses a Sorcerer casting Greater Arcane Fusion(arcanefusion[magic missile, magic missile] moar magic missile) with all those Twinned/Repeat Meta magic it takes like ten rounds to resolve. And that's one style. I've always aimed more towards elemental based with crowd control. Like if you use Snowcast to tack on the [Cold] Descriptor you can improve it's Save DC by +6 and gain up to +3 damage per die. And if you go back and read Empower Spell per PHB (not SRD), that 1d6+3 is [4~9+50%] not [1d6+50%+3] for a rather nice increase in damage.

But anyway. Class wise look into Sorcerer over Wizard. Sure Wizard gets spells sooner but unless they are a Focused Abyssal Specialist they cast less per day and you need a lot to nuke stuff. Plus the Sorcerer side gets Wings of Furry (4th level uncapped area burst that stuns), Arcane Fusion (cast two spells at once), Arcane Fury (moar doublecast), access to Practice Metamagic (reduce metamagic costs by 1), and an easy trade in for Dragonic Heritage which helps set up the Draconic Aura that gives up +4 to your Save DCs.

Class wise, Shipwreck's Stormcaster takes a single CL hit to augment, if done correctly, Save or Stun onto all your spells as well as a little extra Sonic damage which is pretty damn awesome. Prestige Bard trades a CL as well but the level dip into it gives access to some nice Charisma boosts and party buffs, including the possibility of Dragonfire Inspiration with the Summon Monster spells. Recaster is the last one I'd suggest out of the PrCs that lose CL, it trades one away for 3/Quicken and 5/day Empower or Maximize and you even net the ability to reshape the area on Spells. Full caster PRCs, Incantatrix is made of win if you can pick it up. Warmage out of Dragonlance is really nice with it's ConMod/Day +3 per die boost and Cha to AC for all nearby allies. Other than those you can shoot for anything that goes with your focus. Like you wanting to hit people with Negative Energy? Hunt around for some nice Necromancer flavored PrCs.

The biggest draw back in being a nuker is TPKs from your poor aim. There is a few items that prevent your spells from frying your party members through. Can't recall any by name through...

OH and don't forget to hit up Class Boosters. I actually have a how to maximize Charisma section in there under Sorcerer, how to nuke people with four or five elements at once under Cold Casting, and even a list on how to obtain additional Feats in case you wanted to buy Empower Spell for 5,000gp instead of using a Feat Slot.

[Jackinthegreen]

You might get some information out of http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=5590.20

And keep in mind that with a Sorceror you'll need a way to make metamagic spells a standard action.  Rapid Spell could work for that purpose, but there is also the Metamagic Specialist ACF (Here under Sorceror) that trades the familiar for the ability to cast standard action metamagic spells Int mod +3 times per day.  And then if you really want a familiar you just take Obtain Familiar.  Oddly enough, using the feat to get the familiar ends up being better for the character because all arcane-casting classes contribute instead of just Sorcerer levels.

Soro, I think you meant Stormwrack instead of Shipwreck.  lol

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Wilder goes Recharge and Energy Missile
"the good version" at either levels 4 or 6.

[SorO_Lost]

Soro, I think you meant Stormwrack instead of Shipwreck.  lol

Nope. Meant train wreck. Break those rails man...

[ksbsnowowl]

Wizard + Haruaan Elder + Leadership + either Acidic Splatter or Fiery Burst.

By the time you are 12th level you can lead a circle, and pump a fire or acid spell up to a 20th level spell.  You now have a 100-ft range ranged touch acid attack for 20d6 acid damage, or a 30-ft range 5-ft radius fire effect that deals 20d6 fire damage (Ref DC 30+Int mod for half damage).

Depending upon interpretation, the heightened fire or acid spell remains until you cast it, which you will never do.

[OutlawPhilosopher]

There's a PrC in Eberron somewhere... escalation mage or something like that that gets some fairly blasty free metamagic, as I recall.

[Solo]

Make sure your other spells synergize with blasting. For example, Webbing the enemy, followed with a Fireball and finishing with Pyrotechnics.

[SorO_Lost]

Make sure your other spells synergize with blasting. For example, Webbing the enemy, followed with a Fireball and finishing with Pyrotechnics.

That is pretty important too.

Through I'm not sure I'd torch my Web for a measly extra 2d4 damage

[Solo]

It gives you fuel for Pyrotechnics.

[SorO_Lost]

Maybe.

I mean, Fireball lights everything flammable in the area. Including grass and the wooden rafters. Heck draw a handful of poopy and drop half of it on the ground if you within range of your own spell to provide free fuel in even a pure cobblestone area.

Web on the other hand burns totally out within one round, but is that the start or rend of your round (seeing how it was light before the end of your turn, thinking the latter). And it cost a Spell Slot to use, can Entangle your own allies, and the round you *may* gain while their are stuck serves only to make up for the round wasted casting it.

Instead, perhaps you will find more use for Incendiary Slime. It's 2nd level and from Complete Mage, functions as Grease but it's flammable and deals 4d6 damage before immediately burning out. And unlike Web the debuff (prone) isn't ended because you toasted the area. Not the best to set Pyrotechnics it's self up if you really want to use it, but heck the up to 20ft cubic target isn't minimum size it is maximum, and with the range on Fireworks even a simple torch in your hand will Blind everyone just fine anyway.

[Shadowstalker]

Play an Ardent with Energy as a primary mantle. At level 10, take the Dominant Mantle ACF - this allows you to apply metapsionic powers to Energy powers without expending your psionic focus. Take Expanded Knowledge: Energy Missile at some stage, so that you can take Privileged Energy (I'd recommend sonic, in order to increase it from 1d4 to 1d6 per power point, and because it's the least common resistance). Get a Torc of Power Preservation. Now blast away with Energy powers stacked with Empower, Maximise, Twin Power and whatever other metapsionic feats you want to throw on. Add the Anarchic Initiate PrC for even more blasting goodness.

[Jackinthegreen]

Sonic is the least resisted, but it's also entirely nullified in Silence as per the last line.

[Shadowstalker]

Sonic is the least resisted, but it's also entirely nullified in Silence as per the last line.

That's when you hit them with a different element. It also means they've wasted an action casting Silence.