Optimized Order of Scribes Wizard Build: The Nerd of Prey
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- 3 Videos covering the Order of Scribes Subclass
Level 2 Features: • Order of Scribes Wizar...
Level 6 Features: • D&D 5e MANIFEST MIND, ...
Level 10 and 14 Features: • Order of Scribes Wizar...
Link to the completed character build: www.dndbeyond.com/characters/...
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:26 Level 1
19:08 Level 3
26:09 Level 5
32:40 Level 7
37:01 Level 9
42:40 Level 11
47:00 Level 13
49:32 Level 15+
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I’m going to use this concept to make a really cathartic character for me: A grad student who worked themselves to death and cast their consciousness into their lab notebook.
my twist on this would be that they are a professor at a university who is tenured and has not completed their contract. you WILL work for 20 years as an academic here, whether you like it or not.
not even death breaks a magical contract.
Another version could be an elite scholar who plagiarized all of her research, recording it into her spellbook, and the spellbook became sentient purely from outrage, speaking in a voice that switches between all of the academics she ripped off. Now the book makes her do missions to make up for her crime.
Your former graduate advisor would be the campaign bbeg
I love this idea, and relate to it far too much.
I’m basically gonna steal this for sure lol. I think I’ll adjust it a bit, instead he dies from overwork doing menial tasks as a grad student trying to learn magic, and a god of knowledge, impressed by his dedication, allows him to revive as a reborn to properly explore the world, learn new spells, and experience actually using magic rather than just mindlessly scribing spell scrolls for his professors experiments just so he could could pay off his tuition where he was mostly learning theory and history of magic and not actual spells (justifying insane arcane and history skill checks), where what he really fell in love with was the actual magic. Throw in he was an elf before being reborn (strictly for flavor, still using the reborn race as 2 skills and not taking anything from previous race) and had spent like 150 years learning magic history and theory to really emphasize how good he had sort of forgotten the joys of learning random spells and using them in real life rather than just sitting there learning random history about bigby and scribing comprehend language scrolls for his professors research.
Not only is the Slow spell good for the reasons you mention, but it also doesn’t require seeing the creature. I’m running Drakkenheim for my table and the warlock cast Hunger of Hadar followed by the bard casting slow. I said he couldn’t see the targets in the HoH, and it was pointed out that “creature you can see” is not in the text for slow. A technicality maybe, but I went with it and man did HoH/slow win the day for them. It is the bard’s first campaign and he was beaming at the end of that session. Great video as always Chris, thank you.
Solid straight Wizard concept (since the Cleric dip isn't essential). I like the rare build that doesn't rely on funky multiclass combos, abuse certain rules interactions, or require DM fiat in any other way.
That's why I like wizard. Totally kickass single class all the way up. Subclasses make it even better (scribes, bladesinger, diviner, chronurgist among the top).
It's nice to be the best class in the game and not have to Frankenstein a build together to be powerful. XD
Finally a wizard build that doesn't start with two levels of fighter.
For me it’s sad that straight wizard does not get any of the extra knowledge proficiencies/expertise. It all came from the race and the cleric dip. Would have loved a wizard subclass that has the knowledge expertise and feels like order of the scribes should fulfill that but it doesn’t really😮
@@cynthialopes5430 Yes, one way mist tables I play with give a free feat at lvl 1 which allows customisation from lvl 2. Hello skill expert! Now you don't need to multi into knowledge cleric. Feat DT pvlb1 should be a base game feature
Currently playing a Mountain Dwarf scribes wizard at level 4
The Medium Armor and boatload of swappable proficiencies feels really good
Looking to run similar themed around the god Jergal, so glad it works well!
@@JetBlackRage yeah, the +2 int +2 con being swapped is great
The Medium Armor proficiency is great if your DM doesn't give out a lot of magic loot, and especially if there isn't a magic item marketplace. If there is an easy way to just buy magic items, any wizard can (and probably will) wear elven chain (which grants proficiency to its owner), and most of the value is lost. The best you can do with medium armor is AC 17 with half plate and DEX 14 (medium armor caps you to +2 from DEX), and if you don't want to take disadvantage on stealth (and can't get mithral) then you're limited to AC 16, which is exactly the same as the protection provided by elven chain.
I ran this exact character in a West Marches game. Mountain Dwarf Geomancer. I didn't really optimise him, I just built him around earth spells and converting damage types to bludgeoning or piercing to flavour them as earth spells. "Rock Barrage" (Scorching Ray but bludgeoning) is so much fun, especially with crusher as a free feat at level 1
@@Kirk9019 i have been doing the same. So far ive done Dragon Breath bludgeoning for a spray of sand and Ice Knife bludgeoning as a small exploding meteor
When you mentioned artificer not working well because of needing an Artisan Tool as your spell focus, being proficient in calligraphy supplys, a quill would be an artisan tool you are proficient in. You could keep your quill in your spell book and as a free interaction hold it if/when you cast the occasional Artificer spells. I beleive. It might still be a little clunky, but would still say in the theme of the character.
that's a genius fit narratively
You could also just put your spellbook on a purse type strap (you’ve seen the pictures) and drop it if you needed to grab your tools.
I've seen that with a lot of 40K Chaplain type characters
You can also do a 2 level dip instead of 1, and infuse your shield. They can use any item with their infusions as a spell focus
Knowledge cleric is my FAV for wizard subclasses, and ESPECIALLY for scribes. You are OUT NERDING ANY NERD ❤️
Agreed, I personally wish that the Theurgy Wizard made official print. Playing a Theurgy Wizard of the Arcana Domain. Not only do you get the Wizard spells from the prepared spell list but your lvl 14 feature is the Ultimate cheese: Pick one spell of 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th levels to add to your spell list. This would have been the only way to gain an 8th, and 9th lvl spell in the game and not have slots to cast it. This isn't as big a deal with scribe wizard around since your could scribe both spells in under an hour where other wizards need 35 hours.
It feels like it has been a long time since we've seen a build. It's tough to do builds when WotC isn't releasing new player options; but you flipped through those books (like a nerd) and brought us a good one.
Your consistent advice to respect Confusion as a decent option due to its reliability has helped me out.
I had a moment where I cast Confusion on a pair of huge animated statues and the DM said "They're immune to that."
I got to hit the DM with a "Are you sure?" and after checking the spell and their long list of immunities, they were surprised to find out that it worked.
I can't believe they'd just say it without double checking. SMH.
@@Samuel_Kabel yes because halting combat every time to check spell interactions is definitely the height of compelling gameplay and good dming SMH.
I think ruling that a mind controlling spell that your probably not familiar from the sound of it doesn't work on statues is a reasonable assumption while your handling all other sorts of info mid combat.
Is it a wrong assumption in this case? Yes, but not even Jeremy is going to rule perfectly in any game that your not constantly bringing to a screeching halt to double check rules.
@@jbj1130 As a player, I always have the spell I'm casting open. As a DM, I ask, "Hey, does your spell Charm them?" As a clock, I've only ticked over 4 seconds. As a screeching halt, I'm pretty fucking unscreechy.
@@Samuel_Kabel that sure sounds great when you type it like that. I'm sure every table interaction goes off like that without a hitch consistently every time. I'm sure you've never confused one of the 524 spells in the game.
I'm sure you've never been/had DMs who have played different tabletop RPGs, or different versions where there's a mindless trait that would make them immune and in that version confusion doesn't work on them.
Reasonable mistakes are apparently impossible to make at your tables
@@jbj1130 That sure sounds bad when you type it like that. Alright, I concede.
There is a way to circumvent the casting focus problem with the Order of Scribes/Artificer. You could take the Replicate Magic Item infusion and get the Enduring Spellbook (which pretty much makes your spellbook invincible). Your spellbook is now an Artificer infusion, so you could use it as a focus.
But for that you need 2 levels of artificer which would hurt the spell slot progression. And of course, the wizard spells progression would be hurt even more which would be not great, especially for the Scribe.
It would only hurt it by a single level. 2 levels in Artificer is 1 level toward spell slots, which isn't much. It also allows them to infuse their shield to use as a spell focus, giving them some better AC early game until +2 shields become available
To circumvent the material component for an artificer dip you can also optimize your spell selection for spells that aren't going to be cast in combat. With a 20 intelligence score and a one-level dip you can select six spells.
The first five are easy choices: Disguise Self, False Life, Longstrider, Purify Food and Drink, and Snare.
For the last I probably would grab Cure Wounds. It would not be ideal to cast in combat, but it would be pretty flavorful when the wizard drops their focus to pull out a defibrillator in an emergency.
"If you wanna be a prick, you can use simulacrum and wreck it for everyone." Thank you, Chris, for not sugar coating munchkinism rearing its ugly head in the game instead of optimizing to play with a party. Awesome build sir. What a great subclass for making your super wizard!
The way I always use a simulacrum is to impersonate me back at home and keep my operations open while I'm out adventuring. They can't learn, but they can write notes. (I kinda play them like the protagonist in _Memento._)
I've been in a level 20s party of all wizards who could all cast simulacrum. We decided for fun that we would save the world from our couch and just sent only the simulacrums on the mission. Added plenty of tension with the low hp. Only time I've seen simulacrum in the party not make the DM go... really?
Sorry if I’m dumb and just not seeing the obvious play, but what does Simulacrum alone do to completely break the game? I know about the whole Wish chain thing, but I figure Sim by itself isn’t so bad.
I’ve never gotten a game that’s run that long, so I don’t have first hand experience with it. Is it just because having essentially two level 13 wizards is game-breakingly strong?
@@friskdreemurr1155Yes, exactly.
@@MalloonTarka then how about just sim'ing the party's martial. dont have to cast it more than once that way too, it can just shoot people all day everyday without caring about the no slot regeneration of being a sim.
I’d like to suggest that glyph of warding can be set up ahead of time of an encounter ( depending on circumstances). I find that a lot of the time it is possible, as long as the place is accessible by your spellbook.
Lol, 200gp per casting... You must be in a campaign where gold is pretty useless otherwise.
Although I'm not sure how many DMs would go with this. There is definitely an implication that the materials are part of the ward, and your book can't really carry them, right?
I picked up glyph of warding on my scribe just so I could have a whole list of damage types to change my fireball to. Some of which should not ignite the area. Iceball, Thunderball.
@@broomemike1 We’re level 12, so 200 gp is pretty much not a big deal in any regular campaign. You would also set this up when you can set it up ahead of time, so it’s not something you would be able to do every combat. For me it’s about once or twice every maybe 3 sessions, but it really depends where you are. You can also hve this as a game plan from earlier levels and bank some of it for future uses. Just like any other resource in the game, you gotta be smart about getting it and using it.
Excellent breakdown as always. I have an upcoming game where the DM wants us to play ourselves thrust into a D&D setting. He suggested I become a wizard due to my extensive knowledge of spell mechanics (a lot of which I owe to you and your channel, so thanks!), and I’m kinda between playing Scribes or Divinity. I love the idea of being the meta character whose verbal components are just reading the spell description and somatic components are literally rolling a die across my spellbook or something.
Been working on an Autognome Scribes Wizard that looks like a monkey, named SEVEN (Sentient Entity Versed in Enchanted Notation), and I'm so excited to play
Thank you Chris, I’m certainly thankful for all of your knowledge and willingness to share it!
What an amazing time for this to come out. I’m about to go from 3.5 and make my first ever 5e character and I wanted to do a scribe nerdy wizard! I’ve always loved your optimization guides and have used your 3.5 guide to help guide my longest lived character, a god style wizard. Thank you Chris!
Man I had really been sleeping on this subclass, it seems so versatile and flavourful.
One concept for it I'd love to play out, is a Kenku scribe names Scrawl who steals a tome from an ancient crypt or something, and finds that the linked consciousness they share with the book has granted it a myriad of ways to express original thought that they previoisly lacked.
Once the Manifest Mind ability comes online, this process is expediated by the spirit of a wizard who met an untimely death at the verge of a breakthrough. He would start actually just using Scrawl as a microphone of sorts to form fully realized sentences.
In turn it forms a symbiotic sort of partnership where Scrawl gets to fully express his thoughts via his mental link with the wizard in the tome, and the wizard now has a "vessel" of sorts to carry out the work he was ripped away from.
I like seeing some new spell suggestions. I have rewatched those original wizard videos so many times. I never considered Passwall or Slow as top picks until now. Excellent video, Chris.
I actually played a reborn Scribes wizard a while back. I picked the race for story reasons, but the racial abilities were nice. I didn't notice the non-sleep/scribe scroll interaction at the time, though. I flavored the Manifest Mind ability as untethering his soul from his body, and did something similar with Chill Touch as his go-to cantrip. For the background, I said that in his previous life, he had been a famous evil wizard that had unsuccessfully tried to become a lich, and this cursed half-life was the result. He joined an adventuring party in an attempt to right the wrongs that he must have committed, though his memories of that previous life were only vague, haunting dreams.
This was my attempt at a tortured emo character without the usual "my parents were murdered and I must get revenge" trope.
A Work-around for the Artificer dip spellcasting focus: level 2 artificer can use it's infusions as spellcasting focus. You can use your infusions to replicate the "enduring spellbook" and thus have your Wizard spellbook also be your Artificer focus.
The only issue is taking the second level does delay spell slot progression because artificer is a half caster.
Good morning Chris! Time to finally complete my quest! The final build video for now. Until your next one at least 😉
Thank you for the many hours of content you've given me to listen to while at work to keep me from going crazy 😂
Much love, keep up the great work! 💜
I played a straight order of scribes wizard with telekinetic. 1) it was amazing. 2) I found I didn't need to move the manifest mind much after the battle got underway. I frequently found it more useful to shove an opponent into the web/off a ledge, and since the mind is usually in position after the first round, I have a freed bonus action to shove. Everything else has been spot on!
I mean the nerdiest wizard should be optimized to the point of insanity and I think this build meets the criteria well.
Good Job! Thanks!
Thank you. I always enjoy your builds.
no. way. I HAVE DONE THIS BUILD, I've been playing it for some months as a 1 Knowledge/ X Scribes! it's great, only had problems with legendary resistance lol, otherwise I help the team with AoE dmg (used bludgening fire ball on a group of skeletons), made my fireball bludgening for my barb to resist it, have used web A LOT, saved allies with Vortex Warp, saved the healer with healing word.
only thing is used a HB race that has wall climbing and web, this gave me one of my favorite hability: climb somewhere and be untoucheble! I've been upside down in ceilings, under a bridges, up trees and even walk on places I wasnt supposed to (I have a Dhampir in the party, we just love walking on walls)
PS: I really recomend santuary, saved me a player and some NPCs so it's just better sometimes
I’ve always ADORED your build videos, Chris. I love all of your content, but builds have a special place in my heart. I’ve been so looking forward to this build since your first Scribes wizard video!!! So fun! It’s so fun to see interesting interactions and not your typical variant human or custom lineage😂
Catapult + Absorb Elements is a silly combo you can do. Bludgeoning being one of the most common damage types.
But wouldn't Catapult deal magical bludgeoning damage, which is already one of the least resisted damage types?
@@SortKaffeThe Scribe who has Catapult in his spellbook can make other spells deal bludgeoning damage
@@elementzero3379only level 1 spells
Haven’t even started the video, but I laughed out loud at the title alone so I already know this one deserves a like
With a 2-level artificer dip on the beginning of this build you can make your shield your arcane focus for artificer using the enhanced defense infusion, and an enhanced arcane focus as the second infusion for the wizard side to use
You would still run into problems with your hands being full
Congrats on 777 hundred subscribers!
May you have a blessed 2024!
Been waiting a long time for this video. A scribes wizard is my backup for dotmm (already lost two characters, so it's only a matter of time). Definitely some food for thought if I want to respec them.
It's my backup too. Since my current PC has a Mizzium Apparatus, using Reborn lineage is a very strong buff to Arcana checks that I didn't think of myself.
What characters did you have and how were they lost? Sounds like a good story, just curious to know
A beautifully nerdy build, I wanna play this even more than your trick builds it looks so fun
New campaign starting in a few weeks. Tbh this is a pretty tempting build. I love a bit of expertise on characters because it gives you something you always feel good at. My only criticism (and mental load struggle) with spellcasters is some of them can leave you feeling pretty limited in roleplay without using spell slots
Loved the order of scribes the first time I saw it, glad you're giving them love.
“Nerd of Prey”! That is beautiful! Stolen in a heart beat!
I'm currently making a Scribes wizard for a campaign, I'll definitely be taking these spell choices into consideration!
Love that my cleric knowledge/wizard divination is a high elf version of this, thanks to you im feel like im better
This is the true Mage.
Devoid of specialties,
But master of scrolls and massive spellbooks.
A true swiss army knife for those who want a complete variety of spells other than those who want to specialize in particular a school of magic.
A good option to consider.😊
Most options for a flying race don't allow medium or heavy armor to worn and still fly... but I found a race that does allow medium, it only has a restriction against heavy armor.
It's the tiefling variant that has wings... you choose them instead of a small handful of spells.
The Scribe Wizard I made was Wood Elf with Elven Accuracy, Spell Sniper & Piercer. There are no more Wizard Piercing Spells after 5th level but that's okay. With Spell Points, we can spam (Scorching) Piercing Ray at 5th level when paired with Animate Objects. Six Rays at 2d6 or 5d6 on a Crit. (...& a once per turn, one reroll on a damage die.)
When done with a Bugbear Assassin, swapping Elven Accuracy for Alert, each ray is 9d6 & you can select 6 targets. I'd always carry Ice Knife in case there's a Silence area, until you get Steel Wind Strike. Steel Wind Strike in this way is 13d10 on 5 targets. When teleporting this way making Spell Melee Attacks, your reach is indeed, 5-ft longer, getting a free Disengage OR teleporting above the target to Fall onto them, possibly splitting 1d6 Fall Damage and knocking them Prone (DX15 DEX Save.)
Thanks Treantmonk!
I have already wanted to play a disaffected PhD student in dnd and now I have the perfect build for it. "Pen-ultimate", huh? I see what you did there.
On the subject of multiclassing. Thri-keen could work if you really want that artificer dip. Since they have an extra set if arms that can hold a spell focus. But you’re giving up a LOT with dropping deathless nature.
Yessssss. I’ve been waiting for this.
So I'm currently playing a plasmoid scribes wizard (just got to level 4), and this build gives me some ideas. I had forgotten about Transmute Rock, and was thinking Sickening Radiance before but will probably now do Wall of Fire for a 4th-level pick. Probably will go Summon Construct instead of Aberration for narrative reasons.
Thanks for going over this one. It's lots of fun.
A possible workaround for the artificer dip is to choose calligrapher's tools as your tool proficiency from that class. That way your quill/spell book count as artisan's tools with which you are proficient.
To play devil's advocate for the Artificer dip: Artificer's can use their Infusions as Spell Focuses for their Artificer spells. So, if you take a second level, you could grab, say, Enhanced Spell Focus for your spellbook and then use the book as a Focus for your Artificer *and* your Wizard. Or grab Mind Sharpener, then you can skip Warcaster. Or you can do both and put the Sharpener on something else.
Yeah, you slow down your preparation and slot progression another level, so it might not be the best choice. But it's not a bad one.
I love scribes wizards and I think you'd definitely want to organise your spells into categories like "spells for use", "damage type switching" and "sacrificial fodder" if you were playing at higher levels
Honestly the idea that you could get hit with a disintegrate that would kill you and then be like "nope I'm just going to lose *rolls 3d6* 3 levels of spells for *rolls 1d6* 2 long rests, okay I think I can live without sleep, colour spray and jump for a few days"
as a note for the weird fire damage magic missile build, you'll want to take absorb elements as the fire damage spell-- eventually you''ll stop casting burning hands but you'll never stop casting absorb elements
I've been playing a gnome abjuration wizard with a dip in knowledge cleric for a couple years now in a campaign and it's been super fun, just got to level 17 and the bonus to arcana is off the charts
I think that it is worth a mention that a level 2 wizard/1 cleric *can* add level 2 spells to their spellbook using spell scrolls or another spellbook per the wizard spellbook rules.
Adding spells: When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook *if it is of a spell level you can prepare* and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it.
Preparing spells: You prepare the list of wizard spells that are available for you to cast. To do so, choose a number of wizard spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + your wizard level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a *level for which you have spell slots.*
Having second level spell slots means you can technically prepare second level spells. Being able to prepare second level spells means that you can technically add them to your spellbook. And we all know that being technically correct is the best kind of correct.
The multiclass rules make this impossible, sadly. "You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class." and "When you find a wizard spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook if it is of a spell level you can prepare and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it."
As a single-classed level 2 Wizard cannot prepare second level spells, you can also not add those to your spellbook.
I had a bladesinger/fighter for action surge double casting. We played at level 12 and I rolled stats super high. Ultimately, my lowest possible roll for Arcana after taking Skill Expert and a magic item that added 1d4 to all intelligence rolls, I had a minimum Arcana of 15. 13+nat1+1 on d4. Was a really good time.
I often pick a knowledge cleric dip for wizards because I love having skills. Reborn is also one of my favorite races for the same reason.
Penultimate means second highest. I’m not sure if that’s what you meant, but maybe it is.
Nope, I'm not as smart as an Order of Scribes wizard
Love the Simulacrum rant. The wizard in one of the groups I run just got it, and the bard took it with Magical Secrets. Luckily my players aren't diqs, so the Wizard has his dupe guarding his tower and doing research, and the bard has opted to have his dupe run his businesses.
Excellent choice with the Reborn lineage. It doesn’t get enough play because of the Damphir, but the trance and skill boosts fit perfectly.
You did mention the summon abberation, which I do like as a pick. Your wizard builds usually follow along the control line, which I tend to agree is something excel at.
I’m a bit curious about your thoughts about using summons through the manifest mind feature.
Not specifically the Tasha’s or the phb conjure versions, but as a general ranged nuke play style.
Summon Greater Demon, Minor Demons, Conjure Elemental, etc…
Concerning your issue with Artificer spells vs Wizard spells: As long as they're spells that both can learn, couldn't you simply scribe down Artificer spells onto scrolls, and then learn them as Wizard spells from those scrolls? It seems easy enough to work through the issue by doing so.
Scribes human with telekinetic and resilient(con) + Grimoire Infinitus(probably signature item for scribes), Level 6.
I wish that this Sunday we can finally start
The validation watching this video, having played a cleric/scribes wizard for a yr & half now ( althought I went Arcana Cleric, because i'm a geek not a nerd :P )
As a flesh golem reborn I'd play as an escaped bunch of familiars whose brains were all transplanted into the humanoids cranium (with requisite stitches and scar around head). A little bit of rat, owl, spider and octopus should keep your 4 hours free at night nice and chatty and you could constantly quibble as to whom is the current 'master'. Story arc would be returning to the wizards tower that created you and defeating the vivisectionist master.
You know what? Thri kreen. Sleepless, though without needing only 4 hours to complete a rest, so it's up to DM whether or not scribing is a strenuous activity. Permanent mage armor and extra hands to wield magic items.
"A diminutive and rather dirty gnome who's aroma evokes equal parts forest floor and inked vellum stands before you with a dim old brass lantern hanging from the end of their walking stick. Their nose is buried in a massive and well worn tome and their lips are unmoving as you hear a voice addressing you inside of your own head."
The amazing utilitarian power of an Order of Scribes Wizard with access to out of class ritual spells, sixteen total cantrips and a dozen other spells always available beyond the daily selections. Personal library and scroll lab travels in a Genie's Vessel where they can also practice their other skills.
Mark of Scribing Gnome
Mage of High Sorcery(Solinari)
3 Warlock/Genie/Dao/Pact of the Tome
(Book of Ancient Secrets, Eyes of the Rune Keeper)
17 Wizard/Order of Scribes
Feats
- Initiate of High Sorcery
- Telepathic
- Telekinetic
- Arcanist
- Artificer Initiate
- Spell Sniper
Extra Training Suggestions
- Warcaster
- Skilled (Deception, Intimidation, Insight for an interrogator)
- Keen Mind (better Encode Thoughts usage and information gathering)
Spell Selections
- Racial (Message, Comprehend Languages)
- 4 Warlock (Sanctuary, Detect Evil and Good, Spike Growth, Enthrall)
- 2 Warlock Cantrips (Eldritch Blast, Greenflame Blade)
- Initiate of High Sorcery (Encode Thoughts, Protection from Good and Evil, Shield)
- Pact of the Tome (Druidcraft, Thaumaturgy, Guidance)
- Book of Ancient Secrets(Speak with Animals, Ceremony *all 1st and 2nd level non wizard rituals eventually)
- 5 Wizard Cantrips (Mending, Minor Illusion, Mold Earth, Dancing Lights, Control Flames)
- Artificer Initiate (Thief's Tools, Spare the Dying, Shield of Faith)
- Telekinetic (Magehand)
- Telepathic (Detect Thoughts)
- Arcanist (Prestidigitation, Detect Magic)
- Spell Sniper (Chill Touch)
Still has 17 +Int Mod Wizard spells selections daily.
Awakened Spellbook and Arcanist make for nearly infallible Arcana checks.
Gnome Cunning and Warcaster provide strong concentration potential.
Telepathy, Detect Thoughts and Encode Thoughts are the start of a great interrogator. Picking up Modify Memory creates a powerful agent of misinformation.
Messenger and Telepathy create a solid communication hub for the party. This is accented by Eyes of the Rune Keeper and Comprehend Languages for communications from outside the party.
Will hunt endlessly for unknown spells. Seeks a way to stabilize Thought Strands for archival storage. Standard wizardly magical items would be the most likely of attunables, like robes, a magical spellbook and a staff.
Will keep an old oil lantern for the purposes being their Genie's Vessel and for disguising the Manifested Mind when wanting to gather information or obfuscate the source of a spell.
The out of class ritual spells, Druidcraft and Spike Growth provide some wilderness prowess not typically available to a Wizard, a great gnomish flavor. Selecting Sylvan and Auran as the additional starting languages would drive this home.
A Wizard knows that preparation is the key to success and as such they will absolutely engage in precombat psychological warfare. Certain rituals and cantrips along with the gnomish proclivity for illusions can be creatively used to terrorize and distract known enemies long before a battle starts.
Thri-kreen would let you hold all the focuses you want for an artificer multiclass, doesn't need sleep at all, has darkvision, and comes with mage armor built in
Only issue would be verbal components of spells like command depending on your dm's rulings
For the Magic Missile build you can also add goblin to the mix
Hope one day I get to play my Scribe PC idea so I can put some of your hard work to use
I really want to play this subclass
Another one of your videos that actually makes me interested in playing some 5e. Good work!
I have to admit: Reborn is my genuinely favorite race/lineage. More than once, I've wanted to play one and just be a skeleton full of skelepuns. Yes, TECHNICALLY I'm not a "Skeleton" but as folks far wiser than I have said, "Flavor is Free." Now just to figure out what class, because I've done casters for every one-shot I've been in in the past few years, so maybe a martial
Thank you for this build, I have a Goliath, Scribes Wizard. But DM let me use the wizard Quill as my spell focus, so you have this 7 foot skinny, awkward, robe wearing Goliath waving around a feather Quill and boom magic...
I found you thru D4.
I have an Archmage build that uses either Life/Knowledge Cleric and Abjuration/Scribe/Bladesinger Wizard dips on a Divine Soul Sorcerer build, or does the opposite, and pairs Scribe Wizard with Knowledge Cleric and a Sorc dip for metamagic. Probably draconic sorc, but could easily be divine soul instead. Toyed with the idea of a Lore Bard to crank the Int skill monkey up to 11, but its a very flexible concept.
Love the build! One thing I have to say though is you mentioned to use slow instead of Web on flying enemies I have to disagree I love shooting flying enemies out of the air with Web lol.
I like passwall. I ussually homebrew it as a direct counter to force walls as well because ots so niche. So Force Cage can be prepped against.
Honestly, I love to see someone recommending spells that are just fun and avoiding spells like Simliracrum or spells that just end an encounter like Hypnotic Pattern. I don't find it fun to take away others ability to feel powerful.
I always wanted to have an Order of Scribes that used to clerk for a devil, writing contracts for other poor souls.
You know, aarracokra would retain their flight speed as a reborn!
Very informative!
I think there are tables where Shadowtouched at level 9 makes sense. I know you aren’t RAW auto hidden if invisible, but precasting free invisibility, taking cover out of sight, and letting your spellbook fire off the spells has some appeal.
Not a lot of options for illusion or necromancy spells though. Free silent image once a day? Hide the party behind a fake wall and snipe the guards on watch from the book? Not very fun for the party. But I’m sure there’s creative uses.
Nerd of Prey, beautiful.
"Wall of Fire is really solid." I see what you did there.
I'm making a House Sivis dragonmarked Order Of Scribes wizard for an Eberron campaign. I'm thankful for some guidance. Been struggling through spell selection.
I miss the Sage of Ages epic destiny from 4th edition, which allowed you to make a daily Arcana check for a series of powerful buffs depending on how high you rolled. It really incentivized finding every possible boost to your Arcana check. Fun idea.
I'm not sure if it has been mentioned, but slow doesn't give disadvantage on dex saves, just a static -2 bonus. It's a huge deal
9:47 Trance is specially useful in a Warlock with goodberries, 4 hrs = 4 short rests = 80 GB for the day, or cast Aid if 3 War./ x Sorc.
Owlin is actually optimal for reborn since you get a flight speed = to walk AND you get a proficiency. If you want 2 proficiencies instead, you can use lizardfolk or locathah who both get a swim speed
I know it doesn’t offer any significant combat output, but I think when it comes to half feats, Skill Expert is one I’d never overlook. I’m surprised it never really gets considered as an option, but I’d be very tempted to throw it on this build. To REALLY make it as an intelligence skill monkey, you could also dip 1 in rogue if that was pivotal to a character concept, and then you’d have expertise in all 5 INT skills, but I’d be hesitant to lose a level of spell progression for that.
The problem is that proficiency + guidance + help action is almost certainly enough anyway, so the marginal gain of expertise compared to the gains of telekinetic or Fey touched: gift of Alacrity is just harder to justify, let alone an entire level in a non-casting class.
@@40Found I generally agree, but it depends on your DM. Some DMs will clear any test with a roll of 15-20. Others may continue to scale DCs to epic extremes at higher levels.
There isn't really room for another half feat on this build, I think?
It takes Warcaster, it takes a +1/+1 ASI (which it needs to get CON to an odd score), and then it takes Resilient CON. In order to take a half feat here it would have to either drop some CON (13 CON that gets bumped up to 14 with Resilient) or drop to 13 DEX to start with 15 CON.
l6992 realistically I think you go Custom lineage for ResCon at 1 rounding it to 14 con then a half feat to round int to 18
@@KaitlynBurnellMath I think what made me think of it was that while several half feats were posed as possibilities that Chris turned down for a preferred option, Skilled wasn’t my even on the radar. I could totally see myself preferring skilled over something like Resilient in certain campaigns. Intrigue campaigns, for example.
Nerd of prey. I don’t know, I just love that.
FINALLY!!!! LET'S GOOO!
@Treantmonk's You are right to dismiss the scribe magic missile nuke build idea, but there is an even stronger reason to dismiss it than fire immunity: A build like that would at best be able to cast a level 4 magic missiles with fire damage. This is because of this rule: "When you cast a wizard spell with a spell slot, you can temporarily replace its damage type with a type that appears in another spell in your spellbook, which magically alters the spell's formula for this casting only. The latter spell must be of the same level as the spell slot you expend." To cast a 9th level magic missile, the wizard would need to have a 9th level wizard spell in their spellbook that deals fire damage. This is impossible because wizards are only allowed to copy spells which they would be able to prepare into their spellbook, and this character will be at most a level 8 wizard since they had to dip heavily 6 levels each into 2 other classes to stack the fire damage modifiers. Therefore the highest level spells in their spellbook will be level 4. So you may have a level 9th spellslot, and you could cast regular magic missile with it, but if you want to cast fire damage magic missiles you are limited to level 4 spellslots.
I play an autognome scribe wiz with prof in caligraphy and navigators tools. Essentially a magic copy/fax machine with gps
I think artificer is still worth it, just take spells that don't have a material component and you don't have to worry about using a tool for a focus. You can get spare the dying, guidance, faerie fire, and cure wounds, none of which have material components, and they aren't on the wizard spell list. Further, since this cure wounds is an intelligence rather than wisdom spell, it uses your high intelligence for the bonus. And it's a bigger die than healing word. Only problem is that it's a touch spell, but that's why you get find familiar as a wizard ASAP. I guess if the DM wants to be strict about the rules, you can't cast cure wounds or spare the dying through manifest mind, because it says "wizard spell." But your familiar has no such restriction, it just takes some action economy. But cure wounds at range is nothing to sneeze at.
Cleric does get a bit more at level 1 with a third cantrip and the domain bonuses, but not needing to invest in wisdom seems like a huge help. And you still get some great spells not on the wizard spell list that synergize well with a wizard.
I have a player with a similar build right now. He went grave cleric to help with healing. Easily one of the more powerful and versatile characters in my game
I know it's an odd feature but Cardomancer seems like a no brainer after int is maxed. Wizards get some amazing spells but the second best list is cleric as far as I can tell and cardomancer gives you access to any one of those spells. It also fits scribes wizard because not only do they know so much about their own spells but they know all the spells from another class too. Like you thought I only knew Star wars lore but now whipping out of of Picard's greatest monologues or a trekky telling the story of Darth Plagus the wise because you knew the situation calls for it lol
Not being able to change cantrips damage type sucks, but I had a ton of fun playing one.
I find dust devil is a pretty damn good spell especially if you use the cantrip mold Earth this way you get the sand that now makes, SoundCloud that moves between you and enemies and pushes them away.
"fog cloud"
@@realistica1633 I chose to interpret SoundCloud as a Darude - Sandstorm joke
I think there's more to be said about thunder step over dimension door and any non wis save spells over confusion/slow
Some spells any Scribes Wizard should be picking up are the likes of Heat Metal or Illusory Dragon. Spells that do damage over time and that cannot be easily escaped (or killed). Casting such spells through Manifest Mind, gives the Scribes Wizard the ability to solo difficult encounters on occasion, without ever moving in range of the danger.
The other thing worth mentioning is the Mark of Hospitality Halfling race. If you aren't using Ravnica or Strixhaven backgrounds, it is the only way to have Aid added to the Wizard's spell list, which is pretty huge once you get Spell Mastery and it becomes spammable. Of course that is end game stuff that most games won't even get to, and doesn't even apply to the Scribes Wizard specifically (just a general Wizard choice), so I would say the 4 hour rest is more useful in this case, but it is a powerful option for high level one-shots or something.
28:53 I'm pretty comfortable trusting _augury_ more than once per long rest. 25% chance of a random result isn't 25% of an incorrect result. If you have a 75% chance of a correct reading on the second casting, and 25% of randomness, you have an 81.25% of a correct reading. That's not bad. Then 62.5%, 45.75%, and finally a 25% when it's just the random roll. I'd probably treat the third casting as my cut-off for maybe getting useful information, but more often I cast it twice a long rest.
I've had more trouble with the spell under DMs who default to "Weal *and* Woe" almost every reading.
My real question with a reborn aarakocra is whether they keep the armor restriction since only the speeds carry over.
I'm playing through a campaign with a scribes wizard. I'm taking Psychic Lance at 7th which combined with flaming sphere and a silvery barbs i expect major single target damage
remember: reborn retains movement speeds from your original race! 50 foot flight, anyone?
EDIT: you retain the speed, not the trait that gives you the speed. Owlin's Flight: "Thanks to your wings, you have a flying speed equal to your walking speed. You can't use this flying speed if you're wearing medium or heavy armor." as a Reborn, you don't retain this trait, meaning you can fly in heavy armor and wildshape, because reborn's ancestral legacy doesn't specify biology
Only if you didn't start as reborn
Very informative!
OMFG WATCH THE VIDEO. Jesus Christ, it's Jason Reborn.
Hey weird rules interaction question, does the half orc and bugbear you count as one size larger for the purposes of carrying capacity interact with who/what can be taken through a dimension door? I also really like Feign Death as a switching spell for Scribes Wizards, lots of damage types for level 3 spell slots and while it's actual use is extremely niche it is a ritual.