Fireball Filled Death (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

Ultimate Magi can use metamagic at the cost of a spell from the less-focused class. This build allows casters to use that power well, allowing insane bursts of hard-to-block damage. While not quite as reliable as Magic Missile, Fireballs are a staple of low-to-mid power casters. By utilizing doubling metamagic, Delayed Blast fireball's damage and delay, the Ultimate Magus's abilities and metamagic to overcome defenses, a user of the Fireball Filled Death method can destroy the most powerful creatures in moments.

References

Complete Mage(UM), PHB(Wizard, Sorcerer)

Items

You don't NEED any, but Int-boosting equips help with saves. Go for a tome and a headband - that will bring you to 34 or +12 int, which makes saves 29, giving a good shot at hitting anything. If there's a ring that adds 6 intelligence, you can get two to get saves up to 35 - higher than most can touch. You can cast buffs and such to get your int up REALLY high.

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): (Hopefully) 18 Int, whatever for the rest.

Race (Templates): SRD:Human

Starting Racial Traits: Extra Feat, +1 skill point per level, Base Land Speed 30 ft, Medium, Speaks Common any bonus language.

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Wiz 1	0	0	0	2	Empower Spell, Repeat Spell, Eas	Familiar, Scribe Scroll	-
2nd	Wiz 2	1	0	0	3	-	-	-
3rd	Wiz 3	1	1	1	3	Maximize Spell	-	-
4th	Wiz 4	2	1	1	4	-	-	-
5th	Sorc 1	2	1	1	6	-	-
6th	Ult. Mag. 1	3	1	1	8	Piercing Spell	+1 Sorc Cl, spells	-
7th	Ult. Mag. 2	3	1	1	9	-	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, spells	-
8th	Ult. Mag. 3	4	2	2	9	-	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	-
9th	Ult. Mag. 4	4	2	2	10	Twin Spell	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	-
10th	Ult. Mag. 5	5	2	2	10	Easy Metamagic (Twin Spell)	+1 Sorc CL, Spells	-
11th	Ult. Mag. 6	5	3	3	11	-	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
12th	Ult. Mag. 7	6	3	3	11	Searing Spell	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
13th	Ult. Mag. 8	6	3	3	12		+1 Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
14th	Ult. Mag. 9	7	4	4	12	Easy Metamagic (Piercing Spell)	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
15th	Ult. Mag. 10	7	4	4	13	Easy Metamagic (Searing Spell)	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
16th	Ult. Mag. 11	8	4	4	13	-	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
17th	Ult. Mag. 12	8	5	5	14	<- feat(s) ->	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
18th	Ult. Mag. 13	9	5	5	14	Arcane Thesis (Delayed Blast Fireball)	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
19th	Ult. Mag. 14	9	5	5	15	-	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->
20th	Ult. Mag. 15	10	6	6	15	Intensify Spell	+1 Wiz, Sorc CL, Spells	<- other stuff ->

Other Components

You will want high Hide and Move Silently for sneaky missions, high Concentration, and any Ultimate Magus prereqs.

Highlights

So, you get 10 metamagics per day using Sorcerer spell slots, up to 7th level metamagic. You can cast an Intensified(Sorc) Twin(Sorc) Repeat Searing Piercing Delayed Blast Fireball, a 8th level, 7th level and 4th level spell. You can repeat this five times to unleash 1840 damage of fiery death on the fifth turn, then cast a twin spell (9th Level) to deal that plus 40d6 damage next turn. Alternatively, you can spread the damage, dealing bursts of damage around.

Munchkin-Size Me

Intensified Vampiric Touch = 96 Temp HP - use it for extended battles as a reserve of health. At 21st level, you can continue your path, and easy metamagic all the remaining spells. Silent spell allows sneakier casting, and Fiery Spell grants +40 damage to both bursts. Try it with a single-target spell and then Chain spell it to get more damage, or switch to a stronger spell. You may want to get multiple spells that target each save so you usually hit.

Side Notes

This build assumes you get a bonus feat every 5th level of UM.

Limitations

This build fails against high Spell Resistance and Evasion, though both can be beaten with int boosts. It suffers from standard caster vulnerabilities, such as having tiny hit dice and grapples.

DM Counters

Throw some things to hit it's weak points shown above, or don't allow flaws to limit uses.

Miscellaneous

Somewhat inspired by Magic Missile Stormer, but mostly made separately.

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