GNOME ILLUSIONIST BUILD, Neverwinter Nights, NWN1

NWN Gnome Illusionist Build

The Gnome Illusionist Build is a NWN Build for BioWare's cRPG Definition of 2002, Neverwinter Nights 1.

Gnome is the Best Baldur's Gate Race, and Gnome Fighter Illusionist is the Best Baldur's Gate Build. In NWN, Gnome Illusionists are still solid choices.

Above pic: End character in Swordflight Chapter IV. Improved Expertise is active.

NWN Gnome Illusionist Build Foundation

• Stats: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 8, Cha 8
• Gnome, Female, Lawful Good, Rogue (3) / Wizard: Illusionist (19) [Opposition: Enchantment]
• Role: Bombardier, summoner, buffer, loremaster, diplomat, skillmonkey. Above all, Gnome!
• This build mixes in Rogue for utility skilldumps.

NWN Gnome Illusionist Build Progression

• 01. Rogue 1: Expertise, Rogue: Sneak Attack (1d6)
• 02. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 1: Gnome: Spell Focus: Illusion (Light, Mage Armor, Magic Weapon)
• 03. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 2: Improved Expertise
• 04. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 3: Int +1 (Flame Weapon, Ghostly Visage)
• 05. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 4: --
• 06. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 5: Empower Spell, Extend Spell (Fireball, Displacement)
• 07. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 6: (Haste, Slow)
• 08. Rogue 1 / Illusionist 7: Int +1 (Improved Invisibility, Stoneskin)
• 09. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 7: Rogue: Evasion, Toughness (+Tumble, +UMD)
• 10. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 8: (Ice Storm, Lightning Bolt)
• 11. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 9: (Bigby's Interposing Hand, Mestil's Acid Sheath)
• 12. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 10: Int +1, Still Spell, Maximize Spell (Firebrand, Cloudkill)
• 13. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 11: (Greater Stoneskin, Isaac's Greater Missile Storm)
• 14. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 12: (Bigby's Forceful Hand, True Seeing)
• 15. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 13: Spell Focus: Evocation (Bigby's Grasping Hand, Spell Mantle)
• 16. Rogue 2 / Illusionist 14: Int +1 (Shadow Shield, Great Thunderclap)
• 17. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 14: Rogue: Uncanny Dodge, Sneak Attack (2d6) (UMD & Tumble to 20)
• 18. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 15: Greater Spell Focus: Evocation, Quicken Spell (Bigby's Clenched Fist, Premonition)
• 19. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 16: (Mass Blindness/Deafness, Sunburst)
• 20. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 17: Int +1 (Weird, Time Stop)
• 21. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 18: EPIC, Great Intelligence I (Greater Spell Mantle, Bigby's Crushing Hand)
• 22. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 19: --
• 23. Rogue 3 / Illusionist 20: Great Intelligence II

Skills: Spellcraft and Concentration are mandatory.

• In-depth on build and itemization
• NWN Wizard spells

Rogue is taken at first level for the one-off skillpoint bonus. I dip back into Rogue at 9th and 17th in order to spend saved-up skillpoints on Use Magic Device and Tumble. When this is done depends on which module you are playing and how you feel about your skillranks. In addition, in-game spellscroll and wand itemization affects spellpicks.

Specializing in the illusion school means we can't cast Enchantment spells conventionally or from scrolls (in Baldur's Gate we can still cast opposition school spells from scrolls), and it means we miss out on undeniably useful enchantments such as Sleep, Confusion, Hold Person and Tasha's Hideous Laughter, but we can cast enchantment spells from itemized wands, staffs, rods and other arcane items, so I think the trade-off is worth it for the +spellslot per circle.

SMAC Guide:

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Neverwinter Nights Builds	Weapon Master Build NWN	Wizard Build NWN
Red Dragon Disciple Build NWN	Fighter Build NWN	Sorcerer Build NWN
Cleric Build NWN	Paladin Build NWN	Bard Build NWN
Monk Unarmed Build NWN	Barbarian Build NWN	Gnome Illusionist Build NWN
Monk Kama Build NWN	Dwarven Defender Build NWN	Druid Build NWN
Rogue Build NWN	Arcane Archer Build NWN	Shifter Build NWN