Yeah, good advice on toughness.  I was thinking about Point Blank Shot... maybe that's the way to go with the Crossbow.

What about 0 level stuff?  Mage Hand looks...um...handy.

Mage Hand, Disrupt Undead, Ghost Sound, Dancing Lights and Detect Magic are all strong. Acid Splash, Detect Poison, Light and Prestidigitation have their uses. The rest are so-so.

Well, if your DM is that lenient with retraining (personally, I don't like to plan that), one might even suggest Precocious Apprentice and Scorching Ray...

I was really glad when they moved detect magic to 0 level.  there are lots of times where this is handy.  Which path to take?  Where is that person hiding?  Where's the good treasures?  But it usually wasn't worth taking up a 1st level slot.  
 
Disrupt undead is of limited application (depending on probability of undead) but it's the only 0 level spell with decent damage.

Quote from: SosthenesWell, if your DM is that lenient with retraining (personally, I don't like to plan that), one might even suggest Precocious Apprentice and Scorching Ray...

It's Living Greyhawk -- and there are some additional rules beyond the ones in books.  Also supplemental rules for each region!

Unfortunately Precocious Apprentice (aka Free 2nd Level Spell at 1st Level) isn't allowed.

hmm.  I'll have to double-check on the retraining stuff.  Originally I'd wanted the Rapid Reload for the crossbow... but I guess that's pretty weak all things considered.

Well, it depends on your whole character plans. Missile combat is very feat intensive. And Rapid Reload can't even be used on magic, as opposed to point blank shot or precise shot. In most situations, firing at readily available targets won't be the case very often.

But well, what do you want to accomplish with that character? Would you be happy to contribute to your fellow members success or do you want to cause direct, massive damage?

He has a pointy hat.

I'm hoping to have him survive 1st level, have fun while I'm playing him, and be able to move him in the direction I want once I figure it all out.  (About a week before 4e comes out).  I guess I'm more inclined to have versatility and options over highly focused niche wizardry.  That was one of the reasons I liked the "Greyhawk Method" feat -- you get more spells to try out.

Well, I never bother too much with that. Compared to what you can buy from scrolls or scrounge from loot spellbooks, the two spells per level are a bonus, a quick way to get exactly the spell you want.

If you want to feel your way around, I'd suggest getting some varied spells.
- Mage Armor to protect yourself
- Enlarge Person for buffing
- Ray of Enfeeblement for de-buffing
- Grease for battlefield control
- Magic Missile for safe, long-range damage
- Charm Person for general nastiness

That's a good all-rounder list. If your group is both well-organized and tolerant, a more nasty bugger would be fun, too. Zipping around and not being _too_ useful/show-stealing. More the opportunist scholar type -- not quite unlike Pratchetts wizards...

Quote from: SosthenesZipping around and not being _too_ useful/show-stealing. More the opportunist scholar type -- not quite unlike Pratchetts wizards..

That's what I'm talkin' bout.

You're gonna put down that crossbow at 3rd level and never touch it again. Don't fall too much in love with it, and certainly don't take any feats for it.

Pratchetty fun requires a rather tolerant group. Mages are pretty effective early on, so your fellow adventurers might expect you to chime in as hard as you can. Gets worse if your DM or the adventures he chose/made are particularly harsh.

Having said that, Expeditious Retreat will be your friend. Comprehend Languages is for your scholarly side. Grease is nasty. Reduce Person is a rather pacifist way of de-buffing -- or sneaking friends past obstacles. Animate Rope and Silent Image are the workhorses for all kinds of mischief.
This actually isn't that ineffective, you're just not made for combat.
Run and Point Blank Shot (with a heavy x-bow) would make for a nice mixture of Ridcully and Rincewind there...