Getting close to decision point on whether to take 1 lvl of Rogue for UMD and Spot skill on my caster, at the expense of greater dispel immunity. I have tumble covered, that's not a factor.

Essentially it breaks down to the following Ads and Disads for this build:

23 Mage 1 Rogue: + UMD, + 32 Spot, - 5% Greater Dispel

24 Mage: - No UMD, - No Spot, + Greater Dispel immunity

Mage is currently 22nd level. Going thru fire giants' lair she gets dispelled about every 3rd or 4th spawn. And that's with 10% chance of dispelling. Make me think that 23 levels and 5% chance dispel would be a bigger drag than I first thought.

How necessary is UMD? Will the mythal crafting system make up for items can't use? Can live without 32 Spot if comes down to it, but really wondering about UMD. Always had at least 1 lvl of Rogue in every build, so never gone without UMD. But I've never had a PC that made it past low epic levels, so I don't know how the end game plays and what's useful once a PC hits max.

What would you do in this situation?

As a caster I think you need UMD the least, and your PvM sanity might improve if you were Greater Dispel immune. The spires is one of the few places that actually spams dispels on a spawn-regular basis. If you've got tumble covered, you might enjoy the peace of mind of a higher caster level.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

I haven't leveled my mage to the top, but from PvE perspective it seems, that 20+ lvls seem to be enough in most areas. But as I surely have not been everywhere and have not reached 30 with mage char (with planned 23 wizard) I might be wrong

UMD is however not really that useful on mage. However few disarm trap and lockpick can get you safely into Gauntlet and Abyss' shop.

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Zendaer Amattis
Torgon Crimsonshade
Khalid Athanalo
CET time zone

What do you plan on using the UMD for?

You already have access to haste and improved invisibility, I suppose death ward?

Gear wise you lose access to the rogues helm, one of the more useful helms.

Is there any gear you had in mind that requires it?

Yea, I'm kind of leaning that way. Build was planned to include 1 rogue, but recent experience makes me want that dispel immunity.


There's the rub. I know very little about epic gear except for what I've found hunting frost and fire giants. Few nice things I've come across that I'd like to use but can't. And I suppose that's not even epic level stuff. Never heard of rogue's helm, but sounds tasty. It's things like that that make me want UMD. The known unknowns.

Is it worth losing Dispel immunity?

On a related topic...

Do you plan on taking disarm traps and lockpicking?
I was reading through "fishing" topic and I've discovered parts about wizard SD, which deals with similar problém - if you want to go 24 or 23 wizard.

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Zendaer Amattis
Torgon Crimsonshade
Khalid Athanalo
CET time zone

I decided to go Wiz 23 1 Rogue and suck up the 5% dispel chance. UMD and rogue fits the PC's RP; she's kind of modeled on Lara Croft tomb raider, a collector of magical relics and the like. It just makes sense she'd figure out how to use them, since it's a core trait. And yes, she will have open lock and disarm trap skill ranks, not a lot but hopefully enough.

Hope this works out, don't end up with buyer's remorse taking UMD over dispel immun. Time will tell....

Thanks for the feedback.

Just go 23 caster/ 1 bard
Arcane caster levels stack, but you'll need a 10cha

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Gerald Edmund
Discord: Metal Viking Guy #5433

DC taxation is theft!