How-to build a kick-ass arch mage...

I wanna do this. Any suggestions?

In a nutshell good point.

...& who only has a 60% chance to affect you. I would take those odds in a duel any day. Additionally, we are talking about *Archmages*, not mid-level Wizards. The damage cap is generally exceeded by then.

Because being 2 levels lower than everyone else makes for a fantastic wizard.

Where *did* this legend come from? In common sure, you can definitely fling fireballs with a
DC 1 higher then the guy next to you - who's sporadically flinging Enlarged
Fireballs with an extra 2d6 damage.

This is a decidedly itneretsing prospective, but I know better than to argue with anecdotal evidence.

Last word.

Ah, right, the amusingly spell resistance thing.

<snort>

<giggle>

Archmages, with spell power and spell penetration, are needlessly worried by a SR of their level +9. Hoo.

Too much of a specialist to currently be an Archmage, in my opinoin.

Drow make great Archmages. I personaly like a combination of Wizard,
Archmage, &amp; Loremaster. Also i've one character with a single level in Pale
Master (Tome &amp; Blood), and I have seen some folks take a few in War Wizard (Magic of Faerun). I am sure there are others out there.