Which one is more powerful...

[william_iii]

1st: Archivist 5/Wizard 5/Mystic Theurge 30: can use all arcane & divine spells and a lot of spells per day

2nd: Archivist 13/Runecaster 22/Hirophant 5: can make runes & cast spells with a high penetration & DC

What's more, in Archivist's spell list there're also some 'arcane' spells such as Burning Bolt, Fireball or so on, which means that the amount of spells in the spellbook of 2nd isn't so poorer than 1st. But still there ARE some important arcane spells that only the 1st one can use, and the amount of spells per day of 2nd is about only half of 1st.

Hard to decide:|... any ideas?

BTW: the bonus feats of Runcaster after Lv10 are so weak that I decide not to build Archivist 5/Runecaster 30/Hirophant 5...

[heimdallw32]

The Mystic Theurge is more a "jack of all trades" of casters, his strength is versatility, not raw DCs or spell penetration. Also an amazing buffer since he has access to all the best buff spells in the game. Pair him with a strong melee partner and he can juice them up to an amazing degree while still having utility in alot of situations.

The other build you mentioned seemed to be aiming to have a blend of flexibility and spell strength, seems like a good combination to me as well. Heirophant can be powerful as all getout when taking the "Spell Power" feat for all five levels (stacks with Heirophant levels as well, for a resulting +10 to DCs and such).

I know you didn't mention it, but if you're aiming for something with the highest DCs, you can't go wrong with the Red Wizard (though that's the specialist of specialists...and is human only...and non-good only. <_< Not for everyone). Rediculously high DCs. (In the 40-60 range, potentially, depending on how much you min/max.)

Personally, I'd go with the first build you listed, but that's just my preferance for the MT's "I can cast any divine or arcane spell" and my lack of experience with the Runecaster.

[ThE LoSt BoY]

I suspect the higher DC tips the "power" argument.

However, on the fun-n-flexible side, the MT wins hands down. Having M-Acid Sheath, Elem Shield, Shadow Shield, IGMS + Divine Power, Living Undeath, Implosion, Heal, Regen, Gr. Restor, Fire-in-Blood, et.al. all-in-one build is hard to ignore.

I agree R-caster (epic) bonus feats are trash. WotC are idiots for not having the primary casting abilities (Gr. Wis, Gr. Int chains) in there (Epic Tuf I -> X = WTF???). I use the PRC Leto to swap them manually.