[Twan]

Taking E3, S3, A3, D1 seem the best.

If you have E+S3 you'll have rings of sorcery/wizardry.

If you have D1 and rings you can forge the 2 death boosters, summon liches, go for tartarians etc...

If you have ring of wizardrys + E3A3 you can have staff of elemental power and the air boosters.

Bonus, your pretender can cast rain of stones, gifts from heaven, earthquake, join communion and is able to forge crystal/slave matrixes, so any path you find can be boosted by a communion if a big battle spell is needed.