sun wizard prc?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Dec 09, 2004 3:58:21
Just wondering if anyone has any plans on creating a prestige class for a sun wizard? figure something 10 levels, the ability to extend durations of spells while the sun is up, full spellcasting advancment . . .

say that can extend x number of durations per day, where x is a number of times depended upon your level (like at 2, 6 and 10 level you get to do it once more, with a max of 3 extended durations per day), you get a minor-level personal enhancement active during the daylight (stat-wise sadira had an armor spell and strenght spell when she was in sunlight) either ones of your choice or predetermined ones like sadira had. d4 for hit dice. worst possible will saves (remember sadira was pretty much a tool of rajaat), just average fort and ref saves. no need for life energy to cast spells.

if you wanna get wonky, you could add in some "sun powered" metamagic on spells. or have it that there's no need for material components when your magic is powered by the sun.

so at first level you get some sort of armor spell and you take on the ebony skin color for the duration of the sun. at 2nd you get [something]. at 3rd level you can extend the duration of one of your spells to last the length of the day. at 4th level you gain a strength-enhancing spell that lasts all day long. at 5th level you get [something]. at 6th you can extend another spell for all day long. at 7th level your armor effect gets stronger or you get damage reduction. at 8th your strength effect increases. at 9th you can extend another spell. at 10th your mastery allows you to cast spells without needing any material components. +1 spellcasting level each level, crappy saves and crappy hit dice.


this is just an idea. i'd prolly look at the ceruleans and shadow wizards to get a better idea. ii've never built a prc before, but these are just on the fly ideas. so has anyone, or is anyone ever going to make a sun wizards prc?


nic
#2

elonarc

Dec 09, 2004 4:51:00
I have no intention doing a sun wizard prestige class. I also see no reason doing so, the process was one of a kind, there won't be any more sun wizards IMHO.
But go ahead and do if it suits you.
#3

Sysane

Dec 09, 2004 10:03:50
I'd like to see sun wizard more as a template than a class, but it could go either way I guess. Easier if its a template though
#4

jesterjeff

Dec 09, 2004 10:16:54
I'd say it was more of a template. The body of said sunwizard changes in daylight, they gain 8levels equivlent in spellcasting ability and use sunlight to power the spells.

As a Template, I'd give the sunwizard access to the sundomain at their level, extra hit dice, spelllike abilities and some elemental reistance, heat and cold are most likely.
#5

Sysane

Dec 09, 2004 10:26:13
I look at sun wizard along the lines of the shade. So long as the wizard is exposed to natural sunlight they get bumps to caster level, Str & Con.

Nice and simple. :D
#6

nytcrawlr

Dec 09, 2004 13:27:30
I'd like to see sun wizard more as a template than a class, but it could go either way I guess. Easier if its a template though

I'll agree with the template thing.
#7

Pennarin

Dec 09, 2004 17:19:35
A dragon is a prestige class. Champion is a template.

The appropriate parallel for a Sun Wizard is a Champion, thus her transformation is a template.

Sadira was created in the Pristine Tower, with the black waters, and the Steeple of Crystals. She's two elements short of being a Champion: the Dark Lens and Rajaat. Plus the Shadow People didn't set out to create a Champion but...a Sun Wizard.

So she has an uber template that gives her incredible power as long as the sun is in the sky, but it only boosts what is already there: if she can't cast 9th-level spells yet, then she still can't, but her 8th-level spells might be more powerful than 9th-level spells with all those enhancements.
#8

jon_oracle_of_athas

Dec 09, 2004 18:02:53
*raises hand*

Template.
#9

jaanos

Dec 09, 2004 18:09:45
*stands up*

"I second that motion"

*raises hand*

Template.

#10

nytcrawlr

Dec 09, 2004 19:11:03
/me pulls a Flip and bangs the gavel

Motion carried.
#11

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 10:35:41
Any suggestions as to what this template should entail?

Here's what I'm thinking:

- Increase to Str, Con, Int by +2
- +5 to caster level
- Spell Resistance 15
- Heal 2 hit points each round (I'm iffy on this one)

These powers of course are only in effect when in sunlight and cease functioning in the absence of natural sunlight.
#12

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 13:49:25
Any suggestions as to what this template should entail?

Here's what I'm thinking:

- Increase to Str, Con, Int by +2
- +5 to caster level
- Spell Resistance 15
- Heal 2 hit points each round (I'm iffy on this one)

These powers of course are only in effect when in sunlight and cease functioning in the absence of natural sunlight.

The shade template from FRCS might be a good place to start IMO.
#13

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 13:55:38
The shade template from FRCS might be a good place to start IMO.

I looked at that and it had crazy powers and abilities that really couldn't be applied. (i.e. mirror image 3xday, darkvision, etc...)

I took what I could from it and got what I typed above. Just looking for further input.
#14

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 14:01:22
Any suggestions as to what this template should entail?

Here's what I'm thinking:

- Increase to Str, Con, Int by +2
- +5 to caster level
- Spell Resistance 15
- Heal 2 hit points each round (I'm iffy on this one)

These powers of course are only in effect when in sunlight and cease functioning in the absence of natural sunlight.

There's also a lot of stuff that Beyond the Prism Pentad got wrong and need rectification.
Her strength is greater, yes, but she also is unmovable: find psionic powers or a combination of feats that make you impossible to move. Add high DR (remember those lirrs in the desert?) and you're on the right track.
Agree with shade template.
#15

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 14:02:51
I looked at that and it had crazy powers and abilities that really couldn't be applied. (i.e. mirror image 3xday, darkvision, etc...)

I took what I could from it and got what I typed above. Just looking for further input.

Nate is suggesting it a as a base point to start from, not as a port.
#16

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 14:05:24
There's also a lot of stuff that Beyond the Prism Pentad got wrong and need rectification.
Her strength is greater, yes, but she also is unmovable: find psionic powers or a combination of feats that make you impossible to move. Add high DR (remember those lirrs in the desert?) and you're on the right track.
Agree with shade template.

Ah, forgot about the immovability, thanks. You think she had DR though? I'd take that more as a natural armor bonus or something.

Like I said before. The shade template really didn't help much.
#17

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 14:08:05
I look at sun wizard along the lines of the shade.

Never thought I'd quote myself, but thats what I suggested from the start of this thread. ;)
#18

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 14:12:18
I looked at that and it had crazy powers and abilities that really couldn't be applied. (i.e. mirror image 3xday, darkvision, etc...)

What's wrong with giving it darkvision?
#19

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 14:39:02
What's wrong with giving it darkvision?

It being a creature powered by the sun and losing its powers in the absence of sunlight.

It just didn't seem to make sense or sound right to me.
#20

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 15:18:30
When she was removed from ths unlight though, didn't she retain stored energy? Maybe it was just when she was thrown into the black (or was it the gray?), but she'd cast spells, and depending on the power of the spell bits of her body would return to their normal color, losing the benefits of being ebony-skinned super mage as she cast her spells.


there should be something along the lines of the template being linked to the spells prepared and ready. Like say add a bunch of metamagic to all spells ready while in the sun, then when there's no sun one gets a percentage of regular benefits (dr, increased str, whatever) based on how many spell levels of the sun-enhanced magic have been cast since the sun left.

for instance.

during daylight hours Matachin the sun wizard is ebony-skinned, super-powered and has kick-ass magic in the form of memorized and prepared spells. He smacks the children and takes names. The sun goes down, he's traped in another dimension, whatever . . . point being he's no longer directly connected to his font of power.

Some more kids come running at him, so he casts a fireball and burns them to death. The fireball is exceptionally strong, enhanced by stored sun power. His left hand and part of his arm returns to nrmal color, drained of stored sun energy. His super strength, armor or dr and all diminish slightly. More kids come, he casts more spells . . . when half his body has been drained of stored sun magic, his peripheral benefits (strength, armor, etc) function at half capacity. When he's cast x number of spells (some fraction related to wizard level or tied to an ability scre or something) his stored sun energy is depleted. he no longer has his peripheral benefits. He likely still has spells left from the sun memorization, but they no longer benefit from his abilities as a sun wizard.


So in the sun, the SW functions at full-blown super smash em up capacity. Once immediately removed from the sun, the SW yet functions at full capacity . . . until he casts a spell. Every spell cast after the sun goes down diminishes the SW's power until a number of spells have been cast (int modifier +1/5 level?) that completely deplete the stored solar energy, after which it's back to regular old defiling and preserving.


Anyone follow what I'm saying?
#21

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 15:19:46
It being a creature powered by the sun and losing its powers in the absence of sunlight.

It just didn't seem to make sense or sound right to me.

Hmmm, good point.

Coffee hasn't kicked in yet, heh.
#22

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 15:34:09
It's not impossible to move her, the Dragon did it at least once, in the Daylight.
#23

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 15:41:05
Anyone follow what I'm saying?

Its a good concept, but seems it would be a overly complicated mechanic for just a template. It even seems complicated for a class or PrC.
#24

Kamelion

Dec 10, 2004 15:54:37
Check out immovability. Effective, but not foolproof when faced with very strong opponents with dumb names like "Borys", and it even has DR as well. This is the text from the SRD:

Immovability
Psychometabolism
Level: Psychic warrior 4
Display: Visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Concentration
Power Points: 7
You are almost impossible to move. Your weight does not vary; instead, you mentally attach yourself to the underlying fabric of the plane. Thus, you could conceivably anchor yourself in midair. Any creature attempting to physically move you must succeed on an opposed Strength check, and you gain a +20 bonus on the check. You can’t voluntarily move to a new location unless you stop concentrating, which ends the power.
You cannot apply your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class; however, your anchored body gains damage reduction 15/–.
You cannot make physical attacks or perform any other large-scale movements (you can make smallscale movements, such as breathing, turning your head, moving your eyes, talking, and so on). Powers with the teleportation descriptor, or any telekinetic effect, manifested on you automatically fail.
Augment: If you spend 8 additional power points, you can manifest this power as an immediate action.

#25

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 15:57:22
I'll add that to the template. :D
#26

Kamelion

Dec 10, 2004 16:00:31
As for the spellcasting boost, you could give the sun wizard a hefty bonus to Caster Level (Sadira had something like +8, iirc). When removed from direct sunlight, strip this away at a rate of -1 CL per round, with corresponding changes to appearance. To keep it simple, key the template's other abilities to specific CLs. So if you give +8 CL, have some powers go right away, others go when the wizard is down to +4 CL and the last few vanish when the final bonus CL disappears. That's three stages of loss. Or, if that is too much, do it in two stages, with some powers disappearing at CL +4 and CL +0. Make sense?
#27

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 16:29:56
When she was removed from ths unlight though, didn't she retain stored energy?

Nope.

Maybe it was just when she was thrown into the black (or was it the gray?), but she'd cast spells, and depending on the power of the spell bits of her body would return to their normal color, losing the benefits of being ebony-skinned super mage as she cast her spells.

She had to use her own life force to cast spells while she was in the gray, she came close to killing herself.
#28

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 17:07:17
It is not sure weither or not she used her own life energy in the Gray that time.

When she enters the Gray its daytime outside, so she has ebon skin. In the Gray, there is no daytime or nightime, so she has what powers are presently in her body. She's still powered-up but doesn't get more energy from the sun anymore.

When she casts her spells in the Gray, she uses the energy of the sun that's in her ebon skin. With each spell more and more of her skin returns to its normal color.

Thus I don't think someone can use his own life energy to power spells in the Gray, just people with energy already stored into them, like Sadira.
#29

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 17:22:32
As for the spellcasting boost, you could give the sun wizard a hefty bonus to Caster Level (Sadira had something like +8, iirc). When removed from direct sunlight, strip this away at a rate of -1 CL per round, with corresponding changes to appearance. To keep it simple, key the template's other abilities to specific CLs. So if you give +8 CL, have some powers go right away, others go when the wizard is down to +4 CL and the last few vanish when the final bonus CL disappears. That's three stages of loss. Or, if that is too much, do it in two stages, with some powers disappearing at CL +4 and CL +0. Make sense?

That could work. Its a pretty straight forward mechanic. What do you think if the bonus was tied to the wizards caster level. Say it adds a bonus equal to half the character's arcane caster level? Example: a 18 level sun wizard would add a +9 caster level bonus when in direct sun light effectively making them a 27th level caster?

Or if that is to much it could be a quarter of their caster level rounded down. In the example above that would mean a +4 bonus to the 18th level wizard's caster level effectively making them a 22nd level caster?

Just throwing some ideas around.
#30

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 17:35:05
It is not sure weither or not she used her own life energy in the Gray that time.

When she casts her spells in the Gray, she uses the energy of the sun that's in her ebon skin. With each spell more and more of her skin returns to its normal color.

Thus I don't think someone can use his own life energy to power spells in the Gray, just people with energy already stored into them, like Sadira.

Except that she was getting weaker with each casting. I don't mean weaker as in losing her sun powers either, I mean weaker as in draining life away.

It describes it as she is almost to the point of dying and is unconscious for quite some time afterward once she leaves the grey.
#31

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 17:59:27
That can mean she's protected from the Gray's deleterious effects while empowered.

As she drain her power, she becomes affected. Could mean that every person who goes physically in the Gray (mentally is another way) becomes sick from all the negative energy.
#32

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 18:22:17
That can mean she's protected from the Gray's deleterious effects while empowered.

As she drain her power, she becomes affected. Could mean that every person who goes physically in the Gray (mentally is another way) becomes sick from all the negative energy.

I don't think it's that cut and dry, especially when it outright points out that she is pulling energy from herself to power her spells.

Note that since she is more or less an advanced being, is the reason she was able to do this. Any other poor wizard sob that gets thrown in there won't have the same amount of luck.
#33

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 19:46:25
Note that since she is more or less an advanced being, is the reason she was able to do this. Any other poor wizard sob that gets thrown in there won't have the same amount of luck.

My bad, my bad. I was sure the Gray rules in TotDL permitted any wizard from using their own life energy: its not the case.

Then yes, the sun wizard template needs to reflect that she can use her own energy. A little like Hamanu can in RaFoaDK.

But, don't forget that when she drains herself to cast those spells in the novel, she also drains her sun wizard...sun-ensorcelled flesh. Its clearly showned to shrink until its gone. So when she drains her life energy, the energy of the sun already in her flesh counts as her own life enrgy as well.
#34

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 19:56:34
But, don't forget that when she drains herself to cast those spells in the novel, she also drains her sun wizard...sun-ensorcelled flesh. Its clearly showned to shrink until its gone. So when she drains her life energy, the energy of the sun already in her flesh counts as her own life enrgy as well.

I vaguely recall that.

Maybe she can store a little amount of sun energy in her skin to cast sun spells even when it's night and/or there is no sunlight.

Say like character levels/4 in sun spell levels or something? Don't want it to be too high.
#35

Pennarin

Dec 10, 2004 20:06:33
Not what I had in mind.

Earlier I wrote that she still has ensorcelled flesh in the Gray because 1) it was daytime when she entered the Gray, 2) in the Gray "there is no rest" and other weird time-related effects, so I'd think that for her its like its eternally daylight.

Still, the sun is not there (she's not no longer on Athas after all) so she doesn't get more power than what she brought with her into the Gray.

Also I wouldn't think she can store sun energy in her flesh or she would have done so in a number of occasions, including the showdown between her and Dhojakt near the fall of night.
What I'd say instead is that her ensorcelled flesh "counts" as a number of spell levels or feet of ground to be defiled. It would be a fixed number. Say it counts as 15 levels of energy. Fixed because she's of Medium size and thus has a limited amount of ensorcelled flesh on her.
#36

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 20:16:53
What I'd say instead is that her ensorcelled flesh "counts" as a number of spell levels or feet of ground to be defiled. It would be a fixed number. Say it counts as 15 levels of energy. Fixed because she's of Medium size and thus has a limited amount of ensorcelled flesh on her.

This on top of gathering energy from her life force?

Not sure I like that.

I'd say just let her use her lifeforce to empower her spells if she's not in sunlight or has no plant life near her.

The effect just makes her go pale which is more or less what I think Denning was trying to portray.
#37

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 20:19:53
This on top of gathering energy from her life force?

Not sure I like that.

I'd say just let her use her lifeforce to empower her spells if she's not in sunlight or has no plant life near her.

The effect just makes her go pale which is more or less what I think Denning was trying to portray.

Plus leeching your own life force to power spells sounds more like a feat than a mechanic of a template.
#38

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 20:26:15
That could work. Its a pretty straight forward mechanic. What do you think if the bonus was tied to the wizards caster level. Say it adds a bonus equal to half the character's arcane caster level? Example: a 18 level sun wizard would add a +9 caster level bonus when in direct sun light effectively making them a 27th level caster?

Or if that is to much it could be a quarter of their caster level rounded down. In the example above that would mean a +4 bonus to the 18th level wizard's caster level effectively making them a 22nd level caster?

So is there any merrit to this or is it to over powered?

Thoughts?
#39

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 20:27:05
Plus leeching your own life force to power spells sounds more like a feat than a mechanic of a template.

Nothing wrong with it being part of the template.
#40

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 20:28:06
So is there any merrit to this or is it to over powered?

Thoughts?

I'm mulling it over, don't really like either one right now.
#41

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 20:32:35
Nothing wrong with it being part of the template.

Just feel it would be better served as a feat that any wizard, defiler or preserver, should be able to do. Leeching your own life force doesn't sound very "sun-like", but its does sound very preserver like.
#42

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 20:34:55
Just feel it would be better served as a feat that any wizard, defiler or preserver, should be able to do. Leeching your own life force doesn't sound very "sun-like", but its does sound very preserver like.

No, but it does sound very advanced being like, and I'm sure something similar will be part of that template/PrC combo, etc.

So why not have this be part of this template since it is indeed an advanced being template?
#43

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 20:36:41
I'm mulling it over, don't really like either one right now.

I felt it just seemed better than having it be a set numbered bonus to caster level. Powers that grow as the caster/charcter does have a nice feel to them IMO. Granted it would need a cap at some point.
#44

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 20:39:50
No, but it does sound very advanced being like, and I'm sure something similar will be part of that template/PrC combo, etc.

So why not have this be part of this template since it is indeed an advanced being template?

I admit it would fit an avangion or a dragon that was desperate for spell energy. Maybe it would be an epic level feat?
#45

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 20:46:55
Avangions are actually sources of magical energy. According to Dragon Kings, they require no external energies, and so would never need to cannibalize themselves for spell power, no matter where they are.
:fight!: :fight!:
#46

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 21:25:46
Avangions are actually sources of magical energy. According to Dragon Kings, they require no external energies, and so would never need to cannibalize themselves for spell power, no matter where they are

Well any epic level arcane spell caster for that matter. It feels more that it should be an epic feat rather than a default power to all advanced beings.
#47

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 21:31:00
Dragons still require external energy. Lots of it. In fact, they go from just leeching plants to animals as well. Asvanced Being character Elementals still draw their strength from their palne of devotion. Avangions, and avangions alone, generate their own magical energy.I don't know if you have had the privilege of seeing Xlorep's work in progress on converting the Dragon and Avangion classes, but these convepts carry over into 3E. Xlorep, if that's revealing too much, I apologize. Just let me know and I'll edit this post to omit the reference.
:fight!: :fight!:
#48

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 21:40:34
I just think it fits the template as an ability since it is an advanced being template more or less, even though it isn't making anyone a dragon or avangion.
#49

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 21:55:52
I totally agree that the Sun Wizard and the Dragon should be able to cannibalize their own life energy to cast spells. I just meant that only the Avangion generates a spell energy reservoir seperate from their life force, and thus would be the only ones unharmed by using internal energies to power spells in the grey.
#50

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 22:03:02
I just meant that only the Avangion generates a spell energy reservoir seperate from their life force, and thus would be the only ones unharmed by using internal energies to power spells in the grey.

Well yeah, they are a freaking walking tree of life, heh.

Let me clarify, I don't think Dragons should get it, just the Sun wizard template.

Why? Because Dragons already have an edge, they can pull energy from animals and humanoids to power their spells on top of the normal plant life requirements.
#51

zombiegleemax

Dec 10, 2004 22:05:26
And, maybe it's not too much of a leap that Dragons could pull life energy from the spirits in the Gray. It's never specified if the energy they pull from creatures is purely physical life energy, or spiritual as well.On a side note, I always thought it was awesome how they could selectively leech energy from plants or animals. Like Borys in his sanctum. Green all around, but not even a bug in sight.
#52

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 22:24:11
just the Sun wizard template.

Why? Because Dragons already have an edge, they can pull energy from animals and humanoids to power their spells on top of the normal plant life requirements.

Being a living solar battery isn't enough of an edge? They could always default back to defiling or preserving. Especailly when not in sun light.

Thats two sources right there without tapping into their own life energy.
#53

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 22:28:46
Being a living solar battery isn't enough of an edge? They could always default back to defiling or preserving. Especailly when not in sun light.

Thats two sources right there without tapping into their own life energy.

True, but that's all they get while dragons and avangions get much, much more.

Besides, if you make it a feat then anyone can get it, if it's just in this template, then it's going to be real hard to get.

I don't want every wizard running around being able to draw his own life energy to fuel his spells.
#54

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 22:35:06
True, but that's all they get while dragons and avangions get much, much more.

Besides, if you make it a feat then anyone can get it, if it's just in this template, then it's going to be real hard to get.

I don't want every wizard running around being able to draw his own life energy to fuel his spells.

It wouldn't be just any wizard, it would be epic level wizards which are rare. That is unless your subscribe to that wizards can't advance past a certian level without being an advanced being of some type. I think thats more 2e than 3e thinking though.
#55

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 22:37:15
It wouldn't be just any wizard, it would be epic level wizards which are rare.

Even more rare would to make it an ability of the template which only one person will have. ;)
#56

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 22:53:33
Even more rare would to make it an ability of the template which only one person will have. ;)

True, but thats the whole template itself. There is only one sun wizard on Athas, and more than likely, going to stay only one.

I just think a feat like that would benefit non advance beings more than it would advanced beings.

Look what a sun wizard template already does:

-Increased Str, Con, Int
-Increased caster level
-Immovability
-Damage reduction
-Spell resistance
-Cast spells without draining life force. Thats great in the Dead lands and similar areas!

Some other powers to think of:

-Heat/fire resistance or immunity
-Energy substitution Fire/Heat
-Fast healing while in sun light

Plus I don't know if I necessarly feel that sun wizard is an epic only template.
#57

nytcrawlr

Dec 10, 2004 23:09:00
True, but thats the whole template itself. There is only one sun wizard on Athas, and more than likely, going to stay only one.

That's my point. ;)

I just think a feat like that would benefit non advance beings more than it would advanced beings.

And I don't want them to be near that ability, otherwise it kills the Cerulean, Gray, and Necromancer PrCs too much IMO (can't remember all the PrC names, hope I got them all right).

Some other powers to think of:

-Heat/fire resistance or immunity

I'd say immunity. She was blowing out blew steam alot when she talked and such, makes sense that any fire/heat attack isn't going to do anything to her.

-Energy substitution Fire/Heat

As in a free metamagic feat? That's cool.

-Fast healing while in sun light

I was debating this, but I think it's best to not go there.

Plus I don't know if I necessarly feel that sun wizard is an epic only template.

I do, heh.
#58

Sysane

Dec 10, 2004 23:36:34
And I don't want them to be near that ability, otherwise it kills the Cerulean, Gray, and Necromancer PrCs too much IMO

I've never been to fond of those concepts in 2e or in 3e.
#59

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 1:23:06
But the concept of the Necromant and the Shadow Wizard have a new potential incarnation in the Warlock class, who is different enough from the standard preserver and defiler to not usurp their role in the game, yet more than powerful enough to hold their own. And the effects and descriptors of their invocations perfectly suit using the Gray and the Black as the source of their power. I'm not too fond of the cerulean however, :raincloud , as the source of their power is a phenomenon that could , in the end, prove to be temporary.
:fight!: :fight!:
#60

Kamelion

Dec 11, 2004 5:35:23
Just feel it would be better served as a feat that any wizard, defiler or preserver, should be able to do. Leeching your own life force doesn't sound very "sun-like", but its does sound very preserver like.

There is a feature similar to this in Jon's prestige class document, under the Leech class. I'm not sure how relevant it is to what you are looking to do here, but here's the ability, for reference:

Cannibalizing Raze: The leech can cannibalize her own life force to power her spells. While casting a spell, she can increase her effective caster level by one, but in so doing she takes 1d8 points of damage. At 6th level, she can choose to increase her effective caster level by two, but she takes 3d8 points of damage. At 10th level, she can increase her effective caster level by three, but she takes 5d8 points of damage. The damage caused by Cannibalizing Raze requires a Concentration skill check DC 10 + damage inflicted. A failed skill check means the spell fails, but it is not expended.

#61

Sysane

Dec 11, 2004 8:21:34
There is a feature similar to this in Jon's prestige class document, under the Leech class. I'm not sure how relevant it is to what you are looking to do here, but here's the ability, for reference:

Similar to what I'm thinking, but the feat I was purposing would just allow the ability to cast spells without tapping into an external force like plants, animals, sun, etc. It also wouldn't provide a bump in caster level. It would only allow the caster to tap into their own life energy to cast spells in the absance of any other energy source (i.e. a preserver or defilier in the Dead Lands).

I was thinking it would do 1d8 damage per spell level of the spell being cast. Example, A wizard casting a 3rd level spell powered by his own life force would take 3d8 points of damage. The d8 might need to drop down to a d6 instead. I'm not to sure how thats going to play out yet.
#62

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 12:04:47
D6 sounds more on par, figuring that it's the standard damage die for a lot of common spells, and equal damage potential inflicted on the caster and victim sound about right, if you're using your life - force to power spells. Or maybe even a d4, since the life energy being drawn is more of a catalyst for the effect.
#63

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 17:50:43
The using one's own lifeforce to power spells as an epic feat is awesome. Whether Saira was doing it or not, I don't clearly remember. But Hamanu was explicitly stated as doing it, and I think that bit of character development is important. So making it an epic feat seems like a cool idea. Then you don't have every wizard running around using it. It wouldn't kill the shadow, cerulean or necomancers, because those prcs are unique due to other abilities, and a wizard couldn't take the feat until they were epic. Even then it would have serious drawbacks with the damage. One could put in a procision that one could take the feat multiple times, and each time reduces the die used (from d8 to d6 to d4). Of course for people like Hamanu and Sadira who may or likely have fast healing, it's not quite as dangerous, but still.


nic
#64

Pennarin

Dec 11, 2004 19:03:06
It would have to be some new category, like "life energy damage". If fast healing can heal that, then a simple magic item that gives fast healing combined with that epic feat would allow you to do incredible things.
Damage inflicted by siphoning one's life energy would have to take time to heal, to be true to the flavor, and could be healed by divine healing magic because that magic uses positive energy in D&D, which is pretty much the same as life energy.
I mean that someone with fast healing does not regenerate his life energy spent. Such a person is not a fountain of life energy. That's reserved for avangions, who seem to actively generate life energy.
#65

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 19:48:44
The damage should be temporary constitution damage or temporary negative levels, then. No need for a new type of damage.
#66

Pennarin

Dec 11, 2004 20:51:08
I did not mean that literally. Sorry for the confusion.

Under the feat/ability/whatever, it should say that the hit point damage inflicted by the effect can only be healed by the daily amount of hp one gets and by receiving divine healing magic.

A little like certain types of negative levels: some can be healed in many fashions, while others can only be healed a certain way. Both are negative levels, they have the same definition, but the effect granting those negative levels is not the same for both occasions.
#67

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 21:03:33
Agreed, but wouldn't it just be easier to find something that conforms to an already existing type? Maybe vile damage? Just trying to keep things simple.
#68

Pennarin

Dec 11, 2004 21:30:43
Vile damage is perfect but for one detail: its evil, while draining your own life energy is neutral at best.
Worst, the effects of Ktandeo's Cane in the novels was seen as a moral stand: better to take a little from people than to risk harming the land at all. In that case harming people was a good thing...wierd, huh?!
#69

zombiegleemax

Dec 11, 2004 21:54:37
Right . Forgot about that....I'll check other sources for something similar...
#70

Sysane

Dec 12, 2004 0:41:03
So what is the general consenus about how being a sun wizard effects the casting of their spells? Should it increase the caster level in some way or should it bestow a meta magic feat effect of some kind?
#71

zombiegleemax

Dec 12, 2004 1:06:30
Both, I think. Sadira was supposed to have been made a Sun Wizard specifically to defeat Sorceror Kings, Borys in particular. So I think the sun wizard's spellcasting during the daylight hours should be enhanced with several metamagic feats, as especially spell penetration and spell focus, regular, greater and epic, and the caster level should be significantly boosted as well, perhaps tens of levels, to bring it on par with a dragon king's magic.
#72

Sysane

Dec 12, 2004 9:27:11
I think those could be better represented with her actually taking the feats her self through level advancement. An increase in caster level pretty much mimics several metamagic feats.

I do agree that it could be justified that a spell penetration mechanic could be added to the template though.
#73

Kamelion

Dec 12, 2004 10:15:24
So what is the general consenus about how being a sun wizard effects the casting of their spells? Should it increase the caster level in some way or should it bestow a meta magic feat effect of some kind?

I'd go for the caster level boost and maybe add in a feature or two that mimics the effect of a metamagic feat that you feel is most appropriate (spell penetration, like you mentioned, is probably not a bad idea).
#74

zombiegleemax

Dec 12, 2004 12:31:56
I think Spell Penetration ,greater and epic, maybe more than one epic, and intensify. She was given her powers specifically to kill Borys,and to do it with magic, and would need to contend with dragon magic, which under the right circumstances, has similar and greater effects. Really, to determine what she should have, look at xlorep's Greater Dragon Magic and give her those benefits as long as she's in the sun.If that seems like a lot, just remember that Borys was also like 50' and a few tons......and Sadira's just an average sized half-elf.
#75

Sysane

Dec 12, 2004 15:10:12
Should the increased caster bonus be a fixed number(+4 or something) or would it be better to have it level dependant like I suggested earlier in the thread (25% of the actual caster level)?

Also, is this bonus only for determining the spells level based effects (i.e range, duration, damage die, etc) or does it actually increase the wizards caster level all around. Meaning does it also increase the # of spells per day and the level of spells she can cast as well?
#76

Pennarin

Dec 12, 2004 17:01:14
Right . Forgot about that....I'll check other sources for something similar...

The XPH lists 3 types of ability damage: ability damage, ability drain, and ability burn damage (p.67).

Personnaly, I like ability burn damage. Its used in the Body Fuel feat: gain 2 PP by taking 1 point of ability burn damage to your three physical ability scores, representing your body: Str, Dex, and Con.

Something similar could be done: replace 2 PP with 2 spell levels.
The power you can muster is no longer related to your character level but rather to your ability scores, which better represent the drain on your life energy.
#77

Kamelion

Dec 12, 2004 17:16:57
Should the increased caster bonus be a fixed number(+4 or something) or would it be better to have it level dependant like I suggested earlier in the thread (25% of the actual caster level)?

I would tend to go for making it a fixed bonus, as a % increase could scale too rapidly, but you could always cap it to avoid that if you preferred.

Also, is this bonus only for determining the spells level based effects (i.e range, duration, damage die, etc) or does it actually increase the wizards caster level all around. Meaning does it also increase the # of spells per day and the level of spells she can cast as well?

The notes on caster level on 3.5 PHB p 171 suggests that it would not increase the # of spells per day or the level of spells that could be cast - only the other CL-related factors. However, that doesn't gel with the precedent under 2e rules, where Sadira got a definite boost to her overall level, so you would probably be justified in making the boost an actual boost to spellcaster level (like with a prestige class that stacks spellcaster levels). You'd need to make sure the wording was clear in that regard, though. My Prism Pentad books are still packed at the moment - are there any concrete examples in the later PP novels that show Sadira casting spells beyond her actual level? I can't remember offhand and this might also be a good source to check for precedent.
#78

Sysane

Dec 12, 2004 18:28:35
I would tend to go for making it a fixed bonus, as a % increase could scale too rapidly, but you could always cap it to avoid that if you preferred..

I think a % would work with a cap. I'm thinking +10 max.


The notes on caster level on 3.5 PHB p 171 suggests that it would not increase the # of spells per day or the level of spells that could be cast - only the other CL-related factors. However, that doesn't gel with the precedent under 2e rules, where Sadira got a definite boost to her overall level, so you would probably be justified in making the boost an actual boost to spellcaster level (like with a prestige class that stacks spellcaster levels). You'd need to make sure the wording was clear in that regard, though. My Prism Pentad books are still packed at the moment - are there any concrete examples in the later PP novels that show Sadira casting spells beyond her actual level? I can't remember offhand and this might also be a good source to check for precedent.

I can't recall any instance of her casting spells that she couldn't before. I think it was more that the spells she could cast were more powerful.
#79

nytcrawlr

Dec 13, 2004 15:11:14
I've never been to fond of those concepts in 2e or in 3e.

Well, it's official unfortunately, and some PrCs have already been created.

The question becomes are you working the template to being accepted as official or just for your own means?

If the former then I suggest not doing what you are wanting to do as a feat if unofficial, then go for it.
#80

Sysane

Dec 13, 2004 16:04:45
Well, it's official unfortunately, and some PrCs have already been created.

The question becomes are you working the template to being accepted as official or just for your own means?

If the former then I suggest not doing what you are wanting to do as a feat if unofficial, then go for it.

I don't see where if it were to be an offical epic feat how it would interfere with those classes and PrCs.
#81

nytcrawlr

Dec 13, 2004 16:15:25
I don't see where if it were to be an offical epic feat how it would interfere with those classes and PrCs.

Because it's allowing any wizard out there able to take that feat at epic levels the ability to do that, where if you want an alternative source to pull energy from you have to take a PrC.

I'd rather it just be something an advanced being can do and leave it at that.
#82

Sysane

Dec 13, 2004 16:36:15
Because it's allowing any wizard out there able to take that feat at epic levels the ability to do that, where if you want an alternative source to pull energy from you have to take a PrC.

I'd rather it just be something an advanced being can do and leave it at that.

Its just a variation of channeling life energy. Instead of external life forces, its your own. Its seems to go pretty much hand and hand with defiling and preserving. Now if it were a feat that allowed you to channel a totally different energy (i.e. sun, storms, black, grey, rainbows, etc...) that would be trampling all over those PrCs.

Plus its not without a price. The wizard is actually taking damage. They don't take damage from those others sources. Additionally, those very same PrCs could take the same feat and reap the same benefits.
#83

Sysane

Dec 17, 2004 11:36:11
Do you think with this template the sun wizard (sun touched?) would take on a subtype or remain its base creature type?
#84

Kamelion

Dec 17, 2004 12:33:48
I'd say leave the base creature's type unchanged. There are templates already that don't change type, so it wouldn't be an issue.
#85

lyric

Dec 28, 2004 2:58:08
I'd like to see sun wizard more as a template than a class, but it could go either way I guess. Easier if its a template though

I agree with that too.. that way it could be added to a Dragon PrC.

Can you stack multiple templates?
#86

Sysane

Dec 28, 2004 8:12:35
I agree with that too.. that way it could be added to a Dragon PrC.

See the finished template here:

Sun Wizard Template


Can you stack multiple templates?

Yes you can.