War mage needed to be redone, in my opinion - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

War mage needed to be redone, in my opinion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
true_blue
Jun 23, 2005 12:32:29 Once i saw the war mage prestige class, I always thought of it as vastly overpowered. I kind of ignored it and didnt worry about it because my players actually went different ways when they played their wizards, and didnt really look at it too much. Then I started designing a wizard for my Eberron campaign and thought just how much a war mage prestige class would fit him. So i took another look at the PrC from Age of Mortals, and came to the conclusion that in order to use it, I'd have to switch it around. I'm not a big fan of doing thing, but I just have that much a problem with the PrC.

If you go up 5 levels in wizard, you get spells and a bonus feat. Now if you take 5 levels in war mage, you gain spells, 2 feats, 3 allies get your charisma bonus to their AC as long as they are within 30 ft of you, 2 metamagic feats, extra +3 damage per die on damage, and -10% arcane spell failure. I saw this as way too much.

You do have to take three feats in order to get into it, but woopty do.. you were probably going to use some of those feats for metamagic feats anyways..so use your regular ones to get into the PrC..and then you get two free ones anyways. I realize that the extra damage has been errated to only being able to be used 3+Con mod tomes per day.. but that still will be around 5.. still not bad.

My original NPC was a Sorceror.. and I started thinking, man that Arcane Aegis would be sick... you can get a +6 very easily.. with a +7, +8 really viable in mid levels. I realize that the guy has to be within 30 ft, but still..thats a hell of a lot to add to 3 of your allies' AC.

I rewrote the war mage and gave him a d6 HD..I thought that fit a little better. Then I gave him light armor proficiency, since i figured it made sense.. he trains in light armor and becomes able to use it and still cast spells without failure because of all that training.

I rewrote for the war mage to get these powers in this order:

1) Arcane Aegis (1 ally)
2) Battle Magic (+1), Arcane Spell failure (-5%)
3) Arcane Aegis (2 allies)
4) Battle Magic (+2), Arcane Spell failure (-10%)
5) Arcane Aegis (3 allies)

Spells would be gained:

1) None
2) +1 spellcasting
3) +1 spellcasting
4) +1 spellcasting
5) +1 spellcasting

I'm starting to see a growing trend of PrC's in the newer books making the first level of a PrC lose out on spells, and I think this is a good thing. It helps alleviate some of the power the PC is getting, also making there be a reason to stay in sorceror/wizard... you gain spells faster.

Arcane Aegis now users whatever your prime spellcasting attribute is, but you divide it by 2 (rounding down). This means if you are a wizard with an 18 Int, your allies get a +2 to their AC. I think this is so much better. It can't get nearly as ungodly as before. Also a sorceror isnt preferred over a wizard in this situation. Also the war mage decides on their turn who gets the bonus and the person has to be within 30 ft when the decision is being made. The war mage could move and then decide. If the ally getting the bonus leaves the area, they lose out on the bonus, even if they came back (It could go either way, where they could regain it, but for some reason I like this better)

The Battle Magic works the same as in the original PrC, but now errata is removed. The PC can use it as many times per day as they want. I dont see a +2 as being nearly as bad. An extra +20 to the fireball is really nice though.. but i still think its a solid ability and war mages should be able to dish out some damage.

I lost the feats that the original has because I thought they were just overkill. They werent needed in the PrC.

I dunno, I guess I just post this just to see other people's reactions. I'm really not a big fan on changing classes writtin in the books, but in c ertain cases I feel I have to in order to make the choice viable. I think its stilla very good PrC, but tempered a little. Does anyone think that this is more powerful then the other? Any comments appreciated.
#2
Dragonhelm
Jun 23, 2005 13:12:29 You're absolutely right, the war mage is a bit overpowered. That's why there's errata on it in Towers of High Sorcery.

And if that doesn't float your boat, then I would be more than happy to host any variants on the Nexus.
#3
wolffenjugend_dup
Jun 23, 2005 16:51:30 War Mages still need to be a part of the Wizards of HS, correct? (At least, during the WotL era and assuming he/she isn't a renegade)

Doesn't that make the War Mage's Armoured Spellcasting ability useless?
#4
daedavias_dup
Jun 23, 2005 17:06:45
War Mages still need to be a part of the Wizards of HS, correct? (At least, during the WotL era and assuming he/she isn't a renegade)

Doesn't that make the War Mage's Armoured Spellcasting ability useless?

Well, if a wizard wants to be a rigid follower of tradition, they would likely not wear armor. But your Qui-Gon Jinn's(for lack of a better reference) would see such formalities as useless. You still will not likely see a wizard using a sword, but having padded or leather armor integrated into their robes would probably be not too rare. Remember, padded and masterwork leather armor and magical variations of each don't need proficiency, since they don't have an armor check penalty.
#5
Dragonhelm
Jun 23, 2005 17:43:18 The war mage can be used in any number of ways. The WoHS, Thorn Knights, Legion Sorcerers, renegade wizards, and regular old sorcerers can all be war mages. I think it would even work for a bard.
#6
darthsylver
Jun 23, 2005 19:49:42 Daedavias, what book is your quote from?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 true_blue Jun 23, 2005 12:32:29	Once i saw the war mage prestige class, I always thought of it as vastly overpowered. I kind of ignored it and didnt worry about it because my players actually went different ways when they played their wizards, and didnt really look at it too much. Then I started designing a wizard for my Eberron campaign and thought just how much a war mage prestige class would fit him. So i took another look at the PrC from Age of Mortals, and came to the conclusion that in order to use it, I'd have to switch it around. I'm not a big fan of doing thing, but I just have that much a problem with the PrC. If you go up 5 levels in wizard, you get spells and a bonus feat. Now if you take 5 levels in war mage, you gain spells, 2 feats, 3 allies get your charisma bonus to their AC as long as they are within 30 ft of you, 2 metamagic feats, extra +3 damage per die on damage, and -10% arcane spell failure. I saw this as way too much. You do have to take three feats in order to get into it, but woopty do.. you were probably going to use some of those feats for metamagic feats anyways..so use your regular ones to get into the PrC..and then you get two free ones anyways. I realize that the extra damage has been errated to only being able to be used 3+Con mod tomes per day.. but that still will be around 5.. still not bad. My original NPC was a Sorceror.. and I started thinking, man that Arcane Aegis would be sick... you can get a +6 very easily.. with a +7, +8 really viable in mid levels. I realize that the guy has to be within 30 ft, but still..thats a hell of a lot to add to 3 of your allies' AC. I rewrote the war mage and gave him a d6 HD..I thought that fit a little better. Then I gave him light armor proficiency, since i figured it made sense.. he trains in light armor and becomes able to use it and still cast spells without failure because of all that training. I rewrote for the war mage to get these powers in this order: 1) Arcane Aegis (1 ally) 2) Battle Magic (+1), Arcane Spell failure (-5%) 3) Arcane Aegis (2 allies) 4) Battle Magic (+2), Arcane Spell failure (-10%) 5) Arcane Aegis (3 allies) Spells would be gained: 1) None 2) +1 spellcasting 3) +1 spellcasting 4) +1 spellcasting 5) +1 spellcasting I'm starting to see a growing trend of PrC's in the newer books making the first level of a PrC lose out on spells, and I think this is a good thing. It helps alleviate some of the power the PC is getting, also making there be a reason to stay in sorceror/wizard... you gain spells faster. Arcane Aegis now users whatever your prime spellcasting attribute is, but you divide it by 2 (rounding down). This means if you are a wizard with an 18 Int, your allies get a +2 to their AC. I think this is so much better. It can't get nearly as ungodly as before. Also a sorceror isnt preferred over a wizard in this situation. Also the war mage decides on their turn who gets the bonus and the person has to be within 30 ft when the decision is being made. The war mage could move and then decide. If the ally getting the bonus leaves the area, they lose out on the bonus, even if they came back (It could go either way, where they could regain it, but for some reason I like this better) The Battle Magic works the same as in the original PrC, but now errata is removed. The PC can use it as many times per day as they want. I dont see a +2 as being nearly as bad. An extra +20 to the fireball is really nice though.. but i still think its a solid ability and war mages should be able to dish out some damage. I lost the feats that the original has because I thought they were just overkill. They werent needed in the PrC. I dunno, I guess I just post this just to see other people's reactions. I'm really not a big fan on changing classes writtin in the books, but in c ertain cases I feel I have to in order to make the choice viable. I think its stilla very good PrC, but tempered a little. Does anyone think that this is more powerful then the other? Any comments appreciated.
#2 Dragonhelm Jun 23, 2005 13:12:29	You're absolutely right, the war mage is a bit overpowered. That's why there's errata on it in Towers of High Sorcery. And if that doesn't float your boat, then I would be more than happy to host any variants on the Nexus.
#3 wolffenjugend_dup Jun 23, 2005 16:51:30	War Mages still need to be a part of the Wizards of HS, correct? (At least, during the WotL era and assuming he/she isn't a renegade) Doesn't that make the War Mage's Armoured Spellcasting ability useless?
#4 daedavias_dup Jun 23, 2005 17:06:45	War Mages still need to be a part of the Wizards of HS, correct? (At least, during the WotL era and assuming he/she isn't a renegade) Doesn't that make the War Mage's Armoured Spellcasting ability useless? Well, if a wizard wants to be a rigid follower of tradition, they would likely not wear armor. But your Qui-Gon Jinn's(for lack of a better reference) would see such formalities as useless. You still will not likely see a wizard using a sword, but having padded or leather armor integrated into their robes would probably be not too rare. Remember, padded and masterwork leather armor and magical variations of each don't need proficiency, since they don't have an armor check penalty.
#5 Dragonhelm Jun 23, 2005 17:43:18	The war mage can be used in any number of ways. The WoHS, Thorn Knights, Legion Sorcerers, renegade wizards, and regular old sorcerers can all be war mages. I think it would even work for a bard.
#6 darthsylver Jun 23, 2005 19:49:42	Daedavias, what book is your quote from?