Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dirk00001 May 24, 2006 16:46:55	After weeks of putting it off, I finally got obsessive and finished up the initial draft of my advanced being Epic PrC for arcane/psion characters who have gone the Shadow Wizard route. In this case, the reasons for doing so relate to my campaign - I allow shadow wizards as a variant of the base wizard class rather than as a PrC, and of course one of my players decided that he wanted to go the Advanced Being route with it. Well, many, many game sessions later, he's reached the point where he's got to prepare himself for the transformation, and so I in turn had to make the darned thing. As an initial clarification, to rebute some criticisms I know are going to be posted - this PrC/metamorphosis combo is designed for a specific character, basically, so although I've tried to write it in such a way that anyone could theoretically take it, it requires a lot of DM work in order for a PC to follow this path; not only does it require that the character have the Black Touched template, something which the DM will have to work into the storyline, but the Epic metamorphosis spells are, by design, intended to be taught to the character by Rajaat himself - again, possible, but requires a lot of plotwork on the part of the DM. (...also assuming that, in your campaign, Rajaat is still trapped in the Hollow...the prelude to The Cerulean Storm describes Khidar visiting Rajaat where the Black and the Hollow meet, so it's apparently possible for the First Sorcerer to converse with anyone capable of making it that far. But I digress) Also, the 9th level power requirement is correct - I don't want PsyWars or other "melee" psionic classes to be taking this class, as it really isn't designed to be one. The Shadow Archon is a spell- and power-slingin' monster, a "Champion of Rajaat Mark III" if you will, designed to exact retribution upon those that betrayed the First Sorcerer. With that in mind, I look forward to comments on this. I'm posting this right before leaving on vacation for a few days, so I'll be looking forward to seeing what kind of responses it's generated upon my return. Thanks one and all in advance! -Dirk ------ This thread will cover the EPrC; the Metamorphosis spell chain is in a different thread: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=642947
#2 dirk00001 May 24, 2006 16:47:44	Shadow Archon [indent]“Deny the Dragon his levy, no matter what the cost – ten-thousand lives lost will more than make up for what he will do with the lives of a thousand. Do this and you will attain power beyond your current comprehension. Do not even think of failure.” - Rajaat to the first of his shadow archons[/indent] Shadow archons are individuals, highly skilled in the arcane arts as well as the Way, who have been chosen by Rajaat to serve as his agents of revenge against the Dragon and Sorcerer-Monarchs. Through a series of rituals performed within the Steeple of Crystals atop the Pristine Tower, a shadow archon is imbued with the essence of the Black, changing their form and bestowing upon them powers and abilities enabling them to take on – and destroy – the immortal rulers of the Tablelands. Shadow archon, like the dragons from which their transformation process was initially based, are able to combine their mastery of the Way with arcane spellcasting to produce psionic enchantments. Unlike dragons, however, many of the psionic enchantments available to a shadow archon are specifically tailored to affect powerful psionic or magical opponents, enabling them to augment their spells and powers in ways that pose a serious threat to those who once fought to cleanse Athas of non-humans. Additionally, shadow archon are able to directly tap into the arcane energy innate to the Black, enabling them to further augment their magic and even develop supernatural abilities. To Rajaat, a shadow archon is the symbolic embodiment of his current condition as well as his desire to exact retribution against those who imprisoned him; although it is unlikely he would choose a half-breed to undergo the transformation, the race of his new disciples is largely meaningless as it is the drive to rid Athas of the Sorcerer-Monarchs that Rajaat desires. Any individual displaying a strong affinity for both psionics and arcane magic, especially those who have some sort of connection to the Black, may draw Rajaat’s attention and find themselves whisked away by a shadow giant for a face-to-face meeting with the First Sorcerer himself. Hit Die: d8 Requirements To qualify to become a shadow archon, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 24 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 24 ranks, Knowledge (the Planes) 12 ranks. Feats: Any 2 metamagic feats and 2 metapsionic feats. Special: Must be able to cast 9th-level arcane spells and manifest 9th-level psionic powers. Special: Must have the Black-Touched template and have cast the shadow metamorphosis I spell. Class Skills The shadow archon’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Psicraft (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int). Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
#3 dirk00001 May 24, 2006 16:48:41	Revision History: * 5/24/06 - Initial Post
#4 zombiegleemax May 24, 2006 16:56:09	sounds like a great idea. I don't know about whether or not they should be large, or able to combine the forms to a certain extent, but i picture a mixed between the uncarnate and the incarnate of the void.
#5 dirk00001 May 28, 2006 23:48:29	Ugh, no comments or anything? Does it at least look "balanced" when compared to the Dragon PrC, or do any of the options stick out as too powerful, too much, or too repetative?