For me, the AE Mage Blade was a great fighter/mage style class, although I think the duskblade is pretty similar. I remember never really being happy with any of the Bladesinger classes (or kits, going back to previous editions as well), but when I read the Mage Blade thinking, "Yeah, that's it."
The iconic elven warrior/mage
wildstarsreach
First Post
phindar said:
What is "AE" or mage blade? Which supplement?
Arkhandus
First Post
He means Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed / Arcana Evolved (the latter is an expanded book, that includes some material from AU's supplements alongside the AU material itself).
The Mage Blade is a base class that mixes decent combat ability with decent spellcasting (combat ability somewhere between a fighter's and a bard's, spellcasting roughly equivalent to the bard's), fewer skills/skill points, and some minor benefits for the melee weapon they attune themselves to (as well as a gradual +1 or higher enhancement bonus to the weapon).
The Mage Blade is a base class that mixes decent combat ability with decent spellcasting (combat ability somewhere between a fighter's and a bard's, spellcasting roughly equivalent to the bard's), fewer skills/skill points, and some minor benefits for the melee weapon they attune themselves to (as well as a gradual +1 or higher enhancement bonus to the weapon).
Quartz
Hero
I think Bard's the simplest bet. Bard 10 / Divine Crusader 2 / Mystic Theurge 8 for serious Cha-monkey goodness with 6th level Bard spells and 9th level Divine spells and still get 3 attacks. If you want Weapon Specialisation or simply more HP, you can shade that to Bd 10 / DC 4 / MT 6 and still get 6th level Bard spells. Especially if you can invent a Song or Music or Oratory or similar domain. Better might be the Magic domain. At Epic levels you can take the Bonus Domain feat too. And you're all set for Epic spellcasting too.
rgard
Adventurer
jasin said:
Dragon Magazine. Not sure which issue, but it's a fairly recent one. Great replacement class feature. I think it reduces the ASF %; if I'm right about that it works best with Spellsword.
Thanks,
Rich
Edit: I'll find the magazine article and re-read it. I may be wrong about whether it lets you cast in light armor with no ASF or whether it reduces the ASF %.
drquestion
Explorer
Since I'll be in the campaign with you, I thought I'd throw my 2c in.
As far as choosing between the Battle Sorcerer or EK builds on the one hand or the Duskblade or Bladesinger type builds on the other, it seems like the main issue is whether you want to be primarily a caster who can also fight a little, or a warrior who dabbles in magic. I see the latter as a bit more "iconic," but that's a matter of personal opinion.
As for the initial, base warrior class, have you thought of Swashbuckler? The weapon finesse, and eventual ability to add Int to damage fits well with the graceful, canny style you'd expect an elven fighter-mage to have.
Also, there's a variant swashbuckler ability in Complete Mage called "Arcane Stunt" (it replaces Grace) that lets you pick a low level spell (jump, blur, and expeditious retreat are some of the options) and use a 1 round - duration version of it something like 1+Int times per day as a swift action. If you use that, and explain it as the result of your dabbling, it helps give you a magical feel right off the bat.
As far as choosing between the Battle Sorcerer or EK builds on the one hand or the Duskblade or Bladesinger type builds on the other, it seems like the main issue is whether you want to be primarily a caster who can also fight a little, or a warrior who dabbles in magic. I see the latter as a bit more "iconic," but that's a matter of personal opinion.
As for the initial, base warrior class, have you thought of Swashbuckler? The weapon finesse, and eventual ability to add Int to damage fits well with the graceful, canny style you'd expect an elven fighter-mage to have.
Also, there's a variant swashbuckler ability in Complete Mage called "Arcane Stunt" (it replaces Grace) that lets you pick a low level spell (jump, blur, and expeditious retreat are some of the options) and use a 1 round - duration version of it something like 1+Int times per day as a swift action. If you use that, and explain it as the result of your dabbling, it helps give you a magical feel right off the bat.
Aus_Snow
First Post
Ranger [1 or 2], Battle Sorcerer [x]. Some PrC or other, maybe. That'll be terribly suboptimal and all that, but quite 'elfy' and reasonably versatile, with luck. At least the light armour thing matches, with those. 
The poor elf would know next to zero spells, however. That's really the problem with the BS. Um, Battle Sorcerer.
I think Ranger would be a given, though. I wonder what PrC might fit a Ranger / arcane caster. I suppose there is Eldritch Knight. . . hrm.
The poor elf would know next to zero spells, however. That's really the problem with the BS. Um, Battle Sorcerer.
I think Ranger would be a given, though. I wonder what PrC might fit a Ranger / arcane caster. I suppose there is Eldritch Knight. . . hrm.
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