DMG - Eldritch Knight

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

(Arcane Strike Feat)

DAMN that's NASTY!

TS

 

[LokiDR]

I invoke the spirits of the "Fair Use" clause!

Sorry, but that doesn't fall into the fair use clause of copyright law unless it was published with licence. This will not stop me from copying it for my own records and perpetuating the copyright infringement.

 

[hong]

I personally don't like the monk. They should fix that.

I did. See URL in sig.

 

[hong]

It sound to me like you are saying that D&D is an utterally flawed system that is so hung up on it's history that it will never work. examples of this core flaw are the eldritch knight and the wizard. Am I reading you right.

Nope. Try again.

 

[drnuncheon]

Sorry, but that doesn't fall into the fair use clause of copyright law unless it was published with licence. This will not stop me from copying it for my own records and perpetuating the copyright infringement.

Not to hijack, but I think it does. It was for purposes of commentary. It is certainly less than 5% of the original work (which seems to be the cutoff that the courts use to determine what is 'excessive'), and it does not directly compete with the sale of the magazine (since very few people want to pay $7 for one feat.) But that's really a discussion for another thread...

J

 

[hong]

Not to hijack, but I think it does. It was for purposes of commentary. It is certainly less than 5% of the original work (which seems to be the cutoff that the courts use to determine what is 'excessive'), and it does not directly compete with the sale of the magazine (since very few people want to pay $7 for one feat.) But that's really a discussion for another thread...

Y'know, you're making a lot of noise for someone who was gonna take a break.

 

[DiFier]

One spell used up, one attack boosted. Its powerful, but not unbalanced. And it fits the theme of the EK perfectly.

Ah good. I think I like that feat. It seems to go well with the EK too. might be a little powerful. I'm not sure I'll take it but it does give that extra pop.

It'll be very powerful when you've been kidnapped by slavers and don't have your spell book.

Now do you lose a prepared spell like a cleric spontainously casting a cure spell or do just prepare less spells per day.

 

[Dragonblade]

You lose one of your prepared spells that day. Or one of your slots if you are a sorcerer.

For example, I have three fireballs memorized, so I give up one of my fireballs and my next attack is +6 to hit and +3d6 damage. Next round, I have only two fireball spells left for that day. I can power up another attack, cast a fireball spell or do something completely different.

When I first read the feat, I immediately thought about how powerful it seemed. But then after thinking about it, I realized that the bonuses you get are in line with the amount of damage or the boost you could get for casting a spell of comparable level. For example, +6 to hit and +3d6 damage is good. But its only for one attack and your 3rd level spell is used up for the day. Compare that to say a potential 10d6 fireball (that affects multiple opponents), or Fly, or 3.5 Haste (which lasts several rounds and boosts multiple allies), and you realize it isn't really unbalanced at all.

And then when I finally got the 3.5 DMG and I read the Eldritch Knight PrC, I thought that this feat and that class are a match made in heaven!

Another consideration is that this helps the DM a lot more than the PCs. For example, a PC EK has to conserve his spells over the course of an entire day's worth of encounters and combats. He could supercharge all his attacks in one combat but he is wasting precious spell slots and he will be hurting in his next fight.

A group of NPC EKs with that feat who confront the party can use the feat with impunity since they only exist to fight the PCs once. This is real handy for me since I run a high level game and some of my players have min-maxed their AC into the 50s. Hitting them is a real pain in the arse!

With this feat in my hands, they just became a lot easier to hit!

 

[DiFier]

it will also help when fighting creatures with DR and SR. SR cause you say to yourself so I'm not gonna hit him with that fireball I memorized but now I get +6 to hit and +3d6 damage.

 

[Fedifensor]

Actually, if you don't like the EK because it's boring, but don't think it's overpowered, you may want to pick up Arcana Unearthed. Monte's mage blade is about equal in power level, but has a LOT more flavor.

The following is from my post on Monte's boards:

Comparison - Fighter-Mage in D&D 3.5 versus AU

5th level:
D&D 3.5 - Fighter 1/Wizard 4
Hit Points 10+4d4 (20 average)
Base Attack +3
Base Saves +3/+1/+4
Access to 2nd level spells (2+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (Fighter bonus feat, Scribe Scroll)

AU - Mage-blade 5
Hit Points 8+4d8 (26 average)
Base Attack +3
Base Saves +2/+2/+2
Access to 2nd level spells (0+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (Athame, Shimmering Shield)

10th level:
D&D 3.5 - Fighter 1/Wizard 6/Eldritch Knight 3
Hit Points 10+6d4+3d6 (35 average)
Base Attack +7/+2
Base Saves +7/+3/+6
Access to 4th level spells (2+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (2 Fighter bonus feats, Scribe Scroll, Wizard bonus feat)

AU - Mage-blade 10
Hit Points 8+9d8 (48 average)
Base Attack +7/+2
Base Saves +4/+4/+4
Access to 4th level spells (0+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (Athame, Shimmering Shield, 2 Bonus Feats, Athame Defense, Sprightly Step, Summon Athame)

15th level:
D&D 3.5 - Fighter 1/Wizard 6/Eldritch Knight 8
Hit Points 10+6d4+8d6 (53 average)
Base Attack +12/+7/+2
Base Saves +10/+4/+7
Access to 7th level spells (1+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (2 Fighter bonus feats, Scribe Scroll, Wizard bonus feat)

AU - Mage-blade 15
Hit Points 8+14d8 (71 average)
Base Attack +11/+6/+1
Base Saves +6/+6/+6
Access to 5th level spells (2+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (Athame, Shimmering Shield, 3 Bonus Feats, Athame Defense, Sprightly Step, Summon Athame, Slice Through Wardings, Familiarity With Magic)

20th level:
D&D 3.5 - Fighter 1/Wizard 10/Eldritch Knight 9
Hit Points 10+10d4+9d6 (66 average)
Base Attack +15/+10/+5
Base Saves +11/+6/+11
Access to 9th level spells (2+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (2 Fighter bonus feats, Scribe Scroll, 2 Wizard bonus feats)

AU - Mage-blade 20
Hit Points 8+19d8 (93 average)
Base Attack +15/+10/+5
Base Saves +9/+9/+9
Access to 7th level spells (1+bonus from stat)
Class Abilities (Athame, Shimmering Shield, 4 Bonus Feats, Athame Defense, Sprightly Step, Summon Athame, Slice Through Wardings, Familiarity With Magic, Spell Parry, Slice Through Spells)

In these comparisons, Mage Blades have a definite edge in HP and class abilities, while the D&D Fighter-Mage build has a significant edge in spell capability. Both have comparable Base Attack and Saves.

Overall, from what I can tell, a mage-blade would be a balanced addition to a D&D 3.5 game. Mage-blades have more of an emphasis on fighter (or anti-spellcaster, with their spell-negating class abilities), while the D&D fighter-mage has the definite emphasis on mage.