[Dusk] Revising the Magi

[Michael Morris]

I would like to discuss some minor changes to the five magi classes of the Dusk setting that have considerable impact on their power level. Their current writeup is at...

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/hosted/Dusk/?file=./classes/magi.php


Criticism has been leveled at the classes as being too narrowly focused, to the point of unusability. Further, it's been pointed out to me that the classes actually have strong DISINCENTIVE for taking the 10th level as written.

So here's the proposed fix. The base attack bonus and saves are unchanged. The class gains a spellcaster level at all levels. The spell power entry and the spell secrets entries are removed. The abilities of the magi are revised as follows..

Weapons & Armor: A magi does not gain extra weapon or armor proficiencies from his magi class.

Spellcaster Level +1: The magi gains an extra spellcasting level in his previous class. This increases the number of spells he knows and can cast. Other features associated with leveling in a class (such as bonus feats, familiar abilities, turning, etc) are not gained. If the character has multiple spellcasting classes, he must choose one.

Favored Color: The magi considers all spells of his color to be on his spellcasting list at the level given for his color. This will lower the level that many spells are gained at. Sorcerers and bards may, when they become a magi, adjust their spells known list once to reflect this change and special training.

Opposition Colors: The magi cannot learn new spells of any opposition color, though he does retain knowledge of those he acquired before becoming a magi.


The spell power feature is dropped. There, simpler and more to the point - but is it overpowered?

 

[gpetruc]

For the wizard part I don't think is overpowered; maybe for the sorcerer, who probably won't ever have taken any spell in the opposing color, it's slightly overpowered. Maybe if you want to tone
it down you could restrict the rearrangement of spells known at a maximum of 1 spell/character level changed.

----
A little OT: I know you never used non-OGC material in the setting (expecially the splat books) to avoid possible copyright issues at publishing time. But I think that Magic spell names are heavily copyrighted, aren't they ?

 

[Michael Morris]

You can't copyright single words or phrases of common words. Note that I haven't used any proper nouns or made up words from MtG

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

I'm not sure about balance, but I think the current incarnation is fine, with perhaps a neat 10th level ability depending on the color of path the character has chosen. It doesn't have to be a type change, but something in line with the character's chosen area of specialization.

Edit-Maybe make it similar to the Caller PrC or the Arch Druid PrC and grant the 10th level some sort of Reagent status over that color in their continent or world. Before achieving this 10th level, perhaps there's a certain rite to be able to challenge the holder of the 10th level, and each color has its own neutral battleground for this. Just a thought.

 

[Oni]

Hurm....the proposed solution seems a little bland.

The mechanic is very similar to the Enhanced specialization from the Red Wizard PrC. While I know the colours of magic aren't necessarily equal, loosing continued access to roughly 2/5 the spelllist is pretty rough. The Red Wizard PrC might be a good template to look at for designing the magi, I know some people have qualms about the powerlevel (though depending on how many spells your giving up this can be more or less of an issue) but that can be tweaked.


Perhaps some sort of prereq feat with a little stronger flavor, like a Colour affinity. You could do various things with this. Like perhaps +1 caster levels while in places rich in a certain colour, or automatically detecting the presence of spells of a certain colour. Or +1 caster level in colour of choice -1 caster level in both oppositions colours. A feat like this could serve as a halfway point for potential magi, and make the change more gradual.


If I recall correctly there is a plane associated with each of the colours in Dusk, perhaps you could create some kind of template for creatures from each of those respective planes, and this is something the magi could achieve at 10th level.


Well just some random brainstorming, don't know if any of it's useful.

 

[Michael Morris]

Magi gain as many if not more spells than they lose. I've made sure of that much.

As to it being bland, I'll admit guilt to this but I want the personality of each color to come out in their spells, not their abilities.