Elven Fighter/Wizard Core Class

[demon_jr]

In my humble opinion, I am not in favor of tinkering with core classes, especially the fighter and wizard, two of the more balanced classes in the PHB. In my opinion, 2nd Edition elven fighter/mages became fairly powerful, especially when wearing elven chain and having the bladesinger kit. I feel the fighter and wizard presented in the PHB are balanced as is.

However, this is all just my opinion.

 

[Starseeker]

I was immensely dissapointed by the failure to include something like an elven wizard/fighter from 1e in 3e, but i do agree that the whole thing got a little outta hand in 2e!

I was rather hoping for a core class, if not even just a DMG prestige class like the wizard/fighter. too bad arcane archer couldn't be made some sorta longsword specialist.

I was rather thinking that a wizard fighter would be more like a arcane paladin, swapping all his divine spells for arance ones, gaining a familliar at first level instead of mount, and other typically elven bonuses in lieu of paladin abilites.

My idea would be to give the fighter/wizard a reasonable access to higher level spells, but give fewer spells overall. Or, they might require them to use another, scaled, XP table.

that might be a better idea, but i'd def be against the scaled XP table.

 

[National Acrobat]

Has anyone had to deal with a high level 3e Bladesinger yet? I have and I can tell you that they aren't chicken feed either. The one in question was 19th level (F4/Wiz7/Blade8) and while access to higher level spells was limited it was quite interesting to watch someone use 3rd and 4th level spells with Greater Spell Focus, Spellcasting Prodigy and Spell Penetration. It makes them effective. They were also great fighters with the Song of Celerity Ability that Bladesingers get at 8th level.

 

[MerricB]

Using standard 1E rules, an elf could become a Ftr7/MU11, roughly the equivalent of a Ftr2/Wiz11 in 3E.

Using standard 2E rules, an elf could become a Ftr 12/Wiz 15, roughly the equivalent of a Ftr 4/Wizard 15 in 3E.

I very much enjoy Tome and Blood - a quick reminder of the "multi-class" combinations within it:

Arcane Trickster: Wizard/Rogue multiclass; requires Rog4/Wiz5 to become, only gets 4 skill points per level, gains Wiz spells every level, gains sneak attack as normal, plus some other minor abilities.

Bladesinger: elvish Fighter/Wizard multiclass: minor dedicated spell-list, errataed version available as a free download from Wizards (See the Tome & Blood web expansion).

Spellsword: Fighter/Wizard multiclass: can cast spells in progressively heavier armour, +1 spell level per two levels, Cleric BAB, plus some other fun abilities. (probably requires a Ftr1/Wiz6, a Ftr2/Wiz4, or a Ftr3/Wiz3 to become).

Cheers!

 

[Psion]

Which is one reason that is the mostpowerful class in that book and many people think it is way too good.

There's people that think haste isn't broken, too. Just cause some people say it doesn't mean its so.


At any rate, I personally find the idea of a race-specific core class dumb.

The myrmidon in Mercenaries is alright, but the guardian is abusive.

 

[Desdichado]

Why not just use the Spellsword?

 

[Fenes 2]

Why not just use the Spellsword?

Cause it is not named "Elven Spellsword", or exclusive to elves (and maybe half-elves, if one is feeling generous).

 

[Desdichado]

Cause it is not named "Elven Spellsword", or exclusive to elves (and maybe half-elves, if one is feeling generous).

It could be, in your campaign!

 

[KnowTheToe]

Well, arcane trickster is overpowered.

But I must wonder, why not just multiclass? With the apprenticeship rules in the DMG, you can multiclass from the get-go.

Flavor and options. Since D&D stayed with a class base system with few options for diversifying many classes, it is easiest to try and create more class options to give players a choice.

Look at the ranger, many people don't think that does not meet their expectations of what a ranger should be and now there are literally dozens of alternate choices available.

 

[Assenpfeffer]

Cause it is not named "Elven Spellsword", or exclusive to elves (and maybe half-elves, if one is feeling generous).

So?

The idea of race-specific core classes goes against the 3E principle of removing exactly those kind of silly restrictions. If you want race-specific stuff, that's for you to decide for your campaiogn - it's not the job of the rules to mandate dicky little things like that. This isn't First Edition any more.