How are the Wu-Jen and the Shugenja in play?

[shilsen]

I will be joining a new group shortly where I'm thinking of running an OA-flavored spellcaster. It's a 3.5 game and I'm leaning towards either the Wu-Jen from Complete Arcane or the Shugenja from Complete Divine. I might also multiclass in both and head for Mystic Theurge. So I was wondering, have any of you used either of the two classes in your game? How did they work out in play? I'm interested in any aspects that you find worthy of mention, whether it be flavor, effectiveness, mechanical issues, their funny hats, etc.

And for those of you who haven't used them, what do you think of them in theory?

Thanks.

 

[demiurge1138]

Sohei wasn't in Complete Divine. You're probably thinking of the shugenja.

I've run games with both of them, and they seem to be fairly solid, flavorful classes. The wu-jen's got some issues with lots of new, exclusive spells to remember the rules of, nut that's probably more an issue for wizards who want to learn spells like decapitating scarf. The shugenja I DM for seems a bit weak compared to a straight cleric, but I think that was spell selection as much as anything, and they make for great support casters.

Demiurge out.

 

[shilsen]

Sohei wasn't in Complete Divine. You're probably thinking of the shugenja.

Thanks. That's the one. My books are back in the US (I'm in India over the summer), so I'm running essentially off memory here, and I haven't looked at either class in a long time.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Shugenja's pretty good-- their sense elements ability can be incredibly handy if used intelligently.

I'd agree that they're weaker than Clerics, though. They don't have the spellpower of a Wizard or Sorceror, but they don't have any of the Cleric's combat advantages, either.

The existence of the Wu Jen just irritates me. Like the Ninja, I think that Wu Jen simply doesn't merit a new base class on its own.

 

[Hawkshadow]

I'm playing a Wu Gen in an FR game and having quite a bit of fun with it. So far it really is just a wizard with a slightly different spell list, but the differences do make it interesting.

 

[Li Shenron]

The existence of the Wu Jen just irritates me. Like the Ninja, I think that Wu Jen simply doesn't merit a new base class on its own.

It's probably too similar to the wizard, but it was originally suppose to replace the wizard in oriental settings. In fact it is almost a wizard variant. But if one allows both western and eastern classes in the same setting, then some overlappings are quite sure.

 

[shilsen]

Here's a related question - Does the wu jen have any Sor/Wiz spells on its list? I seem to recall (correct me if I'm mistaken) that the shugenja does share a lot of spells with the cleric (and druid?), but I'm not sure about the wu jen.

 

[MerricB]

Here's a related question - Does the wu jen have any Sor/Wiz spells on its list? I seem to recall (correct me if I'm mistaken) that the shugenja does share a lot of spells with the cleric (and druid?), but I'm not sure about the wu jen.

I'm betting on detect magic. Let me have a look...

Yes. Quite a few, though there are quite a few unique spells as well.

Cheers!