I don't know that one...and it's not in my database! Tell me more, and if you can, give me a page reference.
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Making an "Arcane Paladin" (Was: Martial Arcanists: I need a reminder)
- Thread starter Dannyalcatraz
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The Runesmith? Races of Stone, like he said, page 118.
That's part of the description from the book. More? You can probably find it by googling, but I'm antsy even quoting that much.
What kind of prereqs- besides being a Dwarf?
I'd probably just take a level in a warrior class with that proficiency.
If you don't mind me asking - Why bother with armor? At low levels, Shield, Mage Armor, Alter Self (Lizardfolk for +5 natural armor, or whatever you fancy), Mirror Image and Blur solve that problem quite nicely. Beyond that there simply is no reason to be within melee range of anything, ever. That's what your meat shield is for.
I design my PCs primarily based on concept, not game mechanics (though mechanics can inspire a concept). The armored arcanist is a concept I have enjoyed in literature that I often use in FRPGs (of all kinds). I enjoy PCs that mix marial prowess and mystic might. My last few 3.5Ed PCs included a Ftr/Rgr/Diviner/Spellsword based on Indiana Jones, a Sorc/Clc/M-T/Geomancer based on Swamp Thing (with an arcane spell list largely composed of spells without somatic spell components), and a scale-mail wearing, maul using PHB-standard Sorcerer (and former bouncer) who channeled all of his spell energy in combat through the Draconic Breath feat.
I also don't choose spells based on how objectively effective they are in the game, but rather how the PC in that campaign world would. IOW, they learn spells based on their interests and obsessions- and depending on campaign, old-school spell availability- not on the easily obtained or figured out list of optimal spells. So, while being aware of the protective spells that mean a Mage might never need actual armor, I rarely find myself playing a concept where my PCs learn many of them.
As for being in melee range, well...
A combination of factors- luck, PC concepts, playstyle, etc.- have resulted in arcanists (mine and other players') in our campaigns winding up in melee surprisingly often. In our 4Ed campaign, my Dwarven Warlock was on the front lines more than any other PC except the Dwarven Fighter and human WarPriest (and, thankfully, he had the second highest HP total, to boot).
I also don't choose spells based on how objectively effective they are in the game, but rather how the PC in that campaign world would. IOW, they learn spells based on their interests and obsessions- and depending on campaign, old-school spell availability- not on the easily obtained or figured out list of optimal spells. So, while being aware of the protective spells that mean a Mage might never need actual armor, I rarely find myself playing a concept where my PCs learn many of them.
As for being in melee range, well...
A combination of factors- luck, PC concepts, playstyle, etc.- have resulted in arcanists (mine and other players') in our campaigns winding up in melee surprisingly often. In our 4Ed campaign, my Dwarven Warlock was on the front lines more than any other PC except the Dwarven Fighter and human WarPriest (and, thankfully, he had the second highest HP total, to boot).
If I was a Wizard in a D&D world, I would already be considered crazy to hang around in moldy dungeons by everyone of my colleagues back in the Waterdeep College of Arcane Mysteries. At the very least, I would use as much of the magic I studied so hard from dusty tomes to stay alive. I still remember being that sickly kid who got beaten up for my botched attempt to turn the local bully into a hamster.
Even though I have an unhealthy taste for danger, I am not suicidal. I can fly where claws don't reach me, turn invisible so that archers don't see me, summon demons to keep the mob at bay... And of course the trusty hum of the mage armor, that deflected the bite of that nasty giant spider who suddenly dropped from the dungeon wall.
Armor? Are you crazy? That boneheaded Paladin almost drowned when he slipped in the sewers. I'd have been gone in seconds. And besides, it's really hard to do spell gestures in these. And why bother when you have ultimate arcane might?
(Purely in-game arguments...)
Even though I have an unhealthy taste for danger, I am not suicidal. I can fly where claws don't reach me, turn invisible so that archers don't see me, summon demons to keep the mob at bay... And of course the trusty hum of the mage armor, that deflected the bite of that nasty giant spider who suddenly dropped from the dungeon wall.
Armor? Are you crazy? That boneheaded Paladin almost drowned when he slipped in the sewers. I'd have been gone in seconds. And besides, it's really hard to do spell gestures in these. And why bother when you have ultimate arcane might?
(Purely in-game arguments...)
Or...
"I am a dwarf- the wearing of mela in battle is part of what it is to be a dwarf! At least, one worth his weight in iron..."
"Me? I wore armor as a bouncers or years- this magic thing is new. I'd feel naked trusting my spleen to a spell."
"Spells fail, steel doesn't. Besides, the fewer spells I waste saving my ass means more spells I can use saving yours."
"NOBODY expects the guy in heavy armor to lob a lightning bolt...nobody!"
"Invisibility? Mirror Image? I have read of those spells in my arcane research, but I have never seen rune nor sigil of them. And Flight? My rivals in the school across the Garron pass know that spell, but have not deigned to share that with me or anyone else...for obvious reasons."
And so forth.
"I am a dwarf- the wearing of mela in battle is part of what it is to be a dwarf! At least, one worth his weight in iron..."
"Me? I wore armor as a bouncers or years- this magic thing is new. I'd feel naked trusting my spleen to a spell."
"Spells fail, steel doesn't. Besides, the fewer spells I waste saving my ass means more spells I can use saving yours."
"NOBODY expects the guy in heavy armor to lob a lightning bolt...nobody!"
"Invisibility? Mirror Image? I have read of those spells in my arcane research, but I have never seen rune nor sigil of them. And Flight? My rivals in the school across the Garron pass know that spell, but have not deigned to share that with me or anyone else...for obvious reasons."
And so forth.
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instead of blowing feats and levels on it you are also able to pimp out your armor to make decrease the penalty to 0% as well. the penalty for not being proficient with an armor is that the check penalty applies to your attack and damage rolls, by making this penalty 0 then theres no reason why a wizard cant be running around in full plate. but if you make mithral or glassteel breastplate armor with the twilight enchantment and go to DMG II and take on one of the templates to decrease the ASF by 5% then youll have a +6 AC bonus and 0% ASF with no check.
all in all a +1 hell forged glassteel (i like it better then mithral but its exactly the same stats) breastplate, with twilight is going to be 11,450 gp with a +6AC(+7when ally adjacent) 4 dex bonus 0 check 0 ASF with a hardness of 21 with 45 HP and it counts as light armor so it wont decrease your movement.
all in all a +1 hell forged glassteel (i like it better then mithral but its exactly the same stats) breastplate, with twilight is going to be 11,450 gp with a +6AC(+7when ally adjacent) 4 dex bonus 0 check 0 ASF with a hardness of 21 with 45 HP and it counts as light armor so it wont decrease your movement.
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