Wow! There's all sorts of helpful replies here. Thanks guys!
Now, on to the spells...
Originally posted by Hygric
Vivid Discharge from either BoEM I or II. 2nd level, surrounds you in a crakling sheath of electricity that fries the first gammy sod to hit you in mellee.
I have BoEM I, and it isn't in there, so it's probably in BoEM II. I really ought to pick that up anyway. Anyway, this looks interesting.
Originally posted by Elder-Basilisk
You'll have other troubles as well. Casting a spell with somatic components requires a free hand--something you don't have if you have a sword in each hand. I'd think about modifying the concept to a sword and armor spikes, a double sword, or forget about two weapon fighting altogether.
The character isn't supposed to be a combat caster; like Michael Moorcock's Elric and Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, he's a swordsman who's skilled in magic, but doesn't actually cast spells (much) once the swords come out. And on a related note, The DM has instituted a house rule that spells with somatic components require both hands to be free. This pretty much rules out the "sword in one hand, somatic gestures with the other" approach anyway, even were I so inclined, and so I might as well go with two weapons.
Originally posted by Elder-Basilisk
Mage Armor is only useful if you don't wear the real thing. I'd consider buying real armor and living with the spell failure. Mithril chain shirts and mithril breastplates are the best purchases in this regard.
We're starting off at 1st level, and mithril armor won't be an option for quite some time. And while it's not too bad to fumble a
magic missile due to arcane spell failure, I'd really hate to blow my
shield spell. Still, I suppose I can get by with normal armor if it's absolutely necessary.
Originally posted by Elder-Basilisk
Also consider True Strike which is ideal for enabling you to successfully disarm anyone and Burning Hands. Since you'll be mixing it up close and personal, the short range isn't a limitation. Protection from evil is another must have 1st level spell.
True Strike is perfect; it doesn't even have a somatic component! I'll have to put that on the top of my list of starting spells. (With a 15 INT, I can start with 5 1st level spells.)
Burning Hands explicitly requires two hands to cast even without the house rule, so it's doubly out of the question, unless I plan to pick up Quick Draw, or if I'll be dropping weapons all over the place.
Protection from Evil looks like a good option as well, though it may be sub-optimal for one of my 1st level picks. It stacks well with armor, which may be its best benefit, at least until we start to run into opponents with
charm effects. And as with
shield, the short duration means I'll likely have to cast it when we're attacked, which is another chance for Arcane Spell Failure unless I go with Mage Armor. sigh.
Your comments on Blur and Mirror Image are very helpful; I'll still keep them in mind for the long term, as they do stack with all of the other defensive spells I might use, but in the short term I'll put stuff like Bull's Strength and Cat's Grace at the top of the priority list.
Originally posted by Darklone
Well well... Ciaran: Take a look at the spellsinger class in the KoK Players Guide.
Hmm... I hadn't considered that one. But even if the DM allowed it, it doesn't fit my conception for the character. Singing? Feh. And he isn't really all that charismatic. Giving him a high Charisma would actually mess with the concept, so any kind of Sorcerer variant is out.
Originally posted by Darklone
If you prefer to go wizard... Spellsword Pr Class.
I did consider this one. But aside from the question of whether my DM would allow it (and let's face it, it doesn't fit well with his house rule demanding two hands free for casting), it slows down my Wizard spell progression even more than it is already. I'd like to be able to cast, oh, 5th level spells someday.
Originally posted by maddman75
CHeck out the Book of ELdritch Might from Monte Cook. It has a series of spells that would be great for a melee mage - the marks. Each one is both a buff and attack. For instance, the Mark of Fire boosts your dex by a couple of points. But you can also 'spend it', losing the buff but doing damage to your enemy (IIRC - don't have the book right now).
Good call! I do have the original BoEM, and they are excellent choices. I simply never thought of those spells. Thanks!
Originally posted by KaeYoss
Hm... except the Assassin's Senses, these are all on the Bladesinger's Spell list.
The only problem with the Bladesinger: You must be an elf.
Even if I wanted to play an elf (and I don't), elves aren't available as a PC race in this setting. So no dice. And unlike the Spellsword, it doesn't add anything to my Wizard spell progression at all. Still and all, the Int bonus to AC is tempting. And on that note:
Originally posted by demon_jr
Consider getting 1 level in Duelist for the Int bonus to AC. I assume since you are mainly a wizard, Int would be your primary stat.
That's in Sword and Fist, right? Unfortunately, I don't have that particular splatbook. Can you give me some general info on the PrC? (I'd ask for a full detailed description, but I don't think that's entirely kosher.) An Int bonus to AC would rock, and would fit the notion of a skilled, intellectual swordsman.
Thanks, and keep those ideas coming! (please!)
- Eric
? Anyway, I agree with you. The Bladesinger seems like the perfect PrC for Ciaran's character concept.
