jasin
Explorer
Is there a Ftr/Wiz type of class that would be the opposite of the
spellsword, in the sense that it's not a fighter with spells but a
wizard with a sword? Who doesn't use spellcasting to augment combat
prowess, but uses combat prowess to augment spellcasting? I don't think
so, so I made one.
At first glance, the sword mages of West Ielun might seem similar to the
elven Bladesingers or the heavily armoured Imperial Spellswords: all are
sword-wielding mages. However, unlike the Bladesingers and the
Spellswords, a sword mage is an arcanist first and foremost, then
warrior. Instead of using spells to enhance his swordsmanship, he uses
swordsmanship to enhance his spells, sending deadly magic down the
length of his blades at the moment the enemy is most vulnerable: the
moment the blade strikes him.
Most sword mages are wizards, but many sorcerers also follow the path.
Bards usually find that the sword mage training draws them away from
their bardic pursuits too much, but sword mages who started their
careers as bards are by no means unknown.
SWORD MAGE
Requirements:
Feats: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (longsword, bastard sword or
greatsword).
Skills: spellcraft 8+ ranks.
Spellcasting: Arcane caster level 5th.
Special: Must be train with a sword mage for one week.
HD: d6
BAB: medium
Fort: bad
Ref: bad
Will: good
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Concentration (Con), Craft
(Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (history)
(Int), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Profession (Wis), and
Spellcraft (Int).
Live by the sword: A sword mage learns special techniques that meld
spellcasting with swordsmanship. All his class abilities that mention
the use of swords can only be used when he is wielding a sword in which
he has Weapon Focus in two hands. He doesn't need to have a hand free to
cast spells with somatic components as long as he's wielding a sword,
and the sword also replaces any material or focus components of
negligible cost. Finally, the sword mage can use Combat Expertise when
casting any spell that requires a melee attack or a melee touch attack,
including any spells cast using the Through the blade ability.
Through the blade (Su): As a standard action, a sword mage can cast a
spell at the same time he makes a normal melee attack with a sword. If
the attack hits, the target is affected by the spell and the sword mage
gains the listed bonus (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 4th, +3 at 7th, +4 at
10th) to the spell's saving throw DC and spell penetration checks. If
the attack misses, the spell is stored in the sword, but the sword mage
must take another standard action to discharge it (he discharge a spell
cast in the previous round as a part of a full attack). Only one spell
spell can be stored, and it remains for a number of rounds equal to the
sword mage's class level.
Cleave: At 3rd-level, the sword mage gains the Cleave feat. It also
applies if the sword mage drops an enemy with a spell cast using his
Through the blade ability.
Great Cleave: At 6th-level, the sword mage gains the Great Cleave feat.
It also applies if the sword mage drops an enemy with a spell cast using
the Through the blade ability.
Spell Cleave (Su): At 9th-level, if a sword mage drops an enemy using
his Through the blade ability, the spell remains long enough that it can
affect additional opponents hit by a Cleave attempt. However, if there
are not opponents within reach, the spell doesn't remain stored; it
dissipates at the end of the sword mage's turn.
Die by the sword (Sp): At 10th-level, a sword mage can make an
especially deadly sword attack once per day, which works similar to the
power word kill spell, but is an Evocation effect. The sword mage makes
a normal melee attack that deals double damage. If it hits, it instantly
kills the target if it has 100 hp or less (after taking damage from the
attack). If the attack misses, the use of the ability is wasted. SR
protects against this ability; the sword mage's modifier for the check
is his highest arcane caster level.
spellsword, in the sense that it's not a fighter with spells but a
wizard with a sword? Who doesn't use spellcasting to augment combat
prowess, but uses combat prowess to augment spellcasting? I don't think
so, so I made one.
At first glance, the sword mages of West Ielun might seem similar to the
elven Bladesingers or the heavily armoured Imperial Spellswords: all are
sword-wielding mages. However, unlike the Bladesingers and the
Spellswords, a sword mage is an arcanist first and foremost, then
warrior. Instead of using spells to enhance his swordsmanship, he uses
swordsmanship to enhance his spells, sending deadly magic down the
length of his blades at the moment the enemy is most vulnerable: the
moment the blade strikes him.
Most sword mages are wizards, but many sorcerers also follow the path.
Bards usually find that the sword mage training draws them away from
their bardic pursuits too much, but sword mages who started their
careers as bards are by no means unknown.
SWORD MAGE
Requirements:
Feats: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (longsword, bastard sword or
greatsword).
Skills: spellcraft 8+ ranks.
Spellcasting: Arcane caster level 5th.
Special: Must be train with a sword mage for one week.
HD: d6
BAB: medium
Fort: bad
Ref: bad
Will: good
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Concentration (Con), Craft
(Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (history)
(Int), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Profession (Wis), and
Spellcraft (Int).
Code:
Lvl Special Spellcasting
1 Live by the sword, through the blade +1 -
2 +1 level of arcane class
3 Cleave +1 level of arcane class
4 Through the blade +2 +1 level of arcane class
5 +1 level of arcane class
6 Great Cleave +1 level of arcane class
7 Through the blade +3 +1 level of arcane class
8 +1 level of arcane class
9 Spell Cleave -
10 Die by the sword, through the blade +4 +1 level of arcane classLive by the sword: A sword mage learns special techniques that meld
spellcasting with swordsmanship. All his class abilities that mention
the use of swords can only be used when he is wielding a sword in which
he has Weapon Focus in two hands. He doesn't need to have a hand free to
cast spells with somatic components as long as he's wielding a sword,
and the sword also replaces any material or focus components of
negligible cost. Finally, the sword mage can use Combat Expertise when
casting any spell that requires a melee attack or a melee touch attack,
including any spells cast using the Through the blade ability.
Through the blade (Su): As a standard action, a sword mage can cast a
spell at the same time he makes a normal melee attack with a sword. If
the attack hits, the target is affected by the spell and the sword mage
gains the listed bonus (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 4th, +3 at 7th, +4 at
10th) to the spell's saving throw DC and spell penetration checks. If
the attack misses, the spell is stored in the sword, but the sword mage
must take another standard action to discharge it (he discharge a spell
cast in the previous round as a part of a full attack). Only one spell
spell can be stored, and it remains for a number of rounds equal to the
sword mage's class level.
Cleave: At 3rd-level, the sword mage gains the Cleave feat. It also
applies if the sword mage drops an enemy with a spell cast using his
Through the blade ability.
Great Cleave: At 6th-level, the sword mage gains the Great Cleave feat.
It also applies if the sword mage drops an enemy with a spell cast using
the Through the blade ability.
Spell Cleave (Su): At 9th-level, if a sword mage drops an enemy using
his Through the blade ability, the spell remains long enough that it can
affect additional opponents hit by a Cleave attempt. However, if there
are not opponents within reach, the spell doesn't remain stored; it
dissipates at the end of the sword mage's turn.
Die by the sword (Sp): At 10th-level, a sword mage can make an
especially deadly sword attack once per day, which works similar to the
power word kill spell, but is an Evocation effect. The sword mage makes
a normal melee attack that deals double damage. If it hits, it instantly
kills the target if it has 100 hp or less (after taking damage from the
attack). If the attack misses, the use of the ability is wasted. SR
protects against this ability; the sword mage's modifier for the check
is his highest arcane caster level.
Last edited:
OUBLE-TAKE::
