Shifting to a Tolkien-flavored world

[Keenberg]

True. Magic in the Tolkein world was capable of being a deciding force in many a fight, battle, or war.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

That's what I was thinking, which is why I figured that there would have to be some sort of concrete benefit to it, like additional damage. Or maybe increased accuracy which effectively gives increased damage, while making it more likely that power effects will be applied. That way you create a situation in which Arcane characters are torn between being that more effective, and possible making things go very badly. When they do finally cut loose, they're that much better.

this sounds like something that could be well modeled using cards. Use magic and draw card. Most cards are a benefit but some are an environmental effect that changes the rules and remain in play until changed by another environmental effect. Kind of like the environmental cards in Arkham Horror.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

That sounds like a pretty solid backbone for a campaign.

Just thought of a nifty twist: down the road, just as the party is about to defeat the Alchemist, he could turn to them and ask for mercy...in exchange for which, he will help them to defeat (or at least weaken) Misha.

Either way, you win as DM: they either beat the BBEG and all is right in the world, or they accept his surrender & offer, and YOU have an epic level plot hook.

 

[Keenberg]

[MENTION=19675]Dannyalcatraz[/MENTION] I hadn't considered that, but it sounds pretty good! As I see it, the party will have to deal with Misha at some point.

A) The Alchemist asks them for help in shaking his bargain and banishing a huge source of chaos from existence, and they accept.

B) The party does not spare the alchemist, and upon death his soul sent to Misha, who can then escape Pandemonium and wage his war... Something the pc's will have to deal with whether they want to or nor.