Swordmage Class

[Rechan]

A class that's a lot like the Swordsage from Tome of Battle, which does have area attacks, and attacks which inflict certain conditions on enemies.

But the Swordsage's "Power source" is "magical". How could you pull off a MARTIAL one? As in, no overt magical source for the effects.

 

[the_myth]

But the Swordsage's "Power source" is "magical". How could you pull off a MARTIAL one? As in, no overt magical source for the effects.

It was said somewhere that the Paladin gains his strength from the divine: deity-inspired powers and abilities.

Perhaps the "Swordmage" gains her skill by having cast spells upon herself. Someone suggested this earlier in the thread, just not using the new, high-fallutin' power source lingo.

Can anyone think of a pop culture example of this?

 

[Baduin]

Perhaps something like mages from Vance's "Dying Earth". They are actually not very like D20 wizards. They more resemble fighters or rogues, fighting with swords, but without armor and with a few per day powerful spells. (actually, their spells were not per day, but they could as well be - their spell-books were not portable).

I would also think about Elric of Melnibone - swordfighter who buffs himself with magic, with good summoning spells; Zelazny's Dilvish the Damned - also swordfighter, but with a city-killing spell.

eg something like:
BAB - as rogue
fairly high skills
at will-magic armor, shield, cantrips, eventually some buffs (blur etc)
per encounter- true strike, various touch spells (Shocking Grasp etc), eventually some non-damaging spells (like expeditious retreat, jump, etc), some illusions and pyrotechnics (in the general sense) to confuse foes
per day - like wizards
Not proficent with armor. Cannot use his abilities when wearing armor.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

I think that the Swordsage Battlefish will resemble the Mageblade from Monte Cooks AE.
Reasons:
1) Some of the designers worked with Monte and even played in his campaigns. So they are somewhat familiar with the workings of the Class.
2) It is IMO the only working Base Class that combines arcane Spells and Martial aspects.
3) Why reinvent the wheel if you can take the best from all D20 products and change it to fit your needs.

Updated as per Hong's suggestion

 

[Rechan]

It was said somewhere that the Paladin gains his strength from the divine: deity-inspired powers and abilities.

Yes, that makes him the Divine Defender. We're talking about a Martial Controller. What you're describing is an Arcane Controller.

 

[hong]

I think that the Swordsage will resemble ...

Oops!

See, people, you wouldn't have this problem if you called it battlefish.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

Oops!

See, people, you wouldn't have this problem if you called it battlefish.

You are right there. I updated my post accordingly.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Oops!

See, people, you wouldn't have this problem if you called it battlefish.

Yeah, I can see the babelfish jokes around any game table, and how the character is only good if he is small enough to fit into somebody's ear.

 

[The_Gneech]

Perhaps the "Swordmage" gains her skill by having cast spells upon herself. Someone suggested this earlier in the thread, just not using the new, high-fallutin' power source lingo.

Can anyone think of a pop culture example of this?

Jedi Knights?

-The Gneech

 

[Danzauker]

I just hope that the rework multiclassing so that it REALLY is worthwhile.

So that with EIGHT base classes, including the FOUR staple fantasy/D&D, I can make of all kinds of sword-using-spellcaster, mage-thief, god-blessed-fighter and everything else I want without having to resort to OTHER published base classed.

The publication of all the 3-new-base-classes-per-book splatbooks (of which there are some I really like, I have to admit) are IMHO the clead admission of the total FAILURE of 3.x multiclassing system...