Warmage - how balanced?

[Ian Demagi]

Warmage

BBR can't say much more because I am not the only one on the website from our group.

Warmages have high charisma and my PC has alot of people skills. I try to share the spot light.

When I ran the last campaign (which was getault), the warmage/rogue was a very powerful class. (They are also very good in non combat situations becuase of their high charisma). The two toughest characters were the warmage/Rogue and the druid /wizard (BBR).

I decided about 7th level that as a DM you can not let the warmage just sit there and shell the monsters-at least not all the time. The real problem comes when they get to high enough level to load up an sudden empowered, sudden maximized, Twined Orb of acid.
Thats about 300 hps of fun assuming the orbs hit, no save,no resistance, you take it. It blows a level 9 slot, but thats a huge ouch on BBEG.

Last game I was diappointed when the warmage reduced a tombstone golem to a pile of goo in one shot.

I laugh when people say that the warmage is weak, its not. That being said, it is one dimensional and fairly frail. The warmage that rocked last game died three times-dang cleric kept bring him back, Ian.

 

[lukelightning]

Fireball is a perfectly good substitute for bluff, in my opinion.

 

[delericho]

One thing that occurs to me is that the Warmage, in conjunction with the Mystic Theurge PrC and the Battle Caster and Practiced Spellcaster feats, may be rather too good. Sure, you'd be entering the class one level later than if you were a Wizard, but the Warmage's need for Cha meshes better with the Cleric's Turn Undead ability, and the Cleric's buff spells would seem to very neatly eliminate the major weakness of the Warmage.

 

[Solarious]

There are reasons for which I dislike the Orb spells. Melting piles of golem remains are one. Which is why I embrace the Morrus way and all Orbs are Evocations with SR! Shell out those Ice Storms, you aren't getting a free ride against golems.

For all other purposes, there are a few spells/methods that can reduce an Orb's power. Ray Deflection, from the Spell Compendium, works as well on rays as it does on Orbs. Spell Turning is probably the ideal counter, however, since it's still treated as a 4th level spell. 300 points of pain right back at your 6 hit die! And of course, there are always underlings for cover and miss chance.

 

[Crothian]

One thing that occurs to me is that the Warmage, in conjunction with the Mystic Theurge PrC and the Battle Caster and Practiced Spellcaster feats, may be rather too good. Sure, you'd be entering the class one level later than if you were a Wizard, but the Warmage's need for Cha meshes better with the Cleric's Turn Undead ability, and the Cleric's buff spells would seem to very neatly eliminate the major weakness of the Warmage.

I don't know. Even with a good charisma you are only turning undead as a third level cleric, not all that impressive. I think with some work you could make a good combat character but with the sacrifice of the high level spells I think it would be just fine.