Warmage's 3rd-level Advanced Learning = Craptastic?

[hackmastergeneral]

Well, in all fairness, other than the warmage edge class feature, you'd have that damage output with a wizard as well, plus a couple of bonus metamagic feats (which would net you blistering spell right there).

I actually multi-classed a favored soul/warmage (as mentioned in another thread around here), but am planning to respec out because I'm just tired of magic missile being the only 1st-level spell with a range greater than 30 feet (I've found that the 1-round casting time on hail of stones renders it too useless to count) and don't feel like waiting until 4th-level for that to change.

Well, yes. The first few levels of Warmage are teh suck. The payoff, though, is pretty big.

The big thing is that with the "war" bent of the warmage, you don't feel bad about taking martial feats to buff your damage and hits, because thats what you do. A wizard often feels like he can't memorize a billion fireballs, because he needs to be more utilitarian.

Also the WM can cast a wide variety of elemental-dealing spells at the drop of a hat, so if the wizard memorized a bunch of fire spells, and they face a fire-immune creature, he feels stupid and useless. The warmage just pops out one of his Orbs, and goes to town.

Also, don't discount the Lesser Orbs. Close to 30 feet, and you are dealing some nice damage. Thats why I suggest Point Blank Shot as a default feat for all Warmages - so many spells have Close range, that its silly not to take PBS, plus with the plethora of Ranged Touches, Precise Shot is a must. I'd almost say that a level or two in Fighter is almost neccessary to make the most powerful Warmage.

 

[FrostedMini1337]

Off Topic: Warmage should be the base caster. IME you start nubs on Fighters, and then ween them up to barbs and rangers, then monks. Start caster kids on a sorcerer, but the warmage is even more nubfriendly.

On Topic: Check the BOVD. Darkbolt what?

 

[hackmastergeneral]

Off Topic: Warmage should be the base caster. IME you start nubs on Fighters, and then ween them up to barbs and rangers, then monks. Start caster kids on a sorcerer, but the warmage is even more nubfriendly.

On Topic: Check the BOVD. Darkbolt what?

Warmages are yes, better for the newbies. They let them be super effective right off the bat, don't have to worry about picking useless spells, or worry about memorization.

I'd pretty much ditch Sorcerors, and use a WM if I was going to play a spontaneous caster class. If you want versatility, Wizards are better, if you want specific focus, Warmages are more combat-friendly. Give the WM some wands to make up for some useful spells he misses out on, or potions and scrolls, and you won't notice the loss.

 

[Question]

The WM will need to make use magic device checks as those spells are not on his class list btw.

 

[hackmastergeneral]

Given the skill list over all, UMD should be a maxed out skill.

 

[hackmastergeneral]

would there be a problem, with rules, for a WM to not use the 3rd level Advanced Leraning until 4th?

Just not picking a spell until he gets another level? Is there anything in the rules that says you HAVE to take it right then and there?

I might, if someone plays a WM in my campaign, bump that up to 4th anyway. That way you could, with Eclectic learning, get a decent 1st level spell, or get a decent 2nd level one.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

Slightly on topic....I just got my 6th level of Warmage this past session and now have to pick my next Advanced Learning spell.

I think I am going with Leomunds Tiny Hut.....I can use it as a little bunker during combats to protect me against enemy mages and ranged attackers, but still fire my bow/spells out at my hearts content.

DS

Another + for Warmages being the newbie friendly wizard class is the fact they get armor and d6 HP. Always a good thing when one tactical mistake doesn't always lead to your characters instant death.

 

[Vanye]

I'm rather fond of Light of Lunia - dur 10 minutes/level; you emit a 30 ft silvery radiance, and during the spell's duration you can release the energy in 2 bolts that do 1d6 good/light damage on a ranged touch (double dmage against undead or evil outsiders), within 30 ft. the first bolt reduces your light's radius by 15ft, the second ends the spell.

Light of Mercuria is a 2nd level spell that does the same, but the damage is based at 2d6, and the light is golden; light of Venya is a 3rd level spell, pearly white light, 3d6 damage base. Venya also says you can heal "1d6 points of damage + your divine spellcaster level (max +10)" I'd be wiling to change that to 1d6 + caster level, but that's a nice flexibility that is missing from most 3rd Ed spells.

 

[moritheil]

IME, Warmages are actually quite viable as primary party arcanists, as long as an artificer or cleric is present and willing to cast utility spells. If there is no utility caster and the only arcanist is the warmage, then yes, that could indeed be a disaster.

Regarding eclectic learning, never underestimate the utility of arcane mark, dancing lights, or detect poison at low levels. They are all potentially viable 0-level wizard spells to be learned as 1st-level spells.