What Do you think of the revised Archmage?

[FreeTheSlaves]

I think the new arch-mage's spell power is much better suited to what the prc is all about, being bigger with your spells.

+X to spell penetration, (greater) dispel attempts, larger damage die pools (with polar rays and horrid wiltings), duration, range, area of effect.

The old DC effect made spells unsavable against equal CR foes. Which meant you had to twink them or lower the CR .

 

[jasamcarl]

Re: re

Why didn't they just get rid of Spell Power altogether? I mean +1 level, c'mon now. That is worthless. The only plus is at least it doesn't say one way or the other whether spells that affect spell power can exceed normal damage caps and it is only a 5th level spell slot.

I'm definitely going to have to play with this a bit. I liked the Spell Power ability and I don't know that I like it being eliminated. The class was created for the FR where the magi are supposed to be supremely powerful.

By high levels, the +1 to Caster level really is worth more than a fifth level spell, because you will be mostly casting 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells which all benefit from this. Its a small bonus, but it represents an 'active' increase in power that isn't terribly dependent upon DM choice of opponent or setting. And no, I think its pretty clear that this does not allow one to bypass normal damage caps, because adding spellcasting levels normally would not do that.

 

[Dagger75]

I don't mind the changes to the Archmage. My players always thought the Elemental mastery and the master of shaping were the coolest abilities and I have to agree.

Also I seem to have just crawled out from under my rock; what the hell are these complaints about Spell Focus. I have been mostly ignoring 3.5 threads but this one seem to come up and come up but I never hear what they did.

With out causing a huge debae somebody just say what the new Spell Focus and Greater spell focus is. I don't need a commentary on why its broken or nerfed or what not.

 

[Chun-tzu]

Also I seem to have just crawled out from under my rock; what the hell are these complaints about Spell Focus. I have been mostly ignoring 3.5 threads but this one seem to come up and come up but I never hear what they did.

Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus now give a +1 bonus to DCs of one school, instead of the +2 in 3e.

 

[tleilaxu]

i think the picture sucks, and i like the old archmage better.

 

[GamerMan12]

I like the picture, as it is cinematic, if they made a film of the archmage in my world that is one way to do it. Of course, no one in my world actually looks like that. Especially the leather dress ala mind flayer!

GamerMan12

 

[Celtavian]

Re

Casters were lowered across the board:

1. Spell Focus Reduced
2. Spell Power Gone
3. Empowered Stat Enhancements gone.
4. Many spells reduced in power.
5. Haste reduced and Sorcerers still not able to use Quicken Spell feat.
6. Durations reduced for buffs spells, warding spells, and Fly.
7. Hold spells reduced to a save every round.
8. Fly spell reduced to 1 minute per level.

3.5 is definitely the "bash on the casters" edition. I saw this happen in EQ, and I don't like the feel of it. It seems to me that the changes were made for the same reason many of the changes in EQ were made, to prevent abuse from players who are particularly crafty at manipulating rules aka game environment.

If D&D continues to revise the game based on abusive players as this revision seems to be based on, then I don't think I will care for the game much.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

The archmage looks like Ming the Merciless from Flash Gordon.

 

[jasamcarl]

Re: Re

Casters were lowered across the board:

1. Spell Focus Reduced
2. Spell Power Gone
3. Empowered Stat Enhancements gone.
4. Many spells reduced in power.
5. Haste reduced and Sorcerers still not able to use Quicken Spell feat.
6. Durations reduced for buffs spells, warding spells, and Fly.
7. Hold spells reduced to a save every round.
8. Fly spell reduced to 1 minute per level.

3.5 is definitely the "bash on the casters" edition. I saw this happen in EQ, and I don't like the feel of it. It seems to me that the changes were made for the same reason many of the changes in EQ were made, to prevent abuse from players who are particularly crafty at manipulating rules aka game environment.

If D&D continues to revise the game based on abusive players as this revision seems to be based on, then I don't think I will care for the game much.

That is where you and I differ. Ingenuity should be rewarded and the game should be designed with it in mind. It should not break down when someone decides to actually play it as a game, notably through 1-round combats that are arbitrated by the initiative roll at high levels.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

2. Spell Power Gone

I don't think this one counts ... prestige classes are optional.