Author Topic: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage  (Read 3389 times)

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OblivionSmurf83

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Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« on: December 25, 2009, 01:14:30 PM »
Assume an Illumian can enter into Shadowcraft Mage, through its non-Gnome adaptation.

That Illumian uses the standard Earth Spell trick, and any spells they heighten are actually heightened at +1 level (Ie, a Silent Image heightened to 6th level is actually 7th level).

Illumians have Power Sigils as a supernatural ability. The sigils grant an Illumian 'certain bonuses'. The Krau sigil bonus is +1 caster level.

If an Illumian takes Improved Sigil (Krau), they can 'tap into [their] krau power sigil to augment the energy of [their] magical utterances.' Practically speaking, this translates to the ability to increase the effectiveness of Heighten Spell by one for a select number of spells (2 for Illumians above 1st level). That is, the Krau power sigil is now providing +1 caster level, and is allowing a spell (Silent Image, we'll say), to be Heightened by +1. Thus, our Illumian with Improved Sigil (Krau) and Earth Spell is heightening spells at +2 effectiveness (Ie, their Silent Image heightened to 6th level is actually 8th level).

Let's consider what happens if our Illumian now takes Enhanced Power Sigils. This feat causes '[t]he bonuses granted by each of your power sigils [to] improve by 1.'

What bonus is granted by the Krau sigil? Merely +1 caster level? Or is it now also improving Heighten Spell by 1? If it is the latter, then surely our Illumian, with Improved Sigil (Krau) and Earth Spell can now mimic 9th level spells with a 7th level slot.

On the other hand, if it is divorced from the Power Sigil, then it is not a Su ability. Thus, the Illumian will not lose it when Shapechanging.

Which is the correct interpretation?

Havok4

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Re: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2009, 01:24:22 PM »
I could see some fun stacking potential if this worked right. Using a few other tricks like practical metamagic, easy metamagic and metamagic shool focus you could get ninth level spells from a 4th level slot.

Garryl

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Re: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2009, 01:54:26 PM »
That won't work quite as well as you think. The Enhanced Power Sigils feat improves the benefits you gain from your power sigil racial feature. The heightening benefit from Improved Sigil (Krau) is a benefit given straight from the feat, not added to the effects of your sigils. This means that it won't be amplified by enhanced power sigils. At least you get to keep its benefit when hiding your sigils without needing the Subtle Sigil feat, and in an anti-magic field, and any other time you'd lose the effects of your sigils.

 You might still lose the sigils, and thus not qualify any more for the improved sigil feat, if you use polymorph or alter self and your DM decides that the sigils themselves are considered a body part that your new form doesn't have. Don't quote me on that last bit, though, because I don't understand polymorph effects and the loss of prerequisites that well.
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Rebel7284

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Re: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2009, 02:45:40 PM »
I like DMM heighten shadowcraft mages with cleric entry.  spend 9 turn attempts+earth spell to turn a cantrip into a shadow miracle?  yes please.  Hell it might even be practical optimization in some high power games.
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PhaedrusXY

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Re: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2009, 03:34:04 PM »
I'm playing an illumian SCM. The +1 caster level from the Krau sigil can't boost your CL higher than your character level, so it is pretty useless for a typical caster. The +1 from the Improved Sigil feat would not be doubled IMO. It's still a nice SCM race.
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OblivionSmurf83

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Re: Illuman Power Sigils and the Shadowcraft Mage
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2009, 11:06:15 PM »
Shame about the Enhanced Power Sigils trick not working! Oh well, at least Illumians are still quite a good race.