Author Topic: The Metamage  (Read 2141 times)

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woodenbandman

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The Metamage
« on: October 15, 2009, 12:39:47 PM »
So i had this wonderful idea for a class. It was pretty much copied off of a thing I saw called the "locate city nuker" class.
  • It gets a bonus feat every level, for a magic related feat.
  • Spells Per Day as a wizard
  • Prepares spells as a wizard
  • Learn spells off of any spell list(some exceptions)

However:
It only learns 4 spells.A level 0, a level 3, a level 6, and a level 9. Maybe a level 1, if I feel generous. In fact, probably not a level 9 spell, now that I think about it. Maybe a 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. This effectively eliminates arcane fusion, greater arcane fusion, and greater anyspell.

A creative use of this class would be to enter Swiftblade, so let's just assume for these purposes that Haste is banned from this class for all time. I want to take this class to 20. The capstone could be that all metamagic costs are reduced further by one.

Anyway it knows very few spells, and is expected to derive its efficiency from use of metamagic. To make it slightly more attractive, it has medium BAB and a d8 (so that it can deliver touch spells/ranged touch spells better).

So how can I optimize this? I think the obvious level 1 trick will be Fell Draining Acid Splash. What else can we toss on?

Also note that I am considering making this a spontaneous caster with the ability to apply metamagic on the fly.


Kal Zakath

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2009, 01:36:59 PM »
I would think that a ShadowCraftGnome would do quite well here.

KellKheraptis

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2009, 02:45:53 PM »
I would think that a ShadowCraftGnome would do quite well here.

Going hand in hand with my last post, a Shadowcraft Mage, assuming they could enter SCM at least, would make a Metamage god on steroids.  Especially since all the feats needed for making an SCM god on steroids would most likely be free from the class :P (Metamage 15/SCM 5, at will Silent Image).
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bkdubs123

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2009, 03:29:24 PM »
Well anything that adds spells to your spell list stretches the power of the class by A LOT.

I hope the class doesn't also get access to UMD, as that seems to defeat the purpose. Though, I admit the class skills of this class elude me.

I assume that it probably has much better proficiencies than a Wizard would. Probably something closer to a Bard or even Cleric?

I'd argue that a feat every level is unnecessary. Fighter progression of bonus metamagic feats ought to suffice.

Otherwise, it's an odd class. At low levels it would play a bit like an Expert but with some minor tricks up his sleeve. At mid levels it could do a reasonable job at buffing or blasting, but still doesn't have much footing. At higher levels it finally starts to come into its own as its feats come together with those 5th and 7th level spells. I'm not sure if it's too weak at low levels yet or not.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2009, 04:33:27 PM by bkdubs123 »

woodenbandman

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2009, 09:12:47 PM »
This class is mostly an idea for a blasting class, sort of like a warmage but more with metamagic and harder to play. If I lose a character I'm going to ask to be allowed to play this class.

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2009, 09:20:43 PM »
Zap trap is a good choice for a cantrip.  1 damage, electricity, reflex save, 6'' rune lasts forever on what you put it on.

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woodenbandman

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2009, 09:27:19 PM »
Might work, I guess. Fell Draining zap traps at level 3, sounds fun!

I had an idea to work with Lord of the Uttercold + Fell Animated zombies to make yourself sort of a necromancer.

What metamagic reducers are there? I know easy metamagic, practical metamagic, metamagic school focus. Arcane Thesis is a given.

Generic_PC

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2009, 09:48:15 PM »
Arcane Thesis would be rediculous on a character like this, as he only has what, 5 spells?

Maybe give a character a way to switch out the spell at the level-2 that they can cast every so often, similar to a sorcerer. That way, they have slightly more variation, if you took something like tongues (1st level?) as a first level spell.

Also, limit some of the more silly spell lists. Maybe make it so that spells which have a lower level on one spell list (like some Bard spells vs. SorcWiz spells) get a rule to define them.
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Maat_Mons

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #8 on: October 15, 2009, 10:17:13 PM »
  • Spells Per Day as a wizard

Alternately, you could use a slow spell progression, like the duskblade's or perhaps even slower, and compensate with reductions in metamagic cost.  In this case, you could work it like beguiler, dread necromancer, and warmage, but apply a reduction in spell level when using advanced learning.  Thus, you would have only a handful of powerful spells, but also some low level utility spells.  The reduction in metamagic cost could be keyed to specific spells, sort of like arcane thesis. 

bkdubs123

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2009, 11:29:42 PM »
So... something like this?

The Metamage

HD: d8

Saves: Poor Fort, Poor Ref, Good Will

Lv  Base Attack    Special        0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1.  +0             Bonus Feat      3   1   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
2.  +1             Bonus Feat      4   2   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
3.  +2                             5   3   1   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
4.  +3             Bonus Feat      5   4   2   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
5.  +3                             5   5   3   1   -   -   -   -   -   -
6.  +4             Bonus Feat      6   6   4   2   -   -   -   -   -   -
7.  +5                             6   6   5   3   1   -   -   -   -   -
8.  +6/+1          Bonus Feat      6   6   6   4   2   -   -   -   -   -
9.  +6/+1                          6   6   6   5   3   1   -   -   -   -
10. +7/+2          Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   4   2   -   -   -   -
11. +8/+3                          6   6   6   6   5   3   1   -   -   -
12. +9/+4          Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   6   4   2   -   -   -
13. +9/+4                          6   6   6   6   6   5   3   1   -   -
14. +10/+5         Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   6   6   4   2   -   -
15. +11/+6/+1                      6   6   6   6   6   6   5   3   1   -
16. +12/+7/+2      Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   6   6   6   4   2   -
17. +12/+7/+2                      6   6   6   6   6   6   6   5   3   1
18. +13/+8/+3      Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   6   6   6   6   4   2
19. +14/+9/+4                      6   6   6   6   6   6   6   6   5   3
20. +15/+10/+5     Bonus Feat      6   6   6   6   6   6   6   6   6   4


Class Skills (4+Int): Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Knowledge (Any), Profession, Search, Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device.

Proficiencies: All simple weapons, all martial weapons, light and medium armor*, no shields.
*A Metamage can cast spells in light and medium armor ignoring arcane spell failure.

Spellcasting: Spontaneous from his spells known. A Metamage begins play knowing only a single 0-level spell. At 3rd level he learns a single 1st level or lower spell, at 7th level he learns a 3rd level or lower spell, at 11th level he learns a 5th level or lower spell, at 15th level he learns a 7th level or lower spell. A Metamage never learns any additional spells. Even though he is a spontaneous caster, the Metamage is able to apply metamagic feats to spells he casts without increasing the casting time. A Metamage gains bonus spells per day, and the save DCs of his spells are determined by his Intelligence modifier.

Bonus Feats: At 1st level and every even level thereafter a Metamage gains a bonus feat from the following list: ANY METAMAGIC FEAT, Easy Metamagic, Innate Spell, Obtain Familiar, Practical Metamagic, Metamagic School Focus, Metamagic Spell Trigger, Arcane Thesis, Arcane Toughness, and Arcane Consumption.

-------------

I decided to put UMD in the class skills because I figured it could use the help at lower levels, and at higher levels it really isn't going to matter. The class seems to lack any sort of flavor, at least to me.

woodenbandman

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Re: The Metamage
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2009, 12:10:22 PM »
bkdubs that's pretty much what I was thinking of. I didn't envision it using any weapons but I suppose that it'd be useful to have weapons.

Also I was thinking of limiting the spell list a bit so you don't get stupid stuff like Major Creation on there. Mainly there'd be no Arcane Fusion, Arcane Spellsurge, Anyspell, and I was thinking of playing this as a blaster of sorts, but I suppose it'd be cool to give it enchantment or illusion spells or whatever.

It wasn't really supposed to have any flavor to it, more of just a fun thought exercise as to what you could do with a lot of metamagic and only a few spells. I got the concept, like I said, stolen from a custom class made as a joke on GiantITP about a spellcaster that gets a bonus feat each level and only knows Locate City.