Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Orcdoubleax 02-03-07, 11:39 AM	I currently have an RPG going where the backdrop is a massive war. I want to have some NPC soilders that represent how one kingdom is trying to tailor low level magic to the battlefield. They of course would be considered elite units. The PC's will interact with them somewhat, but the PC are much higher level then them and my goal is not to design something that is a challenge to the PC's. My current idea is to have them have 2 level of ranger and 1 level of arcane caster. Then equip them with wands that they would use on the battle field like modern soilders use rifles. This has the right flavour, but seams like a really inefficent and expensive build even for NPC's. Does anyone have any better idea's.
The_Shaman 02-03-07, 11:47 AM	I currently have an RPG going where the backdrop is a massive war. I want to have some NPC soilders that represent how one kingdom is trying to tailor low level magic to the battlefield. They of course would be considered elite units. The PC's will interact with them somewhat, but the PC are much higher level then them and my goal is not to design something that is a challenge to the PC's. My current idea is to have them have 2 level of ranger and 1 level of arcane caster. Then equip them with wands that they would use on the battle field like modern soilders use rifles. This has the right flavour, but seams like a really inefficent and expensive build even for NPC's. Does anyone have any better idea's. How about giving them just enough levels to qualify as spellswords (ft 2/wiz 3 or ft 1/ran2/wiz2) ? Otherwise, they sound like warmages to me :)
Orcdoubleax 02-03-07, 11:53 AM	I didn't want to go that high in levels. I am not sure on the warmage. It still doesn't fell quite like what I want to do.
LiquidusSnake31 02-03-07, 12:02 PM	Your idea sounds much like the Last War from the Eberron setting. Warmages and the new NPC class magewrights (as well as some sorcerers and wizards) used wands on the battlefield during wars. All of the combating nations used this, some more than others. You could try and find the magewright rules, and use them if you don't want them to be overly powerful.
Knute 02-03-07, 12:33 PM	How bout simply one level scout and one level sorcerer. Any prestige class is going to have requirements that will raise your level. This way you simply have two programs for battle mages - scout and Sorc\Wizard. You could do wizard instead but I think the mentality of the army would see the reduced spell choice as an advantage not a problem and the increased spells per day would clinch it. I've seen a feat where a first level caster gives up familiars for a reduction in Arcane Spell Failure while wearing light armor. If you want the army to be particularly powerful ditch arcane casters. Invent a war god for the army and make spellcasters clerics with heavy armor and vicious domain spells. Sigurd
Demonwolf 02-03-07, 12:38 PM	Bunch of possibilities here. -This isn't feasible at higher levels, really, but it works pretty well early on. Make them rangers, fighters, scouts or whatever else is fitting and give them cross-class ranks in UMD in addition to the Magic Item Attunement feat in Complete Mage, which lets them activate a magic item at will for 24 hours after a single successful UMD check (although they can only attune themselves to one item at a time). Then, give them wands of lesser orb spells. Since those aren't subject to SR, caster level is irrelevant and you're good to go. -If you're willing to make the compromise, the Wilder from XPH is pretty fitting. -Battle Sorcerer, from UA, with ray spells and a few battlefield control for effect. -At that low of a level, even warmage fits, all you have to do is pump con and dex and stick exclusively to ray spells (that don't require a DC and therefore just need the bare minimum cha). If they're human, make their feats Weapon Focus, Battle Caster and Toughness to make them more tank-like. Once you do, they'll be more than capable of holding out in melee as well as a regular tank of their level, especially if you make use of spells like fist of stone, blades of fire and shocking grasp. -Warlock with a modified RP. Instead of an Eldritch Blast, give them a wand that is a part of them for all intents and purposes- when it leaves their hand, it disappears, but they can summon it again at will, it's incorporeal to the touch to everyone but themselves, etc. Then, make all of their remaining invocations battlefield control and you're set. As with the warmage above, Battle Caster and Toughness will help the character.
Orcdoubleax 02-03-07, 01:01 PM	Thanks for all the great ideas everyone. I am going to go with the Magic Device Attunement idea. It allows me to make the character fit best with what I want them to be. It allows them to be regular soilders that have had advanced training as opposed to inate magical ability.