Arcanist Blade [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcanist Blade [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
blazed420
03-12-06, 01:39 PM This is a class i have been working on and wanted some input from outside my circle. It is based off of a character in a story of mine made some years back.

Arcanist Blade

- Arcane energies are wild and hard to tame. Over time many in a multitude of ways have wielded it. New forms of manipulating the Arcane energies are bound to appear, whether intentional, or not.
- The Arcanist Blade has attempted magic in some way, and found a way to control the energies that has sat within range of mortals grasp sense birth and yet never touched. The Arcanist Blade has found how to tie a peace of arcane energy to him and form a weapon that can wield the chaotic energies for them.
- Adventures: Arcanist Blade almost always become adventurers. The ability to grasp the arcane energies in hand has given them the feeling of strength and power, or just raw confidence. They tend to have a dare devil side that brings on a wanderlust they must heed. Some my adventure to feel more of the power they so easily hold, or to use the give for help those that can’t so easily hold it.
- Characteristics: Arcanist blades blend a potency of magic with the skills of the blade. Magic comes easy through the connection they make to the blade and do not need to study magic as wizard does. They also do not truly know any magic as a sorcerer. The time spent learning to properly wield the power of the magical blade they summon slows there martial training enough to put them behind a simple soldier, but not enough to let a wizard with his nose in his books to win a sword fight.
- Alignment: Arcanist Blades tend to be of the chaotic alignment. They need no formal training to casting, and can pretty much wing it. Their wanderlust often makes it hard to stay in one place and focus on some discipline. Arcanist Blades, though, can be of any alignment. Nothing but how they deal with their wielding of the energies is determining how they live.
- Background: Arcanist Blades feel little to no kinship with other Arcanist Blades. There is no school to learn at, and they tend to be rare enough that they don’t see another Arcanist Blade in most of their travels. Most Arcanist Blades gained a fascination with magic at an early age and attempted magic with no supervision or natural talent for it. They might have seen a spell cast by traveling wizard or sorcerer and attempted it them selves, over and over. Drawing large amounts of energy to them that eventually, it simply didn’t leave, leaving the abilities summon forth a Blade of magic.
- Other Classes: Arcanist Blades my feel envy towards a wizard for know so much about magic, or a sorcerer for being such a natural at magic, but they usually don’t. They wield magic with little effort thought they do not really know much magic themselves. They also tend to find Wizards to be serious about magic.
- Role: Arcanist Blades can, if needed, be the primary melee unit but they are not as well trained as the fighter in combat and can’t use heavy armor. They can play the role of caster but not as well as the wizard or sorcerer might, but they can fill in the blank spots for them. They can be a healer for the party but will run out of spell sooner then the cleric. The Arcanist blade can be many roles, but more as a secondary or replacement then a main. They can even be the rogue of the party with their wide array of skills.

D8
High - Will, Ref
Low - Fort
BAB - Average (3/4)
Proficiencies - Simple weapons, his Arcane Blade, Light and Medium armor.
(6 + Int modifier) X4
6 + Int modifier
Balance , Climb , Concentration , Craft , Disguise , Escape Artist , Heal , Hide , Jump , Knowledge (Arcane) , Listen , Move Silently , Open Lock , Profession , Ride , Sleight of Hand , Spot , Spellcraft , Swim , Tumble , Use Magic Devise.

1 - Arcane Blade I, Weapon Focus (Arcane Blade)
2 - Fighting Style I
3 - Quick Draw
4 - Fighting Style II, +1 Arcane Blade
5 - Arcane Blade II
6 - +1 enhancement
7 - Arcane Strike
8 - Fighting Style III, +2 Arcane Blade
9 -
10- Arcane Blade III, +2 enhancement
11- Slipper Mind
12- Fighting Style IV, +3 Arcane Blade
13-
14- +3 enhancement
15- Arcane Blade IV
16- Fighting Style V, +4 Arcane Blade
17-
18- +4 enhancement
19-
20- Arcane Blade V, Final Fighting Style, +5 Arcane Blade

Spells Per Day
----1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9----Spell Level
1 - 0
2 - 1
3 - 2
4 - 2/1
5 - 3/2
6 - 3/2/1
7 - 3/3/2
8 - 3/3/2/1
9 - 3/3/3/2
10- 3/3/3/2/1
11- 3/3/3/3/2
12- 3/3/3/3/2/1
13- 3/3/3/3/3/2
14- 3/3/3/3/3/2/1
15- 3/3/3/3/3/3/2
16- 3/3/3/3/3/3/2/1
17- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2
18- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2/1
19- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2
20- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3

- Spell Casting - Charisma Based - Spells the Arcanist Blade Cast have little in the way of Somatic components and do not get spell failure penalties in light or medium armor, while heavy has spell failure as usual. The Arcanist blade need not have a hand open to cast a spell, as long as he can move the blade freely to make the components.

- Arcane Blade - as a move action an Arcanist Blade can summon an Arcane Blade. This blade is formed from magical energies tied to the Arcanist Blade. The Blade Types are chosen from a list of 12 and gives the Arcanist Blade the spells he can cast.
- At first level, the Arcanist Blade only knows one blade. This blade is chosen at 1st level and doesn’t change. While the chosen blade is in hand it gives access to a list of 9 spells that use the Arcanist Blade's spells per day when cast. These spells do not need to be prepared ahead of time.
- At 1st level, the Arcane Blade is considered a Light Melee Weapon with no weight and does D6, X2 slashing damage. The Damage type is always slashing.
- At 5th level and every five levels after, that Arcanist Blade learns a new Arcane Blade form. The Arcanist Blade cannot have more then one blade summoned at a time, not even two blades of the same type.
- An Arcanist Blade can only summon, or switch, one type of Arcane Blade once a round. Once the Arcane Blade is switched, the spells the Arcanist Blade can use changes to what the new blade allows and does not need to prepare them.
- At 4th level, the Arcane Blade gets a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. This bonus increases every 4 levels there after.
- At 6th level, the Arcanist Blade gains the ability to enhance his Arcane Blade. The Arcanist Blade can add any special weapon ability to his weapon from the DMG or any other sources the DM will allow. Every 4 levels after, the value of the enhancement bonus is increased. Each Blade has its own set of enhancements that are separate from the others. (Example: you have the fire sword and law sword, you but keen on the fire, but defending on the law. When you summon the law sword, you get its abilities) the elemental blades cannot do damage from a different element, (IE fire cant have cold burst) and the alignment blades cant have any ability that gives them the opposite alignment (IE good cant have unholy ability) but it can have an alignment of the differing axis. (IE good can have axiomatic)

- Fighting Style - the Arcanist Blade Fights one of two ways with his blade, with Power, or with Finesse, and the way they fight chose to fight determines the skills they learn and what the blade does. Power style changes the Arcane Blade's States to 1D8, X3, 1-Handed, while Finesse changes them too 1D6, 19-20 X2, Light. At each stated level, Arcanist Blade gets the use of a feat that can only be used in light or medium armor, whether or not they meet the prerequisi- I - Power - Power Attack, Finesse - Weapon Finesse
- II - Power - Cleave, Finesse - Dodge
- III - Power - greater Weapon focus (Arcane Blade), Finesse - Mobility
- IV - Power - Great Cleave, Finesse - Spring Attack
- V - Power - Arcane Blade Stats change to - 2D6 – X3, 1-Handed, Finesses - Arcane Blade Stats change to – 1D8 - 19-20 X2, Light
- VI (Final) - Power - Improved Power Attack, Finesse - Whirlwind Attack
- (Improved Power Attack - For every 2 points of attack bonus you spend, you get +3 damage, or for every 1 point of attack bonus to spend for a weapon used in 2 hands, you get +3 damage.)

- Quick Draw - At 3rd level the Arcanist blade gets quick draw. This cannot allow the Arcanist Blade to summon more then 1 type of Arcane Blade a round.

- Arcane Strike - At 7th level, the Arcanist Blade gets Arcane Strike as a bonus feat.

- Slippery Mind - At 11th level, the Arcanist Blade gets the benefit of the Slippery Mind ability. See Rogue Special Abilities in PHB.

Arcane Blades

Arcane Blade's Spells come from certain domains in PHB. The Arcane Blade does not give the Domain's special ability, only its spell list. All spells cast from these lists are considered arcane spell.

Name -
domain -
Enhancement limits -

Wind Blade
Air –
1 – obscuring mist
2 – wind wall
3 – gaseous form
4 – air walk
5 – control winds
6 – chain lightning
7 – control weather
8 – whirlwind
9 – elemental swarm (air only)
cannot have any earth-based abilities.

Stone Blade
earth –
1 – magic stone
2 – soften stone to earth
3 – stone shape
4 – spike stones
5 – wall of stone
6 – stone skin
7 – earthquake
8 – iron body
9 – Elemental swarm (earth only)
cannot have any air-based abilities.

Dripping Blade
water –
1 – obscuring mist
2 – fog cloud
3 – water breathing
4 – control water
5 – ice storm
6 – cone of cold
7 – acid fog
8 – horrid wilting
9 – elemental swarm (water only)
cannot have any fire-based abilities.

Burning Blade
fire –
1 – burning hands
2 – produce flame
3 – resist energy (cold or fire)
4 – wall of fire
5 – fire shield
6 – fire seeds
7 – fire storm
8 – incendiary cloud
9 – elemental swarm (fire only)
cannot have any water-based abilities.

Havoc Blade
chaos –
1 – protection from law
2 – shatter
3 – magic circle against law
4 – chaos hammer
5 – dispel law
6 – animate object
7 – word of chaos
8 – summon monster IX (Chaotic Only)
cannot have any law-based abilities.

Order Blade
Law –
1 – protection from chaos
2 – calm emotions
3 – magic circle against chaos
4 – order’s wrath
5 – dispel chaos
6 – hold monster
7 – dictum
8 – shield of law
9 – summon monster IX (Lawful Only)
cannot have any chaos-based abilities

Shinning Blade
good –
1 – protection from evil
2 – aid
3 – magic circle against evil
4 – holy smite
5 – dispel evil
6 – blade barrier
7 – holy word
8 – holy aura
9 – summon monster IX (Good Only)
cannot have evil-based abilities.

Dimming Blade
evil –
1 – protection from good
2 – desecrate
3 – magic circle against good
4 – unholy blight
5 – dispel good
6 – create undead
7 – blasphemy
8 – unholy aura
9 – summon monster IX (Evil Only)
cannot have good based-abilities.

Pain Blade
destruction –
1 – inflict light wounds
2 – shatter
3 – contagion
4 – inflict critical wounds
5 – inflict light wounds, mass
6 – harm
7 – disintegrate
8 – earthquake
9 – implosion
cannot have merciful, or any abilities like it.

Soothing Blade
healing –
1 – cure light wounds
2 – cure moderate wounds
3 – cure serious wounds
4 – cure critical wounds
5 – cure light wounds, mass
6 – heal
7 – regenerate
8 – cure critical wounds, mass
9 – heal mass
cannot have vicious, or any abilities like it.

Shield Sword
protection -
1 – sanctuary
2 – shield other
3 – protection from energy
4 – spell immunity
5 – spell resistance
6 – antimagic field
7 – repulsion
8 – mind blank
9 – prismatic sphere
cannot have wounding, or any abilities like it.

Warrior Sword
war –
1 - magic weapon
2 - spiritual weapon
3 - magic vestment
4 - divine power
5 - flame strike
6 - blade barrier
7 - power word blind
8 - power word stun
9 - power word kill
cannot have defending, or any abilities like it.
blazed420
03-12-06, 05:04 PM So there are no questions or comments about it being over/under powered?
demonic_dante
03-12-06, 06:29 PM isnt it a little overpowered to get up to 9th level spells and a lot of the mind blade's abilities. I would tone down the spell rate a little, otherwise it is pretty cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
blazed420 03-12-06, 01:39 PM	This is a class i have been working on and wanted some input from outside my circle. It is based off of a character in a story of mine made some years back. Arcanist Blade - Arcane energies are wild and hard to tame. Over time many in a multitude of ways have wielded it. New forms of manipulating the Arcane energies are bound to appear, whether intentional, or not. - The Arcanist Blade has attempted magic in some way, and found a way to control the energies that has sat within range of mortals grasp sense birth and yet never touched. The Arcanist Blade has found how to tie a peace of arcane energy to him and form a weapon that can wield the chaotic energies for them. - Adventures: Arcanist Blade almost always become adventurers. The ability to grasp the arcane energies in hand has given them the feeling of strength and power, or just raw confidence. They tend to have a dare devil side that brings on a wanderlust they must heed. Some my adventure to feel more of the power they so easily hold, or to use the give for help those that can’t so easily hold it. - Characteristics: Arcanist blades blend a potency of magic with the skills of the blade. Magic comes easy through the connection they make to the blade and do not need to study magic as wizard does. They also do not truly know any magic as a sorcerer. The time spent learning to properly wield the power of the magical blade they summon slows there martial training enough to put them behind a simple soldier, but not enough to let a wizard with his nose in his books to win a sword fight. - Alignment: Arcanist Blades tend to be of the chaotic alignment. They need no formal training to casting, and can pretty much wing it. Their wanderlust often makes it hard to stay in one place and focus on some discipline. Arcanist Blades, though, can be of any alignment. Nothing but how they deal with their wielding of the energies is determining how they live. - Background: Arcanist Blades feel little to no kinship with other Arcanist Blades. There is no school to learn at, and they tend to be rare enough that they don’t see another Arcanist Blade in most of their travels. Most Arcanist Blades gained a fascination with magic at an early age and attempted magic with no supervision or natural talent for it. They might have seen a spell cast by traveling wizard or sorcerer and attempted it them selves, over and over. Drawing large amounts of energy to them that eventually, it simply didn’t leave, leaving the abilities summon forth a Blade of magic. - Other Classes: Arcanist Blades my feel envy towards a wizard for know so much about magic, or a sorcerer for being such a natural at magic, but they usually don’t. They wield magic with little effort thought they do not really know much magic themselves. They also tend to find Wizards to be serious about magic. - Role: Arcanist Blades can, if needed, be the primary melee unit but they are not as well trained as the fighter in combat and can’t use heavy armor. They can play the role of caster but not as well as the wizard or sorcerer might, but they can fill in the blank spots for them. They can be a healer for the party but will run out of spell sooner then the cleric. The Arcanist blade can be many roles, but more as a secondary or replacement then a main. They can even be the rogue of the party with their wide array of skills. D8 High - Will, Ref Low - Fort BAB - Average (3/4) Proficiencies - Simple weapons, his Arcane Blade, Light and Medium armor. (6 + Int modifier) X4 6 + Int modifier Balance , Climb , Concentration , Craft , Disguise , Escape Artist , Heal , Hide , Jump , Knowledge (Arcane) , Listen , Move Silently , Open Lock , Profession , Ride , Sleight of Hand , Spot , Spellcraft , Swim , Tumble , Use Magic Devise. 1 - Arcane Blade I, Weapon Focus (Arcane Blade) 2 - Fighting Style I 3 - Quick Draw 4 - Fighting Style II, +1 Arcane Blade 5 - Arcane Blade II 6 - +1 enhancement 7 - Arcane Strike 8 - Fighting Style III, +2 Arcane Blade 9 - 10- Arcane Blade III, +2 enhancement 11- Slipper Mind 12- Fighting Style IV, +3 Arcane Blade 13- 14- +3 enhancement 15- Arcane Blade IV 16- Fighting Style V, +4 Arcane Blade 17- 18- +4 enhancement 19- 20- Arcane Blade V, Final Fighting Style, +5 Arcane Blade Spells Per Day ----1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9----Spell Level 1 - 0 2 - 1 3 - 2 4 - 2/1 5 - 3/2 6 - 3/2/1 7 - 3/3/2 8 - 3/3/2/1 9 - 3/3/3/2 10- 3/3/3/2/1 11- 3/3/3/3/2 12- 3/3/3/3/2/1 13- 3/3/3/3/3/2 14- 3/3/3/3/3/2/1 15- 3/3/3/3/3/3/2 16- 3/3/3/3/3/3/2/1 17- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2 18- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2/1 19- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2 20- 3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3 - Spell Casting - Charisma Based - Spells the Arcanist Blade Cast have little in the way of Somatic components and do not get spell failure penalties in light or medium armor, while heavy has spell failure as usual. The Arcanist blade need not have a hand open to cast a spell, as long as he can move the blade freely to make the components. - Arcane Blade - as a move action an Arcanist Blade can summon an Arcane Blade. This blade is formed from magical energies tied to the Arcanist Blade. The Blade Types are chosen from a list of 12 and gives the Arcanist Blade the spells he can cast. - At first level, the Arcanist Blade only knows one blade. This blade is chosen at 1st level and doesn’t change. While the chosen blade is in hand it gives access to a list of 9 spells that use the Arcanist Blade's spells per day when cast. These spells do not need to be prepared ahead of time. - At 1st level, the Arcane Blade is considered a Light Melee Weapon with no weight and does D6, X2 slashing damage. The Damage type is always slashing. - At 5th level and every five levels after, that Arcanist Blade learns a new Arcane Blade form. The Arcanist Blade cannot have more then one blade summoned at a time, not even two blades of the same type. - An Arcanist Blade can only summon, or switch, one type of Arcane Blade once a round. Once the Arcane Blade is switched, the spells the Arcanist Blade can use changes to what the new blade allows and does not need to prepare them. - At 4th level, the Arcane Blade gets a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. This bonus increases every 4 levels there after. - At 6th level, the Arcanist Blade gains the ability to enhance his Arcane Blade. The Arcanist Blade can add any special weapon ability to his weapon from the DMG or any other sources the DM will allow. Every 4 levels after, the value of the enhancement bonus is increased. Each Blade has its own set of enhancements that are separate from the others. (Example: you have the fire sword and law sword, you but keen on the fire, but defending on the law. When you summon the law sword, you get its abilities) the elemental blades cannot do damage from a different element, (IE fire cant have cold burst) and the alignment blades cant have any ability that gives them the opposite alignment (IE good cant have unholy ability) but it can have an alignment of the differing axis. (IE good can have axiomatic) - Fighting Style - the Arcanist Blade Fights one of two ways with his blade, with Power, or with Finesse, and the way they fight chose to fight determines the skills they learn and what the blade does. Power style changes the Arcane Blade's States to 1D8, X3, 1-Handed, while Finesse changes them too 1D6, 19-20 X2, Light. At each stated level, Arcanist Blade gets the use of a feat that can only be used in light or medium armor, whether or not they meet the prerequisi- I - Power - Power Attack, Finesse - Weapon Finesse - II - Power - Cleave, Finesse - Dodge - III - Power - greater Weapon focus (Arcane Blade), Finesse - Mobility - IV - Power - Great Cleave, Finesse - Spring Attack - V - Power - Arcane Blade Stats change to - 2D6 – X3, 1-Handed, Finesses - Arcane Blade Stats change to – 1D8 - 19-20 X2, Light - VI (Final) - Power - Improved Power Attack, Finesse - Whirlwind Attack - (Improved Power Attack - For every 2 points of attack bonus you spend, you get +3 damage, or for every 1 point of attack bonus to spend for a weapon used in 2 hands, you get +3 damage.) - Quick Draw - At 3rd level the Arcanist blade gets quick draw. This cannot allow the Arcanist Blade to summon more then 1 type of Arcane Blade a round. - Arcane Strike - At 7th level, the Arcanist Blade gets Arcane Strike as a bonus feat. - Slippery Mind - At 11th level, the Arcanist Blade gets the benefit of the Slippery Mind ability. See Rogue Special Abilities in PHB. Arcane Blades Arcane Blade's Spells come from certain domains in PHB. The Arcane Blade does not give the Domain's special ability, only its spell list. All spells cast from these lists are considered arcane spell. Name - domain - Enhancement limits - Wind Blade Air – 1 – obscuring mist 2 – wind wall 3 – gaseous form 4 – air walk 5 – control winds 6 – chain lightning 7 – control weather 8 – whirlwind 9 – elemental swarm (air only) cannot have any earth-based abilities. Stone Blade earth – 1 – magic stone 2 – soften stone to earth 3 – stone shape 4 – spike stones 5 – wall of stone 6 – stone skin 7 – earthquake 8 – iron body 9 – Elemental swarm (earth only) cannot have any air-based abilities. Dripping Blade water – 1 – obscuring mist 2 – fog cloud 3 – water breathing 4 – control water 5 – ice storm 6 – cone of cold 7 – acid fog 8 – horrid wilting 9 – elemental swarm (water only) cannot have any fire-based abilities. Burning Blade fire – 1 – burning hands 2 – produce flame 3 – resist energy (cold or fire) 4 – wall of fire 5 – fire shield 6 – fire seeds 7 – fire storm 8 – incendiary cloud 9 – elemental swarm (fire only) cannot have any water-based abilities. Havoc Blade chaos – 1 – protection from law 2 – shatter 3 – magic circle against law 4 – chaos hammer 5 – dispel law 6 – animate object 7 – word of chaos 8 – summon monster IX (Chaotic Only) cannot have any law-based abilities. Order Blade Law – 1 – protection from chaos 2 – calm emotions 3 – magic circle against chaos 4 – order’s wrath 5 – dispel chaos 6 – hold monster 7 – dictum 8 – shield of law 9 – summon monster IX (Lawful Only) cannot have any chaos-based abilities Shinning Blade good – 1 – protection from evil 2 – aid 3 – magic circle against evil 4 – holy smite 5 – dispel evil 6 – blade barrier 7 – holy word 8 – holy aura 9 – summon monster IX (Good Only) cannot have evil-based abilities. Dimming Blade evil – 1 – protection from good 2 – desecrate 3 – magic circle against good 4 – unholy blight 5 – dispel good 6 – create undead 7 – blasphemy 8 – unholy aura 9 – summon monster IX (Evil Only) cannot have good based-abilities. Pain Blade destruction – 1 – inflict light wounds 2 – shatter 3 – contagion 4 – inflict critical wounds 5 – inflict light wounds, mass 6 – harm 7 – disintegrate 8 – earthquake 9 – implosion cannot have merciful, or any abilities like it. Soothing Blade healing – 1 – cure light wounds 2 – cure moderate wounds 3 – cure serious wounds 4 – cure critical wounds 5 – cure light wounds, mass 6 – heal 7 – regenerate 8 – cure critical wounds, mass 9 – heal mass cannot have vicious, or any abilities like it. Shield Sword protection - 1 – sanctuary 2 – shield other 3 – protection from energy 4 – spell immunity 5 – spell resistance 6 – antimagic field 7 – repulsion 8 – mind blank 9 – prismatic sphere cannot have wounding, or any abilities like it. Warrior Sword war – 1 - magic weapon 2 - spiritual weapon 3 - magic vestment 4 - divine power 5 - flame strike 6 - blade barrier 7 - power word blind 8 - power word stun 9 - power word kill cannot have defending, or any abilities like it.
blazed420 03-12-06, 05:04 PM	So there are no questions or comments about it being over/under powered?
demonic_dante 03-12-06, 06:29 PM	isnt it a little overpowered to get up to 9th level spells and a lot of the mind blade's abilities. I would tone down the spell rate a little, otherwise it is pretty cool.