Artist Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Artist Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
HrdCor
10-16-03, 09:25 AM I'm debating trying to design a Artist Mage. Basicly, his spells are derived from his drawing/paintings. What he draws, he can bring to life. Kinda like Relm from Final Fantasy 3 (or 6).

the character would draw something on paper, and invoke it at a later date

- should the spells would be very weak against fire? (being made from paper)

- how about length of time.... how long should the spells stick around?

- I thought that the drawings would have basic strengths, IE: draw one of the PCs but the drawing is only as powerful as a normal human/orc/halfling etc. it doesn't come with the PCs special skill

- what about drawing weapons? or armour?

- Should the power of the spell be based on the skill of the drawing? IE the amount of time spent drawing it

- could the character draw a PC in armour and when invoked the PC is wearing it?

- how about drawing arrows, invoking the spell and seeing a dozen arrows flying towards the enemy

I haven't thought out anything besides that, I would love any suggestions.
RobTzu
10-16-03, 11:05 AM Have you looked at the Runecaster from the FRCS? Your class sounds similiar in mechanics. I would make his drawings a magic item only usuable by him, or others for a more expensive price. He would need a craft(drawing) check of 15 plus spell level to make the "scroll" and cost as much as a scroll in terms of xp and gp. AT certain levels you could make these costs come down. ALso he should get bonuses to his art magic in higher DC's, etc at certain levels. If you really want I can detail the class for you, but only if you want.
HrdCor
10-16-03, 11:11 AM If you could send me a link or something, that'd be great... I don't really know what I'm doing... I'm a first time player. I've only played 4, 4 hour sessions. But I've been having a blast and thought that this might be a fun class to ty out if I played another quest. I'm going to do a search for runecaster on google. THanks.
RobTzu
10-16-03, 11:21 AM Sorry no link that I know of. The runecaster is a prestige class in the F.orgotten R.ealms C.ampaign S.ourcebook. Has your DM played much before? If he hasn't then you should just play a regular wizard, and scribe a lot of scrolls and just say they are drawings. The FRCS is 39.95, but really really worth it if you want to play in Forgotten Realms also. The are a ton of novels set in The forgotten realms. Keep playing, and have fun!
HrdCor
10-16-03, 11:39 AM Yea, he's really experienced, he designs campaigns for a company or somthing like that.
RobTzu
10-16-03, 03:00 PM Then just tell him what you want and he will probably point you to something you would like. I still reccomend he look at the runecaster in FRCS. He will understand.
Luminous Crayon
10-16-03, 05:23 PM There was a character in Wizard's First Rule who did this. Apparently artist-mages are more dangerous in that setting than conventional mages, because the target of a spell has to understand the spell for it to have any effect, and art is a form of expression that bypasses language barriers.

One of the protagonists had to find the cave wall the spell constraining him was drawn on and erase his image from the diagram in order to free himself from the magic. It was very cool.
The Master Weaver Is Warped
10-17-03, 09:13 AM The Ovate (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64250)
This is kind of like what you are talking about. it will give you a good starting point. Also the following might help with how to treat the drawings with respect to permancy.
The Collector (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45169)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HrdCor 10-16-03, 09:25 AM	I'm debating trying to design a Artist Mage. Basicly, his spells are derived from his drawing/paintings. What he draws, he can bring to life. Kinda like Relm from Final Fantasy 3 (or 6). the character would draw something on paper, and invoke it at a later date - should the spells would be very weak against fire? (being made from paper) - how about length of time.... how long should the spells stick around? - I thought that the drawings would have basic strengths, IE: draw one of the PCs but the drawing is only as powerful as a normal human/orc/halfling etc. it doesn't come with the PCs special skill - what about drawing weapons? or armour? - Should the power of the spell be based on the skill of the drawing? IE the amount of time spent drawing it - could the character draw a PC in armour and when invoked the PC is wearing it? - how about drawing arrows, invoking the spell and seeing a dozen arrows flying towards the enemy I haven't thought out anything besides that, I would love any suggestions.
RobTzu 10-16-03, 11:05 AM	Have you looked at the Runecaster from the FRCS? Your class sounds similiar in mechanics. I would make his drawings a magic item only usuable by him, or others for a more expensive price. He would need a craft(drawing) check of 15 plus spell level to make the "scroll" and cost as much as a scroll in terms of xp and gp. AT certain levels you could make these costs come down. ALso he should get bonuses to his art magic in higher DC's, etc at certain levels. If you really want I can detail the class for you, but only if you want.
HrdCor 10-16-03, 11:11 AM	If you could send me a link or something, that'd be great... I don't really know what I'm doing... I'm a first time player. I've only played 4, 4 hour sessions. But I've been having a blast and thought that this might be a fun class to ty out if I played another quest. I'm going to do a search for runecaster on google. THanks.
RobTzu 10-16-03, 11:21 AM	Sorry no link that I know of. The runecaster is a prestige class in the F.orgotten R.ealms C.ampaign S.ourcebook. Has your DM played much before? If he hasn't then you should just play a regular wizard, and scribe a lot of scrolls and just say they are drawings. The FRCS is 39.95, but really really worth it if you want to play in Forgotten Realms also. The are a ton of novels set in The forgotten realms. Keep playing, and have fun!
HrdCor 10-16-03, 11:39 AM	Yea, he's really experienced, he designs campaigns for a company or somthing like that.
RobTzu 10-16-03, 03:00 PM	Then just tell him what you want and he will probably point you to something you would like. I still reccomend he look at the runecaster in FRCS. He will understand.
Luminous Crayon 10-16-03, 05:23 PM	There was a character in Wizard's First Rule who did this. Apparently artist-mages are more dangerous in that setting than conventional mages, because the target of a spell has to understand the spell for it to have any effect, and art is a form of expression that bypasses language barriers. One of the protagonists had to find the cave wall the spell constraining him was drawn on and erase his image from the diagram in order to free himself from the magic. It was very cool.
The Master Weaver Is Warped 10-17-03, 09:13 AM	The Ovate (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64250) This is kind of like what you are talking about. it will give you a good starting point. Also the following might help with how to treat the drawings with respect to permancy. The Collector (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45169)