Can you build a battlemage? (v3.5) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can you build a battlemage? (v3.5) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xaev-MSU
07-09-04, 12:09 AM Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents.
Lawrence
07-09-04, 12:28 AM a wizard/sorcerer with a biased spell selection, a few feats such as twin spell, an invented spell that allows haste-able spell casting, contingency, and a bottle of cure-all.

otherwise, fraid not. ^-^;
SweetMeats
07-09-04, 12:30 AM Theres the WarMage PrC in one of the Dragonlance books (Age of Mortals I think...) that would fit that concept very well.
Votan
07-09-04, 01:19 AM Originally posted by Xaev-MSU
Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents.

Consider the battlesorcerer from Unearthed Arcana. Much more durable than the regular sorcerer and the limited spell list fits a theme even better.
DrMorganes
07-09-04, 01:26 AM Are you looking to do this from within the core rules, or are you looking for input on creating a prestige class? I'm not too fond of the latter, as most of them end up far too specialized for my taste, so I'll stick with a battlemage concept built from the core rules.

Since the vast majority of combat spells are evocations, opting for an Evoker specialist (with Divination and Enchantment or Illusion as prohibited schools) makes sense. You get an additional spell slot per spell level that can only be filled with evocations. You'll definitely want to keep access to Abjuration (for those protection spells you mentioned) and Conjuration (Mage Armor and Cloud Kill). The loss of True Strike, a divination, is not a big deal. Only a few spells require combat rolls to hit (various rays, Acid Arrow, etc), and you want to maximize your full combat potential. The remaining schools of magic all have impressive combat-related spells at various levels.

Feat Selection:

Improved Initiative is a given
Metamagic like Quicken Spell and Heighten Spell
Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus (Evocation) are gimmies, as are
Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration
Limit your item creation Feats to those that give the most bang for the slot: Craft Staff allows you far more flexibility in additional combat prowess than Craft Wand. Craft Wonderous Item lets you create a wide range of permanent protection items like Cloaks of Resistance, Bracers of Armor, and [/i]Gloves of Dexterity[/i] (boosted DEX gives helps you with AC AND your ability to react in combat - both critical for a battlemage).

Be sure to check Unearthed Arcana for the varient Evoker options as well. Each specialist wizard has three varients presented: one which gives up a familiar, one which gives up extra spells, and one which gives up Wizard bonus Feats.

The Battle Sorceror mentioned by Votan is also a good option, though it gives up some of a pure wizard's raw whomping power in exchange for boosted melee ability. I have a spreadsheet comparing the Battle Sorceror and a Fighter/Wizard multiclass if you'd like to see how they stack up.
The Simbul
07-09-04, 03:14 AM Originally posted by Xaev-MSU
Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. You get to choose what spells you know/research, and likewise can select feats to make those spells more difficult to resist. So yes.

This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents. From a 3.5 rules perspective, your ability to throw up a defensive spell while still being able to unleash a magical attack in the same round is normally confined to the options of the Quicken Spell feat, and the Contingency spell from the core rulebooks, and spells like the Simbul's Spell Trigger from the Players Guide to Faerun. While the Simbul's Spell Trigger is horrifically nerfed in 3.5, it bears noting that it is one of the only magical effects that can store multiple contingent spells, without being limited by the normal limits on how many contingent spells you can currently have upon you (although its short duration, expensive focus components, and backlash damage do put a serious strain on overusing it). Other contingency options, like Craft Contingent Spell and Chain Contingency may or may not have made it into a 3.5 sourcebook yet.
Xaev-MSU
07-09-04, 03:31 AM Originally posted by The Simbul
You get to choose what spells you know/research, and likewise can select feats to make those spells more difficult to resist. So yes.

From a 3.5 rules perspective, your ability to throw up a defensive spell while still being able to unleash a magical attack in the same round is normally confined to the options of the Quicken Spell feat, and the Contingency spell from the core rulebooks, and spells like the Simbul's Spell Trigger from the Players Guide to Faerun. While the Simbul's Spell Trigger is horrifically nerfed in 3.5, it bears noting that it is one of the only magical effects that can store multiple contingent spells, without being limited by the normal limits on how many contingent spells you can currently have upon you (although its short duration, expensive focus components, and backlash damage do put a serious strain on overusing it). Other contingency options, like Craft Contingent Spell and Chain Contingency may or may not have made it into a 3.5 sourcebook yet. [/B]

Ya, Contigency is kind of what I was looking for. I'm not interested in being able to go into melee at all with this type of character. Some things that would be fun from a role playing perspective is to have something that allows you to use contingency to store spells to cast things like Stone Skin or the like on you at the onset of a fight, and maybe even invisibility allowing you to take up a strategic position to lauch your first spell. I like the ideas.

On a side note, I don't know if you guys have read the Drizzt series books (I'm positive many of you have), but what I'm looking for is kind of in one of the books. Entreri encounters a battlemage at one point who throws up enoug defenses that he cant even get through the mage's shield when he makes it up to him and is forced to run away and almost dies.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xaev-MSU 07-09-04, 12:09 AM	Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents.
Lawrence 07-09-04, 12:28 AM	a wizard/sorcerer with a biased spell selection, a few feats such as twin spell, an invented spell that allows haste-able spell casting, contingency, and a bottle of cure-all. otherwise, fraid not. ^-^;
SweetMeats 07-09-04, 12:30 AM	Theres the WarMage PrC in one of the Dragonlance books (Age of Mortals I think...) that would fit that concept very well.
Votan 07-09-04, 01:19 AM	Originally posted by Xaev-MSU Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents. Consider the battlesorcerer from Unearthed Arcana. Much more durable than the regular sorcerer and the limited spell list fits a theme even better.
DrMorganes 07-09-04, 01:26 AM	Are you looking to do this from within the core rules, or are you looking for input on creating a prestige class? I'm not too fond of the latter, as most of them end up far too specialized for my taste, so I'll stick with a battlemage concept built from the core rules. Since the vast majority of combat spells are evocations, opting for an Evoker specialist (with Divination and Enchantment or Illusion as prohibited schools) makes sense. You get an additional spell slot per spell level that can only be filled with evocations. You'll definitely want to keep access to Abjuration (for those protection spells you mentioned) and Conjuration (Mage Armor and Cloud Kill). The loss of True Strike, a divination, is not a big deal. Only a few spells require combat rolls to hit (various rays, Acid Arrow, etc), and you want to maximize your full combat potential. The remaining schools of magic all have impressive combat-related spells at various levels. Feat Selection: Improved Initiative is a given Metamagic like Quicken Spell and Heighten Spell Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus (Evocation) are gimmies, as are Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration Limit your item creation Feats to those that give the most bang for the slot: Craft Staff allows you far more flexibility in additional combat prowess than Craft Wand. Craft Wonderous Item lets you create a wide range of permanent protection items like Cloaks of Resistance, Bracers of Armor, and [/i]Gloves of Dexterity[/i] (boosted DEX gives helps you with AC AND your ability to react in combat - both critical for a battlemage). Be sure to check Unearthed Arcana for the varient Evoker options as well. Each specialist wizard has three varients presented: one which gives up a familiar, one which gives up extra spells, and one which gives up Wizard bonus Feats. The Battle Sorceror mentioned by Votan is also a good option, though it gives up some of a pure wizard's raw whomping power in exchange for boosted melee ability. I have a spreadsheet comparing the Battle Sorceror and a Fighter/Wizard multiclass if you'd like to see how they stack up.
The Simbul 07-09-04, 03:14 AM	Originally posted by Xaev-MSU Is there any way to build a battlemage type of spellcaster. Basically a spellcaster that specializes in offensive/defensive spellcasting and cares nothing of helping the part, aside from quickly and precisely killing off the enemies. You get to choose what spells you know/research, and likewise can select feats to make those spells more difficult to resist. So yes. This battlemage would be the type to throw up a quick defense, or have an item that automatically throws up two defensive spells on a command word, and then he proceeds to cast offensive spells at his opponents. From a 3.5 rules perspective, your ability to throw up a defensive spell while still being able to unleash a magical attack in the same round is normally confined to the options of the Quicken Spell feat, and the Contingency spell from the core rulebooks, and spells like the Simbul's Spell Trigger from the Players Guide to Faerun. While the Simbul's Spell Trigger is horrifically nerfed in 3.5, it bears noting that it is one of the only magical effects that can store multiple contingent spells, without being limited by the normal limits on how many contingent spells you can currently have upon you (although its short duration, expensive focus components, and backlash damage do put a serious strain on overusing it). Other contingency options, like Craft Contingent Spell and Chain Contingency may or may not have made it into a 3.5 sourcebook yet.
Xaev-MSU 07-09-04, 03:31 AM	Originally posted by The Simbul You get to choose what spells you know/research, and likewise can select feats to make those spells more difficult to resist. So yes. From a 3.5 rules perspective, your ability to throw up a defensive spell while still being able to unleash a magical attack in the same round is normally confined to the options of the Quicken Spell feat, and the Contingency spell from the core rulebooks, and spells like the Simbul's Spell Trigger from the Players Guide to Faerun. While the Simbul's Spell Trigger is horrifically nerfed in 3.5, it bears noting that it is one of the only magical effects that can store multiple contingent spells, without being limited by the normal limits on how many contingent spells you can currently have upon you (although its short duration, expensive focus components, and backlash damage do put a serious strain on overusing it). Other contingency options, like Craft Contingent Spell and Chain Contingency may or may not have made it into a 3.5 sourcebook yet. [/B] Ya, Contigency is kind of what I was looking for. I'm not interested in being able to go into melee at all with this type of character. Some things that would be fun from a role playing perspective is to have something that allows you to use contingency to store spells to cast things like Stone Skin or the like on you at the onset of a fight, and maybe even invisibility allowing you to take up a strategic position to lauch your first spell. I like the ideas. On a side note, I don't know if you guys have read the Drizzt series books (I'm positive many of you have), but what I'm looking for is kind of in one of the books. Entreri encounters a battlemage at one point who throws up enoug defenses that he cant even get through the mage's shield when he makes it up to him and is forced to run away and almost dies.