Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xykon 08-04-05, 06:40 AM	I have been looking into leveling up my wizard into the Archmage class (First time!) and while i am browsing through the High Arcana abilities and there are some issues is not explained enough and would need clarifying. Issue #1 Spell Slot cost: Lets say i am an Evoker and thus would have 1 extra slot for evocation on each spell level that i can cast spells. Can i use those "slots" to pay for the cost? Issue #2 Arcane Fire (Su): The archmage gains the ability to change arcane spell energy into arcane fire, manifesting it as a bolt of raw magical energy. The bolt is a ranged touch attack with long range (400 feet + 40 feet/level of archmage) that deals 1d6 points of damage per class level of the archmage plus 1d6 points of damage per level of the spell used to create the effect. This ability costs one 9th-level spell slot. Question(s): 1. Does this effect has a energy descriptor? It said "arcane fire"... is this equivalent with "fire" damage or is a completely new category of energy much like the "divine power" damage in "flame strike" 2. Does spell resistance apply to it? I *PRESSUME* it does since most evocation type of spells does need it, but *maybe* the "arcane fire" bit can get past this? :) Issue #3 Mastery of Shaping (Su): The archmage can alter area and effect spells that use one of the following shapes: burst, cone, cylinder, emanation, or spread. The alteration consists of creating spaces within the spell's area or effect that are not subject to the spell. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a 5-foot cube. Furthermore, any shapeable spells have a minimum dimension of 5 feet instead of 10 feet. This ability costs one 6th-level spell slot. Questions: 1. Fog like spells - Lets say i want to cast acid fog and want to create a 5 ft cube for one of my allies to be unaffected. 1st round i suppose is fine, but what happens on the 2nd round? Does the fog "flow" into the hole i created? Or it doesn't really matter coz after i cast it the acid fog will "flow" into the hole on the same round anyway? By the way, anybody knows how slow these fog spells (cloud kill, acid fog, fog cloud) flows down per round? 2. Force Cage like spells - presumably i can create 5 foot diameter holes in spells like Resilient Sphere, Force cage, Wall of force, etc. Is there anyway these "holes" can be seen by anybody else (or myself)? I am not sure if the answer to these questions are already posted somewhere. Its my first time to post here so please pardon me for any repeat postings. Thanks.
Morka 08-04-05, 09:11 AM	This should be posted on the Classes & Prestige Classes (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17) board, but I'll try to answer your questions. Issue#1: I don't know, but I think you can. Issue#2.1: ...manifesting it as a bolt of raw magical energy. The type is raw magical energy, and there is no damage reduction or energy resistance against that. Issue#2.2: You see the abreviation in parenthesis? (Su) means it is a Supernatural ability, and Supernatural ability bypass Spell Resistance, but is suppressed in an Antimagical Field. Issue#3.1: Acid fog is a spread, so you can use this High Arcana on this spell. I'm pretty sure the safe area will be safe for all the spell duration. Issue#3.2: Forcecage create a Cage, Wall of Force create a Wall. Mastery of Shaping only apply on bursts, cones, cylinders, emanations, or spreads.
Xykon 08-10-05, 01:47 AM	Thanks for the clearing up most of the issues. :) Didn't know about the supernatural ability being able to bypass spell resistance -- i guess it just didn't occur to me to look at the description of supernatural abilities to find the answer. Now, i wonder if how i can put this thread in the prestige class discussion board... cheers.