Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lyric 02-24-07, 02:15 AM	Ok, I hopped over to the character optimizations board (a mortal sin, I know) ;) anyways, I came accross a build I want to play, but I'd like some ideas on how to stylize him based off his classes. He is an Illumian (Races of Destiny), and his classes are (or will progress to be) (in no particular order) Beguiler (1) wizard (3) Master Specialist (5) Spelltheif (1) Ultimate Magus (10) Basically, he'll get a +2 to CL from his race, and with the Master spelltheif feat, a +12 to his CL from Ultimate Magus, and an additional +1 from spelltheif (for his 1 level in it). In total, he'll have a CL of 33 at lvl 20. But that's beside the point, but could be reflected in his portrayal somehow. His magic, as a beguiler is mostly ench/illusion/transmutation, as is the spelltheif style. His magic as a wizard, well, I think I'm going to go the route of making him a conjurer specialist (which will carry through with his Master Specialist classes), but that's where it gets fuzzy, because I'm not sure how to mix that all together into something plausible.. being an illumian makes it easier since they like to multi-class, but it's rather an odd combo.. He'll also like making magic items (especially buff items) and magic rings.. he 'might' do well with a staff... So, any suggestions on story/background/personality character developement on a guy like this? Assume Eberon Campaign if it makes a difference.
trickydevl666 02-24-07, 12:54 PM	Illumians are characters whose entire life is based on mastering subjects. Because of his nack for enchantment/illusion/transmuation he starting getting bored and felt that he could larn something else. So he started mastering conjuration, something which he had not been able to do before. He finds that conjuration is extremely interesting and so he goes and studies it longer than he had done other types of magic (hence the levels of master specialist). But he figured he could add to his power. Why just master different schools of magic? He decided maybe there was a way to steal magical energy from others and use it for his own uses, allowing him to master opponent spellcasters easier. He then figured he could do better than just being masters in the subjects separately, and figures out a way to fuse them and use them again. That's what I suggest for reasoning. Illumians like to master things, which is why I used the term so much... I just woke up and I am feeling too lazy to look for a thesaurus. As for background.... Illumian's lives are filled with subterfuge, that's why your character became a beguiler. But just as a note, think about what type of cabal your character came from, because that is a big part of what makes your character. It seems your character would either be from a chain or a gauntlet one... Chain infiltrate power structures and keep eyes on everything around them, making sure they will be held safe. Gauntlet cabals manipulate things around them for their own purposes rather than sit back and watch. I can't think of anything for personality. Pragmatic and confident seems to be what strikes me. Eberron doesn't change it that much, you just need to think of where your character is from and what your cabal did during the last war. Also it might help if you think about what affiliates or enemies, if any, your cabal had. If you have access to Races of Destiny and Player's Guide to Eberron it might help a bit. Though the only thing that PGtE that tells us about Illumians in Eberron is that they are there and their history is pretty much unaltered and that they still have the shadow metropolis on the plane of shadow.
Lyric 02-25-07, 04:00 PM	So basically, because Illumians are multi-classers by nature, and odd combo's are their forte, I should just use that :P
Lyric 02-25-07, 04:41 PM	Now I'm considering this variant of the build... Wizard (3) (Diviner Specialist Variant - Unearthed Arcana) Geometer (5) Beguiler (1) Spelltheif (1) Ultimate Magus (10) In his diviner side, he'll gain a +1 to his Divination DC's and gain an insight bonus on certain checks once a day. He won't gain bonus spells or a familiar. (Those things die to easy anyways) I added the Geometer side because Illumians have a racial penalty to glyph style spells, so this was his way of trying to master something his race is weak against, as well as gain an edge vs other cabals if they ever needed to be threatened. ;) His barred school is necromancy, never did like undead, and that's very Illumian. Also, his insight bonus from his Diviner side, and his Geometer class abilities, are able to stack when it comes to bypassing glyph spells.. so he could eventually be a very good person to send to infiltrate other cabals! :) Any other ideas on how to flesh out 'this' variant?
trickydevl666 02-26-07, 12:08 AM	Actually their racial weakness is also a strength. If they're caster levels are lower, then they take a penalty, if it is equal to or higher, they are completely immune to it... For a second I got geometer confused with geomancer and went looking in the wrong book... but Geometer is pretty easy to add in their because it is based off of symbols. Maybe he was curious about his existance because he is a language personified and wanted to get to become closer to his true roots.... So things short. Your illumian's nack for intrigue makes him want to know more about the world about him, and so he became a diviner to better forsee things and gain more knowledge or whatever reason diviners become diviners. As you progress by learning magic through the written word, you decide to study further the mystic arcane symbols that are the formulas for your spells as well as the things that float above your head. You become a geometer. After studying, you wish to learn about magic in a raw natural form, while still keeping your nack for intrigue and so you take the path of the beguiler. After mastering the written and on your way to master the raw essence, you figure out a way to manipulate the raw essence and siphon it from others. You then learn to master written form and raw form of magic and become the ultimate magus. Only thing is that I'm not sure about giving up necromancy. Slightly because of bias because necromancy is my favorite school, tied with enchantment. But also I have a reasoning to back this up. Most of the good Symbol spells are the school of necromancy! Like symbol of death, weakness, pain.... Just because you study necromancy doesn't mean you use it for undead. Sure most illumians loathe undead, find them abomminations. But maybe you don't prohibit necromancy to discover away to destroy them? or something? Besides necromancy has really good mind-affecting abilities... Get rid of transmuation or illusion... But of course, I'm just saying that because I really like necromancy just talk to my illumian dread necromancer/warlock he'll agree with me. but of course my illumian is from a gravewhisperer cabal in eberron.... yay karrnath ^__^ So there's my little spiel(sp?) Besides if you go this path, your character seems to focus more on the symbol spells anyway.... I mean... how can you pass up the chance to cast a spell that makes your enemies go "ow...ow!.. ow!" (OotS #113) I mean look at the symbol spells. There is symbol of death, symbol of pain, symbol of fear, symbol of weakness... those are necromancy the other 4 symbol spells are enchantment... sepia snake sigil is conjuration.... the others I believe are abjuration so you're giving up 4 of the spells that are of the symbol/glyph/rune/sigil nature... So those are my two cp.... Now give up transumation instead of necromancy (suggestion)
Lyric 02-26-07, 03:20 AM	You have very good suggestions, I'll consider the necromancy aspect. I may give up illusion since it's kinda opposite divination.. and I get illusion from my beguiler side.. (I think :P) I'll have to review the symbol spells like you seem to have. They don't belong to any other schools?? hmmm.. Oh, I don't know if it makes much difference... but.. his progresion goes from Beguiler, to Wizard, to Spelltheif, then to Ultimate magus, then to geometer.
trickydevl666 02-26-07, 06:45 PM	Nah doesn't make that much of a difference.... Just switch the order of what I said around... maybe just... spontaneous caster for his racial affinity for magic, wizard to study further the thing that made his race, after studying figuring out a way to siphon it from others, combine his spontaneous and arcane magic, go back to explore the meaning of various arcane symbols that was able to create an entire race other than divine power, but even the magic of the language allowed five illumians I believe to demi-divinity. If I am correct in what I did, I checked the symbol spells, they are enchantment and necromancy, explosive runes, the signs of seeling, and the glyphs of warding are abjuration, sepia snake sigil conjuration. And yeah, if you give up illusion, your beguiler side will give you the illusion spells. Also don't forget about the Power Words, but those are all enchantment ^__^ So I'm glad I could help, I just really like illumians if you couldn't tell... they are my favorite race and spellcasting is my favorite type of class ^__^ So anywho... there was another part of your character I failed to comment on.... Item Creation! I am not really that good at figuring out this part...but... Let's see. Illumians do not like to waste their time, they would rather spend their time doing something productive than just doing nothing, I mean they would meditate or do calistetics(sp?) if they don't find anything better to do. so maybe that's why he spends his time making items. Why waste his time talking to party members who would undoubtedly fail to comprehend his superior intellect? He would much rather spend time tinkering with things and showing how much more he brings to the party by creating magic items. Also if you want a background story just think of what type of enclave he is from, where in Eberron he is from, he sounds more like an Aundairian to me.... and possibly a reason why he is with the party.
Lyric 02-26-07, 07:32 PM	Spell casters are my favorite also, though Manifesters come a close second, depends on the theme. (Which is why I like the Soul Knife class, despite many saying it's underpowered... it's a blade made with the power of your mind! That right there makes you awesome! :D) I'm still reading up on Illumians, they seem very Japanese in their culture to me. (Not to offend anyone who can find a way to be offended off that :P) From what I've learned, the Japanese, like the Illumians, are very diligent and devoted in what they do. Nothing is done part way, perfection is always striven for. There can also be (particularly in some of the more traditional japanese lifestyles) a lot of ritual or routine. (I'm no expert, but just from what I've gathered thus far). And the setting of the Cabal's of the Illumians reminds me slightly of that mentality. Remember, the Japanese are the ones who take cruddy quality steal and fold and hammer and combine it thousands of times to forge a single sword. (And yes, there 'is' a video out there of a bullet being shot at the edge of a japanese sword blade... the bullet LOST) :) I picture my illumian, and perhaps many, of the type who could fashion something like that. Surging towards perfection in whatever he does. Next I think I'll have to see what skills my character could focus on, and see how those can be worked into his personality and character base. :)
Hola 02-26-07, 07:48 PM	give him an odd love of somthing weird, like say rodents for example, and use that quirk in odd social situations like useing a glamer to make a rat look like a dragon and throw it down in the middle of the circle of dolgaunts, just an example. Useing a strange quirk in combat and have it work is one of the great pleasures of role play fighting!
trickydevl666 02-26-07, 08:19 PM	Yeah... I guess I could see what you mean about the japanese-esque culture... but I am not that read up on it... What I do know is that they are a very secretive and manipulative race that lets others do the dirty work for them. Just read about Illumians at War. ^__^