Runesmith [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Runesmith [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cirathorn
12-29-07, 12:07 AM I am working on a homebrew world where magic is more rune based then a normal world. I am trying to take the Runesmith PRC (races of Stone) and change it into a mainline class, but so far I am falling short on what all to allow as far as spells per day and feats.

Any suggestions? or maybe someone has done this before?
Giradius
01-03-08, 06:38 PM I just read through the Runesmith class and have instantly taken a liking to it.
Very Norse in its theme i personally think you should use the wizard spell mechanics as your guide , In addition the share spells feature should use CHA instead of CON to determine how many spells you can share, I also think the runic tablet that the runes are inscribed on should be destroyed when the spell is cast (however almost anything can be used to create rune tablets, wood, pebbles, precious stones, bone).
I also think that if you add a class feature similar to the "Imbue Item" feature that Warlocks get it would fit in quite well with the theme of the class, (It enables you to create a magic item without having to know the required spells although you still need the feat) this ability corresponds to the runesmiths familiarity with rune magic is at the point where they can merely engrave runes onto an item to empower it.
Another possible idea is a "Reveal runes" feature that enables the Runesmith to use detect magic and identify a limited number of times a day OR enables them to make a "Runelore" skill check DC 10+level of the spells/enhancement bonus to detect if the item is magical, increase the DC by 5 to identify the magic of the item, the Runelore skill can be a class skill for the runesmith and is used for the above purposes as well as substitute for spellcraft (when trying to identify what spell another runesmith is casting or maybe just drop spellcraft all together).

much of this depends on your setting though, most of it would make sense if the majority of arcane (or maybe even divine) spellcasters are Runesmiths.

In Addition, in order to maintain the general runic flavour of the magic, create a custom spell list instead of using the wizard/sorceror list and include spells of a more "Primal" nature taken from all spell lists, the following themes are appropriate for magic based runes, Nature (a lot of the spells on the druid list are good), Elements (especially fire and ice and lightning to a lesser extent), Protection (mage armour and protection from normal missiles), enhancement (items and characters, the character traces a glowing rune onto the item with their finger tip, truestrike, bulls strength etc), healing (to a small degree), Divination (especially).

and finally you could create a feat that give a bonus to caster level for using an appropriate material for the creation of the rune (ask the DM), for instance preparing a bulls strength spell on peices of ogre bone, endure elements or fireball prepared on a red dragon scale.

The images this class conjure for me are amazing, a wizened dwarf (or northman) clutching a small glowing runestone as goblin arrows bounce harmlessly of his skin, he takes out another couple of runes from a leather pouch and hurls them toward the goblins, the stones explodes and become blue balls of energy which fly effortlessly toward the goblins each one seemingly unable to miss as they slam into the goblins.

(mage armour and magic missile incase you were wondering :D)

Hope these suggestions give food for thought.
cirathorn
01-04-08, 10:47 AM Awesome, I appreciate the reply, I am currently looking at the Arcane Mechanik class from the Iron Kingdoms, and comparing it to my thoughts.

The Rune Smith is such an Awesome PrC thought that I really do want to see it as a Main class and not a Prestige class, so after soem trial runs on the Arcane mechanik I might keep it, or go back to the drawing board with the Duskblade.
Giradius
01-04-08, 12:29 PM The duskblad doesnt realy fit with my vision of the class but as i said it depends on what setting you are using, another fine candidate could be the artificer from eberron, the arcane mechanik looks quite promicing too but i would have to read up more on the mechanika rules to see where a few slight changes could be made to bring in line with the "style" of a runesmith.
cirathorn
01-04-08, 01:19 PM I am not very familiar with the Artificer or even Eberron, I have always run mainly Homebrew worlds. I will see what I can find on it though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cirathorn 12-29-07, 12:07 AM	I am working on a homebrew world where magic is more rune based then a normal world. I am trying to take the Runesmith PRC (races of Stone) and change it into a mainline class, but so far I am falling short on what all to allow as far as spells per day and feats. Any suggestions? or maybe someone has done this before?
Giradius 01-03-08, 06:38 PM	I just read through the Runesmith class and have instantly taken a liking to it. Very Norse in its theme i personally think you should use the wizard spell mechanics as your guide , In addition the share spells feature should use CHA instead of CON to determine how many spells you can share, I also think the runic tablet that the runes are inscribed on should be destroyed when the spell is cast (however almost anything can be used to create rune tablets, wood, pebbles, precious stones, bone). I also think that if you add a class feature similar to the "Imbue Item" feature that Warlocks get it would fit in quite well with the theme of the class, (It enables you to create a magic item without having to know the required spells although you still need the feat) this ability corresponds to the runesmiths familiarity with rune magic is at the point where they can merely engrave runes onto an item to empower it. Another possible idea is a "Reveal runes" feature that enables the Runesmith to use detect magic and identify a limited number of times a day OR enables them to make a "Runelore" skill check DC 10+level of the spells/enhancement bonus to detect if the item is magical, increase the DC by 5 to identify the magic of the item, the Runelore skill can be a class skill for the runesmith and is used for the above purposes as well as substitute for spellcraft (when trying to identify what spell another runesmith is casting or maybe just drop spellcraft all together). much of this depends on your setting though, most of it would make sense if the majority of arcane (or maybe even divine) spellcasters are Runesmiths. In Addition, in order to maintain the general runic flavour of the magic, create a custom spell list instead of using the wizard/sorceror list and include spells of a more "Primal" nature taken from all spell lists, the following themes are appropriate for magic based runes, Nature (a lot of the spells on the druid list are good), Elements (especially fire and ice and lightning to a lesser extent), Protection (mage armour and protection from normal missiles), enhancement (items and characters, the character traces a glowing rune onto the item with their finger tip, truestrike, bulls strength etc), healing (to a small degree), Divination (especially). and finally you could create a feat that give a bonus to caster level for using an appropriate material for the creation of the rune (ask the DM), for instance preparing a bulls strength spell on peices of ogre bone, endure elements or fireball prepared on a red dragon scale. The images this class conjure for me are amazing, a wizened dwarf (or northman) clutching a small glowing runestone as goblin arrows bounce harmlessly of his skin, he takes out another couple of runes from a leather pouch and hurls them toward the goblins, the stones explodes and become blue balls of energy which fly effortlessly toward the goblins each one seemingly unable to miss as they slam into the goblins. (mage armour and magic missile incase you were wondering :D) Hope these suggestions give food for thought.
cirathorn 01-04-08, 10:47 AM	Awesome, I appreciate the reply, I am currently looking at the Arcane Mechanik class from the Iron Kingdoms, and comparing it to my thoughts. The Rune Smith is such an Awesome PrC thought that I really do want to see it as a Main class and not a Prestige class, so after soem trial runs on the Arcane mechanik I might keep it, or go back to the drawing board with the Duskblade.
Giradius 01-04-08, 12:29 PM	The duskblad doesnt realy fit with my vision of the class but as i said it depends on what setting you are using, another fine candidate could be the artificer from eberron, the arcane mechanik looks quite promicing too but i would have to read up more on the mechanika rules to see where a few slight changes could be made to bring in line with the "style" of a runesmith.
cirathorn 01-04-08, 01:19 PM	I am not very familiar with the Artificer or even Eberron, I have always run mainly Homebrew worlds. I will see what I can find on it though.