Breaking the Anima Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Breaking the Anima Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Trance Kuja
03-18-06, 11:22 AM I don't have books with me at the moment since I'm at work. After reading some of ToM for the first time last night I came to the conclusion that the anima mage could be extremely broken. One of the abilities it gains allows you to apply a metamagic effect to a spell for free by simply suppressing a bound vestiges power for 5 rounds. By 9th level of the anima mage you can do this 3 times a day. I smell persistent spell brokeness in the air.

wiz 3/ binder 3 allows you into anima mage so by 15th level you can persist 3 spells a day.

wiz 3 / binder 3 / anima mage 10 / (Full spell progression class) 4 would give you access to 3 vestiges up to the highest level vestiges and 9th level spell casting.

Now that I got things started, you guys come up with feat selections, best persisted spells, combos of spells with vestige powers to make this thing into a powerhouse.
pyro_cat
03-18-06, 11:32 AM I am VERY excited with this class, and I like the whole concept of Binding much more than Truespeech. The Truespeaker seemed to be a more immediate concern, but we're almost done with that.

Taking the Bind Vestige feat and Improved Bind Vestige could potentially get you in with no Binder levels, I assume that your Binder level then resets to one and is equal to your Anima Mage level.

Regardless, I don't think taking more than one level of Binder is wise; I would burn a feat on Improved Binding and only lose one caster level. If your DM allows flaws and Precocious Apprentice shennanigans, you could technically get into the class at level two.

I put something up a few days on the board, and it got a lovely 60 views and not a single reply. Basically, it allows you to Persist any three spells at the beginning of the day - there are some GREAT Sor/Wiz choices avaliable.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=605510

I used a Conjurer; I think it would be awesome to play a summoning type character.

Feel free to comment.

But back to Anima Mages in general. I think a Sorceror actually has a lot to gain from this class, even though I detest them and would NEVER play one. The metamagic is just as good for a Sorc, and Charisma synergy is handy.

The class probably isn't broken, and probably never will be, not to the same degree as some of the things we see up here, but there is definate potential for optimization.
IThoughtISawA...
03-18-06, 07:59 PM Now that I got things started, you guys come up with feat selections, best persisted spells, combos of spells with vestige powers to make this thing into a powerhouse.

I lost a char two weeks ago and replaced him last night with a human Sorc1/Binder2/Anima Mage 9 (level 12 game).

I went with Precocious Apprentice, Improved Binding, Extend Spell, Persistant Spell, Ignore Special Requirements, Wand Surge for feats. I bound Malphas and Karsus for most of the night. Gave up poison use for an extra spell slot and used Vestige Metamagic to perisist Unfettered Heroism.

I went to town with wands/staffs using Heavy Magic for a higher save DC. It ends up playing a lot like a persistent Incantatrix (not that there's anythin wrong with that) with a different flavor and some odd abilities (the constant invisibility + sudden strike is niiiice). I plan to finish Anima Mage and then 2 more binder levels (for 3 visages) and regularilly bind Andromalius for sneak attack + sudden strike on free schorching rays from the staff. Not the most powerful, but a very solid build last night (more playing willr evela more tricks).

~ITISA.
pyro_cat
03-18-06, 08:08 PM I lost a char two weeks ago and replaced him last night with a human Sorc1/Binder2/Anima Mage 9 (level 12 game).

I'm more interested in playing an Anima Mage that doesn't cost me any caster levels, so I'll re-post my questions here, too.

Can Improved Binding apply to the Bind Vestige Feat?

If not, does Bind Vestige and Improved Vestige qualify you for Anima Mage?

If it does qualify you, do you just use your Anima Mage levels as your Equivalent Binder Level?

It says Anima Mage stacks with Binder. Would you then gain virtual levels of binder for purposes of all the things mentioned in the Anima Mage class abilities section?

It seems like one wasted feat (Bind Vestige) and one semi-useful feat (Improved Binding) would be a great way to qualify for Anima Mage at level 4.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Trance Kuja 03-18-06, 11:22 AM	I don't have books with me at the moment since I'm at work. After reading some of ToM for the first time last night I came to the conclusion that the anima mage could be extremely broken. One of the abilities it gains allows you to apply a metamagic effect to a spell for free by simply suppressing a bound vestiges power for 5 rounds. By 9th level of the anima mage you can do this 3 times a day. I smell persistent spell brokeness in the air. wiz 3/ binder 3 allows you into anima mage so by 15th level you can persist 3 spells a day. wiz 3 / binder 3 / anima mage 10 / (Full spell progression class) 4 would give you access to 3 vestiges up to the highest level vestiges and 9th level spell casting. Now that I got things started, you guys come up with feat selections, best persisted spells, combos of spells with vestige powers to make this thing into a powerhouse.
pyro_cat 03-18-06, 11:32 AM	I am VERY excited with this class, and I like the whole concept of Binding much more than Truespeech. The Truespeaker seemed to be a more immediate concern, but we're almost done with that. Taking the Bind Vestige feat and Improved Bind Vestige could potentially get you in with no Binder levels, I assume that your Binder level then resets to one and is equal to your Anima Mage level. Regardless, I don't think taking more than one level of Binder is wise; I would burn a feat on Improved Binding and only lose one caster level. If your DM allows flaws and Precocious Apprentice shennanigans, you could technically get into the class at level two. I put something up a few days on the board, and it got a lovely 60 views and not a single reply. Basically, it allows you to Persist any three spells at the beginning of the day - there are some GREAT Sor/Wiz choices avaliable. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=605510 I used a Conjurer; I think it would be awesome to play a summoning type character. Feel free to comment. But back to Anima Mages in general. I think a Sorceror actually has a lot to gain from this class, even though I detest them and would NEVER play one. The metamagic is just as good for a Sorc, and Charisma synergy is handy. The class probably isn't broken, and probably never will be, not to the same degree as some of the things we see up here, but there is definate potential for optimization.
IThoughtISawA... 03-18-06, 07:59 PM	Now that I got things started, you guys come up with feat selections, best persisted spells, combos of spells with vestige powers to make this thing into a powerhouse. I lost a char two weeks ago and replaced him last night with a human Sorc1/Binder2/Anima Mage 9 (level 12 game). I went with Precocious Apprentice, Improved Binding, Extend Spell, Persistant Spell, Ignore Special Requirements, Wand Surge for feats. I bound Malphas and Karsus for most of the night. Gave up poison use for an extra spell slot and used Vestige Metamagic to perisist Unfettered Heroism. I went to town with wands/staffs using Heavy Magic for a higher save DC. It ends up playing a lot like a persistent Incantatrix (not that there's anythin wrong with that) with a different flavor and some odd abilities (the constant invisibility + sudden strike is niiiice). I plan to finish Anima Mage and then 2 more binder levels (for 3 visages) and regularilly bind Andromalius for sneak attack + sudden strike on free schorching rays from the staff. Not the most powerful, but a very solid build last night (more playing willr evela more tricks). ~ITISA.
pyro_cat 03-18-06, 08:08 PM	I lost a char two weeks ago and replaced him last night with a human Sorc1/Binder2/Anima Mage 9 (level 12 game). I'm more interested in playing an Anima Mage that doesn't cost me any caster levels, so I'll re-post my questions here, too. Can Improved Binding apply to the Bind Vestige Feat? If not, does Bind Vestige and Improved Vestige qualify you for Anima Mage? If it does qualify you, do you just use your Anima Mage levels as your Equivalent Binder Level? It says Anima Mage stacks with Binder. Would you then gain virtual levels of binder for purposes of all the things mentioned in the Anima Mage class abilities section? It seems like one wasted feat (Bind Vestige) and one semi-useful feat (Improved Binding) would be a great way to qualify for Anima Mage at level 4.