Building a Cataclysm Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building a Cataclysm Mage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wavecutter
03-21-06, 11:43 AM I'd like some help building a Cataclysm Mage from level one. Must be able to reach lvl 6 cataclysm mage at the minimum. I am not against psionics but we have a character starting as a psion so I would prefer to start as somthing else but I am willing to take psion if need be. And for some reason I really, really want a spiked chain, again am wiling to drop it if need be.

Here is my GM's Character Generation rules:

Level:

Please start your character at 1st level.

Abilities:

We use a modified point buy system. Use elite array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8,) and place the scores in your chosen abilities. Then you have 8 points to put to where you want. The point buy still follows the same rules as in the DMG (meaning in order to make the starting 15 a 18, you’ll need to use all 8 points.

Race:

The following races will be allowed:

All races listed in the Player’s Handbook and those found in the Ebberron Campaing Setting.

Other races, as desired, can be brought up for DM approval as well (such as from the Races series)

Classes and Prestige Classes:

The following core classes will be allowed:

All core classes listed in the Player’s Handbook

The three variant paladin classes (Tyranny, Slaughter and Freedom) listed in the Unearthed Arcana

With DM Approval, other core classes can be used from newer books (such as the Complete series)

Prestige classes are encouraged and thoroughly desired. Please contact me for help with deciding a PrC or help creating one.

The following Prestige classes will need DM permission to use first. And if you want to use a particular prestige class you must own the book that contains that class.

All prestige classes listed in the various Complete book series

All prestige classes listed in Miniatures Handbook

NOTE: All prestige classes will not be allowed to be taken just to gain certain gaming benefits. All core and prestige classes taken by the player must be explained in writing or in person to the DM as to why you are taking the class, goals of the class, and why your character would take the class. This will benefit the correct role-playing of the character.

Starting Gold:

200 gp.

Character Backgrounds:

Backgrounds are not just desired, they are mandatory!!!

Also, character backgrounds should be longer than a few lines. They should, at the very least, explain the physical description of the character, personality, goals, motivations, history, past adventuring, enemies, friends, family, etc. If a character does not do a sufficient enough background, I cannot implement personal character quests.

I will also give “rumors” to characters that they can either share with the group or not share. This will help with “side quests.”

Alignment:

Characters can be of any good or neutral alignment; however each character will be challenged to role-play their character’s alignment accurately.

Remember…this campaign is a heroic, epic quest for good. Selfish players and evil players will not be desired. It will be much easier for each player to enjoy the story if their characters are at least somewhat honorably or heroicly motivated. The plots and story devices that I plan to implement all lend to and support this heroic theme.

Journal or Notes:

I strongly suggest that everyone make at least a token effort at taking notes or maintaining a journal. This is a long drawn out campaign with many villians and plot twists. Without the aid of notes or a journal it is very likely that you will forget or later not notice important information and relationships. I will not assist you in this. This is your responsibility as players. Mapmaking will not be necessary. Also, an accurate journal will gain a moderate bonus xp for the group after each session.

Leveling:

I will keep track of character experience for each player, you need not worry about jotting it down or tracking it. I also encourage everyone to try and avoid making decisions and performing actions where the only motivation is to gain experience, as this is metagaming.

Hit Dice:

For 1st level, you get max hp (of course). However, at each level thereafter, you can roll two hit dice and take the larger number (or the smaller if you choose). For example, if Jordo the mage just reached 2nd level, he would roll 2d4 and take the highest dice for his hit dice of that level. Add Constitution bonuses (or penalties) normally.

Skills:

Most knowledge skills are now class skills for all the core classes. Knowledge Arcana is still restricted. Also, Knowledge (local) is only particular to the Cauldron area. Knowledge skills and their application will have a stong impact on this campaign and I encourage to keep that in mind while spending their skill points.

Characters also receive 2 bonus skill points at each level (not 1st level however). These skill points can only be used to purchase skills ranks in skills that can never have an impact on combat.. This does not allow a character to go past the maximum number of skill ranks each level.

Feats:

Feats are done normally with the following addition.

A character receives one bonus feat at first level (no matter the race or class). This bonus feat can only be used for a roleplaying oriented feat or skill adjustment feat. For example, Power Attack (combat oriented) could not be taken, however Alertness (giving a bonus to skills) or Favored in House (a roleplaying feat) could be used. Any character must still meet all requirements for the feat. The various racial feats (from the Races series.) are generally not allowed as your bonus feat, however they can be discussed.
wavecutter
03-21-06, 02:46 PM Can anyone help me do this?
kaiza
03-21-06, 03:05 PM Well... what's a Cataclysm Mage?

k.
wavecutter
03-21-06, 03:08 PM It can be found on page 58 of the Explorers Handbook I'd reproduce the text but I don't want to violate any copyright.
Zsasz_Diedne
03-21-06, 03:42 PM A very cool (IMO) PrC from the Explorer's Handbook for Eberron, I glanced over the campaign rules so forgive me if any of my advice is contrary to the game your GM is running.

First and foremost I would advise without reservation to shoot for the Heir of Siberys PrC from the gate. Thanks once again to developer carelessness, oversight or poor playtesting no one seemed to catch the little loophole where the PrC is concerned. The last ability the CM gains is the power to switch out it's Dragon Mark each day for whatever other it desires, it must be of the same strength as the mark you normally possess. The text says nothing precluding this being a Siberys Mark :D Be sure and take HoS before maxing out CM and your golden.

Other than that straight wizard is the best way to go, and um your not gish, so forget the spiked chain ;)
wavecutter
03-21-06, 05:24 PM Thanks.
wavecutter
03-21-06, 06:29 PM It's definetly an intriguing concept. But I don't think my GM will allow multiple PrC's
wavecutter
03-22-06, 11:26 AM Woot! My GM does allow multi prc's
Zsasz_Diedne
03-25-06, 03:06 PM Your quite welcome, good luck!
stembolt
03-25-06, 04:20 PM Wavecutter, first off you threw people off by including too much information to wade though. For future reference you wanted to put your attribute system and your special bonus feat, skill points, and of course the cataclysm mage part.

Oh and you are playing the shackled city adventure path, so you probably should have mentioned that you don’t want any spoilers.

Next I want to know if you are set on Cat Mage. Simply because when DMs give bonus feats this can often be used as an advantage (I played in a game where I could get toughness as a bonus feat, so I made a blood magus.) For example getting SF spellcraft for archmage. (if you are, nevermind)

Incidentally if you are going to take Heir of syberis you want to take the prerequisite feat asap. Since it gives bonus action points every level you get more use out of it the lower you take it.

I will take a look at the PrC later and see if I have anything to add.
wavecutter
03-26-06, 01:56 AM Hey thanks, I'm mostly set on The Cataclysm mage and will use the Sorcerer class to get there.
Any cool Prc combos you could come up with would be apricated. The bonus feat has to be non combat.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wavecutter 03-21-06, 11:43 AM	I'd like some help building a Cataclysm Mage from level one. Must be able to reach lvl 6 cataclysm mage at the minimum. I am not against psionics but we have a character starting as a psion so I would prefer to start as somthing else but I am willing to take psion if need be. And for some reason I really, really want a spiked chain, again am wiling to drop it if need be. Here is my GM's Character Generation rules: Level: Please start your character at 1st level. Abilities: We use a modified point buy system. Use elite array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8,) and place the scores in your chosen abilities. Then you have 8 points to put to where you want. The point buy still follows the same rules as in the DMG (meaning in order to make the starting 15 a 18, you’ll need to use all 8 points. Race: The following races will be allowed: All races listed in the Player’s Handbook and those found in the Ebberron Campaing Setting. Other races, as desired, can be brought up for DM approval as well (such as from the Races series) Classes and Prestige Classes: The following core classes will be allowed: All core classes listed in the Player’s Handbook The three variant paladin classes (Tyranny, Slaughter and Freedom) listed in the Unearthed Arcana With DM Approval, other core classes can be used from newer books (such as the Complete series) Prestige classes are encouraged and thoroughly desired. Please contact me for help with deciding a PrC or help creating one. The following Prestige classes will need DM permission to use first. And if you want to use a particular prestige class you must own the book that contains that class. All prestige classes listed in the various Complete book series All prestige classes listed in Miniatures Handbook NOTE: All prestige classes will not be allowed to be taken just to gain certain gaming benefits. All core and prestige classes taken by the player must be explained in writing or in person to the DM as to why you are taking the class, goals of the class, and why your character would take the class. This will benefit the correct role-playing of the character. Starting Gold: 200 gp. Character Backgrounds: Backgrounds are not just desired, they are mandatory!!! Also, character backgrounds should be longer than a few lines. They should, at the very least, explain the physical description of the character, personality, goals, motivations, history, past adventuring, enemies, friends, family, etc. If a character does not do a sufficient enough background, I cannot implement personal character quests. I will also give “rumors” to characters that they can either share with the group or not share. This will help with “side quests.” Alignment: Characters can be of any good or neutral alignment; however each character will be challenged to role-play their character’s alignment accurately. Remember…this campaign is a heroic, epic quest for good. Selfish players and evil players will not be desired. It will be much easier for each player to enjoy the story if their characters are at least somewhat honorably or heroicly motivated. The plots and story devices that I plan to implement all lend to and support this heroic theme. Journal or Notes: I strongly suggest that everyone make at least a token effort at taking notes or maintaining a journal. This is a long drawn out campaign with many villians and plot twists. Without the aid of notes or a journal it is very likely that you will forget or later not notice important information and relationships. I will not assist you in this. This is your responsibility as players. Mapmaking will not be necessary. Also, an accurate journal will gain a moderate bonus xp for the group after each session. Leveling: I will keep track of character experience for each player, you need not worry about jotting it down or tracking it. I also encourage everyone to try and avoid making decisions and performing actions where the only motivation is to gain experience, as this is metagaming. Hit Dice: For 1st level, you get max hp (of course). However, at each level thereafter, you can roll two hit dice and take the larger number (or the smaller if you choose). For example, if Jordo the mage just reached 2nd level, he would roll 2d4 and take the highest dice for his hit dice of that level. Add Constitution bonuses (or penalties) normally. Skills: Most knowledge skills are now class skills for all the core classes. Knowledge Arcana is still restricted. Also, Knowledge (local) is only particular to the Cauldron area. Knowledge skills and their application will have a stong impact on this campaign and I encourage to keep that in mind while spending their skill points. Characters also receive 2 bonus skill points at each level (not 1st level however). These skill points can only be used to purchase skills ranks in skills that can never have an impact on combat.. This does not allow a character to go past the maximum number of skill ranks each level. Feats: Feats are done normally with the following addition. A character receives one bonus feat at first level (no matter the race or class). This bonus feat can only be used for a roleplaying oriented feat or skill adjustment feat. For example, Power Attack (combat oriented) could not be taken, however Alertness (giving a bonus to skills) or Favored in House (a roleplaying feat) could be used. Any character must still meet all requirements for the feat. The various racial feats (from the Races series.) are generally not allowed as your bonus feat, however they can be discussed.
wavecutter 03-21-06, 02:46 PM	Can anyone help me do this?
kaiza 03-21-06, 03:05 PM	Well... what's a Cataclysm Mage? k.
wavecutter 03-21-06, 03:08 PM	It can be found on page 58 of the Explorers Handbook I'd reproduce the text but I don't want to violate any copyright.
Zsasz_Diedne 03-21-06, 03:42 PM	A very cool (IMO) PrC from the Explorer's Handbook for Eberron, I glanced over the campaign rules so forgive me if any of my advice is contrary to the game your GM is running. First and foremost I would advise without reservation to shoot for the Heir of Siberys PrC from the gate. Thanks once again to developer carelessness, oversight or poor playtesting no one seemed to catch the little loophole where the PrC is concerned. The last ability the CM gains is the power to switch out it's Dragon Mark each day for whatever other it desires, it must be of the same strength as the mark you normally possess. The text says nothing precluding this being a Siberys Mark :D Be sure and take HoS before maxing out CM and your golden. Other than that straight wizard is the best way to go, and um your not gish, so forget the spiked chain ;)
wavecutter 03-21-06, 05:24 PM	Thanks.
wavecutter 03-21-06, 06:29 PM	It's definetly an intriguing concept. But I don't think my GM will allow multiple PrC's
wavecutter 03-22-06, 11:26 AM	Woot! My GM does allow multi prc's
Zsasz_Diedne 03-25-06, 03:06 PM	Your quite welcome, good luck!
stembolt 03-25-06, 04:20 PM	Wavecutter, first off you threw people off by including too much information to wade though. For future reference you wanted to put your attribute system and your special bonus feat, skill points, and of course the cataclysm mage part. Oh and you are playing the shackled city adventure path, so you probably should have mentioned that you don’t want any spoilers. Next I want to know if you are set on Cat Mage. Simply because when DMs give bonus feats this can often be used as an advantage (I played in a game where I could get toughness as a bonus feat, so I made a blood magus.) For example getting SF spellcraft for archmage. (if you are, nevermind) Incidentally if you are going to take Heir of syberis you want to take the prerequisite feat asap. Since it gives bonus action points every level you get more use out of it the lower you take it. I will take a look at the PrC later and see if I have anything to add.
wavecutter 03-26-06, 01:56 AM	Hey thanks, I'm mostly set on The Cataclysm mage and will use the Sorcerer class to get there. Any cool Prc combos you could come up with would be apricated. The bonus feat has to be non combat.