Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rebornarcanist 04-21-06, 08:06 AM	Under archmage it says: "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." What kind of 'energy' is raw magical energy ? Is i t like spellfire ? If a opponent has a ring of greater elemental resistance (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic) would he be protected ?
The_WhiteRabbit 04-21-06, 08:20 AM	Under archmage it says: "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." What kind of 'energy' is raw magical energy ? Is i t like spellfire ? If a opponent has a ring of greater elemental resistance (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic) would he be protected ? Raw magical energy is none of the above. It gets through damage reduction, energy resistance and (since it's a supernatural ability) even spell resistance. Even so, without some other source of damage (sneak attack, for example), it's hardly worthwile. But for an Arcane Trickster build, it can be qute a potent ability.
zapogee 04-21-06, 08:21 AM	Yes, like spellfire in that there is no energy protection spell for it. Similarities stop there. Of course a villian who knows his opponent uses this could certainly reseach a spell that protects specifically against raw magical energy as opposed to an energy type. If your a DM, and evil...
Wyrd Bearer 04-21-06, 12:02 PM	Raw magical energy is none of the above. It gets through damage reduction, energy resistance and (since it's a supernatural ability) even spell resistance. Even so, without some other source of damage (sneak attack, for example), it's hardly worthwile. But for an Arcane Trickster build, it can be qute a potent ability.I am going to voice dissent at the idea of arcane fire being hardly worthwhile without extra damage. Burn up a 1st level spell to do 6d6 points of typeless damage at 600 ft requiring only a ranged touch attack and allowing for no save or spell resistance (I'm assuming that this character would have all 5 levels of archmage because a sorcerer/wizard loses nothing to take all 5, well beyond the feat for a wizard). Thats an average of more damage than magic missile at a longer range. Or even just burn up cantrips with this, suddenly an unneeded light spell does 5d6 points of damage. Having extra damage from sneak attack severely limits this ability. Relying on sneak attack for extra damage cuts the range down to 30 ft; that rules out flying 600 ft above that battle ground blasting with impunity. Plus, even if it isn't the most damaging of abilities, it gives more flexibility to a sorcerer who loads up on utility spells or, if they're like me, lots of illusions and mind-affecting spells that aren't always useful in every situation (Oh no, undead again!? Time to go hide because I refused to take AOE damage spells). The spell levels 1-2, and most 3rd level spells can be put on this list, are rarely worth the raw damage they are capable of at higher levels, there are some exceptions, but a damage cap of 5 dice won't always cut it if you're looking to drop something the most boring of ways, which is through direct damage (10 dice fireballs and other similar spells are okay, if you want to cut through swaths of commoners). Loading up these low level slots with buff and utility spells helps your party and, in a pinch, could be converted to damage with arcane fire. Finally, arcane fire is great for sniping high spell resistance creatures, such as demons or other end game creatures for DMs who love to put their players through epic (not Epic, those rules are silly) battles. But yes, as others have said, arcane fire has no energy type despite having fire in its name, nor does it allow any save or spell resistance to it.
NightBreeze 04-21-06, 03:09 PM	Quote wyrd bearer.