A gish build... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A gish build... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Last_Chronomancer
02-04-08, 04:49 PM Hello everyone.

I think I recall their being a feat called Armored Mage or something of the like that allowed wizards to wear armor? I know it is a class ability, but I was hoping it is a feat. Could anyone tell me if there is?

Thanks.
dman11235
02-04-08, 06:19 PM Not a feat. The feat you are thinking ofjust increases the armor type you can wear by a step.
Krusk
02-04-08, 07:55 PM The battle sorcerer variant class lets sorcerers cast in light armor, which could be what you are thinking of. I forget the book its in off the top of my head, but im sure someone else will know it.
dman11235
02-04-08, 08:37 PM ...UA. It's in the SRD.
tyrecian
02-04-08, 09:19 PM sorry Dman, I might be a little slow, but UA? in the SRD? THere is something that allows you to wear armor and cast in core? (arcane?)
rjsilverthorn
02-04-08, 09:27 PM Hello everyone.

I think I recall their being a feat called Armored Mage or something of the like that allowed wizards to wear armor? I know it is a class ability, but I was hoping it is a feat. Could anyone tell me if there is?

Thanks.

Complete Mage level 1 fighter variant
Krusk
02-04-08, 11:31 PM sorry Dman, I might be a little slow, but UA? in the SRD? THere is something that allows you to wear armor and cast in core? (arcane?)

UA= Unearthed Arcana. a book of variant classes and rules
SRD = http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm all the rules wizards gives out for free for those away from their books.
RobbyPants
02-05-08, 09:53 AM There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place.

Other than that, just put the Twilight enchantment (Book of Exalted Dees and Player's Handbook 2) on a mithril shirt. It will have 0% arcane spell failure, and give you +5 AC (as it needs to be at least +1 armor). It's only 5,100 gp, and it's relatively easy to get by low-mid level.

Complete Mage level 1 fighter variant
The only problem with this variant is that you can only apply this to spell levels one higher than your fighter level. Thus, if you take a single level of fighter, and then multiclass into wizard, not only do you lose a caster level, but you can only cast in light armor for your 1st and 2nd level spells. Every two levels, it requires another dip in fighter to apply it to your highest level of spells known.

In a gestalt game, this would work fine, but that's not typical.
rjsilverthorn
02-05-08, 04:05 PM There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place.

Other than that, just put the Twilight enchantment (Book of Exalted Dees and Player's Handbook 2) on a mithril shirt. It will have 0% arcane spell failure, and give you +5 AC (as it needs to be at least +1 armor). It's only 5,100 gp, and it's relatively easy to get by low-mid level.

The only problem with this variant is that you can only apply this to spell levels one higher than your fighter level. Thus, if you take a single level of fighter, and then multiclass into wizard, not only do you lose a caster level, but you can only cast in light armor for your 1st and 2nd level spells. Every two levels, it requires another dip in fighter to apply it to your highest level of spells known.

In a gestalt game, this would work fine, but that's not typical.

I never said it was good a good choice, I was just tellig him Armored Mage was was a fighter variant in Complete Mage and not a feat.
tyrecian
02-05-08, 11:46 PM There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place.
meaning you can take the feat to use armor and then the battlecaster feat? I don't have the CA in front of me, but i seem to remember that it was almost tailored for the warmage... Is there a way to apply it to a caster that doesn't start with the ability to wear armor? (like a wizard?)
dman11235
02-06-08, 12:33 PM No. You need the ability first. So bards are fine.
RobbyPants
02-07-08, 09:57 AM There are also three classes with the same basic structure, that can all cast in light armor:

Beguiler (PHB2)
Dread Necromancer (Heroes of Horror)
Warmage (Complete Arcane)

As a general rule, I wouldn't use any of these classes for a gish build, but I'm listing them just so you're aware.

As I mentioned earlier, probably the cheapest way (in terms of total character resources, not just gold) to be able to cast in armor is to get a +1 Twiglight Mithril Shirt for 5,100 gp.

If you really want to cast in heavier armor, and don't mind blowing a caster level, you could take three levels in SpellSword to get "Ignore 15% Arcane Spell Failure" and then you could cast in +1 Twilight Mithril Fullplate, which just so happens to have an ASF of 15%. I don't really think it's worth a caster level personally, but it might be something to consider depending on the character you've envisioned.
Andaer
02-07-08, 06:59 PM Actually, you can get a chain shirt for much cheaper than that.

Mithral (-10%) [DMG]: Made from mithral, costing 1000G for light armor.

Githcraft (-5%) [DMG2]: Armor made by the Githyanki costs 600G, which includes price of Master Work. Also gives a +1 bonus to concentration checks.

Thistledown padding (-5%) [RotW]: Costs 500G, but raises the armor check penalty by 1.

So, it comes down to 2200G. Additionally, if your DM allows some stuff from dragon magazine, you can substitute out Thistledown padding for:

Spellcaster armor (-5%) [Dr358]: From the article "Master's Forge," having your armor made as spellcaster armor reduces SFC, only costs 400G, and doesn't have a +1 armor check like Thistledown does.

Therefore, you don't need a feat, and a wizard etc can easily wear a chain shirt for only 2100G, and it doesn't even have to be magical.

You could even make Full Plate with no SFC.

With the four I mentioned above, add Twilight [BoED] which is a +1 bonus (and the regular +1 bonus, in order to make it magical). Costs 9000 to make Mithral, since it's heavy armor.

That’s -3 armor check, +3 max dex, 0% arcane spell failure, and +9 to AC for a total of 16,000G. It may be expensive, but would be perfect for a gish at higher levels.
M-bark
02-08-08, 04:50 AM Well, I think there maybe was some epic feat or feature that increased AC by 20. I've seen it once, and it was called Mage Armor, but other than that, I don't know much about it.
Ringrose
02-08-08, 11:26 AM If you go Dwarf you could cast in Heavy Plate Armor from the Rune Caster in Races of Stone...Very nice class for an Armored Mage...
dman11235
02-08-08, 12:06 PM @M-bark: It's the epic spell Epic Mage Armor.
pigknight
02-09-08, 12:20 AM Battle Sorc from UA and the feat that lets you wear 1 rank higher, sorcs in breastplates, I play gesalt games so its not that rigged.
RobbyPants
02-10-08, 09:28 AM Actually, you can get a chain shirt for much cheaper than that.

Mithral (-10%) [DMG]: Made from mithral, costing 1000G for light armor.

Githcraft (-5%) [DMG2]: Armor made by the Githyanki costs 600G, which includes price of Master Work. Also gives a +1 bonus to concentration checks.

Thistledown padding (-5%) [RotW]: Costs 500G, but raises the armor check penalty by 1.

So, it comes down to 2200G. Additionally, if your DM allows some stuff from dragon magazine, you can substitute out Thistledown padding for:

Spellcaster armor (-5%) [Dr358]: From the article "Master's Forge," having your armor made as spellcaster armor reduces SFC, only costs 400G, and doesn't have a +1 armor check like Thistledown does.

Therefore, you don't need a feat, and a wizard etc can easily wear a chain shirt for only 2100G, and it doesn't even have to be magical.
That's cool. I've never really read Dragon, so I didn't know about those. Although, with either your or my suggestion, sooner or later, the wizard could always be a high enough level to cast Mage Armor (extended or not) to last sufficiently long. Your solution would be viable for a few more levels than mine due to character wealth.

You could even make Full Plate with no SFC.

With the four I mentioned above, add Twilight [BoED] which is a +1 bonus (and the regular +1 bonus, in order to make it magical). Costs 9000 to make Mithral, since it's heavy armor.

That’s -3 armor check, +3 max dex, 0% arcane spell failure, and +9 to AC for a total of 16,000G. It may be expensive, but would be perfect for a gish at higher levels.
That's nice. It saves those last two levels of SpellSword, which costs you a caster level (far more expensive than a few thousand gp).
Andaer
02-10-08, 06:57 PM That's cool. I've never really read Dragon, so I didn't know about those. Although, with either your or my suggestion, sooner or later, the wizard could always be a high enough level to cast Mage Armor (extended or not) to last sufficiently long. Your solution would be viable for a few more levels than mine due to character wealth.

That's nice. It saves those last two levels of SpellSword, which costs you a caster level (far more expensive than a few thousand gp).

Thank you. :) Ya, there is some pretty good stuff in Dragon. You can get some of the information from other sorces, and it's usally worth checking out. True, mage armor works fine at higher levels, since it can easily last a whole day (at least while awake).

Ya, especially were affordable, spending money is much better than losing spell levels.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Last_Chronomancer 02-04-08, 04:49 PM	Hello everyone. I think I recall their being a feat called Armored Mage or something of the like that allowed wizards to wear armor? I know it is a class ability, but I was hoping it is a feat. Could anyone tell me if there is? Thanks.
dman11235 02-04-08, 06:19 PM	Not a feat. The feat you are thinking ofjust increases the armor type you can wear by a step.
Krusk 02-04-08, 07:55 PM	The battle sorcerer variant class lets sorcerers cast in light armor, which could be what you are thinking of. I forget the book its in off the top of my head, but im sure someone else will know it.
dman11235 02-04-08, 08:37 PM	...UA. It's in the SRD.
tyrecian 02-04-08, 09:19 PM	sorry Dman, I might be a little slow, but UA? in the SRD? THere is something that allows you to wear armor and cast in core? (arcane?)
rjsilverthorn 02-04-08, 09:27 PM	Hello everyone. I think I recall their being a feat called Armored Mage or something of the like that allowed wizards to wear armor? I know it is a class ability, but I was hoping it is a feat. Could anyone tell me if there is? Thanks. Complete Mage level 1 fighter variant
Krusk 02-04-08, 11:31 PM	sorry Dman, I might be a little slow, but UA? in the SRD? THere is something that allows you to wear armor and cast in core? (arcane?) UA= Unearthed Arcana. a book of variant classes and rules SRD = http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm all the rules wizards gives out for free for those away from their books.
RobbyPants 02-05-08, 09:53 AM	There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place. Other than that, just put the Twilight enchantment (Book of Exalted Dees and Player's Handbook 2) on a mithril shirt. It will have 0% arcane spell failure, and give you +5 AC (as it needs to be at least +1 armor). It's only 5,100 gp, and it's relatively easy to get by low-mid level. Complete Mage level 1 fighter variant The only problem with this variant is that you can only apply this to spell levels one higher than your fighter level. Thus, if you take a single level of fighter, and then multiclass into wizard, not only do you lose a caster level, but you can only cast in light armor for your 1st and 2nd level spells. Every two levels, it requires another dip in fighter to apply it to your highest level of spells known. In a gestalt game, this would work fine, but that's not typical.
rjsilverthorn 02-05-08, 04:05 PM	There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place. Other than that, just put the Twilight enchantment (Book of Exalted Dees and Player's Handbook 2) on a mithril shirt. It will have 0% arcane spell failure, and give you +5 AC (as it needs to be at least +1 armor). It's only 5,100 gp, and it's relatively easy to get by low-mid level. The only problem with this variant is that you can only apply this to spell levels one higher than your fighter level. Thus, if you take a single level of fighter, and then multiclass into wizard, not only do you lose a caster level, but you can only cast in light armor for your 1st and 2nd level spells. Every two levels, it requires another dip in fighter to apply it to your highest level of spells known. In a gestalt game, this would work fine, but that's not typical. I never said it was good a good choice, I was just tellig him Armored Mage was was a fighter variant in Complete Mage and not a feat.
tyrecian 02-05-08, 11:46 PM	There is a Battle Caster feat in the Complete Arcane that lets you cast in armor one category higher, but you already need to be able to cast in armor in the first place. meaning you can take the feat to use armor and then the battlecaster feat? I don't have the CA in front of me, but i seem to remember that it was almost tailored for the warmage... Is there a way to apply it to a caster that doesn't start with the ability to wear armor? (like a wizard?)
dman11235 02-06-08, 12:33 PM	No. You need the ability first. So bards are fine.
RobbyPants 02-07-08, 09:57 AM	There are also three classes with the same basic structure, that can all cast in light armor: Beguiler (PHB2) Dread Necromancer (Heroes of Horror) Warmage (Complete Arcane) As a general rule, I wouldn't use any of these classes for a gish build, but I'm listing them just so you're aware. As I mentioned earlier, probably the cheapest way (in terms of total character resources, not just gold) to be able to cast in armor is to get a +1 Twiglight Mithril Shirt for 5,100 gp. If you really want to cast in heavier armor, and don't mind blowing a caster level, you could take three levels in SpellSword to get "Ignore 15% Arcane Spell Failure" and then you could cast in +1 Twilight Mithril Fullplate, which just so happens to have an ASF of 15%. I don't really think it's worth a caster level personally, but it might be something to consider depending on the character you've envisioned.
Andaer 02-07-08, 06:59 PM	Actually, you can get a chain shirt for much cheaper than that. Mithral (-10%) [DMG]: Made from mithral, costing 1000G for light armor. Githcraft (-5%) [DMG2]: Armor made by the Githyanki costs 600G, which includes price of Master Work. Also gives a +1 bonus to concentration checks. Thistledown padding (-5%) [RotW]: Costs 500G, but raises the armor check penalty by 1. So, it comes down to 2200G. Additionally, if your DM allows some stuff from dragon magazine, you can substitute out Thistledown padding for: Spellcaster armor (-5%) [Dr358]: From the article "Master's Forge," having your armor made as spellcaster armor reduces SFC, only costs 400G, and doesn't have a +1 armor check like Thistledown does. Therefore, you don't need a feat, and a wizard etc can easily wear a chain shirt for only 2100G, and it doesn't even have to be magical. You could even make Full Plate with no SFC. With the four I mentioned above, add Twilight [BoED] which is a +1 bonus (and the regular +1 bonus, in order to make it magical). Costs 9000 to make Mithral, since it's heavy armor. That’s -3 armor check, +3 max dex, 0% arcane spell failure, and +9 to AC for a total of 16,000G. It may be expensive, but would be perfect for a gish at higher levels.
M-bark 02-08-08, 04:50 AM	Well, I think there maybe was some epic feat or feature that increased AC by 20. I've seen it once, and it was called Mage Armor, but other than that, I don't know much about it.
Ringrose 02-08-08, 11:26 AM	If you go Dwarf you could cast in Heavy Plate Armor from the Rune Caster in Races of Stone...Very nice class for an Armored Mage...
dman11235 02-08-08, 12:06 PM	@M-bark: It's the epic spell Epic Mage Armor.
pigknight 02-09-08, 12:20 AM	Battle Sorc from UA and the feat that lets you wear 1 rank higher, sorcs in breastplates, I play gesalt games so its not that rigged.
RobbyPants 02-10-08, 09:28 AM	Actually, you can get a chain shirt for much cheaper than that. Mithral (-10%) [DMG]: Made from mithral, costing 1000G for light armor. Githcraft (-5%) [DMG2]: Armor made by the Githyanki costs 600G, which includes price of Master Work. Also gives a +1 bonus to concentration checks. Thistledown padding (-5%) [RotW]: Costs 500G, but raises the armor check penalty by 1. So, it comes down to 2200G. Additionally, if your DM allows some stuff from dragon magazine, you can substitute out Thistledown padding for: Spellcaster armor (-5%) [Dr358]: From the article "Master's Forge," having your armor made as spellcaster armor reduces SFC, only costs 400G, and doesn't have a +1 armor check like Thistledown does. Therefore, you don't need a feat, and a wizard etc can easily wear a chain shirt for only 2100G, and it doesn't even have to be magical. That's cool. I've never really read Dragon, so I didn't know about those. Although, with either your or my suggestion, sooner or later, the wizard could always be a high enough level to cast Mage Armor (extended or not) to last sufficiently long. Your solution would be viable for a few more levels than mine due to character wealth. You could even make Full Plate with no SFC. With the four I mentioned above, add Twilight [BoED] which is a +1 bonus (and the regular +1 bonus, in order to make it magical). Costs 9000 to make Mithral, since it's heavy armor. That’s -3 armor check, +3 max dex, 0% arcane spell failure, and +9 to AC for a total of 16,000G. It may be expensive, but would be perfect for a gish at higher levels. That's nice. It saves those last two levels of SpellSword, which costs you a caster level (far more expensive than a few thousand gp).
Andaer 02-10-08, 06:57 PM	That's cool. I've never really read Dragon, so I didn't know about those. Although, with either your or my suggestion, sooner or later, the wizard could always be a high enough level to cast Mage Armor (extended or not) to last sufficiently long. Your solution would be viable for a few more levels than mine due to character wealth. That's nice. It saves those last two levels of SpellSword, which costs you a caster level (far more expensive than a few thousand gp). Thank you. :) Ya, there is some pretty good stuff in Dragon. You can get some of the information from other sorces, and it's usally worth checking out. True, mage armor works fine at higher levels, since it can easily last a whole day (at least while awake). Ya, especially were affordable, spending money is much better than losing spell levels.