Battle Sorcerer Variant? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Battle Sorcerer Variant? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FeceMan
10-31-05, 09:49 PM I pretty much detest CHA-based casters, except for Bards and Warlocks (that leaves YOU, Sorcerers!). I also have a heavy interest in gish characters; they have so much more...substance than pure meleers/casters, in my opinion.

These two things lead me to an obvious conclusion: the Battle Wizard. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, this doesn't exist. Is there a player-made one that replicates the Battle Sorcerer fairly accurately, only with INT-based casting?

Because that would just make my day :).
Crunchy Frog
10-31-05, 11:25 PM OK, I'll take a stab at it. Here's the Battle Sorcerer:

Sorcerer Variant: Battle Sorcerer

The battle sorcerer is no weak arcanist, hiding behind the fighters. Instead, she is a capable physical combatant who mixes magical prowess with fighting skill.
Hit Die: d8.
Base Attack Bonus: The battle sorcerer uses the base attack bonus progression of the cleric.
Class Skills: Remove Bluff from the battle sorcerer's class skill list. Add Intimidate to the battle sorcerer's class skill list.
Class Features
The battle sorcerer has all the standard sorcerer class features, except as noted below.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency

At 1st level, a battle sorcerer gains proficiency with any light or one-handed martial weapon of the character's choice. She also gains proficiency with light armor.
Spellcasting

A battle sorcerer can cast sorcerer spells derived from her class levels of battle sorcerer while in light armor without the normal arcane spell failure chance.

A battle sorcerer has fewer daily spell slots than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell per day from each spell level on Table: The Sorcerer (to a minimum of zero spells per day). For example, a 1st-level battle sorcerer may cast four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells per day (plus bonus spells, if any).

A battle sorcerer knows fewer spells per spell level than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell known from each spell level on Table: Sorcerer Spells Known (to a minimum of one spell per spell level). For example, a 4th-level battle sorcerer knows five 0-level spells, two 1st-level spells, and one 2nd-level spell. When she reaches 5th level, the battle sorcerer learns one additional 1st-level spell, but doesn't learn an additional 2nd-level spell (since two minus one is one).
Here's the wizard:
Wizard Variant: Battle Wizard
The battle wizard is no weak arcanist, hiding behind the fighters. Instead, she is a capable physical combatant who mixes magical prowess with fighting skill.
Hit Die: d8.
Base Attack Bonus: The battle sorcerer uses the base attack bonus progression of the cleric.
Class Skills: Remove all Knowledge skills except Arcana from battle wizard's class skill list. Add Climb and Jump to the battle wizard's class skill list.
Class Features
The battle wizard has all the standard sorcerer class features, except as noted below.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
At 1st level, a battle wizard gains proficiency with any light or one-handed martial weapon of the character's choice. She also gains proficiency with light armor.
Spellcasting

A battle wizard can cast wizard spells derived from her class levels of battle wizard while in light armor without the normal arcane spell failure chance.

A battle wizard has fewer daily spell slots than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell per day from each spell level on Table: The Wizard (to a minimum of zero spells per day). For example, a 1st-level battle wizard may cast two 0-level spells and zero 1st-level spells per day (plus bonus spells, if any).

A battle wizard lacks the flexibility of a normal wizard. Upon taking his first level of battle wizard, the character must choose two schools of magic as prohibited school (excluding divination). The wizard is treated as a specialist who has chosen these schools as prohibited, except he does not benefit from having specialty school.

A battle wizard cannot become a specialist (or a domain specialist, if these rules are in force).
caeruleus
11-01-05, 01:34 AM To that, I would add the following variant, also from UA:

Some wizards trade their knowledge of magic and craft to improve their combat prowess.

Gain

Bonus feat list (as fighter; bonus feats gained at 1st level and every five levels as wizard).

Lose

Scribe Scroll, wizard bonus feat list.
Lord Schpungus
11-01-05, 09:31 PM what exactly about Cha-based casters don't you like? If you simply have it out for Charisma, poo on you.

I suggest a heady mix of spellsword, eldritch knight, and the many, many, many gish PrCs out there. If you have your heart set on a base class, I say change the casting stat to Int, gimp the skill list, and you've got yourself a spontaneous int-based gish base class.
FeceMan
11-01-05, 11:08 PM what exactly about Cha-based casters don't you like? If you simply have it out for Charisma, poo on you.

I suggest a heady mix of spellsword, eldritch knight, and the many, many, many gish PrCs out there. If you have your heart set on a base class, I say change the casting stat to Int, gimp the skill list, and you've got yourself a spontaneous int-based gish base class.
I believe all casting, save for the Warlock and Bard, should be based on intelligence, not charisma. I don't understand why innate magical power has to be based on charisma instead of intelligence. I think Sorcerers should be like Wizards, only with spontaneous casting.
caeruleus
11-02-05, 12:25 AM I believe all casting, save for the Warlock and Bard, should be based on intelligence, not charisma. I don't understand why innate magical power has to be based on charisma instead of intelligence. I think Sorcerers should be like Wizards, only with spontaneous casting.

The idea is that they perform magic through force of personality. But it's possible to make the sorcerer cast with Intelligence. In fact, in the Dragonlance campaign, it's my prefered way of handling sorcery.
Verelor
11-03-05, 05:05 PM I am 100% agaisnt removing a free Scribe Scroll component from any wizard character, for a simple reason: what is a scroll but a temporary spell book page?
Milo HoBo
11-05-05, 08:16 PM I disagree with the scribe scroll. It is not a temporary spell book. A spell book is the preparation steps for memorizing spells. A scroll is a spell storage devise, not a set of directions on how to prepare a spell. A little note on the battle wizard, please do not allow the feats in the complete arcane (pg181) called precocious apprentice and collegial wizard. This would allow bypassing some of the down sides to being a variant. A little bit more intersting variant might be a wizard version of the war mage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FeceMan 10-31-05, 09:49 PM	I pretty much detest CHA-based casters, except for Bards and Warlocks (that leaves YOU, Sorcerers!). I also have a heavy interest in gish characters; they have so much more...substance than pure meleers/casters, in my opinion. These two things lead me to an obvious conclusion: the Battle Wizard. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, this doesn't exist. Is there a player-made one that replicates the Battle Sorcerer fairly accurately, only with INT-based casting? Because that would just make my day :).
Crunchy Frog 10-31-05, 11:25 PM	OK, I'll take a stab at it. Here's the Battle Sorcerer: Sorcerer Variant: Battle Sorcerer The battle sorcerer is no weak arcanist, hiding behind the fighters. Instead, she is a capable physical combatant who mixes magical prowess with fighting skill. Hit Die: d8. Base Attack Bonus: The battle sorcerer uses the base attack bonus progression of the cleric. Class Skills: Remove Bluff from the battle sorcerer's class skill list. Add Intimidate to the battle sorcerer's class skill list. Class Features The battle sorcerer has all the standard sorcerer class features, except as noted below. Weapon and Armor Proficiency At 1st level, a battle sorcerer gains proficiency with any light or one-handed martial weapon of the character's choice. She also gains proficiency with light armor. Spellcasting A battle sorcerer can cast sorcerer spells derived from her class levels of battle sorcerer while in light armor without the normal arcane spell failure chance. A battle sorcerer has fewer daily spell slots than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell per day from each spell level on Table: The Sorcerer (to a minimum of zero spells per day). For example, a 1st-level battle sorcerer may cast four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells per day (plus bonus spells, if any). A battle sorcerer knows fewer spells per spell level than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell known from each spell level on Table: Sorcerer Spells Known (to a minimum of one spell per spell level). For example, a 4th-level battle sorcerer knows five 0-level spells, two 1st-level spells, and one 2nd-level spell. When she reaches 5th level, the battle sorcerer learns one additional 1st-level spell, but doesn't learn an additional 2nd-level spell (since two minus one is one). Here's the wizard: Wizard Variant: Battle Wizard The battle wizard is no weak arcanist, hiding behind the fighters. Instead, she is a capable physical combatant who mixes magical prowess with fighting skill. Hit Die: d8. Base Attack Bonus: The battle sorcerer uses the base attack bonus progression of the cleric. Class Skills: Remove all Knowledge skills except Arcana from battle wizard's class skill list. Add Climb and Jump to the battle wizard's class skill list. Class Features The battle wizard has all the standard sorcerer class features, except as noted below. Weapon and Armor Proficiency At 1st level, a battle wizard gains proficiency with any light or one-handed martial weapon of the character's choice. She also gains proficiency with light armor. Spellcasting A battle wizard can cast wizard spells derived from her class levels of battle wizard while in light armor without the normal arcane spell failure chance. A battle wizard has fewer daily spell slots than a standard sorcerer. Subtract one spell per day from each spell level on Table: The Wizard (to a minimum of zero spells per day). For example, a 1st-level battle wizard may cast two 0-level spells and zero 1st-level spells per day (plus bonus spells, if any). A battle wizard lacks the flexibility of a normal wizard. Upon taking his first level of battle wizard, the character must choose two schools of magic as prohibited school (excluding divination). The wizard is treated as a specialist who has chosen these schools as prohibited, except he does not benefit from having specialty school. A battle wizard cannot become a specialist (or a domain specialist, if these rules are in force).
caeruleus 11-01-05, 01:34 AM	To that, I would add the following variant, also from UA: Some wizards trade their knowledge of magic and craft to improve their combat prowess. Gain Bonus feat list (as fighter; bonus feats gained at 1st level and every five levels as wizard). Lose Scribe Scroll, wizard bonus feat list.
Lord Schpungus 11-01-05, 09:31 PM	what exactly about Cha-based casters don't you like? If you simply have it out for Charisma, poo on you. I suggest a heady mix of spellsword, eldritch knight, and the many, many, many gish PrCs out there. If you have your heart set on a base class, I say change the casting stat to Int, gimp the skill list, and you've got yourself a spontaneous int-based gish base class.
FeceMan 11-01-05, 11:08 PM	what exactly about Cha-based casters don't you like? If you simply have it out for Charisma, poo on you. I suggest a heady mix of spellsword, eldritch knight, and the many, many, many gish PrCs out there. If you have your heart set on a base class, I say change the casting stat to Int, gimp the skill list, and you've got yourself a spontaneous int-based gish base class. I believe all casting, save for the Warlock and Bard, should be based on intelligence, not charisma. I don't understand why innate magical power has to be based on charisma instead of intelligence. I think Sorcerers should be like Wizards, only with spontaneous casting.
caeruleus 11-02-05, 12:25 AM	I believe all casting, save for the Warlock and Bard, should be based on intelligence, not charisma. I don't understand why innate magical power has to be based on charisma instead of intelligence. I think Sorcerers should be like Wizards, only with spontaneous casting. The idea is that they perform magic through force of personality. But it's possible to make the sorcerer cast with Intelligence. In fact, in the Dragonlance campaign, it's my prefered way of handling sorcery.
Verelor 11-03-05, 05:05 PM	I am 100% agaisnt removing a free Scribe Scroll component from any wizard character, for a simple reason: what is a scroll but a temporary spell book page?
Milo HoBo 11-05-05, 08:16 PM	I disagree with the scribe scroll. It is not a temporary spell book. A spell book is the preparation steps for memorizing spells. A scroll is a spell storage devise, not a set of directions on how to prepare a spell. A little note on the battle wizard, please do not allow the feats in the complete arcane (pg181) called precocious apprentice and collegial wizard. This would allow bypassing some of the down sides to being a variant. A little bit more intersting variant might be a wizard version of the war mage.