Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Voldar_Mecorthio 07-07-06, 05:21 PM	Arcane magic needs help. At low levels mages are exceptionally weak, but at high levels they're overly strong. It seems that before 5th level for wizards and before 6th for sorcerers, arcanists pale in comparison to paladins, fighters, and barbarians, but once they get access to 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells arcanists are all but unstoppable. In mid levels they're okay. I would like to balance this out so that they aren't too weak or too strong. My questions are is this a real problem, and if it is what can be done about it?
Senevri 07-07-06, 05:46 PM	PHBII, Fiendish Codex I. Balance things a bit. Still, mages are strong. I was actually thinking of making all mages semi-casters, and giving them _other_ benefits on off-levels... Warlock actually has a lot of good ideas, although many think it starts out a bit strong.
Archmage Atrus 07-07-06, 06:13 PM	I don't think it's a problem. At high levels stuff more often htan not has spell resistance high enough that the arcanist will fail 50% of the time, give or take. And his spells for the most part still allow a save for no/half damage.
Sergikins 07-07-06, 07:25 PM	I've observed the same problem, but more often than not, it stems from poor spell choices at lower level. magic missle is NOT in anyway as good a level 1 fighters attack, considering that you can only deal 1d4+1 twice a day. (until you shoot three missles :P). all level one spells that deal damage are very limited in usage at lower level. this is why many level one spells have a HD affecting cap, such as cause fear, and sleep. at lower levels, status effects are more potent than damage. if you put an enemy, or maybe even two if you are lucky, asleep, even a mage can coup de grace the enemy and hope to kill it. similarly, cause fear can sway a battle in a corrider, color spray as well. of course, what about undead? fear not! disrupt undead to the rescue (which deals reasonable damage, remember it is a level 0 spell). Charm person is great to avoid the entire encounter in certain situations. optimally, I think a wizard with 15 INT whould take the following spells, mage armor, Sleep, Color Spray (nice low level AoE), and a utility spell (such as alarm or charm person, or endure elements). Spell focus enchantment is a nice first level feat for arcanists. IMO, enchantment is the best school, particullary in heavy RP campaigns. In conclusion, I'd like to say arcanists are quite powerful at low levels, but you need to look past dealing damage.