Full Metal Alchemist [Archive] - Wizards Community

Full Metal Alchemist [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zicdeh
03-30-05, 01:40 AM Hey guys, this is my first post to the site so please bare with me here. ^^

I'm about to start playing in a campaign where all the players are playing a D&D version of themselves. Well I've always loved Full Metal Alchemist (FMA) so I've decided to make a "Blade Alchemist" but I don't know where to start at all. Here's what I've got in minute details right now.

I want to use a Katana and I'd like to use it not only for attacking but transmuting as well, meaning that I'd like to maximize everything I can do with it. Anything where I can power up the Katana (Magic Weapon is a good first idea IMO) to make ranged attacks, add defense, and make very powerful and quick attacks is what I have in mind right now. But I'm very unsure if this is even remotely possible, but that's why I'm asking you guys for help.

All 3.5 Books are allowed and we will not be given magical items until the campaign starts (My DM is picky about Magical stuff because we've had a bad problem with people cheating on Magical item prices lately and because of this we all have to suffer.) but I'm expecting to recieve at least 2 Minor Magical and a +1 Katana. Don't hold me to that though. Also we're beginning at 5th level.

Please help me out guys! Also please say something if you need any more details.
Greyseed
03-30-05, 03:31 AM I'm the last person who I thought would be helping this happen. (I'm a bit of an Anime/D&D elitist, but trying to amend.)

Are you in Eberron? (Very appropriate for FMA.) If so Go artificer. Your attack's will be ok, and your magic can only affect constructs or objects (sound familliar?). Because you're starting at fifth, you don't have to worry about the prerequisites.

If you don't have the access to the Eberron campaign setting, Wiz or Sor and Ftr/eldritch knight.
Magic weapon/Weapon augmentation powers can make your sword a Magical throwing returning weapon once you get those abilities.

If going caster, get your hands on the Complete arcane's "Whirling blade" spell. Heck if you're and artificer, make an item that does that spell.

Hope that helps.
Greymallkin
03-30-05, 03:51 AM Ok, the thought if mixing FMA with D&D, especially Eberron, is rather fasinating, I have thought about borrowing parts of FMA for my own games more than once. But, I have only seen a few rather random episodes and for the purpose of your thread, you might want to explain what a "Blade Alchemist" is and what you want to do with it.

Edit... 2:00 am grammer...
Contrast
03-30-05, 10:16 AM Assuming "Blade Alchemist" is your title, I'd suggest you look at Complete Warrior's Hexblade.
D_Martin
03-30-05, 01:26 PM I would say that looks like a Spellsword type. Start Wiz/Ftr and take the Spellsword PrC from CA.

I partially agree Greyseed, FMA is not that good! GitS: SAC I do like though.
Titan W
03-30-05, 03:36 PM For ranged attacks I think Spiritual Weapon (A devine spell) grants a weapon ranged attack ability, and a level 5 cleric gets some nice weapon augmetns too... But for classes I agree with the rest.
Vecna, lord of secrets
03-30-05, 03:41 PM There is a spell out there called creation

Creation
wiz/sor 2
range: touch
dur: instant
spell resistance: yes harmless
Creation allows you to take matter and convert it into new matter. Your perform a touch attack agaist something, always an object to make it something else
components: an amount of matter smilar to the result of this spell, i.e. a chunk of metal if you want to make a sword

Learn it, quicken it. Probably use it to alter your katana
Ranger_ORB
03-30-05, 04:35 PM If you are making a full metal alchemist character you must be a half-golem(iron) iron arm and leg plus the psion spell graft weapon= FMA
trapspringer
03-30-05, 06:33 PM I don't think that is really the important part. I think going artificer (whihc is not a PrC, btw) is a good idea. A DM would have to be a real jerk not to allow you to do that, IMHO, if he is allowing all 3.5.

Vecna, lord of secrets: I don't recognize 'creation,' where did you find it?
Greyseed
03-31-05, 02:19 AM To clairfy, because I didn't actually say prerequisites for, I meant "Exotic weapon proficiency: Bastard Sword"

To improve the Katana attacks, You'll be able to amp it a bit with artificer infusions, plus at fifth, start enchanting it yourself. See if your Dm allows the idea of reduced cost on magic items for those with the feats to create them. (Items made by npc's are cost only 75% of the list price for equipping them.)

You'll probably want to pick the Attune Magic weapon feat for your sword there. Power attack, possibly. Also if it turns your crank, see if you can't get that sword Adamantine, or Cold Iron.

I personally like the idea of you cutting through objects, but then again, an artificer is already quite strong against Constructs with the infusion ability. So cold Iron will broaden that a bit for you there.
Begle1
03-31-05, 10:11 PM You want to cut through stuff, okay.
You want to cut through stuff with your Katana. :waits: :waits: :waits:

That's like trying to break down an iron door with a butter knife... Why don't you get a big honkin' sledge, pick or ax?

(Well, reading your post you said nothing about taking out golems with your katana, so I guess my annoying ridicule was directed at Greyseed instead. I still suggest that you get a hammer or pick in order to better keep in with the "object destroyer" theme, though...)
Greyseed
04-01-05, 04:08 AM True enough on the hammer thing, I'm just trying to expand the options for the guy here. Yeah it's a ridulous ego-trip, I admit it.

I don't know what the dude wants to specialize in. I thought for a fancy effect he could take the hardness ignoring adamantine. I remember him liking a blade, and trying to get maximum effect with it. If he wanted to focus into the object destruction/Manipulation, (similar to the show) it's an option. If something else, I don't know what, Zid hasn't put any other posts up.
NoldorForce
04-01-05, 09:06 AM Mageblade from Arcana Evolved? It should fit the concept you're looking for, given that all spells are cast through your chosen weapon (which is magical to boot). It's not a WotC product, so my alternate suggestion (that is, in products produced by Wizards) would be to go with the previously mentioned Spellsword (which does something similar, but in a less powerful manner).
Keenath
04-01-05, 09:39 AM I would suggest multiclassing fighter/artificer. Use your fighter bonus feats for whatever you feel is appropriate to the character (Exotic weapon proficiency and so on), and when you take an artificer level, dump twice as many skill points into UMD to keep it maxed out (because the max ranks are your character level when you multiclass, but you can only buy it one-for-one when you level as an artificer).

You'd probably need a whole new PRC or even a whole new character class to really imitate Alchemy as it is in the show, but if we're just going for a sort of flavor, that ought to work out for you.

There was a wonderous item called an Arm of Nyr in one of the books several years ago; that might fit Automail a bit better than a half-golem template. (Except in the case of full-body automail, as seen late in the show, but in that case the whole golem-insanity thing fits pretty well.)

At your DM's discretion, and possibly with a feat, you could treat a metal arm as a buckler or an offhand weapon for use with Two-Weapon Defense (though you'd need TWF first, of course).
Zicdeh
04-02-05, 11:59 AM Sorry that I haven't posted in a while guys, I should have another post up within the coming 1 or 2 days. I'm having to work alot lately (including in about 10 minutes) so I haven't had a whole lot of time to respond to posts and such.

I do have a bit of new information for you, ideas to throw at you, and the start of my build.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zicdeh 03-30-05, 01:40 AM	Hey guys, this is my first post to the site so please bare with me here. ^^ I'm about to start playing in a campaign where all the players are playing a D&D version of themselves. Well I've always loved Full Metal Alchemist (FMA) so I've decided to make a "Blade Alchemist" but I don't know where to start at all. Here's what I've got in minute details right now. I want to use a Katana and I'd like to use it not only for attacking but transmuting as well, meaning that I'd like to maximize everything I can do with it. Anything where I can power up the Katana (Magic Weapon is a good first idea IMO) to make ranged attacks, add defense, and make very powerful and quick attacks is what I have in mind right now. But I'm very unsure if this is even remotely possible, but that's why I'm asking you guys for help. All 3.5 Books are allowed and we will not be given magical items until the campaign starts (My DM is picky about Magical stuff because we've had a bad problem with people cheating on Magical item prices lately and because of this we all have to suffer.) but I'm expecting to recieve at least 2 Minor Magical and a +1 Katana. Don't hold me to that though. Also we're beginning at 5th level. Please help me out guys! Also please say something if you need any more details.
Greyseed 03-30-05, 03:31 AM	I'm the last person who I thought would be helping this happen. (I'm a bit of an Anime/D&D elitist, but trying to amend.) Are you in Eberron? (Very appropriate for FMA.) If so Go artificer. Your attack's will be ok, and your magic can only affect constructs or objects (sound familliar?). Because you're starting at fifth, you don't have to worry about the prerequisites. If you don't have the access to the Eberron campaign setting, Wiz or Sor and Ftr/eldritch knight. Magic weapon/Weapon augmentation powers can make your sword a Magical throwing returning weapon once you get those abilities. If going caster, get your hands on the Complete arcane's "Whirling blade" spell. Heck if you're and artificer, make an item that does that spell. Hope that helps.
Greymallkin 03-30-05, 03:51 AM	Ok, the thought if mixing FMA with D&D, especially Eberron, is rather fasinating, I have thought about borrowing parts of FMA for my own games more than once. But, I have only seen a few rather random episodes and for the purpose of your thread, you might want to explain what a "Blade Alchemist" is and what you want to do with it. Edit... 2:00 am grammer...
Contrast 03-30-05, 10:16 AM	Assuming "Blade Alchemist" is your title, I'd suggest you look at Complete Warrior's Hexblade.
D_Martin 03-30-05, 01:26 PM	I would say that looks like a Spellsword type. Start Wiz/Ftr and take the Spellsword PrC from CA. I partially agree Greyseed, FMA is not that good! GitS: SAC I do like though.
Titan W 03-30-05, 03:36 PM	For ranged attacks I think Spiritual Weapon (A devine spell) grants a weapon ranged attack ability, and a level 5 cleric gets some nice weapon augmetns too... But for classes I agree with the rest.
Vecna, lord of secrets 03-30-05, 03:41 PM	There is a spell out there called creation Creation wiz/sor 2 range: touch dur: instant spell resistance: yes harmless Creation allows you to take matter and convert it into new matter. Your perform a touch attack agaist something, always an object to make it something else components: an amount of matter smilar to the result of this spell, i.e. a chunk of metal if you want to make a sword Learn it, quicken it. Probably use it to alter your katana
Ranger_ORB 03-30-05, 04:35 PM	If you are making a full metal alchemist character you must be a half-golem(iron) iron arm and leg plus the psion spell graft weapon= FMA
trapspringer 03-30-05, 06:33 PM	I don't think that is really the important part. I think going artificer (whihc is not a PrC, btw) is a good idea. A DM would have to be a real jerk not to allow you to do that, IMHO, if he is allowing all 3.5. Vecna, lord of secrets: I don't recognize 'creation,' where did you find it?
Greyseed 03-31-05, 02:19 AM	To clairfy, because I didn't actually say prerequisites for, I meant "Exotic weapon proficiency: Bastard Sword" To improve the Katana attacks, You'll be able to amp it a bit with artificer infusions, plus at fifth, start enchanting it yourself. See if your Dm allows the idea of reduced cost on magic items for those with the feats to create them. (Items made by npc's are cost only 75% of the list price for equipping them.) You'll probably want to pick the Attune Magic weapon feat for your sword there. Power attack, possibly. Also if it turns your crank, see if you can't get that sword Adamantine, or Cold Iron. I personally like the idea of you cutting through objects, but then again, an artificer is already quite strong against Constructs with the infusion ability. So cold Iron will broaden that a bit for you there.
Begle1 03-31-05, 10:11 PM	You want to cut through stuff, okay. You want to cut through stuff with your Katana. :waits: :waits: :waits: That's like trying to break down an iron door with a butter knife... Why don't you get a big honkin' sledge, pick or ax? (Well, reading your post you said nothing about taking out golems with your katana, so I guess my annoying ridicule was directed at Greyseed instead. I still suggest that you get a hammer or pick in order to better keep in with the "object destroyer" theme, though...)
Greyseed 04-01-05, 04:08 AM	True enough on the hammer thing, I'm just trying to expand the options for the guy here. Yeah it's a ridulous ego-trip, I admit it. I don't know what the dude wants to specialize in. I thought for a fancy effect he could take the hardness ignoring adamantine. I remember him liking a blade, and trying to get maximum effect with it. If he wanted to focus into the object destruction/Manipulation, (similar to the show) it's an option. If something else, I don't know what, Zid hasn't put any other posts up.
NoldorForce 04-01-05, 09:06 AM	Mageblade from Arcana Evolved? It should fit the concept you're looking for, given that all spells are cast through your chosen weapon (which is magical to boot). It's not a WotC product, so my alternate suggestion (that is, in products produced by Wizards) would be to go with the previously mentioned Spellsword (which does something similar, but in a less powerful manner).
Keenath 04-01-05, 09:39 AM	I would suggest multiclassing fighter/artificer. Use your fighter bonus feats for whatever you feel is appropriate to the character (Exotic weapon proficiency and so on), and when you take an artificer level, dump twice as many skill points into UMD to keep it maxed out (because the max ranks are your character level when you multiclass, but you can only buy it one-for-one when you level as an artificer). You'd probably need a whole new PRC or even a whole new character class to really imitate Alchemy as it is in the show, but if we're just going for a sort of flavor, that ought to work out for you. There was a wonderous item called an Arm of Nyr in one of the books several years ago; that might fit Automail a bit better than a half-golem template. (Except in the case of full-body automail, as seen late in the show, but in that case the whole golem-insanity thing fits pretty well.) At your DM's discretion, and possibly with a feat, you could treat a metal arm as a buckler or an offhand weapon for use with Two-Weapon Defense (though you'd need TWF first, of course).
Zicdeh 04-02-05, 11:59 AM	Sorry that I haven't posted in a while guys, I should have another post up within the coming 1 or 2 days. I'm having to work alot lately (including in about 10 minutes) so I haven't had a whole lot of time to respond to posts and such. I do have a bit of new information for you, ideas to throw at you, and the start of my build.