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Swordmages in Eberron?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
philnicau
Jul 05, 2009 22:36:39 My group will soon be starting a campaign in Eberron (when our current POL campaign ends in just under 2 weeks at level 30), and this time i will be playing a Human Assault Swordmage (FRPG) with the mark of passage.
I'm aware that in 4ed everything is now core, but i'm trying to work on an origin and would like to know if they existed in eberron previous to 4ed.
#2
illathid
Jul 05, 2009 23:06:01 Well Gaven from the Draconic Prophecy trilogy was originally stated out as a Duskblade but was changed to a Swordmage with the edition switch. However, I imagine that swordmages would be common in any area with either a martial or arcane bent to them, like Aundair or Karnath.

:lightbulb

Actually, house Orien's main headquarters, which is called "Journey's Home," is located in Aundair, which is know both for it's fencing and it's arcane prowess. Also, there is the Blades of Orien, which act as elite guards for both caravans and the lightning rail and are know for their specialization in teleportation to gain tactical advantages in combat.

Hope that helps.
#3
archangel62
Jul 05, 2009 23:20:12 Well, the swordmage class didn't exist pre4th edition. But, there were a lot of hybrid prestige classes that were said to wander Eberron so while technically the answer is no I would say that if we look at the soul, IE concept, the answer would be yes.
#4
tallric_kruush
Jul 06, 2009 12:59:50 Swordmages fit very well in Eberron. As mentioned, they make a ton of sense among the military of Aundair (especially) or among the Dragonmarked Houses.

You'll note that the Deneith Protector and Orien Swiftblade PPs both allow either Strength or Intelligence as their Primary Ability. Obviously, the Swordmage is the Int-based melee class being included with this setup.

As the two previous posts say, this specific class may not have existed before 4E, but the concept was definitely present. The Swordmage didn't exist in FR before 4E, either. It's a new class, afterall. It fits equally well in either setting.
#5
Nived
Jul 06, 2009 17:43:46 I'm playing a Karrnathi swordmage. What's that you say? Karrnath is weak in all aspects of the arcane save undead creating necromancers, Karrnathi favor martial...

True, however...
While Karrnath originally put more stock in swords than in spells, this view quickly changed over the first few engagements of the Last War. Observing the war magic of Cyre and Aundair, Kaius I ordered all youths to be tested for arcane aptitude at the enclave of the twelve. Over the course of the Last War, Karrnath has made its own strides in the mystic arts.

My character, Torvon is the product of this manditory aptitude testing, he's just the son of a dairy farmer (though his father and mother both served proudly in their youth as all fine Karrnathi citizens do) whose test showed he had the right sort of mind for arcane instruction.

Karrnath's arcane academies have a very specific goal, cranking out tools of war. Their students are taught out to weild magic as a weapon, and not much else. There isn't really any practical or utilitarian uses taught to them, they are taught magic so they can be better soldiers. When Torvon retires (if he ever gets the chance the crown keeps calling on him), he'll hang up his magic just like his father did his pike, or his mother her flail. He can't imagine a practical use for his knowledge on a farm.

He stabs people with magic, to him that's pretty much all its good for. Well that and defending his allies, he is a shielding swordmage after all. The Arcane Close Combat program he graduated from has been nicknamed hexblades, they are specifically trained to counter Aundair's Knights Arcane (who are also largely swordmages).

So yeah, I think swordmages have a fine place in Eberron.
#6
philnicau
Jul 07, 2009 3:26:58 Building on this here is my character concept

Lyrin d'Orien was born into House Orien and had the Dragonmark of Passage, from an early age it was seen that he was both academically gifted and had significant arcane potential, but as many of the top instructors were often absent due to the war he began to study on his own, specialising in the History and Arcane Lore of the House Marks, he also trained informally with the house guard in swordsmanship.
He started to formulate an idea that Arcane Power could be merged with Martial combat, and when he saw a display by Orien Swiftblades (to celebrate the armistice) he had a breakthrough moment.
Over the couple of years he worked with House Wizards and Fighters and developed the Basis of a new vocation which he calls the Swordmage
(assault style).
#7
rauric
Jul 07, 2009 6:52:41 I have a human swordmage concept that makes him House Orien also but he was raised in one of the Fey Spires in Dargunn. He got the Mark after a few years of living in Sharn acting as part of a merc group. He learned his stuff from the eladrin then went to the White Lotus academy in Aundair to perfect his craft. Now he roams the streets of Sharn as the Silver Skull, protector of the innocent and scourge of the supernatural! That is what he pays his Chronicler buddy to write anyway...
#8
romulus_lonewolf
Jul 07, 2009 20:18:41 Creating a Karrnathi Swordmage should be as simple as converting a few powers to use Necrotic energy, or reskinning them as undead-related attacks. Like "Foesnare" involving skeletal hands bursting from the ground to pin your enemy in place.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 philnicau Jul 05, 2009 22:36:39	My group will soon be starting a campaign in Eberron (when our current POL campaign ends in just under 2 weeks at level 30), and this time i will be playing a Human Assault Swordmage (FRPG) with the mark of passage. I'm aware that in 4ed everything is now core, but i'm trying to work on an origin and would like to know if they existed in eberron previous to 4ed.
#2 illathid Jul 05, 2009 23:06:01	Well Gaven from the Draconic Prophecy trilogy was originally stated out as a Duskblade but was changed to a Swordmage with the edition switch. However, I imagine that swordmages would be common in any area with either a martial or arcane bent to them, like Aundair or Karnath. :lightbulb Actually, house Orien's main headquarters, which is called "Journey's Home," is located in Aundair, which is know both for it's fencing and it's arcane prowess. Also, there is the Blades of Orien, which act as elite guards for both caravans and the lightning rail and are know for their specialization in teleportation to gain tactical advantages in combat. Hope that helps.
#3 archangel62 Jul 05, 2009 23:20:12	Well, the swordmage class didn't exist pre4th edition. But, there were a lot of hybrid prestige classes that were said to wander Eberron so while technically the answer is no I would say that if we look at the soul, IE concept, the answer would be yes.
#4 tallric_kruush Jul 06, 2009 12:59:50	Swordmages fit very well in Eberron. As mentioned, they make a ton of sense among the military of Aundair (especially) or among the Dragonmarked Houses. You'll note that the Deneith Protector and Orien Swiftblade PPs both allow either Strength or Intelligence as their Primary Ability. Obviously, the Swordmage is the Int-based melee class being included with this setup. As the two previous posts say, this specific class may not have existed before 4E, but the concept was definitely present. The Swordmage didn't exist in FR before 4E, either. It's a new class, afterall. It fits equally well in either setting.
#5 Nived Jul 06, 2009 17:43:46	I'm playing a Karrnathi swordmage. What's that you say? Karrnath is weak in all aspects of the arcane save undead creating necromancers, Karrnathi favor martial... True, however... While Karrnath originally put more stock in swords than in spells, this view quickly changed over the first few engagements of the Last War. Observing the war magic of Cyre and Aundair, Kaius I ordered all youths to be tested for arcane aptitude at the enclave of the twelve. Over the course of the Last War, Karrnath has made its own strides in the mystic arts. My character, Torvon is the product of this manditory aptitude testing, he's just the son of a dairy farmer (though his father and mother both served proudly in their youth as all fine Karrnathi citizens do) whose test showed he had the right sort of mind for arcane instruction. Karrnath's arcane academies have a very specific goal, cranking out tools of war. Their students are taught out to weild magic as a weapon, and not much else. There isn't really any practical or utilitarian uses taught to them, they are taught magic so they can be better soldiers. When Torvon retires (if he ever gets the chance the crown keeps calling on him), he'll hang up his magic just like his father did his pike, or his mother her flail. He can't imagine a practical use for his knowledge on a farm. He stabs people with magic, to him that's pretty much all its good for. Well that and defending his allies, he is a shielding swordmage after all. The Arcane Close Combat program he graduated from has been nicknamed hexblades, they are specifically trained to counter Aundair's Knights Arcane (who are also largely swordmages). So yeah, I think swordmages have a fine place in Eberron.
#6 philnicau Jul 07, 2009 3:26:58	Building on this here is my character concept Lyrin d'Orien was born into House Orien and had the Dragonmark of Passage, from an early age it was seen that he was both academically gifted and had significant arcane potential, but as many of the top instructors were often absent due to the war he began to study on his own, specialising in the History and Arcane Lore of the House Marks, he also trained informally with the house guard in swordsmanship. He started to formulate an idea that Arcane Power could be merged with Martial combat, and when he saw a display by Orien Swiftblades (to celebrate the armistice) he had a breakthrough moment. Over the couple of years he worked with House Wizards and Fighters and developed the Basis of a new vocation which he calls the Swordmage (assault style).
#7 rauric Jul 07, 2009 6:52:41	I have a human swordmage concept that makes him House Orien also but he was raised in one of the Fey Spires in Dargunn. He got the Mark after a few years of living in Sharn acting as part of a merc group. He learned his stuff from the eladrin then went to the White Lotus academy in Aundair to perfect his craft. Now he roams the streets of Sharn as the Silver Skull, protector of the innocent and scourge of the supernatural! That is what he pays his Chronicler buddy to write anyway...
#8 romulus_lonewolf Jul 07, 2009 20:18:41	Creating a Karrnathi Swordmage should be as simple as converting a few powers to use Necrotic energy, or reskinning them as undead-related attacks. Like "Foesnare" involving skeletal hands bursting from the ground to pin your enemy in place.