Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 arnwolf666 Jun 03, 2015 22:56:16	I have really enjoyed the Sword Mage created on another thread by Chameleon-X, the Archblade created by Calantyr, and the Duskblade created on another thread.  There seems to be Fighter and Rogue archetypes that allow them to cast spells, and many creative people creating martial halfcasters.  What I wanted to do was create my own Wizard Archetype that gives them abilities at Fighting with weapons.  I will call him the warmage to distinguish him from the Sword Mages created by others.  Well, here is my archetype.   Martial Magic: At 2nd level through your training with warriors in combat has payed off.  You gain proficiency in a one-handed martial melee weapon, and gain another martial melee weapon every four levels thereafter.   Additionally you may fight with the staff as a finesse weapon.  Any time you cast a spell as an action you may attack with a melee weapon as a bonus action.   Channel Weapon: At 6th level whenever you make a melee attack that hits you may expend a spell slot of first level or higher adding an addition 1d8 damage plus 1d8 damage per level of the spell slot expended.  The damage type is magic with the same damage type as the weapon.   Defensive Magic: At 10th level a Concentration checks to maintain a spell cast on you are automatically passed if you are wielding a one-handed melee weapon or staff. At 14th level you gain a bonus to your AC equal to one half the highest spell slot that you have not expended as lone as you are wielding a one-handed weapon or staff.   I hope you like it.  The only thing I am a little worries about is the 14th level ability.
#2 arnwolf666 Jun 04, 2015 15:09:47	Wow, I didn't even get hate responses.
#3 Ravenmore1 Jun 04, 2015 19:23:29	The only thing that I could say for now is giving quaterstaff finess might open a huge bag of worms. Dex. is mostly considered superior to Str. for intiative and AC, plus you could get into great weapon master,polearm master cheese just based on Dex.  Might be a little much...
(Reply to #3) arnwolf666	Ravenmore1 wrote:
#5 Macv12 Jun 04, 2015 19:57:26	arnwolf666 wrote:
(Reply to #5) arnwolf666	Thank you very much for your feedback.  I think I will change the 2nd level ability to all Martial Weapons.   The 10th level ability is a must for me, and it only affects spells on the wizard himself while wielding a weapon, that does prevent somethings like shapechange and summoning spells.   As for the channel weapon ability, I don't mind if that is a spammed ability, I mainly worry if it is too much damage.  That I am not sure, +10d8 for a ninth level slot, and +2d8 for a 1st level slot.  I think the wizard could easily lose out on  more options if he gets obsessed with only using Channel Weapon.  Again I am not 100% certain on this either.   The 14th level ability really does concern me the most.  Armor spell + Shield + 1/2 max spell slot would be 22 without dex.  Though I hate to balance it assuming an at will shield, but that is a pretty realistic thing for a real high wizard to take.  At that point they will probaly also have a 18 dex, so I would be looking at an AC:26.  At 17-20th level that may not be ridiculous considering there lower hp compared to the fighter.  He is supposed to be a melee mage.  It is something I will have to think about some more.
#7 FactOfFiction Jun 04, 2015 22:54:21	Channel Weapon and Martial Magic should switch places. Attack and a spell costing nothing more than the spell slot before other classes have even had the chance to get a second attack is a bit too fast.
#8 Macv12 Jun 05, 2015 8:27:46	Btw, I'm guessing from past statements that you're not assuming multiclassing?   Agreed about switching channeling and BA attacks. Those are level 1 and level 7 features for paladin and EK, respectively.   I don't think the cost and effect of Channel Magic is bad. 10d8 is a bunch, but it's a 9th-level slot. Spend your 8th-level slot and your AC falls by 1. It's a little strange that it's better than the paladin's version...but you have nothing to fall back on after you spend your slots, no healing, less feat friendliness, no auras, etc. I think it works.   AC is a worry. Very small investment gives you AC a paladin would envy, and that's one of "their things." I think I worked out a PC with ~32 "permanent" AC once, involving the Shield thing, so it's possible for this bonus to strain or break the system. Though infinite Shield and Defensive Magic come online suddenly at high levels, which mitigates it slightly but is odd design itself (you have average AC until 14 or 18, when you shoot to top-tier).   What if Defensive Magic reduced incoming damage by half slot level? Wouldn't "stack" with stuff the same way. Or, the AC bonus is a "ward" activated by bonus action, taking concentration, so you can only have it or another buff. Or, you can use a reaction to reduce damage...nah that's dumb, already have reaction spells. Hm...
#9 arnwolf666 Jun 05, 2015 10:04:58	I can see switching Martial Magic and Channel Weapon on their levels gained.   I may change the 14th level ability to be that they can use their reaction to add their proficiency bonus to AC for 1 round.  That way it can't stack with the Shield spell since both use a reaction.
(Reply to #9) Aelioran	arnwolf666 wrote:
#11 arnwolf666 Jun 05, 2015 17:58:12	I really do appreciate the feedback and input so far.  Thanks alot guys.  It really became my goal to make a weapon oriented archetype for the wizard because so many others seem to be obsessed with a magic archetype for the fighter or a new variant class similar to the Paladin with halfcaster arcane magic.  So thanks alot for your input again.
#12 arnwolf666 Jun 05, 2015 23:25:43	I think I may need to put something in that the channel weapon ability can only be used once per turn as part of the attack action and not bonus action.  That may limit it in a good way.
(Reply to #12) arnwolf666	arnwolf666 wrote:
#14 arnwolf666 Jun 07, 2015 12:51:17	I got a player this wednesday that is going to test this class with the staff.
#15 arnwolf666 Jun 09, 2015 23:23:28	I think in this game I will have this class be the Aramanthian Knights of the House of Aramanthilis trained by the Wizards's Guild Magna Arcana for my campaign.   I am definitely going to use Cyberdave's Nightstalker class as an Inquisitor for the Ormanian Church that hunts down heretics and outsiders that hide within society.
#16 Macv12 Jun 10, 2015 7:29:20	I'd be curious to see how it works in live fire.
#17 durntaur Jun 10, 2015 10:46:48	arnwolf666 wrote:
#18 Jared711 Jun 10, 2015 12:10:05	arnwolf666 wrote: