Revision as of 11:43, 20 March 2015

Mage

Tellah, iconic mage

"Reality is malleable. Nothing is impossible."

Hidden in the depths of reality, in places where surely no mortal mind was meant to venture, lie secrets: ancient pathways of power, hewn into the metaphysical depths by forces beyond mortal ken. Some of these pathways are accessible only by strange words in alien tongues; some, by bizarre hand gestures; and yet others are unlocked by the combining of seemingly innocuous materials. When a pathway's methods are invoked, the mind calling upon it fills with a sudden surge of energy and knowledge - and the ability to modify the world in some fashion.

These "short-cuts" in reality are the purview of the mage. By studying these pathways, he gains access to abilities that change and modify the world at his whim. By constantly exercising his mind, he expands his ability to handle the rush of power that comes with the unlocking of these metaphysical leylines, and can plumb their depths for greater and more expansive ways to modify reality.

Knowing that these short-cuts in reality exist, and even how to unlock them, is insufficient to using them: a mortal must be mentally prepared for the rush of energy in the mind upon their unlocking, and understand how to put that power to use. Mages dedicate themselves to the study of these methods.

Game Rule Information

Mages have the following game statistics.

Force Alignment: Magic.

Force Resistances: PR 5 + level, TR 5 + level.

Abilities: Intelligence is the prime ability for the mage. With a higher intelligence, his mental fortitude improves, allowing him to command more magical energy, as well as access the deeper secrets of the universe.

Hit Die: d6.

Class Skills: The Mage’s class skills are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int.

Alignment: Any.

Ethos: Any.

Starting Age: Moderate.

Starting Gold: 4d4 x 10gp.

Favored By: Elf, Esper.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the mage.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Mages are proficient with simple weapons, but no armor except robes. Mages are not proficient with shields.

Mana Points: A mage's ability to command magic is represented by his mana points. To cast spells, he must expend mana, and when his pool is empty, he cannot cast until he has rested.

At each caster level, a mage gains additional mana points, as per the table above. A mage rolls for mana points much like a character rolls for hit points. A mage adds his Intelligence modifier to his mana die; as with hit points, later changes in his Intelligence score are retroactive to his mana points.

A character whose first level is taken in mage receives the maximum result for his mana die (just as he receives the maximum result for hit points). A character who multiclasses into mage after first level rolls his mana die as normal.

Casting a spell requires mana expenditure as per the table below.

Initiate   :  1 mp
Apprentice :  4 mp
Journeyman :  9 mp
Adept      : 16 mp
Master     : 25 mp

A mage completely replenishes his mana points after a night's rest.

Spells: The abilities granted to a mage through an understanding of the magical pathways hewn into the metaphysical underside of the universe are known as "spells."

Spells are divided into ten categories, called paths; these groupings are relevant to your ability to access spells.

In addition, in order to cast a spell, you must have a minimum Intelligence score, based upon the grade of the spell.

Initiate   : 11
Apprentice : 13
Journeyman : 15
Adept      : 17
Master     : 19

At first level, you know a number of Initiate spells equal to 4 + your Intelligence modifier, and a number of Apprentice spells equal to 2 + your Intelligence modifier. You can select spells from either of your ruling paths (see below).

Each time you gain a level, you automatically learn a number of spells equal to your Intelligence modifier. At least one of these spells must be from one of your ruling paths, and no more than one can be from your inferior path.

Paths: Upon beginning his training, the mage finds a certain affinity for certain paths over others. This could be due to any number of factors, such as a metaphysical leyline for some paths crossing over his hometown, or simply having a preference for some over others.

When you take your first level in mage, you must select two paths as your ruling paths, and one path as your inferior path. All other paths become your common paths. Your studies begin solely in your ruling paths, but you gradually learn to branch out into your common paths; eventually, you learn the basics of your inferior path, but never to the strength of your other paths.

The paths are as follows.

Arcane Implement: At first level, the mage chooses a particular implement to assist him as a mental focus. Some implements serve as a receptacle for arcane power, allowing the mage to draw mana from it when the need is dire; others grant the mage benefits when using spells of certain paths.

The three types of implements are tomes, staffs, and orbs.

• Tomes: The mage maintains a tome, into which he writes arcane formulae and other notation that better allow him to keep track of his mystic education. A tome made to be an implement, however, becomes more than just a journal or notebook: a tome grants a mage greater versatility with his magic.
  • Arcane Insights: The magic inherent in a tome allow the mage to cross-reference his knowledge and make deeper insights as his knowledge of the nature of magic improves. Each time you gain a mage level, you learn an additional two spells, which can be from any path you can access. If you select this implement as your first implement, you may select 6 + your Intelligence modifier Initiate spells, and 4 + your Intelligence modifier Apprentice spells.
  • Mystic Writings: You can choose to imbue a spell written into your tome with magical energy, costing mana equal to the spell's mana cost and taking one hour per grade of the spell. If you have done so, you may, as a full-round action, when wielding a tome, cast such a spell directly from the tome. Doing so costs you no mana; however, the spell is burned out of the tome (it can be written into it again if you so choose). Casting a spell in this manner changes none of the spell's parameters other than its casting time and mana cost. You cannot augment a spell cast this way with metamagic feats.
  • Evidence Yields Truth: If you maintain a tome, when you witness a spell cast of a path and grade you can access and know at least one spell from that path, you can attempt to learn the spell by studying what you personally have learned and cross-referencing it with your experience. Doing so requires an hour per grade of the spell, and the base Spellcraft DC to learn a spell in this manner is 25. If the check succeeds, you successfully learn the spell.
• Staffs: The mage carries a staff, a symbol of his position as a mage that demands respect. A staff imbued to become an implement, however, becomes a font of magical power.
  • Arcane Symbol: The staff is the traditional symbol of wielders of the arcane, primarily because the imbuing process for staffs enables their carriers to access expressions of magic not accessible to other mages. The mage gains access to the noted additional effects under expressions of magic.
  • Release Power: A staff may be broken, releasing any magical energy it stores. Breaking a staff is a standard action, and deals 1d6/caster level points of arcane damage to all creatures within 30 feet (Reflex save DC 10 + mage's caster level for half damage), including the mage. A staff broken in this manner cannot be repaired, and the mage must attune himself to a new staff if he wishes to benefit from such an implement.
• Orbs: The mage wields an orb, an entrancing and often mystical object. Imbued as an implement, the orb becomes a receptacle for arcane power.
  • Mana Receptacle: As a swift action, you may transfer mana freely between yourself and an orb you wield. An orb can hold no more mana than your caster level + Intelligence modifier. Mana stored in an orb remains until used.
  • Locus of Concentration: The nature of an orb allows a mage using one to focus more intently on forming magical energies. When you cast a spell and are wielding an orb, you can increase the casting time of a spell by one step; if you do, you automatically succeed at Concentration checks to cast defensively, and gain a bonus to Concentration checks to avoid spell disruption equal to your caster level + Intelligence modifier. However, due to your intense concentration, you are considered flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.

Expressions of Magic (Sp): As a mage, you are able to produce a number of minor magical effects, provided you have at least 1 mp remaining.

At first level, you can produce the following effects at will, so long as you have at least 1 mp.

• arcane mark
• detect magic
• prestidigitation
• light (staff only)

At fifth level, you can produce the following effects at will, so long as you have at least 4 mp.

• disguise self
• comprehend languages
• magic aura
• arcane lock (staff only)
• knock (staff only)

At tenth level, you can produce the following effects at will, so long as you have at least 9 mp.

• arcane sight
• darkvision
• whispering wind
• darkness (staff only)
• daylight (staff only)

At fifteenth level, you can produce the following effects at will, so long as you have at least 16 mp.

• alter self
• command
• tongues
• tiny hut (staff only)

At twentieth level, you can produce the following effects at will, so long as you have at least 25 mp.

• permanency
• scrying
• teleport (self only)
• turn to frog (staff only)

Mage Talent: At tenth level, and every two levels thereafter, the mage's understanding of the arcane deepens. He may select one of the following talents.

• Channel: You may, as a swift action, sacrifice any number of hit points. You gain temporary mana equal to half the amount of hit points you sacrificed, rounded down. Temporary mana lasts for 1 round per point of Intelligence modifier you have, and can put you over your maximum mana. In addition, you can go into lifeburn.
  • Lifeburn (Sp): You may, as a swift action, go to 0 hit points. If you do, the base mana cost of all your spells becomes 0, and you gain the benefits of the doublecast talent. This effect lasts for 1 round per point of Intelligence modifier, during which you are immune to damage, can only be destroyed by effects that ignore hit points (such as a sphere of annihilation), and you ignore any penalties for being staggered. After the effect ends, you permanently and irrevocably die. You can only use this ability if you are at 1 or more hit points.
• Disciplined Mind: Whenever you would gain a mana die, you may roll twice and take the result of your choice. When you take this talent, you may reroll all the mana dice you have accumulated thus far, and take the total of that reroll or your current total (remember that if mage was your first class, your first level's mana die is maximized).
  • Expansive Mind: Whenever you would gain a mana die, the size of the mana die is increased by one step. If your mana die is d12, your mana die becomes d12+d2 (if you further improve your mana die, the next step is d12+d4, then d12+d6, and so on). You can take this talent multiple times; its effects stack. (Prerequisites: Disciplined Mind)
  • Focused Mind: You gain an additional +1 magic point per caster level. You can take this talent multiple times; its effects stack. (Prerequisites: Disciplined Mind)
• Dilettante: Choose two common paths. You can access spells one grade higher for those paths (so if you could normally access apprentice spells, you can now access journeyman spells), and immediately learn two spells of the new grade from each path. (Special: You cannot take this talent and the generalist or specialist talents)
• Doublecast: You can, as a full-round action, cast two spells simultaneously. The combined mana cost of the two spells can be no greater than double your caster level.
  • Quadramagic: You can, as a full-round action, cast four spells simultaneously. The combined mana cost of the four spells can be no greater than triple your caster level. (Prerequisites: Doublecast)
• Expanded Implements: Choose another magical implement (tome, staff, or orb). You gain affinity for the chosen implement type. You can take this talent up to two times; each time you do, select a new implement.
• Generalist: Your inferior path becomes a common path, and you immediately learn two spells from each grade that you can now access for that path. Your mage level is treated as three levels lower for determining your spell access to your ruling paths. (Special: You cannot take this talent and the dilettante or specialist talents)
• Orb Mastery: While wielding an orb as an implement, your Locus of Concentration ability no longer makes you flat-footed, and you can apply its enhancement bonus as an insight bonus to your Will saves and Concentration checks. (Prerequisites: Orb as a chosen implement)
• Specialist: Treat your mage level as two levels higher for determining your spell access to your ruling paths. In addition, learn two additional spells of each grade for each of your ruling paths, and when you gain access to a new grade of spells in those paths, immediately learn one spell of the new grade. Your mage level is treated as four levels lower for determining your spell access to your inferior path, and as one level lower for determining your spell access to your common paths. (Special: You cannot take this talent and the dilettante or generalist talents)
• Staff Mastery: While wielding a staff as an implement, you can apply its enhancement bonus to the saving throw DCs of spells you cast. (Prerequisites: Staff as a chosen implement)
• Tome Mastery: While wielding a tome as an implement, you can apply its enhancement bonus to caster level checks to overcome Spell Resistance. (Prerequisites: Tome as a chosen implement)
• Wish (Sp): You gain knowledge of the wish spell. (Prerequisites: Caster level 16th+, must be able to access Master spells)
• Feat: The mage may gain a bonus feat in place of a talent.

Spells

The following are mage spells, ordered by path, then by grade.

Prerequisites: Some spells require that you be, for example, an Apprentice of Fate. In order to qualify for such a requirement, you must know and be capable of casting at least one spell from the indicated grade of the indicated path (in the example's case, you must know and be capable of casting at least one Apprentice spell from the Fate path).

Design Notes

I am mildly unhappy with the paths. In particular, time and space are mighty impinging on the epochent's shtick. I am also uncertain that I am happy with the breakdown. I'd like to return to the nine-school setup of standard magic, reallocating the various spells into the original schools.

In general, the mage will seem significantly less powerful than the wizard. This is most likely due to a removal of a significant number of spells - part of the idea here is to cull magic down into something that isn't "do everything ever," so that there are actual niches among Force-using classes.

The end goal is that the mage will be on-par with other Force-using classes, rather than the wizard being utterly ridiculous in comparison to everyone else.

Aside from the paths, I'm pretty happy with the mage so far. Making them point-based is something I've wanted to do for awhile, since spell slots per RAW are... clunky. Rolling randomly for mana points makes it interesting, and in keeping with the theme of the Reality forces (which all have a random element in their usage). The maths for mana seems to work out such that even getting really screwed on mana rolls won't make you useless, provided you have a reasonably high Int; since SAD is in effect here, that shouldn't be an issue.

15/03/20: We're going to the d20 school setup. I need to write up some spells since one of the main antagonists for the upcoming game is a mage, and we need to know what she is capable of.

Also... these spell tables are madness. Need to tone that shit right the hell down, because that's just crazy. I don't know why I thought that would be a good idea... we'll have a separate section for each path, then divide the spells into grades. Because that's actually sane.