Tome Sorcerer

The homebrew forum

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Tome Sorcerer

Post by Midnight_v »

The Tome Sorcerer

"I'm sorry about all this, its just that I have magic, the very poetry of the world in my fingertips.
Try not to look so suprised as I keep Winning... I have Rakshasha blood."



Hit dice:
D6
The sorcerer’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy,
Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge History, Knowledge local (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis)
Survival (Wis) and Spellcraft (Int).

The Skill Points at 1st Level
(4 + Int modifier) × 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level
4 + Int modifier.

The mortal races were not always the masters of the world we inhabit. In the long night before
our age dawned, creatures of unchallenged might built vast empires on the backs of our ancestors,
empires of privlege, and power,and of blood. Inevitably, as all rules must thier era came to a close;
though it isn't difficult to see the remnants, ancient monoliths yet stand in every corner of
the world, anceint artifacts still call out fighting neverending wars and every humanoid child
still fears the coming of night. Thus, while the age of monsters came to an end, the most terrifying
reminder of what once was and could be yet again lives on... in you.

Making a Sorcerer
YOU ARE NOT DESCEDED FROM DRAGONS. . . unless you want to be. Many sorcerer have many
different creatures that provide much variety to their ancestry. That being said some sorcerers actually
are descended from dragons, while other are descended from angels, and still others from much darker
origins. The point is you ancestry is a particularly unique thing that varies from pc background to pc background.
My Sorcerer I used to playtest in an actually game as mentioned in the title quote, had Rakshash blood in his veins.
Make your ancestry your own. Its a roleplaying not not a mechanical but a point that needed to be made.
You are an full arcane spellcaster with a unique tie to magic, in that you're born into it.You're life is
often a mission of discovery and a personal journey into your own power and past. Your class is
the counter as well as counter part to a wizard and that is the class you're most balanced with.
While you don't gain access to spells as quickly the wizard does, you gain class features that make
up for it, access to sorceror only spells as well as a greater selection of spells though at a
higher cost. Lastly some of the class features exsit only as long as you continue down the path
of sorcery this means that there is a definite trade off for multiclassing and prc'ing. Anytime
it says in a description "You lose this ability if you leave the sorceror class unless you are
a level X sorceror" this is intended to include Prestige classing out.


Abilities
Charisma determines how powerful a sorcerer can cast, how many spells they can cast perday and how hard
those spells are to resist.Sorcerors benefit from a high dexterity as it assists in aiming touch spells
and a high contitution helps them survive, however to demihuman sorcerors a high con is often equally or
more important to them than charisma.

Races
Among the standard races, sorcerors are common amongst all except the elves and dwarves. While they do
exist in their number dwarves find it a difficult path to master and strictly inferior to the hard path
of study and sciencetific research that is espoused by a wizardly life they also prefer to never acknowledge
any non dwarven ancestry aside from descent from the dwarven patheon. Elves likewise prefer the wizardly
path and albeit for slightly different reasons. Elves in almost every D&D world have lived long enough
to remember age of monsters and "the long night before" for them it was not long ago. It was historically
a wizardly rebellion that led the elves to freedom from whatever force ruled them before.*note: In faerun
dragons did canonically rule that world, in ebberon it was giants ruling over drow, but the story is in
effect the same* So the elves are needless to say put off by the idea of using bloodline magic from acient
monstrous rulers. Demihuman races, actually produce some of the finest sorcerors, orcs, hobgoblins, and kobolds
are ruled by sorcerors.
Among non standard races Aasimar tend to be sorcerors. While teifling sorcerors exist, the path of the warlock
seems to draw the majority of them away from sorcery.

Alignment
Sorcerors are not bound by any particular alignment. Though it is thought they tend toward chaos as they
rarely attend any formal school, and are often as not hero's or villians equally. They are typically
finding themselves so any sorcerer you encounter will vary greatly in terms of the alignment axis.

Religion
Sorcerers while varied in alignment invariably seem to worship Gods of Magic, Secrets, Luck, or travels.
Frankly though just as many as not partake in some kind of ancestor worship or simply don't acknowledge
dieties at all professing magic itself or even themselves as gods!

Class features:

Weapon and armor proficiencies.
A sorceror is profecient with all simple weapons. They are proficient in light armor as well but still suffer
any arcane spell chance failure the armor might incur. They are not proficient with shields of anykind.


Spellcasting:

As Srd Sorcerer

Summon Familiar
A sorcerer can obtain a familiar. Doing so takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. A familiar
is a magical beast that resembles a small animal and is unusually tough and intelligent. The creature serves as a
companion and servant.The sorcerer chooses the kind of familiar he gets. As the sorcerer advances in level, his
familiar also increases in power. A slain familiar can be raised from the dead just as a character can be,
and it does not lose a level or a Constitution point when this happy event occurs.
A character with more than one class that grants a familiar may have only one familiar at a time.
Note: Unlike the wizard a sorceror does not suffer an ill effects from the death/dismissal of a familiar.
Other than any grieve that may or may not be cause by the death of a close friend, depending on alingment disposition
of the given sorceror.

Lineage Magic.
Choose a sphere. The Sorcerer gains basic acces to that sphere.
This may not be improved by any class ability or feat that would
improve access to a sphere.

Brithright Arcana.
It is your gift to make magic your own.
A sorceror gains a special version the spell thematics feat for free:
Benefit: Due to the unusual appearance of your spells, the DC of any Spellcraft check made to identify
a spell you have cast increases by +4. In addition, you may designate one spell you know per spell level
as a Birthright spell and cast it at +1 caster level and +1 Dc. As you gain access to new spell levels, you can
designate new Birthright spells; you don't this occurs automatically choose upon gaining a new spell level.
Nearly any theme is possible, so long as you can describe a visual link for unification. For example, your theme
might be "lightning," " spheres," or " screaming skulls."If you choose spheres as your theme, your magic missiles
might take the form of glowing spheres of light, and your summoned monsters might emerge from mysterious
rainbow-colored globes. If your theme is "lightning," your haste spell might manifest as a bright green spark
that leaps from ally to ally. You can't use this feat to make your spell manifestations invisible, nor does your
Birthright Arcana change the type of damage a spell deals, regardless of its appearance.

Blood Will Tell:
Upon reaching level 2 a sorceror gains an ability, unlocked by his heritage and his constant use and exposure to magics.
This power requires a swift action from the Sorcerer, Lasts rounds equal to charisma mod, and is usable once per encounter.
Choose from the following list:
* Energy Resistance 5. Choose one. Cold,fire,Electricity,Sonic or Acid.
* 20% miss chance.
* You may reroll one roll that you have just made before the roll resolves in success or failure. You must take the result of the reroll, even if it’s worse than the original roll.

Primordial Manipulation:*
To a sorceror making magic is an art, the manipulation of magics into new forms is form and parcel of what they do.
Thanks to their intuitive connection to magic a sorceror may cast any spell that is NOT on his spells know list from
the Core Phb Sorceror/Wizard spell list or any Sorcerer only list by expending 2 spell slots of the same level as
the desired spell or any higher level spell slot. This requires one full round of casting in combat and the spell has
a 10% inherent chance of spell failure. This ability is useable 1 perday per point of charisma.

Example: Rendra a 7th level sorcereress does no know Fireball, (and frankly never though she'd need it) but currently is facing a cold subtyped group of monsters. She may spend 2 spell slots from her spells perday to cast the fireball. She finds herself in need of.
Likewise, When faced suddenly with will-o-wisps a sorceror in need of Magic Missle may spend a second level spell slot or 2 1st level spell slots to cast that spell as they desire.

Finally, if a Sorcerer ever multiclasses or takes a pretige class this ability is permanently lost, a multiclass character
does not gain this ability. A character with 7 or more levels of sorcerer gains this power even if multiclassed or Prestige Classed.

Ancient Craving:
A Sorcerer of 5th level, begins his path towards true mastery of magic. You can attempt to counter a spell or spell-like ability without using a readied action. Once per day, per point of charisma modifier you can counter a spell as an immediate action, by expending, a spell slot as long as the spell expended is of the same level or higher as the spell or spell-like to be countered.
You must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell’s level). This check is a non action part of the ability. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent’s spell and can attempt to counter it. If the check fails, you can’t do either of these things.
You may also spend 2 spell slots of a lower level to counter a spell or spell like ability of 1 level higher than those
expended.

At 7th level, when you successfully counter spell or spell-like using this ability, you gain 5 temporary HP per level of
the succesfully countered spell.

At 9th level when you successfully counter a spell or spell-like using this ability, you may, instead of gaining temporary Hp, have your counterspell deal damage equal to 5 x the level of the succesfully counter spell or spell-like. Also the caster must make a will save or be dazed for 1 round.

Awesome to behold:
A level 7 sorcerer gains is truly terrifying and magestic arcanists.
You gain the Awesome to Behold skill feat, as a bonus feat. You
do not have to meet the pre-requsites of this feat.

Improved familiar
A level 9 Sorcerer gains the improved familiar feat for free.

Blood will tell 2:
At level 10 the sorcerers blood flares with power again and the sorcerer become something more.
choose from the following abilities

*Immunity to an element.
*Immunity to Scrying Divination effects.
*Immunity to Death effects.
*Immunity to mind altering affects
*No longer needs to eat drink or breathe
*Immunity to ability damage.
*Medium Fortification.
These effects are always on and are in addition to the first ability chosen by Blood will tell 1.


Lurking Hunger:
Once perday a sorcerer's ancient hunger will trigger of its own accord protecting the sorcerer
from a magical attack even if he would be unaware of the attack. If a spell is countered sucessfully the sorcerer
is aware he has been attack and even the direction the attack originated from. THe attacker must make a will save
or be dazed for 4 rounds. If its succesful it does not consume one of the uses of Ancient Craving perday.

Mage King's Wish:
Once per week a 20th level sorcerer may use Wish as a spell like ability. This is separate ability from Birthright arcana.


Alternate Class features
Demihuman sorcerers. Demihuman sorcerers Defined as Orcs, Goblinoids, Kobolds, and sometimes even lizard folk
have been given special consideration as sorcerers as non of them tend to have the requisite chr. Score to
be sorcerers. So Here's the deal with them.

Blood Casting:
Prerquisite: Orc, Hobgoblin, kobold, lizard folk races.
A demihuman sorcerer may use his own blood to power his spells
To learn or cast a spell, blood casting sorcerer must have a Constitution core equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a sorcerer’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the bloodcasters Constitution modifier
However they are using they're own life energy to power spells; each time a spell is "Bloodcast" the caster is dealt damage equal to 1/2 character level round up + spell level.
Further they may not use the con score to grant them extra spells. However, all sorcerer class abilitites.
Now stem from con instead of chr.
Note that they don't have to use this ability, this is a free thing just tacked on so we have Orc sorcerers at all.
Dragonwroght kobolds, are inelligible for this ability.
Designers Notes.
This is a sorcerer build in response to the commentary submitted in this thread.
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=11233.0
As well as my own personal displeasure with the emptiness of the sorcerer class, along with the countless rewrites
I"ve seen. This is not the tier 3 sorcerer, that many people are going to be looking for. This is a sorcerer on par with
a moderately optimized wizard of equal level. Even if I fail at that and I might its still a fun and interesting class that
I personally took the time to playtest using the same game test (do google that) as well as running a large
number of scenarios at home and with friends. I hope that this has variance and potential enough that someone
will find it to be as much fun as I've found it to create. Please feel free to comment with any constructive criticism
you might have. Though spare us all the "As if the sorcerer needs MORE power rant." I'll get plentyof deconstructive
critiques on the other board I post at.
Thank you, please enjoy the music that inspired the quote.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz1H_wWxd68
Design notes 2: The Tome Series
Well I created this with a different group in mind, and at the end what I realized I was sitting here with was the Tome Sorcerer. So break it down fully and I'll edit it when You've deconstructed it fully.
I borrowed from several sources so thanks to Grek, as well as the frank/Sulin sorcerer. This is a transfer from brilliantgameoligist and honestly I don't know how to do a table a the den so if you really want to see one. Here's the link to the original posting. I'll take the help if anyone wishes to explain the tables here. The Art is Fehim_by_Markovah and he's wicked talented.http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards ... ic=11948.0
Last edited by Midnight_v on Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:34 am, edited 8 times in total.
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
User avatar
Kaelik
ArchDemon of Rage
Posts: 15049
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Kaelik »

Blood will tell 1 is a horrible ability.

I am hard pressed to think of even a single reason to ever choose either of the two shitty abilities that are not miss chance instead of miss chance.
Unrestricted Diplomat 5314 wrote:Accept this truth, as the wisdom of the Crafted: when the oppressors and abusers have won, when the boot of the callous has already trampled you flat, you should always, always take your swing."
User avatar
Lokathor
Duke
Posts: 2185
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:10 am
Location: ID
Contact:

Post by Lokathor »

Kaelik wrote:Blood will tell 1 is a horrible ability.

I am hard pressed to think of even a single reason to ever choose either of the two shitty abilities that are not miss chance instead of miss chance.
Wait, why wouldn't you always pick the reroll ability? 1/encounter reroll on any kind of dice roll is pretty cool man.
[*]The Ends Of The Matrix: Github and Rendered
[*]After Sundown: Github and Rendered
User avatar
Kaelik
ArchDemon of Rage
Posts: 15049
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Kaelik »

Lokathor wrote:
Kaelik wrote:Blood will tell 1 is a horrible ability.

I am hard pressed to think of even a single reason to ever choose either of the two shitty abilities that are not miss chance instead of miss chance.
Wait, why wouldn't you always pick the reroll ability? 1/encounter reroll on any kind of dice roll is pretty cool man.
1/encounter reroll before determining success is an ability that I might seriously forget I have because it's so trivial. I mean, I'd actually take the time to write it on my character sheet, unlike energy resistance 5, but it's not even going to come up most of the time, because you are going to save it for when you roll a 5 or lower on a saving throw.

Compared to untyped 20% miss chance against all attacks? I mean damn, you probably face more Ray of Stunning, or Stupidities, or Exhaustions, or whatever that get reflected than times you even choose to reroll, to say nothing of the fact that most of the time you reroll, you'll probably get the same result as you would have gotten keeping it.

You only think rerolls are a good deal because of confirmation bias combined with a hypothetical situation idea. In practice, rerolling things before knowing if they succeed or fail is bullshit, and rerolling after is sexy.
Last edited by Kaelik on Tue May 17, 2011 3:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Unrestricted Diplomat 5314 wrote:Accept this truth, as the wisdom of the Crafted: when the oppressors and abusers have won, when the boot of the callous has already trampled you flat, you should always, always take your swing."
User avatar
Echoes
Journeyman
Posts: 110
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:58 am
Location: Ohio

Post by Echoes »

Lokathor wrote:
Kaelik wrote:Blood will tell 1 is a horrible ability.

I am hard pressed to think of even a single reason to ever choose either of the two shitty abilities that are not miss chance instead of miss chance.
Wait, why wouldn't you always pick the reroll ability? 1/encounter reroll on any kind of dice roll is pretty cool man.
Because it's a swift action and thus you can't actually use it, ever? If it were an immediate action it'd be kind of hot, but 20% miss chance is still ricockulous, because miss chances stack. At level 2, your Cha mod is probably +4 (+5 if you're a dragonwrought kobold for some reason). Fights at level 2 don't usually last 4-5 rounds. This is the state of affairs for pretty much the rest of your life. Net result: you have a free 20% miss chance during combat, period. That's win-sauce.
For CaptPike: 4E was a terrible game and a total business failure. These are facts that I am stating with absolute certainty.
User avatar
RobbyPants
King
Posts: 5202
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:11 pm

Post by RobbyPants »

It looks like this version is slightly different than the one I read yesterday. Mainly that you get a sphere instead of a single SLA, and that Awesome to Behold was made into a bonus feat. I notice you dropped Ancient Craving down to Cha mods/day instead of score/day.

I still feel the same way about Blood Will Tell, and it seems Kaelik agrees.

Primordial Manipulation isn't specified. Is it Cha mod or score per day? You simply state "Charisma".
User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Midnight_v »

@ Robbypants
Ah its a translation of the other one. You caught that then too.
Thanks for catching that. The other one was supposed to be written that you get to take 1 spell you learn at new spell levels and get it as a spell like once per day. Ostensibly better than a sphere as you get to just pick any spell you know.
Awesome to behold is a feat that not many are familiar with so I had to butcher it down a bit, to prevent out cry... then I realized I was wrong and that the sorc I made was just for a different target audience.
I'm not sure I entirely care about non-tom D*D anymore. The second they may a 3.P board on Bg's I started suspecting I"m in the wrong place.

@ Echoes
Really? You activate it on your turn, it eats your swift action and you have X rounds to use your free reroll.

@ Kaelik's stuff
And again really Robby also...
Here's the deal the "Blood will tell" ability is supposed to be a defensive ability similar to the monk getting ACTUAL Concealment from his fighting style at level 1.
And the knight getting the energy resitance at level 3. That energy resitance is somethign like Shield bonus + knight level. That he can pick and change to fit the situation.
As far as the re-roll...
I"m really ready to listen about this ability overall?
From what I'm gleaning you're saying make the re-roll occur AFTER you know the result. Thats seriously fine. Maybe for rounds per point of charisma mod you may each round re-roll one roll after you know the results?
Still while your criticism is good and constructive... a suggestion would be most appreciated.
And what you think about the whole counter spell bit?
Last edited by Midnight_v on Tue May 17, 2011 1:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
User avatar
Kaelik
ArchDemon of Rage
Posts: 15049
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Kaelik »

1) You'll notice how Shield bonus + Knight level is higher than five except at level 1 right? That's because ER 5 is meaningless trash past level 3. Make the ER something not shitty, like ER 10+Sorcerer level.

2) Rerolls after success at least let you roll a 9 and say "oh it failed, I'll roll again" instead of "Guess I'll take the 9. Wait, what, I still failed the save, fuck. This reroll thing is useless."

Honestly, once per round would still not be too powerful.

I didn't say anything about Ancient Craving because it seems fine.
Unrestricted Diplomat 5314 wrote:Accept this truth, as the wisdom of the Crafted: when the oppressors and abusers have won, when the boot of the callous has already trampled you flat, you should always, always take your swing."
User avatar
RobbyPants
King
Posts: 5202
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:11 pm

Post by RobbyPants »

Midnight_v wrote:I'm not sure I entirely care about non-tom D*D anymore. The second they may a 3.P board on Bg's I started suspecting I"m in the wrong place.
I just don't go there, similar to the 4E board they had for several years. ;)
User avatar
Josh_Kablack
King
Posts: 5318
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Location: Online. duh

Post by Josh_Kablack »

I fail to see the point of using a sorcer who doesn't get See Invisibilty, Glitterdust, Faerie Fire, area Dispel, Invisibility Purge or enough AoEs to make guessing location viable by the time Phantom Fungi show up.

Especially when players could be something like a Tome Fire Mage, Tome Spirit Shaman, Koumei Witch, Tome White Mage or heck a CORE WIZARD, DRUID OR CLERIC instead.
Last edited by Josh_Kablack on Tue May 17, 2011 9:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"But transportation issues are social-justice issues. The toll of bad transit policies and worse infrastructure—trains and buses that don’t run well and badly serve low-income neighborhoods, vehicular traffic that pollutes the environment and endangers the lives of cyclists and pedestrians—is borne disproportionately by black and brown communities."
User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Midnight_v »

Josh_Kablack wrote:I fail to see the point of using a sorcer who doesn't get See Invisibilty, Glitterdust, Faerie Fire, area Dispel, Invisibility Purge or enough AoEs to make guessing location viable by the time Phantom Fungi show up.

Especially when players could be something like a Tome Fire Mage, Tome Spirit Shaman, Koumei Witch, Tome White Mage or heck a CORE WIZARD, DRUID OR CLERIC instead.
WHat the hell are you talking about? I must have missed something... or maybe I need a table. It has the same sorcerer progression as a regular sorcerer AND the ability to pop off spell out of their ass by burning more spells. This is clearly and error on my behalf.

@Kaelik
I'm going to talk all you say with a grain of salt and try to make some of the changes you suggest.
Its fucked when you say "This is bad" but when somethings good "I say nothing because it's fine" thats loltastic.
Though I guess 1. There's a certain standard already expected and
2. Its the bad that makes somthing unusable.
So I'll make the changes thursday evening.
Feel free to deconstruct it further though please.
I actually appreciate it.
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
User avatar
Kaelik
ArchDemon of Rage
Posts: 15049
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Kaelik »

Midnight_v wrote:@Kaelik
I'm going to talk all you say with a grain of salt and try to make some of the changes you suggest.
Its fucked when you say "This is bad" but when somethings good "I say nothing because it's fine" thats loltastic.
I don't have any advice for Frank on After Sundown, because it's good. I don't have any advice or criticism for anything that works and is good. I provide criticism of the aspects of the class that I think are bad in general (not just something I don't like) congratulations, that means the entire rest of your class is something I think is good.

That's seriously it. What do you expect me to say about the countering mechanic? If it was bad, I'd have said something, it wasn't, so I didn't post a post about how average to very good one mechanic of the class is.
Unrestricted Diplomat 5314 wrote:Accept this truth, as the wisdom of the Crafted: when the oppressors and abusers have won, when the boot of the callous has already trampled you flat, you should always, always take your swing."
User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Midnight_v »

Kaelik wrote:
Midnight_v wrote:@Kaelik
I'm going to talk all you say with a grain of salt and try to make some of the changes you suggest.
Its fucked when you say "This is bad" but when somethings good "I say nothing because it's fine" thats loltastic.
I don't have any advice for Frank on After Sundown, because it's good. I don't have any advice or criticism for anything that works and is good. I provide criticism of the aspects of the class that I think are bad in general (not just something I don't like) congratulations, that means the entire rest of your class is something I think is good.

That's seriously it. What do you expect me to say about the countering mechanic? If it was bad, I'd have said something, it wasn't, so I didn't post a post about how average to very good one mechanic of the class is.
I totally forgot you posted this. Damn Kaelik, you are quite the character. :thumb:
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
Dominicius
Knight
Posts: 491
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:28 pm

Post by Dominicius »

The formatting on this class is seriously terrible. I can't be bothered to read any of this.
User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Midnight_v »

Dominicius wrote:The formatting on this class is seriously terrible. I can't be bothered to read any of this.
Aw man :mantears: all my hard work for naught. Best sorcerer ever wasted because of shitty packaging. Sigh.
Well at least kaelik enjoyed it I guess.
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
User avatar
Kaelik
ArchDemon of Rage
Posts: 15049
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Kaelik »

Well, Blood Will Tell is still retarded, in that you wrote 45 words that are worthless, because not even someone who thinks the PHB Monk is OP would be stupid enough to choose anything besides miss chance, and I discovered a way in which your counterspell thing is problematic and needs fixing.
"You can attempt to counter a spell or spell-like ability without using a readied action.
You must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell’s level). This check is a non action part of the ability. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent’s spell and can attempt to counter it.
Now, I can't tell whether you mean for this text to supersede the normal rules, thus granting a new ability, or if you mean for it to be using the normal spell identification rules.

If the latter, you should know that you can't fucking ever identify an SLA:

"Identify a spell being cast. (You must see or hear the spell’s verbal or somatic components.)"

So you actually can't ever identify an SLA, or a spell without those components.

So here are some solutions:

1) If you actually want to give them the ability to identify SLAs and spells without components, give that as a separate ability, and make clear is bypasses the normal rules.

2) Accept that they can't counter things they can't identify.

3) Let them automatically know the spell level of any spell being cast around them, which there is already some precedent for, in that you roll 15+spell level anyway, so even when you fail, most DMs already said, meet a DC X. So just assume they know the spell level, and let them then attempt a counter, like Dispel Magic, but you have to tell them the spell level first.

So definitely not best sorcerer ever.
Unrestricted Diplomat 5314 wrote:Accept this truth, as the wisdom of the Crafted: when the oppressors and abusers have won, when the boot of the callous has already trampled you flat, you should always, always take your swing."
User avatar
CatharzGodfoot
King
Posts: 5668
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Location: North Carolina

Post by CatharzGodfoot »

Lineage magic should give the Sphere Knowledge feat rather than modified basic access.

Blood Will Tell, if anything, should give both a specific energy resistance and a miss chance, as the sorcerer is surrounded by a swirling miasma of magical power relevant to her 'blood'. Otherwise it's just a trap option.

Primordial Manipulation removes the need to know any utility spells. I assume this is intentional, but it does put the sorcerer on even better footing than the wizard in this regard. In fact, wizards will be going to sorcerers for scrolls to fill out their spell books.

Finally, I think that familiars should just be a separate scaling feat. That's just personal preference, and has nothing to do with the balance of the class.
The law in its majestic equality forbids the rich as well as the poor from stealing bread, begging and sleeping under bridges.
-Anatole France

Mount Flamethrower on rear
Drive in reverse
Win Game.

-Josh Kablack

User avatar
Midnight_v
Knight-Baron
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Texas

Post by Midnight_v »

Thanks Kaelik! :biggrin: Its good to know you're still there, having everyones back on these things.
(how's that, meet kaelik's odd aggressive personality with cheer and glee!)

About that ability counter spelling mechanic, I lifted it from the only class with a working counterspell mechanic, hmm...
No, I'm aware that spell like abilities cannot be countered well "mysteries" can but thats it's own thing. I actually meant it to be "1" in the choices you provide: a bypass for the rules.
I can see how that needs to be spelled out more, fair enough. I'll get that done. Thanks.
Blood Will Tell:
You know. . . I see I failed to edit that here. Which I'll do now I suppose.
So definitely not best sorcerer ever.
Ya know... I can only hope someone someday slaps you across the back of the head for your aggregate assholery, I hope its a cop, and in a situation where you totally have to eat that smacking. . .
However, really, I think it IS the best sorcerer ever, at least conceptually. Its really true to what the idea of the class should be all thinks considered, fluff, relavence in a party etc. Also, the vast majority of sorcerer fixes you see, are pretty much worth dick. You know its true. I'm not making some arrogant statement, in fact that was meant sarcastically but really most FIXES you see in general suck.

The only thing wrong with this really, is editorial work, which... well, which you're kind enough to provide. I'm not sure if thats what you're trying to do or if you're just being a dick for the sake of doing so, but while I totally fact check what you say, I more often than not find you're on par with what the things you claim. You're just a dick while doing it. Doesn't matter though, you are right, so I am forced to take you seriously.
So, how's this sound:
Blood Will Tell:
Upon reaching level 2 a sorcerer gains an ability, unlocked by his heritage and his constant use and exposure to magics.
This power requires a swift action from the Sorcerer, Lasts rounds equal to his charisma mod, and is usable once per encounter.
Choose from the following list:

•Energy Resistance 5 + 1/2 chracter level. Choose one. Cold,fire,Electricity,Sonic or Acid. Once made this choice is permanent, it's type is fixed.
•20% miss chance, vs Melee attacks
•allows you once-per-round to reroll one roll that you have just made AFTER the roll resolves in success or failure.
You must take the result of the reroll, even if it’s worse than the original roll. At level 7 you gain a second reroll, and you may use both re-rolls on the same attempt if you wish, taking the more beneficial of the 2 re-rolls
Better? Way I see it, It last a few rounds and provides a relatively minor, defensive boost, vs a way you don't want to die. Its not meant to be all encompassing, or anything, in fact while its gotten the most attention, its the least important of the abilities of this class.
Don't hate the world you see, create the world you want....
Dear Midnight, you have actually made me sad. I took a day off of posting yesterday because of actual sadness you made me feel in my heart for you.
...If only you'd have stopped forever...
User avatar
Orion
Prince
Posts: 3756
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Orion »

Resistance 5+1/2 level is made of dicks. I don't want to calculate that my level 7 Sorcerer has Fire Resist 8 and I don't want to subtract 8 from anything. Keep it in multiples of 5 please and scale it by more than 1 point per level.

Also, it really help if you explained what kind of effect is generating the miss chance. Is this a deflecting forcefield, or a blur effect, or psuedo-incorporeality. This is important both to figure out how to describe it in narrative and in case it's negated by Blindsight or True Seeing. It should probably be concealment so it doesn't stack with blur in an obnoxious multiplicative way. Also Bloodcasting is the holy trifecta of niche, weak, and confusing.
Last edited by Orion on Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Prak
Serious Badass
Posts: 17359
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm

Post by Prak »

Midnight_v wrote:
Dominicius wrote:The formatting on this class is seriously terrible. I can't be bothered to read any of this.
Aw man :mantears: all my hard work for naught. Best sorcerer ever wasted because of shitty packaging. Sigh.
Well at least kaelik enjoyed it I guess.
Yep, ever see the bitching Frank did about my stuff before I learned and made myself remember how to do tables in BBcode?
Cuz apparently I gotta break this down for you dense motherfuckers- I'm trans feminine nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them.
Winnah wrote:No, No. 'Prak' is actually a Thri Kreen impersonating a human and roleplaying himself as a D&D character. All hail our hidden insect overlords.
FrankTrollman wrote:In Soviet Russia, cosmic horror is the default state.

You should gain sanity for finding out that the problems of a region are because there are fucking monsters there.
Post Reply