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Sorcerers in Scale:; "Spell Failure and what it Worth!"
Topic Started: Jun 17 2013, 01:09 AM (294 Views)
Nialldubh
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Sorcerers in Scale

"Why is it I must wave my arms around and point my finger at someone to make my spells work. The ultimate Magician is the one who just what something to happen and it happens, now if I want a city to appear....!"

Still back to the query, Spell Failure for armour, is it too high, or just right for the epic world of the "Hyborian Age," I would say there is many beliefs on the matter.

A Wizard might spend hours, years, even decades mulling over a spell or type of spell to perfect it, but why cannot a Warrior-Wizard do the same, why does the game allow for a Scholar/Soldier 10/10 Levels in each; like in Temple Warder multi-class if it not allow him to try and cope with his efforts to be a Warrior-Wizard. Why was not one of the 'Variant Rule,' a Spell Failure reduction at certain levels, dropping the total by 5% each 3 levels could at least allow the 'Temple Warder,' to wear a steel cap at 6th level without fear of a miss-cast.

Still, seem a bit low if allowed in the Game.

Lets look at the offered Multi-Class mix with the maximum Heavy Armour (leaving out Light and Medium Classes for the now). Heavy is the maximum restriction and will greatly penalize the Sorcerer!

Dilettante: (Finest; Page: 87).
Temple Warder: (Finest; Page: 106).
Adjutant: (Free Companies: Page: 123).

Not one of these combination focused on the fact that a skill in Heavy Armour was important.


Note: Most somatic gestures only need one hand free, so Scholar can carry a shield without restricting his spell casting.


How to Avoid Spell Failure:

* Perfect an exquisite set of armour that not restrict much movement; each reduces the failure by 10%.

~ Sorcerer in Mail Shirt and Scale Hauberk in Great Helm and carrying a Large Shield would have a total Spell Failure of 135% (good reason for Sorcerers not to wear armour), but as noted shield not affect casting, so reduce this to 120%, still not good, Exotic armour reduces each piece of armour by 10% (Helm reduced from 20% to 10%; Scale and Mail from 100% to 90%). Still not good. He at 100% spell Failure.

* Create Feats to allow for spell Failure Reduction.

~ The Most Obvious Way; This is not a joy for the Warrior-Wizard, he must used valuable Feats to work at his Spell Failure reduction. One way is allow such feat to be taken instead of New Sorcery Styles. This means the Warrior-Wizard will focus his mind and body on a couple of Sorcery Styles while working to train his body to endure the stress of wearing armour while attempting to cast a spell.

Feat Example; Manipulation of Armour Feat: Reduces the spell failure by 15%, this feat can be taken numerous times and the effects will stack.


Now a Hyborian taking this Feat at 1st level as a Scholar (as Hyborian, he is granted a 2nd Feat for Favoured Class), so he take the feat twice and now he has a total of 30% reduction in Spell Failure. This allow him to wear Quilted Jerkin at no chance of failure and Leather Jerkin is at 10% chance, one more selection of this feat and Leather is easily worn.

This Hyborian Battle (Fire) Magic Sorcerer dressed in fine quilted-silk padded armour, with loose fitting red robes drapes over his shoulder, held tight around his waist with a knight's belt. He carries a large round shield to protect himself from volleys of arrows his enemies might hail down on him and has a Spell Failure of 0% at 1st level


The obvious progression of the Fire Warrior-Wizard is still not apparent till he takes a level in Soldier. He should be allowed to to use Soldier bonus feat to reduces his Spell Failure even more.


The Hyborian Battle Mage is now 2nd level Scholar/ 2nd level Soldier. He wants to quickly establish himself in coping with his armour problem. So he uses his two Soldier Bonus Feats to reduce his penalty a further 30%, this means he now has a staggering 60% Spell Failure reduction and can wear a Mail cuirass (shirt) with ease. But he not finished, he takes his 3rd level bonus Feat and refuses to take another New Sorcery Style and reduces the penalty further till now he has 90% reduction to any Spell Failure penalties he may receive for wearing armour. He can wear most of the Heavy armour combinations and he only 4th level. He probably take feat twice more and that will be his limit. Now he start working at his mystical powers.

I just mulling with this idea, was the 15% reduction too high, 5% felt to low, 15% seem easy after awhile. 10% will cause a slow but sure growth. 10% would cause him to be at 60% reduction and he can wear the cuirass with ease and ponder taking some Sorcery Feats instead of the "Manipulation of Armour," Feat.

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Nialldubh
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Manipulation of Armour: (Sorcery; Soldier)

Prerequisites: Must be able to cast a spell from either a Sorcery Style (any) or by having the Dabbler feat.

Benefit: Spell Failure for casting spells in armour using somatic gestures is reduced by 10%.

Special This Feat can be taken numerous times and the effects will stack. This Feat is a rare exception as it can be taken as a Soldier Bonus Feat also.



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