Abjurant Champion Details

[exile]

Entry Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feat: Combat Casting.
Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 1st-level arcane spells, including at least one abjuration spell.
Special: Must be proficient with at least one martial weapon.

Hit Die: D10
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Climb, Concentration, Craft, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcane), Ride, Spellcraft, Swim.

Level 1:
BAB +1
Fort Save 0
Ref Save 0
Will Save +2
Abjurant armor
Extended Abjuration
+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Level 2:
BAB +2
Fort Save 0
Ref Save 0
Will Save +3
Swift Abjuration
+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Level 3:
BAB +3
Fort Save +1
Ref Save +1
Will Save +3
+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Level 4:
BAB +4
Fort Save +1
Ref Save +1
Will Save +4
Arcane Boost
+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Level 5:
BAB +5
Fort Save +1
Ref Save +1
Will Save +4
Martial Arcanist
+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Abjurant Armor (Su): Any time you cast an abjuration spell that grants you an armor bonus or shield bonus to AC, you can increase the value of the bonus by your abjurant champion class level. Abjurant champions rely on mage armor, shield, and similar spells instead of actual armor. (NB: I believe there is an over sight here on the part of the authors. They specify mage armor, which is actually a conjuration school spell, although I believe it was still intended to receive this benefit despite being a non-abjuration spell. There has been no errata published yet for this book to clear it up, but I can email WOTC question desk if you want confirmation.)

Extended Abjuration (Su): You depend on your abjuration spells to protect you in combat. Double the duration of abjuration spells you cast, as if you had applied the Extend Spell feat to them (but without any change in level or casting time).

Swift Abjuration (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, you can cast abjuration spells as a swift action, as if you had applied the Quicken Spell feat to them (but without any change in level). The maximum level of spell you can quicken in this way is equal to 1/2 your class level (rounded up).

Arcane Boost (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you gain the ability to burn arcane energy to empower your martial abilities. As a swift action, you can spend one of your uncast spells or spell slots to grant yourself one of the following insight bonuses for 1 round.

• Bonus on attack rolls equal to the spell’s level.
• Bonus on weapon damage rolls equal to twice the spell’s level.
• Bonus to AC equal to the spell’s level.
• Bonus on saving throws equal to the spell’s level.
• Resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic equal to 5x the spell’s level.

Martial Arcanist (Ex): At 5th level, you master the art of combining your militant and mystical training. From this point on, your caster level in a chosen arcane spellcasting class is equal to your base attack bonus (unless it would otherwise be higher). For example, a 7th level fighter/1st level wizard/5th level abjurant champion has a base attack bonus of +12 (and thus a caster level of 12th). You can apply this benefit to only one arcane class to which you have added spellcasting levels by your advancement as an abjurant champion.

[Stix]

Entry Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feat: Combat Casting.
Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 1st-level arcane spells, including at least one abjuration spell.
Special: Must be proficient with at least one martial weapon.

I'll probably be adjusting these like so:

BAB: +4
Feat: Combat Casting.
Spellcasting: 1st-level arcane, at least four abjuration spells in repertoire.
Special: Proficiency with at least three weapon groups.

(NB: I believe there is an over sight here on the part of the authors. They specify mage armor, which is actually a conjuration school spell, although I believe it was still intended to receive this benefit despite being a non-abjuration spell. There has been no errata published yet for this book to clear it up, but I can email WOTC question desk if you want confirmation.)

I just found a reference: www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061113a

Looks like it was an error, and mage armor doesn't get the benefit.

[exile]

Ok looks good. I don’t meet the requirements until at least level 6 so it will be a while in the coming. Just a quick note though, when I went through the character creation process a while back Combat Casting was not one of the feats available on the site guide (or if it was it was hidden really well). I’m not sure if this was intentional or not.

I’m frankly quite surprised to see Wizard’s ruling on this matter. Sometimes I feel like the left hand doesn’t ever consult with the right hand at their company. I had a look at the other spells suggested by the representative, Repelling Shield and Ectoplasmic armor. Neither of them really accomplishes what Mage Armor does. It amazes me that the Abjuration school, billed as the school of protective magic, has no spells which give an armor bonus against corporeal attacks.

With your permission, down the road, I think Hadrian might do some spell researching in order to close this gap.

[Stix]

Ah-ha! I had not meant to neglect Combat Casting, but it was inevitable that I'd miss something. Thanks.

Here's a thought. Power Attack is a useless feat for Hadrian to have at first level, with the lack of BAB (granted, he's 2nd now, so it's actually worth something). Seeing as it hasn't come into play, would you care to swap it out for either Combat Casting (to knock out that feat requirement) or Combat Prowess? The latter would make sure you have all your requirements taken care of by 4th.

Regarding spell research, I'm always open to proposals.

[exile]

I think that I will take you up on that offer, and swap out Power Attack for Combat Casting since its now an option.

After an afternoon of studying at the library I’m in need of a break so I’ve decided to tackle the issue of Mage Armor (and the corollary spells of Greater Mage Armor and Mass Mage Armor that are found in the Spell Compendium). Losing the benefits to these spells turns a good PrC into simply an average one, since most of the other benefits of the class are lost on Hadrian or any full caster for that matter (Martial Arcanist and Arcane Boost are both redundant, since the former adds nothing and the latter can be duplicated and surpassed by having a full spell book). What I would basically be getting is a five level investment into a (much) improved version of Shield.

So far I’ve come up with three solutions; hopefully one of them will appeal to you.

1.) The first and easiest solution is to rule that Mage Armor and the ensuing higher level versions are dual school spells as introduced in the Player’s Handbook II. PHB II (and ensuing works) included a number of spells that belonged to multiple schools, but never made an attempt to retroactively classify spells from previous works. For instance the spell Kelgore’s Fire Bolt is both a Conjuration spell and an Evocation spell.

I don’t think that it is a huge stretch for a protective spell like Mage Armor to be classified under abjuration magic in addition to conjuration. Clearly this solution relies entirely on your judgment however and there’s nothing I can do in game to address it.

2.) The second option is for Hadrian to research functional analogues of these spells that reproduce the desired effects by Abjurant means. This is hardly creative, but there’s no stipulation against it in the DMG guidelines. These spells would inherently be as balanced as their conjuration counterparts, but would cost 1000gp and one week per level of the spell to learn, or a total of 7 weeks and 7000gp if I research all three (both Greater Mage Armor and Mass Mage Armor are 3rd level spells).

3.) The final solution, while possibly the most inventive, will be the most difficult to balance. I would have to research original spells to produce the desired effects. After a moment’s epiphany on the walk home today, I have a modest set of examples but I would like your input on appropriately setting their levels:

Apathetic Mantle, Least
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Self
Duration: 1 hour/level

Drawing upon the inherent meaninglessness of existence, the caster manifests a tangible barrier of apathy to serve as armor. Least Apathetic Mantle provides the recipient with a +2 armor bonus and DR 1/- as physical attacks are deflected and slowed. Furthermore the mantle absorbs strong emotions, granting the recipient a +2 bonus to saving throws against fear and fear like effects. The Mantle counts as a force spell for the purposes of deciding outcomes of attacks by incorporeal creatures.

As though to underscore the senselessness of life, the spell has an added effects when the recipient is targeted for a melee attack by a member of the Bleak Cabal. The assailant is forced to reroll their daily insanity check on their first such attempted attack. Failure not only voids the attack but subjects the attacker to the full effect of that faction’s penalty for the remainder of the day. A single such Cabalist need only roll one additional check per day, regardless of how many subsequent attacks are made against any number of targets affected by this spell.

This bleaker made spell is jealously guarded by the faction due to its particularly detrimental effect on its members. The Madman are depressed, not foolish.

The arcane focus for this spell is any coin minted in the Gray Waste.

Apathetic Mantle, Lesser
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 4
Components: V, S

As the spell Least Apathetic Mantle with the following changes: +4 armor bonus, DR 2/-, +4 save vs. fear and fear like effects. The casting of this spell does not require a material component.

Apathetic Mantle, Greater
Abjuration
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 6

As the spell Lesser Apathetic Mantle with the following changes: +6 armor bonus, DR 3/-, Immunity to fear and fear like effects. This spell similarly requires no material component.


So what do you think?

[Stix]

I've been using the 2nd ed spell lists as guidelines, so many of the Arcane spells out there are part of two schools. Mage Armor, as well as its 2e predecessor, Armor, has always been a Conjuration-only spell, so I'm reluctant to make any edits that seem undue (especially with the spell's already very long duration -- at 2nd level in the PrC, one first-level spell slot provides a major AC bonus that would last for almost the entire waking day, and it would only get more imbalanced from there). However, I'll likely translate a number of 2e spells (Invisible Mail comes to mind, but I know there are more) that are Abjuration-based and will add to AC.

I've poked around at a few other spells that provide AC bonuses, and was surprised to see both how few in number they are and how many provide bonuses that aren't stackable with the Abjurant Champion's class abilities by virtue of the words "deflection bonus". So let's just extend Abjurant Armor to any Abjuration spell that provides a flat AC modifier.

Regarding the spell ideas: very cool, but they almost seem more like they should be Enchantment-Compulsion spells than Abjuration, since they produce a mental effect.

[exile]

Ok, I’m happy with your judgment in this matter. I can’t remember the specifics of Invisible Mail and my 2ed books are unfortunately in another city, but I look forward to seeing the updated version when you get the chance.

I tried to track down any Abjuration spells with a flat armor bonus and only managed to add a couple more to my list. Protection from Evil/Good/Law/Chaos fits the bill against enemies of the correct descriptor and there was a midlevel one from the Spell Compendium which is effective against dragons. Did you happen to run across anything else?

Regardless, this adds some more versatility to the class and I’m planning on pursuing it. With regard to the spells, I’ll spend some time ironing out any wrinkles later on. Seeing as I have less than 100g (far less) to my character’s name there’s no rush on the research.