From: scythe@byron.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper)
Subject: Re: A word on Mages
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 05:00:59 GMT

In article <1992Sep4.095952.15362@husc3.harvard.edu> alvalent@husc9.harvard.edu (Alvin Valentine) writes:
>
>How to make low level character's survivable:  Never had a problem.  
>Start all mages and psionicists out at 2nd level.  Gives them many more
>psi things or 1 more (2 for spec. wiz.) spells.  Also and extra HD.  So
>the mage averages 5 HP without CON bonus.  That's more than the thief
>and the cleric average.  IF that person is a specialist or other type with 
>high CON or DEX pre-requisite, then the survivability is higher.
>
>Tag on an Armor or a shield spell, and voila no more problem.  To make it all
>fair, though, they actually start out at 0 XPs and don't gain third level
>until they would normally.  So it's not  a long term boost and doesn't
>have any real effect on game balance.  Also, if you avoid many combat
>sessions in your campaign at low-level and stick to role-playing/problem
>solving, the mages and bards will rock.  If you do a careful combination
>of these, even if the mage is useless in combat, he'll still excel as
>a good PC.  Also, many of the kits increase the # of things you can do.
>A Mystic for instance has an extra ability once a week.
>
>Think about it.  An Invoker under this system will have 3 spells (as many as
>the average cleric) and about 10 HP which is what your fighter will have
>if he has no CON bonus (according to Fighter's Handbook optional rule on 1st
>level single-calss HP for Fighters).
>
Great idea!  Why not let them use all weapons and armor too, and
have a thaco improvement rate of 1 per level!  Toss in weapon specialization
and exceptional strength, and we can just get rid of those pesky fighters!
Who needs a fighter when mages have the same hp and ac?
>I see no problem.  Our mage and our psi-guy in Ravenloft have more HP than
>just about anyone else.
>
Gee, that's funny.  I coulda sworn that's what fighters were supposed to
be for.... to be big and tuff and take the hits.  Not hide behind the mages.
>Multi-classing has it's advantages for playability at low levels.  Lastly,
>no one but no one kicks butt for # of spells like a priest / mage.  IF you
>worship Mystra goddess of magic or somesuch, then you basically have a
>mage style spell selection for 4 spells at level 1/1, with the option of
>taking healing if you want.  HPs suck though if you use CPH rules for 
>Priests of Magic. 
> 
>
> 
>Later,
> 
>Lee Valentine
                                                  
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                               THE GRIM REAPER	
                              (SCYTHE@U.WASHINGTON.EDU)