War Mage (Character Kit)

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==War Mage==
Description: For all its emptiness, space is as much a place of war as the surface of any inhabited world. Every spelljamming vessel must be prepared to defend itself against the natural hazards and intelligent enemies that infest the spaces between the stars. In every sphere, there are those who have dedicated their lives to the art of battle. None are more feared than the War Mages.
A War Mage is a wizard who has dedicated himself to learning the tactics and techniques of spelljamming ship-to-ship combat. War Mages serve two roles on the ships they serve: as expert helmsman and as magical artillery.
Role: The War Mage is employed by military ships as an expert on battle. War Mages are familiar with the tactics of ship-to-ship combat and are often combat officers on the ships where they travel.
Of the specialist mages, War Mages are drawn from the aggressive schools of alteration and necromancy. Less forceful schools (such as abjuration, enchantment/charm, greater divination, or illusion) rarely attract someone with the military bent to be a War Mage.
War Mages must have a Strength of at least 12, because they must be prepared physically as well as magically for combat.
To abandon the War Mage kit, the character must abstain from combat (except magical combat) while gaining at least two experience levels (this includes abstaining from combat as the helmsman of a spelljamming vessel). After two levels, the War Mage loses the advantages and restrictions of this kit.
Secondary Skills:
* Required: Navigator
Weapon Proficiencies: In addition to the normal weapon proficiencies for the class, War Mages may take also take proficiency in and use crossbows.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Bonus: Spelljamming. Recommended: (Wizard) Navigation (Phlogiston), Navigation (Wildspace).
Equipment: War Mages receive equipment as usual for their class.
Special Benefits: War Mages can purchase proficiencies from the warrior proficiency group without paying double cost for them, because the War Mage has focused his attention on things martial.
In addition, War Mages receive an automatic +1 to initiative rolls when manning a spelljamming helm in combat. This is in addition to any benefit received from the spelljamming proficiency.
Finally, elven War Mages hold a special place in spacegoing elvish society. Elven (and half-elven) War Mages receive a +1 on reaction rolls when dealing with other spacegoing elves.
Special Hindrances: War Mages are seen by many wizards as ferrymen who have sold out their magical talent for the glories of war. War Mages receive a -2 on reaction rolls when dealing with other mages (except other War Mages).
War Mages also suffer a -10% penalty on their chances to learn any spell, because they have devoted so much of their energy to non-magical pursuits.
Wealth Options: One advantage of being a War Mage is that such training is highly valuable to an employer. War Mages receive 5d6 x 10 gp at the time of their character's creation.
Races: Elves have many fine War Mages; the elven Imperial Fleet maintains a strong corps of these specialists, and one can be found on any major elven spelljamming vessel. These mages are viewed so highly in elven society that some half-elves have gained acceptance by pursuing the life of a War Mage.
The rastipedes and the xixchil have little use for War Mages. The rastipedes consider dedication to a life of war to be needlessly wasteful, while the xixchil do not see the personal benefit in such pursuits. Those few scro mages who are not multi-classed cleric/mages, however, are almost all of this kit, as the scro need such specialists to improve their tactical spelljamming.
Category:Character Kit
Category:Character Kit CSH