Swordmage

**Swordmage** is a character class available to players in the *13th Age* fantasy tabletop roleplaying game ruleset. It is a 3rd party class, having been developed by Kinoko Games for their *13th Age* companion book *Dark Pacts & Ancient Secrets.* The swordmage is a true hybrid class that combines arcane magic with swordplay to make their presence felt. Despite being classified as a spellcaster, the swordmage is a competent melee combatant. They may not be as physically capable as a typical melee combatant, but they make up for this with powerful magic that protects them and their allies or rains magical retribution on their enemies. The swordmage utilizes their Sigil power and great mobility to lock down powerful enemies in combat and give their allies a strategic edge.

In *WovenRealm*, Vercingetorix switched his class from Druid to Swordmage between Seasons 2 and 3 as a result of his lycanthropic curse changing after acquiring Scorched Earth. He has remained a swordmage since.

## Play Style

### Role

The Swordmage helps to fill in the role of a true hybrid between a blade fighter and a spellcaster that was not present in the official *13th Age* materials. They are noted as having the combat role of a 'defender' and achieve this through an aggressive, mobile, and caster playstyle.

### Ability Scores

One of their primary benefits is that their Intelligence statistic effects their ability to to use sword weapons instead of Strength or Dexterity, meaning maximizing their casting power also increases their fighting prowess. Due to this, Intelligence is the recommended ability score for swordmages with a good Constitution also being recommended due to the swordmage's playstyle requiring them to take on the brunt of enemy attacks. Some talents to benefit from their Strength, but it isn't necessary to their builds.

### Primary Mechanics

The swordmage's primary mechanic is focused around their Sigil power, which allows them to mark enemies. Should the marked target attack someone who isn't the swordmage, the swordmage can use a reaction to varying effect. There are 4 different sigils to pick from with the swordmage able to add additional sigils as they gain levels and by taking talents. They also benefit from having a Base AC of 15 with an additional benefit for leaving their offhand empty. Their blade magic makes them unique spell casters that use their weapon's damage for many of their damaging. Many swordmage spells are special, magic attacks with additional effects with a good portion focusing on damage, effects, and mobility. Other spells tend to focus on reducing the inevitable harm a swordmage will undergo. Swordmage talents feature a wide variety that can either supplement their playstyle or alter it to focus on different spellcasting outside of the wizard list.

### Narrative & Background

A cursed sword master, magic smith, elite troopers of an archmage, a runaway apprentice, and a demon hunter are all offered as potential suggestions for the background of a swordmage. The elven bladesinger or the classic 'gish' are the archetype the swordmage directly draws its influences from.

## In Campaign

Although he began his adventures as a druid, Vercingetorix's character arc after dying and going to Gehenna saw him come into possession of the relic affiliated with Lycus and the blood moon; the sword known as Scorched Earth. After acquiring the blade through intervention on Ezara's behalf and experiencing death and torment in the afterlife, Vercingetorix found a way to channel his lycanthropic curse into the physical embodiment of Goerwyr's anguish, explaining his departure into the swordmage class in Season 3. From the third season on, Vercingetorix has remained a swordmage.

## Homebrew

### *Warden* talent

To preserve part of Vercingetorix's path of druidism, gamemaster Alex created a homebrewed talent that draws from the Draconic Gift and Skull Blade talents that allow a swordmage character to switch from being able to learn wizard spells to being able to learn sorcerer and necromancer spells respectively while also changing the primary ability score your character uses for the swordmage magic and powers. The homebrewed talent named *Warden* allows a sword mage to use Wisdom instead of Intelligence along with switching from being able to learn wizard spells to being able to learn druid spells.

The talent allows Vercingetorix to continue utilizing Wisdom as if he were a druid while also being able to maintain the ability to cast spells such as faerie fire and earth strength.

## Notes & Trivia

* Unlike many of the other classes in *13th Age,* the swordmage does not have a clear *Dungeons & Dragons* analogue and instead is inspired by 'gish' builds: fighter/caster hybrids. The term *gish* comes from a special class of warrior mages unique to the githyanki of *D&D* lore. Other inspirations may include the bladesinger wizard sublcass available to elves.
* The swordmage is 3rd party material, originally published in the *Dark Pacts & Ancient Secrets* companion book by Kinoko Games. With the swordmage included, the companion adds 6 new classes for players to choose from and is featured in the *13th Age* SRD.
* A swordmage character is not required to wield a blade weapon. The name of the class and the descriptions strongly suggest the usage of a sword, but it is not necessary.