Battle Mage

"Ay, Cap’n! It ain’t fair, she cheated! I blocked everythin’, but every time I did, she shocked me, anyways! I thought this was swords only?!"
——Frustrated soldier

Not surprisingly, once people learned magic could be used to destroy, they quickly set upon the task of fine tuning its use to maximize that potential. Battle Mages can be found in an army, mercenary group, adventuring or even set as guards for locations of significant value. Battle mages typically lead public lives, more so than other mages, as demand for their skills is usually purchased by warlords, kings and other would be conquerors who need spellcasters capable of working with others, as well as swinging a sword if need be.

The Battle Mage is a three-stage Talent.

Battle Mage I

Battle Mages first learn to blend magic with swordplay, focusing on not only learning how to wield weapons while casting, but also altering the magical spells they know to be used in hand to hand combat if necessary. This training also enables them to blend their martial and eldritch training better, using their knowledge of magic to aid in physical combat.

Prerequisites

  • Eldritch Rank 5
  • Physical Rank 3 or Martial Rank 2
  • Proficiency in at least one Rank 2 or Rank 3 weapon.
  • Cost: 3 destiny points

Features

♦ Eldritch Fighter
When making a Melee Basic Attack or Ranged Basic Attack, you may substitute your Eldritch Rank for Physical Rank for the purposes of using augments.
♦ Spell Conversion
You may cast any single target Eldritch Spell that you have mastered as a Touch Spell, instead of at its normal range. When you do, the attack now targets Touch (instead of its original Defense) and the target of the spell must be within your Touch range.
♦ Guarded Casting
When you grant an Opportunity from releasing an Eldritch Spell, gain a +2 bonus to Defenses against the Opportunity.
♦ Weapon Casting
As long as you are wielding a weapon, you may complete the casting of Eldritch Spells with somatic components, even if you do not have a hand free.

Battle Mage II

The Battle Mage learns how to empower their weapons with the eldritch power, forcing the effects of any touch spell they cast on the victim of a weapon attack. Their defensive abilities also improve considerably, enabling them to cast spells even when being struck with attacks that would disrupt less resilient casters.

Prerequisites

Features

♦ Eldritch Infusion
When you cast an Eldritch Spell with a Range of Touch, you may infuse your Melee Weapon with the energies of the spell. Once the casting is complete, make a Melee Basic Attack with the infused weapon (instead of making an attack against Touch). If you hit (or Glance) the target, in addition to the effects of the Melee Basic Attack, the target suffers the hit effect of the spell. Your Recovery Time for this attack is equal to the Recovery Time of your basic attack or the Recovery Time of your spell, whichever is greater. If you are able to attack more than one creature with your Melee Basic Attack, the Spell only effects the first target hit.
♦ Relentless Concentration
The first time you suffer damage during the casting of a particular spell (that exceeds of your Healing Value), it does not disrupt your Concentration.
♦ Improved Guarded Casting
Increase the bonus granted by Guarded Casting to +4 (instead of +2).

Battle Mage III

At the final stage of training, the Battle Mage learns, to combine their martial prowess and eldritch skill into a versatile weapon. They can now split the energy of touch spells onto two targets through casting or weapon attacks as they see fit. Their defensive practice also bears fruit, as they become much more resilient against jarring effects that would ordinarily take them out of the fight, learning to embrace the pain and finish their spells under almost any circumstance.

Prerequisites

Features

♦ Twin Touch
When you make a touch attack, you may now target one additional creature with your touch attack. When using the Eldritch Infusion ability and you target more than one creature with your Melee Basic Attack, the spell affects the first two targets hit (instead of just the first target hit).
♦ Tenacious Casting
Casting spells fortifies your very mind against assault. While casting an Eldritch Spell, you are immune to Daze and Stun effects.
♦ Superior Guarded Casting
You no longer grant an Opportunity from releasing Eldritch Spells.