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Thread: "Dark Magic" Class?
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2012-11-17, 04:47 PM (ISO 8601)
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"Dark Magic" Class?
I'm working on creating a character that specializes in some kind of dark magic, be it necromancy or demon summoning, or just some kind of fluff-based forbidden knowledge type thing. I know Dread Necromancer and Warlock, but our party already has a Warlock, and I am trying to see if there's anything I overlooked. So far I've considered Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Dread Necro, and Cleric, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a class that has the feel of what I've described, and where I could find it. Thanks!
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2012-11-17, 04:50 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Have you looked into Binder?
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2012-11-17, 04:57 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2011
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Hexblade is the big one that you missed. There's also binder and shadowcaster. Other than that, there might be a few prestige classes out there for that kind of stuff, like Alienist, Acolyte of the Skin, Nar Demonbinder and Fleshwarper.
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2012-11-17, 04:58 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Binder (Tome of Magic) is definitely my choice for a base class.
Other good base classes, aside from those you listed.... Sha'ir (Dragon Compendium) would be pretty good if you refluffed the genies as fiends. Archivist (Heroes of Horror) is more like a paranormal investigator, but could definitely work with his Dark Knowledge class feature.
For Prestige Classes, a spellcaster could go into Malconvoker (Complete Scoundrel) for great fiend summoning. If you're Divine, there's always the Thaumaturge, which is not awful.
Warlock could go into Hellfire Warlock (Fiendish Codex II), or for a fairly underpowered option, Demonbinder (Drow of the Underdark, or from the excerpt). Possibly even both.
The Fiendbinder (Tome of Magic) does exist, but it's pretty weak. Then again, calling fiends is often a high-power tactic so that might be appropriate.
Nar Demonbinder (Unapproachable East) is good at summoning, but kinda weird to enter. Wizard or (better, if you'll allow it) Sha'ir and then using Ultimate Magus for progressing both your prepared casting and Nar Demonbinder's a pretty good schtick.
Ur-Priest (Complete Divine) is another one that's somewhat awkward to enter, but it's much more obviously potent. It's also very appropriate. A Binder/Ur-Priest/Tenebrous Apostate just oozes flavor.Last edited by Answerer; 2012-11-17 at 05:10 PM.
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2012-11-17, 05:00 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2007
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Hexblade, Jester, Binder, Sha'ir, Archivist, Wizard, Cleric, Conjurer (don't ban necromancy), Dread Necromancer...
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2012-11-17, 05:00 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2011
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- Oregon
Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Be a wizard/dread necro/whatever you want, wear a lot of black and angst about the demon slowly taking over your soul.
Also, +1 to binder. It's a fun class, very versatile.Guess who's good at avatars? Thormag. That's who.
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2012-11-17, 05:07 PM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-17, 05:08 PM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2006
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- Wandering in Harrekh
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Binder, Shadowcaster, Dread Necromancer, Ur-Priest, Red Wizard of Thay, becoming a Lich, Sandshaper, pick any casting PrC from BoVD ...
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2012-11-17, 05:41 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Sep 2011
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Anima Mage is another good one, and offers the Binder (already a good class) a potential giant upgrade in power.
For an extremely flavorful and less (potentially) OP build, work with your DM to make Anima Mage advance binder and warlock instead of binder and arcane spell caster. IMO in makes for a more synergistic build, since the full casting side of the anima mage can make the binder side rather redundant.
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2012-11-17, 06:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2011
Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
With enough re-fluff you could use Wu-jen or also a Psion (or other Psi class).
Just say that there is only one place in the multiverse that is darker then the negative energy plane, more twisted then Limbo and more terrifying then the entire Abyss. And this is the place you draw your power from.
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2012-11-17, 07:27 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Amazingly, a malconvoker works, if you ignore or switch out the abilities dealing with deceiving fiends and staying Good while doing so. After all, the class is still about summoning fiends.
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2012-11-18, 02:40 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Cancer Mage, because nothing says evil like giving people cancer.
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2012-11-18, 02:45 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-18, 04:14 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Pretty sure it's from the dragon compendium, but don't quote me on that.
Hexblade fits the fluff, but it may be a bit weak. It's a fairly quick entry into suel archanamach though.
I'd say more, but all the good suggestions are already taken.
There is one bad suggestion (read; horribly overpowered) though; Heroes of Horror's tainted scholar PrC. It absolutely reeks of a caster partaking of forbidden knowledge and power. It also reeks of cheese, though.I am not seaweed. That's a B.
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2012-11-18, 04:52 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-18, 04:59 AM (ISO 8601)
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I am not seaweed. That's a B.
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2012-11-18, 05:02 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
You can do anything with Wizard, Cleric or even Sorcerer.
How about a Dark Bard - aiming for Sublime Chord? This is a late flowering Sorcerer version, but you're Alice Cooper.π = 4
Consider a 5' radius blast: this affects 4 squares which have a circumference of 40' — Actually it's worse than that.
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2012-11-18, 06:17 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-18, 01:01 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
dresden?
jester actually is in dragon compendium.
take doomspeak, never look back. an absolutely brutal debuff that will ruin your enemies' lives
if you're not very high-op, demonologist can work. its spell list has some cool stuff, including the greatest spell level discount ever: bestow greater curse. normally 8, 4 for you.I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
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2012-11-18, 01:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Where do I find doomspeak ?
π = 4
Consider a 5' radius blast: this affects 4 squares which have a circumference of 40' — Actually it's worse than that.
Completely Dysfunctional Handbook
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2012-11-18, 01:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2012
Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
I agree with this. Magic is gray. It's uses and applications can be Evil, just as it's uses and applications can be Good. The fact any spell has an alignment descriptor is disturbing to me. My personal favorite application of normally Evil magic is to planar bind an Evil Outsider, Use a Binding Spell to permanently seal it (getting a Caster level of 38 is child's play) if it says "No", and order it to willingly fail the next spell that attacks it. Cast Mind Rape. Order it to serve you for the rest of eternity. Have it wander the plane building orphanages and slaying Evil creatures (except himself).
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2012-11-18, 02:01 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
Check out my NEW sci-fi TTRPG about first contact. Cool alien races, murderous AIs, and more. New expansion featuring rules for ships! New book here NOW!
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2012-11-18, 08:51 PM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-18, 09:49 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
I am not seaweed. That's a B.
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2012-11-18, 10:51 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
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2012-11-18, 11:21 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
The taint mechanics got tweaked a little in all three incarnations too, but it really doesn't matter.
All three versions of the class are inherently, horribly overpowered and utterly reek of power-gaming cheese.
I only ever brought the thing up for completeness' sake.
Who knows? the op's DM might be willing to work with him on incorporating a house-ruled to functional version of the class into the game. Kind of a long-shot, IMO, but what the heck.I am not seaweed. That's a B.
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2012-11-18, 11:26 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
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2012-11-19, 01:28 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
Tainted Scholar from Heroes of Horror is a prestige class that may work very well.
Swordsaged/ or is it Monked now??? Sorry Kelb_Panthera, I only saw Hexblade in that post, I read too fast.Last edited by Talionis; 2012-11-19 at 04:22 PM.
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2012-11-19, 02:12 PM (ISO 8601)
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2012-11-19, 02:28 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: "Dark Magic" Class?
For the whole 'dark magic that man must not know' thing, Binder wins basically hands down.
I personally like Binder/Wizard/Anima Mage, as that gives off the 'dark magic' feel the very best. Keep in mind, though, that your character's attitude and personality will make the magic, any magic, be 'dark'. Without it, even the darkest of foulevil magic comes off like a saturday morning cartoon.