The Magian

[Elton Robb]

Discussion thread for The Magian. If you would like to add a comment, click the Post Reply button.

So, does anyone have any suggestions?

[Thelandrin]

Well, first I'd write the top part as:

Awnshegh Lich Wizard 20
Lineage: Minor Nobility
Bloodline: Azrai, 44
Size/Type: Medium Undead (Awnshegh)
Hit Dice: 20d12+60 (160 hp)

How on earth can he only be a minor bloodline as any type of awnshegh? Also, if he has 60 bonus hp, his average hp should be 190 hp - you've severely undercut him.

With the skills, don't include ranks and bonuses in brackets, unless it's a variable bonus. If you want to show us how you calculated the skills, feel free to put in this discussion thread or at the bottom of the page.

Aren't you including two levels of Scion (Azrai)? Even so, I'd imagine that his CR would be at least 23.

The term is "prepare" instead of "memorise" in 3rd Edition

Finally, is that all the Magian likes to use his most powerful spell slots on? They seem highly situational.

[Elton Robb]

Yes, it is, isn't it? Besides, it was a direct conversion from Blood Enemies.

[Gman]

Do third edition scion still have the option of "training" their hitpoints up?

You used to be able to spend a 3 mth action "training" and get a 1 Hp - up to your Hp max.

Personally any approx 1000 year old has probably had enough spare actions to train for max hp if they are that way inclined.

Which also brings me to my next point - the Magian from memory has a one of the few copies of a Bloodline theft spell and power enough to have upgraded his blood line from any number of victims.

As a power obsessed creature he would have done both the above.

In the histories it always strikes me as odd how low a lot of the Major players are in bloodline score (Gorgon, Raven, Rhoube, Magian) especially if they are renouned for blood theft.

Is there anything in the current rules to stop them from gaining more and more bloodline score because even if they only manage to gain one blood point a year....

[AndrewTall]

Do third edition scion still have the option of "training" their hitpoints up?

I think so - but instead of automatically gaining one I think you effectively re-roll hp and gain a hp only if the re-roll exceeds your former total.

In the histories it always strikes me as odd how low a lot of the Major players are in bloodline score (Gorgon, Raven, Rhoube, Magian) especially if they are renouned for blood theft.

Is there anything in the current rules to stop them from gaining more and more bloodline score because even if they only manage to gain one blood point a year....

RP conversion should bump the Gorgon regularly given the expanse of his source holdings...

Possibly a limit based on bloodline strength might be useful - or a non arithmetic progression for Rp conversion beyond a certain point.

[Thelandrin]

Why does the Magian still have a poor 5 hp/HD average? He's 30 hp under average and, if he was going to train his hp, there's an obvious place to start.

[Dcolby]

You know the Magian has always been a very interesting Awni.. however I tend to avoid using him in games. I guess I was unable to reconcile the whole undead keeping a bloodline thing.

Also since in other writings the "land" reflects the ruler. (The Land and the King are one bit) I always wondered how anything ruled and connected to the blood of a twisted corruption of life could be prosperous or even thriving.

Unless the puppet the Magian rules through is connected to the land and the Awni pulls the strings...hmmm I may have answered my own question.

[Elton Robb]

Think of the Magian's realm and compare it with the Empire in Star Wars. The Magian and Darth Sidious have a lot in common; almost. The Magian has a very noble idea of uniting Cerilia. This is what keeps his realm prosperous. The Magian wants to restore the Anuirean Empire himself, just to bring stability to the Continent.

Darth Sidious wanted to take the Galaxy to get revenge and to restore the Sith Empire. He succeeded, but a few systems threw up their arms in Rebellion and Darth Sidious used it to advance his own political power.

[Gman]

Liches have sometimes been given either full Hp or Extra hp in 2nd ed. (Liche template does give them D12 in third). If I use any massively powerful intelligent NPC's I give them every advantage a power gaming player would have taken. My players can expect Godlike beings to have maximum Hp - especially when the rules make max HP eminently achievable for any 1000 year old power hungry NPC.

Usually the Lichedom slows down liche's experience gain.

Bloodline could also be more difficult to increase or impossible to increase once the standard Lichedom is obtained.

However the Magian could be entitled to a special sort of Blood Lichedom.

Especially considering his knowledge of Blood spells.

[Thelandrin]

I've edited the Magian, rejigging his hit points and making his blood powers (some of which were incorrectly described) obey the most blatant conventions. I arbitrarily altered his SR to 26 - 20 for his Hit Dice and an extra +6 from his blood power.