Battle Wizard

AD&D 2nd Ed. Hybrid Class

This information applied until the War of Falling Stars, in LY 2143, when the entire city of Elantra was destroyed by a falling star hurled from the heavens by the Sky Golems.

Battle wizards are trained at the War College of Elantra in Kyriabor. They are warrior mages of the highest caliber, and are regarded with great respect among the military organizations of Jaastenland. Only one hundred officers graduate each year from the War College, and of them no more than twenty are battle wizards. To even have a chance of being admitted to the prestigious College, a person must show outstanding potential (15 constitution, 15 intelligence, 11 wisdom, 13 charisma) and be sponsored by a person or organization willing to vouch for the character of the cadet and to pay the high admission fees and tuition (typically 5,000 kruger per year for four years plus an admissions fee of 1,000 kruger). It is not possible to self-sponsor. Only candidates sponsored by established dignitaries and organizations are given an examination. Those that show magical aptitude are given the course of study of the battle wizard. The other cadets are enrolled in the command officer course.

Battle wizards are the masters of unconventional strategy and tactics for Jaastenland military units. Beyond serving merely as sources of magical firepower, battle wizards also advise commanders on strategy and tactical ploys that enhance the success of both standard and elite units. In many cases, the battle wizards are actually given command of troops and expected to lead their soldiers to victory. Battle wizard might also lead raids or special teams of elite soldiers on difficult and dangerous missions.

Except at the highest levels, these wizards are almost invariably in service to some noble or government. The officer’s sponsor paid a high price in gold and favors to secure a position for the wizard at the College, and there has not yet been a sponsor who did not expect to be repaid for his investment. In fact, the battle wizard himself has little control over his assignments or missions. The flexibility, knowledge, and magical power of the wizard make him as much a prize and pawn of the powers-that-be as a useful military asset. Different sponsors set their own conditions for the contracting of their battle wizards. Some make no provision for the release from service, but most allow the wizard to pay back the investment and win free agency for between 40,000 to 50,000 kruger, measured in gold, years of service, or a combination of the two. Most of these military specialists remain in the service of their sponsors for their entire careers, gaining honors, wealth, reputation, and fame. A few complete their contracts and go on to become mercenary leaders, adventurers, or minor nobility.

In any case, the battle wizard must be of lawful alignment and adhere to a special military code of honor. Violations of this Martial Code bring swift reprimand from fellow officers and from the arbiters of the War College. These reprimands usually carry great penalties to reputation among the military and upper classes. Employers or sponsors who would cause an officer to abandon or violate the code are reprimanded in other ways, often through Bardic ridicule and censure. The Martial Code requires that the battle wizard and other graduates of the War College behave at all times and in all ways as honorable and professional soldiers. The specific provisions of the code are detailed below.

  • I will take no unfair advantage of my opponents.
  • I will not cause needless destruction of life or property.
  • I will not misuse my abilities and commands against the laws of nature and of my employer’s lands.
  • I will not become personally involved in the politics of the situations in which I am employed.
  • I will not engage in revenge or retribution, either on a personal scale or for an employer.
  • I will not make slaves of prisoners, nor employ torture or degradation below the captive’s proper station to obtain information.
  • I will always seek to carry out my orders to the best of my abilities and will render faithful and true service to my employer.
  • I will seek to achieve victory with the minimum amount of force.
  • I will, whenever possible, seek to increase the order and dignity of human life through my actions, and never seek to degrade or enforce subjugation of my defeated opponents, because I may soon be in their circumstances.
  • I will behave at all times and in all ways as a professional soldier of whom I, my family, and my countrymen can be proud.
Graduates of the Elantra War College are expected to send a tithe of their wealth to the College to help maintain and increase its glory and knowledge. Battle wizards must pay 10% of their earned wealth as membership dues to the nearest official of the College in order to remain in good standing in the professional society of their peers. The College pays for ransoms for its members whose employers or units cannot afford to ransom them from captivity. The cost of the ransom of the member and his equipment must be deducted from the service contract of the sponsor, if it is still in force. Upon ransom, the member is freed to return to the service of his employer, if applicable, or to seek other opportunities, as the case may be.

Campaign Role: Battle wizards are limited warrior mages. They serve as special military officers for Jaastenland nobles and governments. Nearly all of them are full-time soldiers, not adventurers. Their magical skills are excellent in small or large scale battles or combat, and their personal fighting abilities are also respectable. They are nearly unique in their ability to cast wizardly spells while wearing heavy armor and employing shields. Despite these significant abilities, they are rare characters because of their ability and alignment requirements, and because of the number of graduates produced by the Elantra War College each year. There are about as many battle wizards in the world as paladins, or perhaps even fewer.

Requirements: The battle wizard must be of lawful alignment and have scores of 15 or better in constitution and intelligence, a wisdom score of 11 or better, and a charisma of at least 13. The prime requisites are intelligence and consitution. Even though the class is a custom hybrid, the paths of success for the battle wizard are well-established and permit those with natural ability to excel. Characters with a 16 or more in both scores gain a 10% experience point bonus.

Weapons and Armor: Battle wizards may use any type of protective armor and shield. They may gain proficiency in any weapon. Battle wizards fight as warriors, and are allowed weapon specialization at third level or higher. They use the best saving throws of warriors or wizards.

Proficiencies: A battle wizard begins with two weapon proficiency slots. They also begin play with four non-weapon proficiency slots and three bonus proficiencies: literacy, leadership, and spellcraft. The others may be spent on skills from the general, warrior, or wizard groups. The astral perception and projection skills cost only one proficiency slot each for the battle wizard, because such skills are regarded as highly useful for battlefield scouting. The battle wizard gains one weapon and one non-weapon proficiency slot every three levels.

Special Abilities: The battle wizard has a number of abilities which make him unusual.

  • Wizard Spellcasting: The battle wizard learns and casts spells from the Combat school of magic, using the wizard spells castable per level table. He may also learn and cast spells from the Universal school. He can use magical items restricted to fighters, and may employ wizard items if they have an applicable link to combat, war, or universal wizard magics. He may not learn or cast spells from other schools, nor may he use magic items from restricted schools unless they are usable by any class.
  • Combat School Specialization: The battle wizard has specialized in the application of magic to personal and unit combat. As a result, he casts spells from the Combat school faster (-2 on casting times), farther (+25% greater range), and more often (one bonus Combat spell per spell level).
  • Armored Spellcasting: Battle wizards are trained to cast their spells while armed and armored for combat. They may cast spells in any type of armor, and are considered to be able to cast spells that have somatic components with one hand while the other bears a shield. Battle wizards are, however, subject to having their spells disrupted during casting as any other spellcaster.
  • Reaction Modifiers: The battle wizard is a figure that many throughout Jaastenland respect and admire. The battle wizard will gain a favorable +2 on reaction rolls from soldiers, officers, and members of the nobility. Unfortunately, his reputation among the common folk is less bright. Viewing a battle wizard is said to mean that war and death will soon follow by most peasants and peaceful folk. The wizard receives a negative -2 reaction modifier from these groups.
Level Statistics
 
Battle Wizard Spells Castable by Level
Level
XP
Hit Points
Spell Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
0
1d8
8
2
               
2
3000
2d8
12
3
               
3
6000
3d8
25
3
2
             
4
12000
4d8
35
4
3
             
5
25000
5d8
60
5
3
2
           
6
50000
6d8
75
5
3
3
           
7
100000
7d8
105
5
4
3
2
         
8
200000
8d8
130
5
4
4
3
         
9
400000
9d8
180
5
4
4
3
2
       
10
800000
9d8+1
210
5
5
4
3
3
       
11
1200000
9d8+2
260
5
5
5
4
4
       
12
1600000
9d8+3
340
5
5
5
5
5
2
     
13
2000000
9d8+4
390
6
6
6
5
5
3
     
14
2400000
9d8+5
480
6
6
6
5
5
3
2
   
15
2800000
9d8+6
530
6
6
6
6
6
3
2
   
16
3200000
9d8+7
655
6
6
6
6
6
4
3
2
 
17
3600000
9d8+8
730
6
6
6
6
6
4
4
3
 
18
4000000
9d8+9
865
6
6
6
6
6
4
4
3
2
19
4400000
9d8+10
940
6
6
6
6
6
4
4
4
2
20
4800000
9d8+11
1040
6
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
3

Special Restrictions: The battle wizard must abide by a number of restrictions and requirements to learn and maintain his powers.

  • Alignment: The battle wizard must be of lawful alignment in order to maintain his military bearing, discipline, and image.
  • Wealth: The battle wizard must donate 10% of all wealth or treasure gained to the Elantra War College officers’ society. He can expect to be notified of advances in warcraft and to be ransomed by the society if his employer cannot do so.
  • Code of Honor: The battle wizard must adhere to the code of conduct described earlier. If he does not, he will lose the respect of his peers, be removed from the society of the College, and may not advance in level. In order to regain his standing, he must receive atonement from a priest of suitable ethics and level, doing the penance or quest required to demonstrate his sincerity.
  • Duty to Sponsor: Until the character is able to complete the initial contract of service (negotiated between player and DM), he is at the beck and call of his employer. The employer may be the party that originally sponsored him to the College, but his services may be traded to others without the need for the battle wizard’s consent. A battle wizard should not expect to be able to go off adventuring with companions. His duty places great demands upon his time and energy.
Followers & Schools: Battle wizards who have completed their contract of service to their sponsor may establish themselves as independent commanders. They might become leaders of mercenary units or gain lands from other sources of title. In either case, they gain skilled men-at-arms and veteran warriors to serve them as fighters do at ninth level. They may also gain henchmen in the normal fashion, but will not gain apprentices as wizards. If an independent battle wizard has the wherewithal to sponsor another candidate for membership in the College, his request will be looked upon most favorably.

Last updated 05-Nov-2001
Content copyright © 1998-2003 by SilverDragon.