The Sorcerer (An ACKS Class), second draft

ETA March 22: This is not up to my balance standards. I advise not using this version. I'll get a better one made eventually, I'm sure.

After thinking about it today I decided I wanted to try again and see if I couldn't get my Sorcerer to be a little more... street-legal. To that end I'm gonna give staggered custom powers that should put it in under four build points, as Tavis and Alex intended. Sadly, this means Sensing Power had to go back on the proficiency list... for now. This time around I (mostly) borrowed level titles from the excellent Blood and Treasure (Plus one sneaky Acquisitions, Inc. reference), but I still have no intention of employing them myself.

SORCERER
Prime Requisite: CHA
Requirements: None
Hit Dice: 1d4
Maximum Level: 14

Sorcerers are humans born with an instinctive grasp of magic. Many claim descent from wizards, or even from dragons that assumed human form. For a sorcerer, magic is not a skill that must be studied and refined like a mage does, but an instinctive ability as natural and intuitive as breathing. Some societies are fearful of sorcerers, but others hold them in special reverence. Some suggest that the name "sorcerer" was originally applied as a pun, for they are a natural source of magic.

Sorcerers seldom train in the arts of warfare, preferring instead to rely upon their innate gifts to see them through danger. At first level, sorcerers hit an unarmored foe (AC 0) with an attack throw of 10+. They advance in attack throws and saving throws only two points every six levels of experience (i.e., half as fast as fighters). They may only fight with quarterstaffs, clubs, daggers, and darts. They are unable to use shields, fight with two weapons, or wear any kind of armor.

Sorcerers learn and cast arcane spells as mages of two-thirds their class level. The number and levels of spells the sorcerer can use in a single day is summarized on the Sorcerer Spell Progression table. Like a mage, the Sorcerer’s spell selection is limited to the spells in their repertoire. A sorcerer’s repertoire can include a number of spells up to the number and level of spells listed for their level, increased by their Charisma bonus. Unlike other arcane spellcasters, many sorcerers do without a physical spellbook, although changing their repertoire or learning a new spell still incurs similar costs for research and training. A sorcerer can use any magic items usable by mages.

Each sorcerer also has a unique combination of spell-like abilities, chosen (or randomly determined) as they are attained on the Sorcerer Level Progression Table. A first-level sorcerer may use one first-level spell once per hour. At second level, the sorcerer gains a second first-level spell usable once per hour. At fourth level, the sorcerer gains one second-level spell, usable once every 8 hours. At tenth level, the sorcerer gains one third-level spell, usable once per day. At twelfth level, the sorcerer gains one fourth-level spell, usable once per week. Each of these spells takes one round to cast, and otherwise functions like a normal spell cast by a mage of their class level.

At 7th level, the sorcerer may begin to research spells, scribe magical scrolls, and brew potions, as if they were a mage of 5th level. Upon reaching 13th level, the sorcerer gains the ability to create magic items such as weapons, rings, and staffs as a mage of 9th level. They may also cast ritual spells and conduct other magical research as a mage of 11th level.

A sorcerer may also build a sanctum, often a great tower, when he reaches 9th level. They will then attract 1d6 apprentices of 1st-3rd level plus 2d6 normal men seeking to become mages or with the potential to become sorcerers. Their intelligence or charisma scores will be above average, but many will become discouraged from the rigorous mental training and quit after 1d6 months. While in the sorcerer’s service, apprentices must be provided food and lodging, but need not be paid wages. If the sorcerer builds a dungeon beneath or near their tower, monsters will start to arrive to dwell within, followed shortly by adventurers seeking to fight them.

Sorcerer Proficiency List: Alchemy, Battle Magic, Beast Friendship, Black Lore of Zahar, Collegiate Wizardry, Contemplation, Craft, Diplomacy, Elementalism, Elven Bloodline, Engineering, Familiar, Healing, Illusion Resistance, Knowledge, Language, Magical Engineering, Mapping, Mystic Aura, Naturalism, Quiet Magic, Performance, Prestidigitation, Profession, Sensing Power, Transmogrification, Soothsaying, Unflappable Casting

Sorcerer level progression					Sorcerer Spell progression
Experience	Level	Hit Dice	Level Title	Special Abilities	1	2	3	4	5
0	1	1d4	Prodigy	1st level spell 1/hour	1	-	-	-	-
2075	2	2d4	Curiosity	1st level spell 1/hour	1	-	-	-	-
4150	3	3d4	Freak	-	2	-	-	-	-
8300	4	4d4	Spectacle	2nd level spell 1/8 hours	2	1	-	-	-
16,600	5	5d4	Whiz	-	2	1	-	-	-
33,200	6	6d4	Wonder	-	2	2	-	-	-
65,000	7	7d4	Phenomenon	-	2	2	1	-	-
130,000	8	8d4	Witchalok	-	2	2	1	-	-
280,000	9	9d4	Sorcerer	-	2	2	2	-	-
430,000	10	9d4+1	Sorcerer	3rd level spell 1/day	3	2	2	1	-
580,000	11	9d4+2	Sorcerer	-	3	2	2	1	-
730,000	12	9d4+3	Sorcerer	4th level spell 1/week	3	3	2	2	-
880,000	13	9d4+4	Sorcerer	-	3	3	3	2	1
1,030,000	14	9d4+5	Sorcerer	-	3	3	3	2	1

The Sorcerer (An ACKS Class), first draft

I am perfectly aware that this technically breaks the ACKS custom class rules-- if it were broken down it would be worth 5 points and some change (Arcane 3, Thievery 2, and one extra custom power) but the final XP base is below that of the mage (though I have rounded it up to equal the mage to make everything neat and head off the balance concerns a little.)

The idea came to me last night when I happened to look at the gnome trickster class-- previous attempts at the sorcerer were very bloodline-focused, but this time I eschewed that in favor of making them naturally-gifted with arcane magic.

No level titles were provided because I don't much care for them.

This is very much a work in progress, so I'd definitely like to hear ideas on how it might be cleaned up.

SORCERER
Prime Requisite: CHA
Requirements: None
Hit Dice: 1d4
Maximum Level: 14

Sorcerers are humans born with an instinctive grasp of magic. Many claim descent from wizards, or even from dragons that assumed human form. For a sorcerer, magic is not a skill that must be studied and refined like a mage does, but an instinctive ability as natural and intuitive as breathing. Some societies are fearful of sorcerers, but others hold them in special reverence. Some suggest that the name "sorcerer" was originally applied as a pun, for they are a natural source of magic.

Sorcerers seldom train in the arts of warfare, preferring instead to rely upon their innate gifts to see them through danger. At first level, sorcerers hit an unarmored foe (AC 0) with an attack throw of 10+. They advance in attack throws and saving throws only two points every six levels of experience (i.e., half as fast as fighters). They may only fight with quarterstaffs, clubs, daggers, and darts. They are unable to use shields, fight with two weapons, or wear any kind of armor.

A sorcerer is so attuned to magic that they may sense power, as the proficiency of the same name. Each sorcerer also has a unique combination of spell-like abilities, chosen (or randomly determined) at the time of their creation. Once per hour, a sorcerer may use two first-level arcane spells. Once per 8 hours, they can cast two second-level arcane spells. Once per day they can cast one third-level arcane spell. Each of these spells takes one round to cast, and otherwise functions like a normal spell cast by a mage of his class level.

Sorcerers learn and cast arcane spells as mages of two-thirds their class level. The number and levels of spells the sorcerer can use in a single day is summarized on the Sorcerer Spell Progression table. Like a mage, the Sorcerer’s spell selection is limited to the spells in their repertoire. A sorcerer’s repertoire can include a number of spells up to the number and level of spells listed for their level, increased by their Charisma bonus. Unlike other arcane spellcasters, many sorcerers do without a physical spellbook, although changing their repertoire or learning a new spell still incurs similar costs for research and training. A sorcerer can use any magic items usable by mages.

At 7th level, the sorcerer may begin to research spells, scribe magical scrolls, and brew potions, as if he were a mage of 5th level. Upon reaching 13th level, the sorcerer gains the ability to create magic items such as weapons, rings, and staffs as a mage of 9th level. They may also cast ritual spells and conduct other magical research as a mage of 11th level.

A sorcerer may also build a sanctum, often a great tower, when he reaches 9th level. He will then attract 1d6 apprentices of 1st-3rd level plus 2d6 normal men seeking to become mages or with the potential to become sorcerers. Their intelligence or charisma scores will be above average, but many will become discouraged from the rigorous mental training and quit after 1d6 months. While in the sorcerer’s service, apprentices must be provided food and lodging, but need not be paid wages. If the sorcerer builds a dungeon beneath or near his tower, monsters will start to arrive to dwell within, followed shortly by adventurers seeking to fight them.

Sorcerer Proficiency List: Alchemy, Apostasy, Battle Magic, Beast Friendship, Black Lore of Zahar, Collegiate Wizardry, Contemplation, Craft, Diplomacy, Elementalism, Elven Bloodline, Engineering, Familiar, Healing, Illusion Resistance, Knowledge, Language, Magical Engineering, Mapping, Mystic Aura, Naturalism, Quiet Magic, Performance, Prestidigitation, Profession, Transmogrification, Soothsaying, Unflappable Casting

Sorcerer level progression			Sorcerer Spell progression
Experience	Level	Hit Dice	1	2	3	4	5
0	1	1d4	1	-	-	-	-
2500	2	2d4	1	-	-	-	-
5000	3	3d4	2	-	-	-	-
10,000	4	4d4	2	1	-	-	-
20,000	5	5d4	2	1	-	-	-
40,000	6	6d4	2	2	-	-	-
80,000	7	7d4	2	2	1	-	-
160,000	8	8d4	2	2	1	-	-
310,000	9	9d4	2	2	2	-	-
460,000	10	9d4+1	3	2	2	1	-
610,000	11	9d4+2	3	2	2	1	-
760,000	12	9d4+3	3	3	2	2	-
910,000	13	9d4+4	3	3	3	2	1
1,060,000	14	9d4+5	3	3	3	2	1

In which a pattern emerges

When I was a small child, my favorite game was Natural History Museum. I'd get out all my dinosaurs (and I had hundreds, mind you-- everything from those Carnegie Collection models they sell at museums to Jurassic Park action figures to 50-years-out-of-date neon plastic 1" tall ones from the plastic army men and cowboys section of the hobby store) and just... arrange them. By taxonomy, by the period when they lived, by features I wanted to highlight, any old way. I'd make display cards or signs or draw murals. And then when it was all sorted, I'd get my mother or father or sister to walk through like I was giving them a tour of a museum I curated, and just having all my toys in the right order and my knowledge and ideas on display was the bulk of the fun.

Sometimes I think that's just what I'm doing now, but with fantasy instead of dinosaurs.

(I'm sorry if this seems masturbatory to you or whatever, I'm just reflecting on my general approach as I have frequently been for some time now. Perhaps I felt the need to write about this to gain the insight of others, but I think it was mainly just so that those of you out there who read my thoughts better understand where it's all coming from.)

I think the issue is...

(First of all, a reminder that I'm still looking for three more alternative type II demons)

But anyway. I think the issue is that I'm just in the mood to try running other things. Lately the sorts of games and setting that catch my eye have been... very episodic sorts of games, many of them outside of the purview of typical D&D fantasy-- Star Trek, Doctor Who, noir, wrestling, westerns, things like that (though also a flirtation with a Harry Potter campaign of some sort.) I think part of that may be my previously-discussed need to feel like I have everything prepared-- a more episodic sort of game can be more... focused, so that only what's needed for the scenario can be prepared.

At the same time, I'm less inclined to blog about that stuff, because I know there's nothing as annoying as following a blog with good D&D ideas and having that veer off into a bunch of games you don't care about.