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Help with an Illusionist

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:58 pm
by Hugh
Here's what I have so far:
image.jpg
Here's a link to the Google spreadsheet.

I cleaned up some level see sawing in the 2nd half (always defaulting to the higher XP totals). I jimmied the 1st level spell totals adding one at 2nd and 3rd levels and removing one at 5th. I also added 4 at 12th level instead of giving the illusionist 6th level spells (a take on the AD&D's illusionist's ability to switch out a 7th level spell for 4 1st level MU spells.

I think the thief's special abilities stand as written (reading MU scrolls at 9th level even). Instead of making magic items I think the character could make illusions permanent or "real" or something. Sneak attack OR biding time.

Spells are posing a problem: I think I should add darkness, continual darkness, and true seeing (I don't know how that spell reverses). I think animate dead, fireball, and maybe lightning bolt and cloud kill need to go. I'd like to drop comprehend languages and read magic and let the thief abilities do the work but I'm not sure how to get new spells to the illusionist.

Also, should the illusionist be allowed leather armor?

Re: Help with an Illusionist

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:58 am
by waysoftheearth
Hi Hugh,

(I hope you don't mind that I reformatted your post for improved readability :o )

The embedded image isn't working so we can't see your content there; forgive me if I go off on an unnecessary tangent below...

As for the progression chart; if I'm not mistaken it appears you've combined thief HD and saves (except vs spells?) with M-U XP up to level 5, and then used a greater XP requirement from there. In fact this progression needs 800k XP for level 12, which is quite a lot more than fighters (600k), M-Us (500k), clerics (400k), or thieves (300k). So although this class appears to have slightly better HD than a M-U, it actually gains HD more slowly than does a M-U due to its higher XP requirement.

I like that you've stuck to 5 spell levels as per the original Illusionist (and also as per my own forthcoming attempt). I can't comment on your spell lists as I can't see these here, but presumably, with late access to 2nd levels (compared to M-Us), fewer spell levels overall, and higher XP requirements, this class would need to have a potent spell selection.

Again, without the embedded image, I'm not sure about the integrated thief abilities. With back stab and leather armor, could this class be done as a dual-classed M-U/thief? (Although this figure would not be allowed use of spells while wearing leather armor).

Re: Help with an Illusionist

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:55 pm
by Hugh
I'm sorry about the formatting; outside of word processing I'm useless with a computer. The image is of that chart, nothing more. The class basically IS a multi classed MU/thief. I wasn't sure how else to approach it (in my mind this could just as easily be called a mountebank—as I hope the level titles indicate).
In regards his spells, I was working with he list in the book with the reversed form of some spells found in the cleric list (darkness etc). In conjunction with his or her thief abilities—as per thief—the spells could be quite powerful. But I'm not married to this write up of he class; I'd really like to see what others have done. I'm not familiar with the pre-AD&D illusionist and not very familiar with the AD&D one as I played B/X only. I painted a really cool gnome illusionist mini as a teen and always wondered about playing it. Still have the gnome, someday....

Re: Help with an Illusionist

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:39 am
by waysoftheearth
FWIW you can download my DD Illusionist from here.