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Decided to skip the cop angle and go with a spacer.

Rik Turbot
Expert

2,1,3.....S = 6 -1
6,4,5.....I = 15 +1
2,2,1(6)..D = 10 --
6,2,5.....W = 13 --
4,5,1.....Co = 10 --
6,5,6.....Ch = 17 +1

Background: Engine Crew
Training: Pilot

Combat/Gunnery - 0
Culture/Spacer - 1
Exosuit - 1
Gambling - 0
Navigation - 0
Tech/Astronautics - 0
Tech/Postech - 1
Vehicle/Grav - 0
Vehicle/Space - 0

HP: 6



(Not that it matters much to me, but the book's listing of ability scores is different; they have Dex and Wisdom switched.)

I prefer variable weapon damage. It makes sense to me, that bigger weapons can cause more damage.
Sure, every weapon can kill normal people with a single blow. That's handled by critical hits in my campaigns.
Sure, it's quick and simple to use d6s only. But we like using all those funky dice we have in our possession and it doesn't slows the game down notably.
Sure, hit points and combat are abstract and a single die roll doesn't means a single strike. But combat is already a pretty much f*cked up mix of abstract and more or less realistic elements, since you have one minute rounds, hit points, non-armour based monster ACs along with ranged attacks having multiple attacks, weapon vs armour tables, et cetera - so why should I care.

But then again, I'm the kind of Referee who eliminates level limits to some degree, uses psionics and lets players play lizard-man ninjas.

I hate to repeat what has been said, but I'll join the chorus of those who hold that the MU isn't for dealing damage to the enemy. In the original rules, after all, the first MU spells that actually cause any damage at all are the iconic Fire Ball and Lightning Bolt, both 3rd level spells, to which the MU has no access until he is at least 5th level (earlier, of course, as a wand or in a scroll), and, as I note above, these spells carry real risks of undermining the point of the adventure (i.e. they have a good chance of destroying the very treasure that the characters are seeking).

Having said that, MUs can do amazing things, and it is this capacity to do amazing things (fly, turn invisible, detect hidden things) as well as take out/deal with enemies in ways other than dealing damage (sleep, charm, web, polymorph, illusions, etc.) that should be the staple of what MUs do. They can't do it often, mind you, but then neither can (or, neither should) a fighter take on every monster with combat, since he will quickly run out of hit points.

In short, if you want to increase the MUs resources (with "at-will" spells, e.g.), that's great, but keep an eye on the whole "resource management" angle. An MU was never meant to have too much to do in every combat combat (although a well-placed spell might be decisive in any given combat), even as fighters (and clerics) tend not to shine when needing to overcome/bypass especially difficult or challenging obstacles to adventure/exploration/getting treasure, which is where the MU is meant to be on top.

Actually, this isn't quite right. As it states in Monsters & Treasure, "Magical items will, during the course of play, be struck by various forms of weapons. For the sake of simplicity it is generally easier to assume they survive unharmed if their wearer/user is not killed (exception, Helms)." It then goes on to say that a save is made for items if the wearer/bearer is killed as a result of the attack or if the items are left alone (e.g. part of a pile of treasure in a room into which the MU tosses a fireball). So, these spells are not supposed to threaten the party's magic items, although you are, of course, free to play that way if you like. The intent, I think, is rather the reverse, namely, that players will see the risk of lobbing fireballs and lightning bolts into every combat, since most treasure/items will be destroyed in this way, with only a few having a chance to survive.

I think that is a good approach. You should think about what the PCs could do that would have any effect. Fireballs, lightning come to mind. Missile and melee weapons would have pretty much no effect although it might be possible for indirect fire from missile weapons to affect soft-topped vehicles. What level are the players?

John communicates back to the B'yakhee. "Yes, that plan would be perfect can you lead the way toward the chamber? "

John readies his weapon eager to knee cap a goblin and finish the ritual he originally intended.

Good idea

"Crystal sounds...interesting" says Hump. "But I fear she would cost more money than I currently cou,ld part with. I say we get a good night's rest at the Wayfarer, then enter the city in the morning"

I've enjoyed your input here. In an ideal world, you would continue your dialog here but I hope, at the very least, you mean you're done with this thread and not the entire forum.

I'm not a huge fan of at-will spells (except for the most minor, non-combat cantrips); they trivialize magic somewhat IMO. I'd much rather give M-Us the ability to use all weapons (LotFP-style) to increase their melee ability. I agree, though, that recent D&D has trivialized M-Us in the name of "balance". I love the image of an arcanist making his way up from a dangerous apprenticeship, continually facing death because he eschews armor, learning only a few paltry spells...and gradually becoming a man who can literally annihilate armies.

That could be fun. It's also how they handled majic in the TSRs Marvel Super Heroes game. It was good enough for Doctor Strange!

I never used to enjoy playing MUs much back in the day. When I did I was always trying to keep up with the fighters, even going as far as trying to waylay the baddies with my quarterstaff after my spells ran out(and they usually ran out quickly too).
For the last year and a half I've been playing a MU, and having the time of my life. The real fun is in coming up with creative ways to use the spells. Of course blowing stuff up is fun too.The fun just doesn't end there!

Actually I sat down last weekend and read the rules rather than skimmed them. Made much better sense this time around.

I agree with WOTE, being a Wizard in D&D has never been about blasting HP. You have dumb meat shields to do that, although you can make their job easier (haste, for example). In 4E terms MU's are about battlefield control, in 3E terms they are about save and die/suck! Best 1st level spells? Sleep and Charm Person, both encounter enders. Fireball is such an iconic 3rd level spell but I would often prefer to Haste the fighter, turn the party invisible or even hide in an interdimensional hole for guaranteed safe rest!
You could make a real glass cannon class, in 3E they had the warlock (I think) with at will battle spells. It would be fun for someone who wanted a blaster, but they would never have the amazing breadth of usefulness that a MU does.

It's always going to be an uphill battle to justify the magic-user in terms of the fighter's purpose; doing damage. Fighters are meant to deal damage, yes. But magic-users are meant to do other stuff.

It's a real shame (IMHO) the later iterations of the game tend to be more and more combat oriented, and all the classes tend toward dealing damage in their class-specific way. In a game (like OD&D) where exploration is as important as combat, there's a need for PCs who can do stuff other than deal damage.

OD&D's magic-user is one such class.

Sure, anyone can fight a bit.

But magic-users can do impossible stuff. It's called "magic".

They can fly! They can become invisible! They can drop a pack of orcs with a click of their fingers. They can spy through solid rock, block off rooms, open new passages, and teleport instantly. Enemies "magically" become allies. Impassable doors spring open! This is the kind of stuff magic-users are really for.

Remember also that magic-users can cast spells of any spell level from scroll or books. Now imagine a 1st level magic-user who has pinched has master's 6th level spell book!


Personally, I don't think a magic-user needs anything extra -- they already get a 2,000gp spell book for free at 1st level.

But if you're looking for "more" for a magic-user, I'd encourage you to give them additional spell books instead of "at will fire power". Give your starting magic-users a book of the 2nd level spells, or even the 3rd level spells, as well. This will (hopefully) encourage them to do more of that impossible stuff that is unique to magic-users, rather than just acting like a second-rate fighter.