Author Topic: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook  (Read 62855 times)

Offline NineInchNall

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Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« on: September 24, 2015, 08:04:34 PM »
Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
A summary of concepts and tricks used to create the Killer Gnome, originally brought to light by Snow Savant.
Further credit goes to Michael Tree, Garjon, and Zweanslord for their discoveries of the Heighten Spell, Earth Spell, and
Arcane Disciple techniques. The original build can be found here. The Killer Gnome has come a long way
since Snow first posted her build, and that thread is essentially a log of the character's evolution from merely solid to
freakin' awesome.

Introduction
(click to show/hide)

On the Proper Application of Shadow Illusion
(click to show/hide)

On Breaking the Game
(click to show/hide)

On the Base of the Killer Gnome's Power
(click to show/hide)

On the Selection of Feats
(click to show/hide)

On the Acquisition of Prestige
(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: September 25, 2023, 06:46:57 PM by NineInchNall »

Offline NineInchNall

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2015, 08:20:19 PM »
On the Substitution of Levels and the Variation of Class Features
(click to show/hide)

On the Aggregate of What Has Come Before
(click to show/hide)

On the Quasireality of Illusions
(click to show/hide)

On Spells Deserving Mimicry
(click to show/hide)

On the Expenditure of Capital
(click to show/hide)

On Genealogy
(click to show/hide)

On Roles in a Party
(click to show/hide)

On Mistaken Beliefs and Stealth Nerfs
(click to show/hide)

On the Use of Dirty Tricks
(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: September 25, 2023, 06:57:07 PM by NineInchNall »

Offline NineInchNall

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2015, 08:20:50 PM »
These threads are relevant to your interests.

« Last Edit: November 25, 2021, 02:20:38 PM by NineInchNall »

Offline Kaelik

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2015, 08:54:24 PM »
Suggestion/Request: Move to handbook subforum.

Offline NineInchNall

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2015, 09:02:49 PM »
Yeah, I posted in here by mistake. As I said: not enough coffee. I figure mods will get around to moving it at some point.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2015, 09:04:42 PM by NineInchNall »

Offline Nytemare3701

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2015, 08:47:07 PM »
Oh shit, I didn't realize this wasn't archived yet. Thank goodness you did it. I would have cried if this guide was gone. It's one of my favorite classes.

Offline Hebr3w

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2019, 03:42:48 AM »
Wonderful read. Did notice a small error in your iconic shadow craft mage build. The listed feat path you have doesn't work because Gnome Illusionist Substitution does not gain the bonus feat at 5th level (ie. No heighten spell at that level)  unless you can elect not to take the substitution ability somehow.

Offline magic9mushroom

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2019, 08:22:40 PM »
Wonderful read. Did notice a small error in your iconic shadow craft mage build. The listed feat path you have doesn't work because Gnome Illusionist Substitution does not gain the bonus feat at 5th level (ie. No heighten spell at that level)  unless you can elect not to take the substitution ability somehow.

Racial substitution levels are independent of one another.

Quote from: RoS p146
A character need not take all the substitution levels provided
for a class. For instance, a goliath barbarian might
decide to take only the racial substitution level at 7th level,
ignoring the previous substitution levels.

Offline Endarire

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2019, 05:00:05 AM »
I would also like made clear that the Shadowcraft Mage has an adaptation section in its class entry for non-Gnomes.  It's the 'non-racist' entry as someone put it.

Offline Endarire

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2019, 05:17:41 PM »
Should this be moved to the Handbook section of this board?

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2019, 05:49:28 PM »
I certainly can if others think it worthy.

Offline zook1shoe

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2019, 01:19:30 AM »
 :bow thank you for referencing the 'Heightened Shadow X' trick.... it works in Pathfinder too  :D
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Offline Maelphaxerazz

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2019, 10:37:46 PM »
I certainly can if others think it worthy.
Yes, please do.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2019, 07:24:16 AM »
Done

Offline Endarire

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #14 on: July 18, 2021, 06:01:44 PM »
May we get an official discussion thread linked to in this thread?

Thankee!

(Metamagic and You: A Thesis should use this link instead!)

(Complete Mage 151 has the very spiffy Metamagic Storm wondrous location where, for 5000G, you gain a metamagic feat for 1 year.  You must meet all prerequisites for this feat and this feat can't be used as a prerequisite.  Very useful for Arcane Thesis!)
« Last Edit: July 18, 2021, 07:20:53 PM by Endarire »

Offline NineInchNall

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2021, 02:36:54 PM »
Um, is a discussion thread something I do or something a mod does?

I'll have to check out the Metamagic Storm location. I seem to recall that I intended to do a full section on what to spend gold on, but I lost motivation, since I haven't played D&D for a month shy of three years now.

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #16 on: November 27, 2021, 08:52:06 PM »
Um, is a discussion thread something I do or something a mod does?

You do it, basically just make a thread over here and put a link to the guide in the discussion and also a link to the discussion in the guide.

Offline chaoticmuse

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Re: Shadowcraft Mage Handbook
« Reply #17 on: August 13, 2022, 11:51:35 PM »
Sorry to potentially necro an old thread, but I stumbled across this guide after a friend started up the first D&D game that I've played in over a decade.

I specifically wanted to use one of the builds as a template, but I am confused by this:

 1 Gnome Illusionist 1 Spell Focus (illusion), Improved Initiative, [school mastery, focused specialist, Fighter bonus feats]

Are those Feat suggestions, or ACF's?  Do I take them all, or is it a suggestion to take whichever one suits your build?

Thanks for any help!
« Last Edit: August 14, 2022, 12:10:28 AM by chaoticmuse »