A swordmage is a master of using magic for melee combat. They practice long hours with a one-handed weapon, leaving their other free to cast deadly magic. Often they are known to enchant their own blades and charge into combat, fearless despite their lack of mundane armor that might hamper movement.
| Lvl | BAB | Saves | Feats | HP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||
| 1st | +1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Incantations: Cantrips, Combat Casting | 8 |
| 2nd | +2 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Incantations: I | 16 |
| 3rd | +3 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Weaponized Arcana I | 24 |
| 4th | +4 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Uncanny Dodge I, Bonus Feat | 32 |
| 5th | +5 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Incantations II, Lesser Spellshield | 40 |
| 6th | +6/+1 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Weaponized Arcana II | 48 |
| 7th | +7/+2 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Protective Personality | 56 |
| 8th | +8/+3 | +2 | +2 | +6 | Bonus Feat | 64 |
| 9th | +9/+4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Weaponized Arcana III | 72 |
| 10th | +10/+5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Incantations III | 80 |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Spellshield | 88 |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | +4 | +4 | +8 | Weaponized Arcana, IV, Bonus Feat | 96 |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | +4 | +4 | +8 | 104 | |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | +4 | +4 | +9 | Incantations IV | 112 |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | +5 | +5 | +9 | 120 | |
Swordmage can only spend 15 levels pre-epic. Levels 16-20 are epic only.
Combat Casting: The character is adept at casting spells in combat, and does not suffer the standard -4 penalty to concentration checks when casting defensively within four meters of an enemy.
Weaponized Arcana I-V: The Swordmage adds a temporary +1 Enhancement Bonus, per rank of Weaponized Arcana, to any one-handed melee weapon he wields that he also has the Weapon Focus feat for. (Must use ability OR type /arcana with weapon equipped.) Applies to Bastard Sword, Battleaxe, Dwarven War Axe, Katana, Kukri, Light Hammer, Light Mace, Longsword, Rapier, Scimitar, Short Sword, and War Hammer.
Uncanny Dodge: The character retains his dexterity bonus to AC, even if caught flat-footed or attacked by a hidden or invisible creature.
Protective Personality: The Swordmage's constant use of Incantations grants him a Deflection bonus to AC equal to his Charisma modifier, capped at 5. This bonus is nullified if the Swordmage wears armor, uses a shield or does not otherwise have their off-hand free. Will not stack with any other class's AC bonus; will replace other class AC bonuses if Protective Personality's bonus is higher.
Bonus Feats List: Blind Fight, Called Shot, Disarm, Cleave, Dodge, Empowered Arts, Expertise, Great Cleave, Greater Spell Focus, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Critical, Improved Disarm, Improved Expertise, Improved Knockdown, Improved Parry, Improved Power Attack, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Unarmed Strike, Knockdown, Keen Arcana, Mobility, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Practiced Incantations: Swordmage, Rapid Shot, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Spell Penetration, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus, Weapon Proficiency (Exotic), Whirlwind Attack
A Swordmage cannot take Spell Focus unless they have 1st level spells from another class. This is unavoidable.
Incantations are special, short lived spells used by the Swordmage. They require an attack action to use. Incantations do not require concentration checks. Incantations will not function if the Swordmage wears armor, or if he has anything in his off-hand, or is wielding a two-handed weapon. Each Rank requires base Charisma of 10 + the Incantation Rank to function.
The DC of saving throws for Incantations is 10 + (Incantation Level * 2) + CHA modifier + ((Total Swordmage levels w/Practiced Spellcaster/5) * 2 for Null, Chains of Binding, and Void). The Swordmage has an Arcane Caster level equal to his class level.
For example, a level 20 Swordmage/5 (other class here) with a +10 CHA modifier casting Chains of Binding, which is a 2nd level incantation would have a DC of 10 + 4 (or 2nd level * 2) + 10 (CHA mod) + ((20/5) * 2), or 8 = 32. If they have Practiced Spellcaster, the DC will be 34, as ((25/5) * 2) = 10
With Starfury or another spell not listed as the exception, the same swordmage casting Starfury (5th): 10 base + 10 CHA + 10 (5th * 2) = DC 30
Weapon Incantations (W), are applied to the Swordmage's main hand weapon only. They are removed when the weapon is unequipped or armor or a shield is equipped. They can not be placed on weapons with existing non-incantation enchantments. (Elemental Weapon etc.) A newly cast Weapon Incantation will overwrite a previous one.
Builder Note: Basically this means your weapon buffs are self only. A weapon leaving your inventory will strip them. Using one will overwrite Elemental Weapon etc.)
Armor Incantations (A)- , will be nullified if the Swordmage equips armor or a shield.
| 16th | Weaponized Arcana V, Bonus Feat | 128 |
|---|---|---|
| 17th | Incantations V, Protective Personality, Greater | 136 |
| 18th | Greater Spellshield | 144 |
| 19th | Incantations VI | 152 |
| 20th | Bonus Feat | 160 |
Protective Personality, Greater: As Protective Personality, but grants AC up to 2x CHA mod, and the bonus is now capped at 10. (NOTE: This overrides any other Extraordinary AC effect from Invisible Blade, Barbarian, Bladesinger, Duelist, or Druid.)
Bonus feats: The epic swordmage gains a bonus feat eat levels 16 and 20
Swordmage Epic Bonus Feats: Armor Skin, Devastating Critical, Epic Prowess, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Overwhelming Critical
Keen Arcana: Requires Weaponized Arcana III.
Weapons affected by Weaponized Arcana now gain the Keen property.
Empowered Arts: Requires Incantations I, 8 ranks in Spellcraft.
Practiced Incantations:
Increases your caster level by 1 for each non-Swordmage level you have, up to 5.
Spellshield abilities are usable 6/5/4 times/day respectively (lesser/normal/greater). This is separate from other Incantation uses.