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Newspaper
2009-03-21, 06:52 PM
I was thinking of playing a Wu Jen but I had a couple of questions about them.

-Is a Wu Jen worth playing?

-I have the stats for the Wu Jen from The Complete Arcane are they different from the Wu Jen stats in Oriental Adventures?

-Is there any significant material (i.e. feats, prestige classes, etc.) in Oriental Adventures pertaining to Wu Jen I may want to know about?

Thanks.

Starbuck_II
2009-03-21, 07:03 PM
I was thinking of playing a Wu Jen but I had a couple of questions about them.

-Is a Wu Jen worth playing?

-I have the stats for the Wu Jen from The Complete Arcane are they different from the Wu Jen stats in Oriental Adventures?

-Is there any significant material (i.e. feats, prestige classes, etc.) in Oriental Adventures pertaining to Wu Jen I may want to know about?

Thanks.

1) Yes. Note, they do'nt have all wizard's selection, but they have their own unique spells. Some are worsek, some better, and some are awesome.
Snake Darts is my favorite.
No save take damage. Secondary save versus Con poison (plus since this is a spell can boost DC) then again after 1 minute another poison save.

That is per snake dart: you shoot 2.
So up to 4 poison saves or 2 people must save twice.

2) Yes.
Elemental Mastery increase caster level insteads of DC (this matters for Greater Magic Weapon builds as in Core you need to be a level 12 caster to get +3 enhancement bonus, but a level 10 Metal Wu jen can do iy as he get +2 level).
Either way, you still get +2 saves versus your type (that wasn't changed).
Also, in Oriental adventures you must learn all spells of that type or never be a master. This means you might have to waste gold on buying useless spells just to have benefit.
Kinda Pokemon-eque, gotta scribe all, Elemental Master!

No requirement for Complete Arcane. You just choose your master element.

3) Nothing I know.

Spell Compendruim improved Wu Jen spell 4th Heart Ripper to be more badass.

Thurbane
2009-03-21, 11:34 PM
Complete Mage has four new feats specifically for the Wu Jen: Defending Spirit, Elemental Adept, Hasty Spirit and Vengeful Spirit.

Glyphic
2009-03-21, 11:40 PM
They make decent Gishes- Spell secret, silent, helps them cast the really nifty spells in full armor (if they bother to wear armor at all..), and Giant-size is really fun. :smallwink:

Dhavaer
2009-03-22, 02:18 AM
They make decent Gishes- Spell secret, silent, helps them cast the really nifty spells in full armor (if they bother to wear armor at all..), and Giant-size is really fun. :smallwink:

I think you mean Spell Secret: Still. Silent won't help with armour.

SoD
2009-03-22, 04:53 AM
I think you mean Spell Secret: Still. Silent won't help with armour.

It does if you want to be quiet while wearing a silent moves mithrill full plate whilst sneaking through some guys house at 3 a.m.

BobVosh
2009-03-22, 05:51 AM
It does if you want to be quiet while wearing a silent moves mithrill full plate whilst sneaking through some guys house at 3 a.m.

still doesn't help with armor, just being quiet while casting.

allonym
2009-03-22, 06:52 AM
still doesn't help with armor, just being quiet while casting.

Still means the spell won't suffer any failure chance from your armour.

The arcane spell failure chance in armour is only present in spells that have somatic components. Stilled spells don't have somatic components.

Zenos
2009-03-22, 07:22 AM
Still means the spell won't suffer any failure chance from your armour.

The arcane spell failure chance in armour is only present in spells that have somatic components. Stilled spells don't have somatic components.

I think he meant it as in, "still, you can't walk around in a bathrobe at the presidents inauguration," not as in "the Still metamagic feat doesn't do anything about ACP."

Everyman
2009-03-22, 04:49 PM
I've only played a Wu Jen once. I got to say it was a lot of fun. There are really only four considerations.

1) You are not the tool box the wizard is.
Wu Jen have a lot of neat spells and abilities, but they lack the versatility that a wizard has in depth of spells. They kind of fall somewhere a regular wizard and specialist wizard in the regards to what kind of spells they have. Know starting out that a lot of your spells fall into the conjuration, evocation, or transmutation spectrum. You really are built to do physical things, not metaphysical stuff like abjuration or diviniation. While you certainly do have some of those spells, a true wu jen is in their elemental (heh...element) when manipulating something in their surrounding environment.

2) Screw the spellcasting, you've got rules.
When you chose your spell secrets and taboos (which are awesome for roleplaying), make sure your DM knows them. Then, make sure YOU remember them. Nothing is more more annoying than accidently losing your spellcasting because you sat in the wrong chair, ate using the wrong fork, or forgot to ask for permission to go into a home.

3) Spell secrets revisited
With some luck, you'll have time to experience what kind of spells fit your playing style before you choose too many secrets. Free metamagic (even the simple ones like still or silent spell) is a very nice perk. It hurts when you choose wrong and end up not using spell X ever again (a forgiving DM might allow you to retrain that decision thought).

4) Wu jen you like to stay?
Like a wizard, you can easily go into a prestige class after 5th level. In fact, it is probably a nice choice if you don't plan on using your spell secrets you would have grabbed. However, wu jen plays surprisingly well straight (at least, for me). If you do go the route of PrCs, you can more or less ignore the above section on spell secrets. However, your should consider staying until 6th level, when you get elemental mastery.