Tomes-Arcane Weapons from Fire Emblem [d&d 3.5]

[Lix Lorn]

Tomes
Tomes are based on Fire Emblem and remain the property of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

The magical tomes of the Ylissean continents are powerful weapons in the hands of spellcasters. They manifest elemental powers with a speed and ease unmatched by more traditional arcane attacks, and are the primary use of magic in those lands.

Tomes are used like normal weapons, requiring a ranged touch attack using the wielder's casting ability modifier as the relevant attribute (or no attribute if they lack casting ability). They suffer a -4 penalty if their wielder is nonproficient, and can cause a critical strike for increased damage.
They are considered two handed weapons, and do not provoke attacks of opportunity. They may not attack a foe further than one range increment away.
Tomes are most powerful in the hands of spellcasters. A proficient character with a caster level may treat any level that gives him an increase to his caster level as if it gave his BAB an equal increase. In addition, these characters deal bonus damage equal to their casting modifier (Intelligence for an Emblem Mage or a Wizard, Charisma for an Emblem Dark Mage or a Sorcerer…) on every attack with a tome.
However, only a specialist can make iterative attacks with tomes (although other wielders may still use full attacks to benefit from Haste, Speed, or similar effects). A character only receives the number of iterative attacks with Tomes that they would receive if their BAB was equal to the total caster level they have from classes which grants Tome proficiency. (Usually, only Emblem classes.)

However, they do have weaknesses. A tome is vulnerable to dispel effects, which will put it out of commission for one hour or until the end of the encounter, whichever is longer, as well as blocking the attack. A tome's caster level is the higher of the one required to use it and the caster level of its wielder.
They do not function in an antimagic field, and are affected by spell resistance.
A tome can be enchanted as a normal weapon. Its wielder must be able to read the tome, and to move freely.
Tomes are usually Evocation effects.
Crafting a tome is a difficult task, and while some are ornate, gilded, or simply beautiful, this has no effect on their abilities. Tomes are always considered masterwork, but do not gain a bonus for this.

Tomes come in five varieties. The most common by far are the three Anima tomes – fire, wind, and thunder, which trump each other in that order. These three share a strength against Light tomes, which in turn are strong against the Dark tomes that defeat Anima.

In game terms, Wind tomes tend to be accurate and light, and tend to deal slashing or cold damage, Fire tomes tend to be damaging fire weapons, while Thunder terms tend to be powerful critical weapons that do electric damage. Dark tomes tend to have slightly enhanced damage, while light tomes are hard to avoid.

Proficiency Feats Plus

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Tome Proficiency
Prerequisites: Int, Wis, Or Cha 15, Knowledge (Arcana) OR Spellcraft 2 ranks
Benefit: You may use Anima tomes without a nonproficiency penalty. If a spellcaster, you may use your caster level in place of your BAB, and deal bonus damage equal to your casting modifier.
Normal: Mages never have to make attack rolls.

Tome Mastery
Prerequisites: Tome Proficiency, caster level 1st
Benefit: Add four to your caster level for the purposes of wielding tomes, to a maximum of your ECL. Up to six of your caster levels count as granting Tome proficiency, if they didn't already, allowing you an additional iterative attack.
Normal: Only a Mage uses tomes well.,

Book and Blade
Prerequisites: Tome Proficiency, caster level 1st
Benefit: When determining your caster level for tomes, all talent-using classes count as giving half a caster level.
Normal: You cut things in two OR set them on fire. Don't be greedy.

Dark Tome Proficiency
Prerequisites: Proficient with tomes, CL 2.
Benefit: You may use Dark tomes without a nonproficiency penalty. If a spellcaster, you may use your caster level in place of your BAB, and deal bonus damage equal to your casting modifier.
Normal: You’re smart/boring enough to avoid forbidden knowledge.

Light Tome Proficiency
Prerequisites: Proficient with tomes, CL 2
Benefit: You may use Light tomes without a nonproficiency penalty. If a spellcaster, you may use your caster level in place of your BAB, and deal bonus damage equal to your casting modifier.
Normal: If you want to siphon divine power, you take Ur-Priest.

Blind Mage's Mastery
Prerequisites: Proficient with tomes
Benefit: You may wield tomes even if you are not capable of reading them. (This does not allow you to use higher level tomes.)
Normal: Don't read books in the dark. You'll strain your eyes.

There are five basic ranks of tome. Basic tomes are by far the most common, and can be wielded by anyone who knows how. More advanced tomes require a certain caster level, or have the effects of the most basic tome of their type.
As a rule, tomes always weigh 2lb.
Their damage is unaffected by the size of the wielder. If an effect would increase a tome’s damage by one size, increase the die size by one. (d2>d3>d4>d6>d8>d10>d12.) If already at d12, add bonus damage equal to the number of dice instead.

The raw stats for each rank of tome are as follows.

Rank	Cost	Dmg	Crit	Range	CL
Tome	100gp	1d6	20x2	10ft	-
El-Tome	300gp	2d6	20x2	20ft	5
Arc-Tome	600gp	4d6	20x2	30ft	9
Named Tome	1000gp	6d6	20x3	40ft	13
Mythic Tome	2,000gp	9d6	19-20x3	50ft	17

These base stats are further modified by the type of tome used.

Fire tomes – Fire, Elfire, Arcfire, Bolganone and Valflame being the most common – increase their damage as if by one size, and almost uniformly deal fire damage. They increase their damage by one size further against plant creatures, creatures with the cold subtype, or any creature currently wielding a Wind or Light tome.

Thunder tomes – Such as Thunder, Elthunder, Arcthunder, Thoron and Mjolnir – increase their critical strike range by one, and almost always deal electricity damage, with sonic being the most likely alternative. They increase their damage by one size against creatures with the water subtype or the dragon type, or any creature currently wielding a Fire or Light tome.

Wind tomes – Wind, Elwind, Arcwind, Blizzard, and Forseti – gain a competence bonus on attack rolls equal to the rank of their tome, but reduce their damage by one die size. Wind tomes usually deal either slashing or cold damage. They increase their damage by one size against creatures currently airborne due to their own powers, with the Air subtype, or any creature currently wielding a Thunder or Light tome.

Dark tomes – Worm, Flux, Luna, Fenrir, and Goetia – increase their damage by one size, but suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls, and require a caster level one higher than listed in the table (2 for Worm tomes). However, they deal untyped damage which penetrates all regeneration and energy resistances. They increase their damage by one size against creatures currently wielding any Anima tome.

Light tomes – Light, Ellight, Aura, Luce, and the Book of Naga – decrease their damage by two sizes and require a caster level one higher than listed in the table (2 for Light tomes), but are treated as one handed weapons (they can even be used with two-weapon fighting), and deal untyped damage which penetrates all regeneration and energy resistances in addition to gaining a competence bonus on attack rolls equal to the rank of their tome. They increase their damage by one size against creatures currently wielding any Dark tome.

Rare Tomes
Of course, these are only the most common tomes. A selection of other tomes follow, some entirely new, others products of the magic items system.

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Excalibur, a wind tome. It is a slashing Named Tome, apart from possessing a CL requirement of 15 and a Critical range of 18-20x3. It costs 3000gp.

Cecilia’s Gale, a wind tome. It is simply a +1 Speed version of Arcwind, and costs 32,600gp.

Dying Blaze is a fire tome with identical effects to a Mythic Tome, but no CL requirement. However, it can be used for only one encounter before being useless, it’s ferocious flames burnt out. Creating them is as difficult as forging a full Bolganone, so they are rarely found in time to be useful, but they are usually sold for 1500gp when they can be found.

Micaiah’s Pyre is a blessed Fire tome that halves fire resistance against it (and reduces immunity to resistance 20), taking on some of the traits of Light tomes. It does not share most fire tome’s weakness to Dark tomes. Apart from these benefits, it grants its wielder +2 constitution and immunity to fire, and is otherwise equivalent to a +1 Arctome. It has a CL requirement of 12, reduced by 2 if the wielder can use divine magic. It costs 55000gp.

Superior Jolt is a thunder tome that specialises in defeating other tomes. It is equivalent to an El Tome, but increases its damage by two sizes if the enemy is wielding any tome. It has a CL requirement of 8, and costs 1500gp.

Katarina’s Bolt is a mighty thunder tome with the statistics of a Named Tome. However, its critical strike range and damage are both increased by one further, to 18-20x4. It requires CL 16 to use and costs 5000gp.

Ruin is a curious Dark tome with base statistics only equal to a base Tome, but with a base critical strike range of 16-20 and a CL requirement of 7. They are commonly sold as +1 Killing tomes, giving them a strike range of 11-20 for 8600gp.

Waste is another Dark tome, notable for being capable of exceedingly rapid strikes. Whenever someone would make an attack with a Waste tome, they make two attacks, each at a -2 penalty. Its statistics are equivalent to an Arc Tome, but it has a CL requirement of 11. It costs 2500gp.

Mire is a rare Dark tome with tremendous range. It is equivalent to a Named Tome, but has a range of 10ft/CL. However, it may not be used to target a foe within 5ft/2 caster levels – such mighty power is difficult to control. It is worth 3000gp.

Nosferatu is a useful Dark tome which drains health from its victims. It is equivalent to an El-Tome, but half the damage dealt is given to the wielder as temporary hit points. At the end of the encounter, all temporary hitpoints wear off, unless the wielder has less than zero health, in which case points are converted to real hitpoints until he has positive hitpoints, and then the rest are lost.
Nosferatu has a CL requirement of 6 and a cost of 2300gp.

A far more powerful version of Nosferatu exists called Aversa’s Night. Aversa’s Night uses the statistics of a Mythic Tome, but has a CL requirement of 19 and a cost of 7000gp.

Valaura is a corrupted light tome. It is strong against both dark and anima tomes, and a foe who takes damage from it must make a fortitude save (DC 10+1/2 CL) or suffer 1d3 constitution damage from poison. It uses the base stats of Arc Tome Aura tome, with a CL requirement of 10 and a cost of 3500gp.

Lucian’s Gift is a mighty light tome with the base statistics of a Named Tome. Whenever it deals damage, all the wielder’s allies within 5ft/2 caster levels, but not himself, receive temporary hitpoints lasting for four rounds equal to half the damage dealt. These hitpoints do not stack with themselves-the highest takes precedent. It costs 3000gp.

New Enchantment

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Killing weapon
A killing enchantment is identical to a Keen enchantment, but it grants the enhanced critical range regardless of damage type.
Crafting requirement: Magic Weapon

Crafting Tomes
Crafting a tome requires a CL equal to that needed to wield it (1 for basic tomes or 13 for a Dying Blaze), and requires half their base cost in materials. It takes four hours, plus one hour for each level of the base tome. Abilities that enhance the crafting of magic items enhance this too. A tome's statistics, including name, power, damage type, and tome set are determined when the tome is crafted. If the tome is of a school other than evocation, this is also decided then. (Some Wind tomes could be conjuration, as could the Stone tomeset. A Necromancy Dark tome could also be created - as with all homebrew, use your judgement.)
Only a character with levels in Dark Mage can craft Dark tomes, and only a character with levels in Light Mage can craft Light tomes. A character must be proficient with tomes to craft them.

Designing Tome Sets

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Creating further tomes, or even sets of tomes, should be simple. Decide on a theme, and create names. For example:
A Stone themed set of Anima tomes have the names Stone, Elstone, Arcstone, Atlas, and Gaia. They increase their damage as if by two sizes, but always deal nonlethal damage. They deal enhanced damage to Wind and Light tomes, but grant their wielder a weakness to both Wind and Dark magic.

Avalanche is a powerful Stone tome with the base effects of Arcstone. However, it deals bludgeoning damage rather than nonlethal, and costs 1000gp, with a CL of 10.

Changelog

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Damage nerfed from 1d8 to 1d6 on the basic tomes, and from 12d8 to 9d6 on the strongest.
12d8 looks really scary, even if damage is becoming irrelevant by that level.
Tomes are now touch attacks, but allow SR.
Magic should not be stopped by heavy armor. It should be stopped by magical wards.
You can no longer take one level of an emblem class, then wizard 19, and have 9th level spells and +19/+14/+9/+4 tomes.
If you want to focus on tomes, you should focus on tomes.

[Fates]

I like the flavour, but I think the last thing casters need is an extra boost- one which would essentially allow them to fight about as well as most warriors. While this is really only useful at low levels, it only widens the gap farther.

[Lix Lorn]

I did worry about this, but I don't think it will cause a problem. All this odes is let a caster contribute when their damaging spells have run out, or to allow them to use their spells for more interesting things than hurting stuff.
What's more, it shouldn't outshine other damage dealers at any point. It's +1 to hit with 1d10+4 damage, while a pretty much unoptimised melee character might do 2d6+6. Plus, a ten foot range is putting them much closer to the action than any caster wants to be.

[The-Mage-King]

...

Lix, I was already considering homebrewing this sort of thing. Why did you have to beat me to it?

Guess I'll settle for making a Tome using PrC...



Also, you shouldn't forget the non-combat uses of them.

For instance, Valflame makes for a mean grill.

[Lix Lorn]

Cause I'm awesome! And I want to play a Dark Flier.

Also, whut did I just look at? xD

[BelGareth]

This is awesome, I like these a lot.

However, not knowing anything about Fire Emblem, some of it is quite confusing.

You mention several names for the basic tome types, and then several of them are re mentioned in the specific tomes section, so I get the feeling that several are unique in some way, but I never see the info for them?

for example, Worm? (why does it require +2 CL and still do the same?)

Or are you just using them as alternate names for the standard tomes (fire, light, dark, wind and thunder?)

Also, are they just books, or do they look like something elsE?

[The-Mage-King]

Cause I'm awesome! And I want to play a Dark Flier.

Also, whut did I just look at? xD

Because you've seemed to be on the same wavelength as me for the past few years, I think.
Because of the pants, right?

The barbeque of Bahala's enabler.

It's a FE 4 thing.

[Lix Lorn]

This is awesome, I like these a lot.

However, not knowing anything about Fire Emblem, some of it is quite confusing.

You mention several names for the basic tome types, and then several of them are re mentioned in the specific tomes section, so I get the feeling that several are unique in some way, but I never see the info for them?

for example, Worm? (why does it require +2 CL and still do the same?)

Or are you just using them as alternate names for the standard tomes (fire, light, dark, wind and thunder?)

Also, are they just books, or do they look like something elsE?

The names in the table are generic names. The ones given for each type are specific ones. For example, Worm is the dark equivalent of 'Tome' in the table, while Luce is the light-based 'Named Tome'.
When Excalibur refers to Blizzard, that means that, like Blizzard, is a Wind tome of 'Named Tome' potency, apart from its increased critical potential.
Worm (as well as Light) has a higher CL than the other base tomes because Light and Dark magic are meant to be rarer than Anima magic, as well as locking them off from noncasters.

Because you've seemed to be on the same wavelength as me for the past few years, I think.
Because of the pants, right?

The barbeque of Bahala's enabler.

It's a FE 4 thing.

Hehe, I try. We should play together more. xD
Nah, I'm not really a fan of pants. :P

I... see. I joined with FE7. (And kinda missed out PoR and RD because they were hard and I suck/got bored)

[Fates]

By the way, ignore my previous comment- I posted it at about three in the morning, when I was not in my proper mental state. I think this really is a neat idea, and it's not nearly so powerful to actually affect the caster vs noncaster rift in any significant way.

[Lix Lorn]

Awesome. I worried about it too when I was making it.

[The-Mage-King]

Hehe, I try. We should play together more. xD
Nah, I'm not really a fan of pants. :P

Yeah, we should. FE themed pbp request go, again?

I... see. I joined with FE7. (And kinda missed out PoR and RD because they were hard and I suck/got bored)

Eh. I started with 7, too. I just decided to pick up info on past stuff because Awakening.

[Lix Lorn]

Yeah, we should. FE themed pbp request go, again?

Wait for me to finish my massive project :P

Eh. I started with 7, too. I just decided to pick up info on past stuff because Awakening.

Aha. I should do that too X_x

[The-Mage-King]

Having looked over the tome sets a little...


I'd suggest changing the Mythic Light tome to Rexaura.

The Book of Naga is a different tier of tome from the rest, altogether. Probably more suitable fluffwise to being a minor artifact.

In fact, the Mythic tomes for Fire/Wind/Thunder magic actually all would probably better as Rexflame/calibur/bolt.

The ones you've used have backstory and other baggage that would be best represented in another manner. Like as minor artifacts.

Goetia is fine, though, since it isn't a legacy name.

[Lix Lorn]

I actually just used the five tomes from Awakening for fire/wind/thunder, before messing with it a little.
the Book of Naga is the ONLY Light tome in awakening, though...
Dark tomes I worked out the order mooostly from scratch.

[The-Mage-King]

I actually just used the five tomes from Awakening for fire/wind/thunder, before messing with it a little.
the Book of Naga is the ONLY Light tome in awakening, though...
Dark tomes I worked out the order mooostly from scratch.

Heh. I noticed.




Anyway, here you go. One PrC, fresh from the 'brewing.

[CinuzIta]

I really like what you've done here, but I have a few questions:

1. Being the tomes' damage a magic one, does SR applies against it?

2. Even though you stated that they work as a normal weapon, is any kind of component needed? Like vocal component to say some magical words to activate the tomes' power? In this case an Area of Silence would impede a character to use a tome?

3. Would a blind character be able to use a tome? What I mean is: does a character has to effectively read the tome or is enough to be just willing to unleash its power?

I'm sorry if these questions may sound stupid but I have absolutely no experience with fire emblem!

[Lix Lorn]

1. No, but energy resistance of the correct type would.

2 and 3. ...those are really, really good questions!
For 2, I'd probably say no. You need to be able to move,t hough.
3... probably, but a feat would counteract it.

[CinuzIta]

okay, so a blind character couldn't use a tome without a specific feat? (that probably kinda confused me:))

[Lix Lorn]

That's right!

[CinuzIta]

okay, thank you for your answers! I really like the work you're doing with the tomes and related classes, like the dark mage! Will there be more classes, objects or other things coming?:)

[Lix Lorn]

Definitely! Next project is the Pegasus Knight.

[CinuzIta]

very good, can't wait to see your next work!

[Morcleon]

...never played Fire Emblem, still like the homebrew.

However, most classes cannot make iterative attacks with them

This implies that some classes can, right?

In game terms, Wind tomes tend to be accurate and light, and tend to deal slashing or cold damage

Wind tomes – Wind, Elwind, Arcwind, Blizzard, and Forseti – gain a competence bonus on attack rolls equal to the rank of their tome, but reduce their damage by one die size. They increase their damage by one size against creatures currently in flight or with the Air subtype, or any creature currently wielding a Thunder or Light tome.

While the first four can be intuited to have slashing, slashing, slashing and cold respectively, it's rather hard to figure out which type the last one is.

Also, you should still list the damage types anyway.

Thunder tomes... almost always deal electricity damage

Which ones don't?

Dark tomes...deal untyped damage which penetrates all regeneration

Light tomes...deal untyped damage which penetrates all regeneration

And that, my friends, is how you kill the tarrasque.

Micaiah’s Pyre is a blessed Fire tome that halves fire resistance against it (and reduces immunity to resistance 20), taking on some of the traits of Light tomes. It does not share most fire tome’s weakness to Dark tomes. Apart from these benefits, it grants its wielder +2 constitution and immunity to fire, and is otherwise equivalent to a +1 Arcfire. It has a CL requirement of 12, reduced by 2 if the wielder can use divine magic. 55,00gp

Price is confusing! Change is needed! >.<

General questions/comments:
Can Tomes can be enchanted as normal?
You should probably put Killing in its own section so people don't have to stumble upon it in the Rare Tomes section to realize that they can boost their crit ranges.

[Lix Lorn]

...never played Fire Emblem, still like the homebrew.

Hee.

This implies that some classes can, right?

Sure does!

While the first four can be intuited to have slashing, slashing, slashing and cold respectively, it's rather hard to figure out which type the last one is.

Also, you should still list the damage types anyway.

I dunno. One of them.
Those tomes are examples. If you want a wind tome of rank X that does slashing, you have it. Same goes for ice.

Which ones don't?

None that I can think of, but I try to avoid absolutes.

And that, my friends, is how you kill the tarrasque.

Good, the jerk needs taking down a peg.

Price is confusing! Change is needed! >.<

...how is 55,00gp confusing?

General questions/comments:
Can Tomes can be enchanted as normal?
You should probably put Killing in its own section so people don't have to stumble upon it in the Rare Tomes section to realize that they can boost their crit ranges.

Sure can and good point, in that order.

[Morcleon]

Sure does!

But which classes?

I dunno. One of them.
Those tomes are examples. If you want a wind tome of rank X that does slashing, you have it. Same goes for ice.

Ah. In that case, you should specify that wind tomes deal either cold or slashing damage, the damage type being selected at item creation.

Also, the line "being the most common" is only specified on the Fire Tomes. Is this intentional that there be possibly more types of Fire Tome but not for the others?

None that I can think of, but I try to avoid absolutes.

What, so you could have a thunder tome that deals fire damage? There needs to be some sort of limit here... you know I have OCD issues... >.<

Good, the jerk needs taking down a peg.

*snerk* Well played, Lixie. Well played indeed.

...how is 55,00gp confusing?

...because I just remembered that commas are used in different ways in the UK, and that I have no idea if that was either 5500 or a typo that was supposed to say 55000.

[Lix Lorn]

Ones I haven't written yet, mostly...

bleh nope. I assumed people would get that it was the same from the identical format.

If you're in a game where someone uses a THUNDER tome to deal FIRE damage, hit them over the head with a tome for BLUDGEONING damage.

...it was 5500. I'm a moron.

[Morcleon]

Ones I haven't written yet, mostly...

Oh. So no non-homebrew classes can use Tomes with iteratives, right?

You may also want to link the word "most" to the top of the page rather than to the bottom.

bleh nope. I assumed people would get that it was the same from the identical format.

Alright. It's just that some people tend to take everything as purely written...

If you're in a game where someone uses a THUNDER tome to deal FIRE damage, hit them over the head with a tome for BLUDGEONING damage.

...but hitting myself hurts... >.<

...it was 5500. I'm a moron.

Ah, thanks. And don't be ridiculous; you aren't a moron.

[Lix Lorn]

Oh. So no non-homebrew classes can use Tomes with iteratives, right?

You may also want to link the word "most" to the top of the page rather than to the bottom.

Correct.
....
D'arvit.

Alright. It's just that some people tend to take everything as purely written...

I direct you to my bludgeoning comment.

...but hitting myself hurts... >.<

Get your fairy friend who speaks in sky to do it for you :P

Ah, thanks. And don't be ridiculous; you aren't a moron.

Perhaps not, but I was being moronic.

[Morcleon]

Correct.
....
D'arvit.

I note that currently, you can't use Light Tomes with iteratives at all. Are you going to make something for that niche?

...hey, another person who reads Artemis Fowl!

I direct you to my bludgeoning comment.

I, um, direct you to my self-punishment comment...

On Fire Tomes, there is no Ice subtype. You'll want the Cold subtype for that.

On Wind Tomes, what defines "flying"? Does levitation count? What about being thrown in the air? I'd just make it "airborne".

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Get your fairy friend who speaks in sky to do it for you :P

Her name is Setsuna.

Hi Lixie! I'm not a fairy! ^.^

[Lix Lorn]

I note that currently, you can't use Light Tomes with iteratives at all. Are you going to make something for that niche?

Man, I've done this and the dark mage in like, four days. Gimme some time. xD

...hey, another person who reads Artemis Fowl!

Rooooot ;_;

I, um, direct you to my self-punishment comment...

Get Setsy to do it.

On Fire Tomes, there is no Ice subtype. You'll want the Cold subtype for that.

Whooops.

On Wind Tomes, what defines "flying"? Does levitation count? What about being thrown in the air? I'd just make it "airborne".

Noted.

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Her name is Setsuna.

Hi Lixie! I'm not a fairy! ^.^

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Ooooh. That makes three. Nice to meet you!