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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage $3.99
Average Rating:4.6 / 5
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
Publisher: Rogue Genius Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 12/10/2019 15:01:07

Remember the old Death Master by Len Lakofka in Dragon Magazine? Well Owen K.C. Steven does! And this 20 level class for Pathfinder "feels" like that class, but it is own thing.

This class is a stand-alone class (like most of the Pathfinder classes) complete with new powers and spells over 14 pages. In truth it is a lot of fun. The author compares it to necromancer wizrds, death priests and undead-bloodline sorcerers, and how it is different. A better comparison is to druids. But where druid is dedicated to life, the Death Mage is dedicated to death and spirits of the dead.

There are five "Sub-types" of Death Mages presented. Corpse Mages, Ghoul Mages, Tomb Mages, Reaper Mages, and Shadow Mages.

There are 11 new spells. I think an opprotunity was missed here to have 13 spells.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
Publisher: Rogue Genius Games
by Christofer K. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/04/2013 05:39:27

i was looking for something along the lines of a "classic" Necromancer-type character, but instead stumbled over this PDF - and it has quickly turned into my favourite character class. The sheer number of possibilities these few pages offer is impressive, while still retaining the morbid atmosphere for each combination. Want to play a close-combat Mage with a lot of touch-based abilities? An undead hunter that can make use of what are essentially Vodoo dolls? Or a more classical master of the Dead who spends his time directing his minions? It´s all in here. Definitely worth a look for anyone who wants to step outside the typical Necromancy-specialist Wizard. Also a good source of inspiration for , Death Shamans, Spirit Speakers, Vodoo Doctors or all kinds of other, weird and probably disturbing NPCs



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
Publisher: Rogue Genius Games
by Sean H. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 02/03/2013 21:53:25

If your campaign makes use of the magic of death and spirits, the Death Mage will find a home and provide a variety of hooks and options for play. The Genius Guide to Death Mage provides a new 20-level spell casting class with a focus on magic of death and undeath. They have an interesting selection of weapons, many relating to reaping and the harvest, access to light armor and shields and a fair skill selection. They have five paths to choose from on the Pale Road that provide additional talents, such as the Ghoul who can eat the dead for healing and strength or the Reaper who hunt and destroy the undead. While the Death Mage has a limited selection of spells, including a several new spells, they still provide a good -if narrow- set of options and tools for this caster. There is also a discussion on adding new spells to the Death Mage and advise on incorporating them into a campaign. However, the spell lists and new spells take up a lot of space so there is no additional support material beyond the unliving template (needed for their summoned creatures).



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
Publisher: Rogue Genius Games
by Dark M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 07/29/2010 14:28:50

This product is 14 pages long.

d8, 4 skills, low BaB, simple weapons(some martial weapons)/Light armor. In light armor they ignore the arcane failure chance. Death mages are wizards that focus on death. They choose a pale road(type of speciality), With special abilities. Corpse mage - more like a traditional Necromancer. Including undead cohorts just like the mage had leadership but as a skeleton or Zombies instead. Ghoul mage - can eat the dead and regain hp, has a sicken touch and ghouls touch. Tomb Mage - master the pain and fear undead cause in the living. Reaper Mage - Those who hunt down and destroy undead. Shadow Mage - those with a connection to the plane of shadow.

All of the traditions get access to a few class abilities that deal with death and the undead.

They have their own spell list, one that fits the concept of the class. Their is 11 new spells, the new spells are ok. None of them I thought was great but none seemed bad either. Dance Macabre I was expecting something different with, perhaps a curse or debuff. Instead if summons natures ally but the animals have no need to breath.

There is also info about how to use this class in a campaign and advice for adding new spells to the spell list.

Closing thoughts, one of the more interesting takes on a "Necromancer" class I have seen. I would have liked to seen the traditions expanded and fewer general class abilities personally. I also wish the spells had been more inventive. That artwork ranges from very good to subpar in one case.

All and all I thought this was a good buy, i am giving it a solid 4 stars. With a bit more effort this could have been a solid 5 star product.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The Genius Guide to the Death Mage
Publisher: Rogue Genius Games
by karl k. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/20/2010 08:21:38

Very good! The only reason this did not recieve 5 stars is because the death mage spell listonly includes 3 0-level spells, but by 2nd level you gain 4 prepared 0-level cantrips. This forces the GM to pick more spells or have the player waste slots. This should be a simple fix if updated... I liked the Ice Magic as well and look forward to more guides later.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Thanks for pointing that out! We've corrected the mistake and uploaded a new version with an expanded 0-level spell list.
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