[MOD][BETA] Tome and Blood: More Options for Wizards and Sorcerers

Aquadrizzt

Tome and Blood is the largest arcane magic mod for the Infinity Engine games. The current version of Tome and Blood boasts reworks for all existing Mage and Sorcerer kits, five original and unique Sorcerer kits, and nine mechanics tweaks directed at arcane magic and associated systems.

---

The current release of Tome and Blood is available on Github here.

---

INSTALLATION
In order to install this, simply extract the TomeAndBlood.rar file from GitHub to your data/00### folder and run SetUp-TomeAndBlood.exe. If you have an existing version of TomeAndBlood, it is strongly encouraged to completely uninstall the old version before installing this version.

---

CHANGE LOG
A list of mod version changes (up to v0.7) is available here.

Version 0.7
- Total overhaul of all existing components.
- New Feature: Added the Ability Score Bonuses component.
- New Feature: Added the Level One Cantrips subcomponent.
- New Feature: Added the Innate Familiar component.
- New Feature: Added the Favoured Soul component.

Version 0.62
- Specialist Mages: Fixed a bug where specialist mages were unable to use scrolls.
- Arcane Crafting: Condensed all crafting abilities down to a single ability to reduce bloat.
- Compatibility: Added compatibility for More Style for Mages.

Version 0.61
- Spell Selection Dialog: Fixed an issue where this component was incompatible with certain mod installations. (This fix also fixes similar issues with the Oracle component.)
- Specialist Mages: Fixed an issued where the component wouldn't install if Spell Revision v4 was detected.
- Spell Tweaks: Added an installation requirement to prevent odd behavior.

Version 0.6
- General : Overhauled the descriptions and systems used in this mod, with particular aim on making the mod content more modular (to allow for greater customization) and subtle (by adopting the styles of the non-mod content in class descriptions).
- General : Extended compatibility to the non-Enhanced Editions where possible. Certain mod components now work with installations of BG2, BGT and TuTu, as well as the Enhanced Editions.
- Dragon Disciples: Changed from 10 kits to 4, reflecting the four different elements of Dragon Disciple ancestors.
- Spell Select through Dialog : Fixed the issue where the ability would loop at the highest known spell level.
- Specialist Mages : Replaced the Specialist Kits component with @subtledoctor 's Specialist Mages component from Scales of Balance.
- New Features: Incorporated the Metamagic, Spell Battles, Cantrips, and Spell Tweaks components from Scales of Balance into this mod.
- Red Wizard Edwin : Removed the Edwin components, due to an overhaul of the specialist mage system.
- Numerous small bugs and string fixes.

Version 0.5
- Core Revisions: Fixed an issue where Dragon Disciples were using a d4 hit die rather than a d6.
- Core Revisions: Fixed an issue with some strings erroneously showing the updated Sorcerer descriptions.
- Armored Casting: Fixed an issue where Mages, Sorcerers and Bards (and all subclasses and kits) could not wear helmets.
- Expanded Weapons: Fixed an issue where Mages were not able to equip arrows.
- Oracle: Added the Oracles of Murder and Oracle of Eyes kits.

Version 0.4
- Core Revisions: Conjurers now receive a d6 hit die.
- Core Revisions: All Mages and Sorcerers are now able to obtain a Familiar.
- Core Revisions: Now also removes Nahal’s Reckless Dweomer, Chaos Shield and Improved Chaos Shield from the spell selection menu.
- Updated Schools: Dispel Magic is moved from Abjuration to General.
- Arcane Crafting: Changes the number of charges on crafted wands.
- Magus: Removed the bonus attack per round from specialization and at 7th or 13th level.
- Mod: Fixed all compatibility issues with Pecca's More Style for Mages mod.
- General: Fixed an issue where kit bonus spells were sometimes not being granted.
- Core: Fixed text issues with the names of Brass Dragon Disciples.
- Bloodlines: Fixed an issue where Sorcerers and Mages would have the wrong innates if the Bloodline Kits component was installed.
- Oracle: Fixed an issue where Oracle bonus spells were sometimes not counted for spells known.
- Oracle: Fixed an issue where Oracles of Life would not receive Cure Light Wounds.
- Oracle: Fixed an issue where Oracles would still have the Declare Mystery ability, even after declaring one.
- Oracle: Fixed text issues with the names of Oracles of Winter.
- New Feature: Added the Specialist Mage Kits component.
- New Feature: Added the Dynaheir, Xan and Edwin components.
- New Feature: Added the Specialist Kits for NPCs component.
- New Feature: Added the Bloodline Kits for NPCs components.
- New Feature: Added Brew Potion and Recharge Wands to Arcane Crafting.

Version 0.31
- Armored Casting: Fixed an installation error where Armored Casting tried to update bloodlines that hadn't been installed yet.
- Oracle & Magus: Fixed the bug in which Oracle and Magi paperdolls were not properly displaying armor.
- Oracle & Magus: Fixed a bug where Oracles of Battle and Magi would not suffer a THAC0 penalty from wielding weapons they were not proficient in.
- Magus: Fixed a bug that prevented the Magus from choosing spells during level-ups or character creation and from using scrolls.

Version 0.3
- General: Updated class descriptions for all kits (existing and mod)
- Core: Replaced the Dragon Disciple's Breath Weapon with a +1 Armor Class.
- Core: Revised opposed schools and specialists.
- Core: Incorporated Divination spells into Generalist and removed Diviners
- Core: Allowed Dragon Disciples to choose a draconic ancestor.
- Bloodlines: Removed Bloodline Sorcerer kits from character creation and allowed a Sorcerer to now declare a bloodline.
- Bloodlines: Added the Amorphous Sorcerer [Ooze Bloodline].
- Added the Spell Select through Dialogue component
- Added the Updated Spell Schools component.
- Added the Armored Casting component.
- Added the Universal Weapon Usability component.
- Added the Oracle component.
- Added the Magus component.
- Added the Arcane Crafting component.

Version 0.2
- Renamed to Tome and Blood
- Significant balance revisions to Mages, Specialists, Sorcerers, Dragon Disciples and Bloodlines.
- Changed specialists to have 2 opposed schools.
- Allowed Gnomes to become Sorcerers and Dragon Disciples.
- Allowed Mages and Sorcerers to use Crossbows and Clubs.

Version 0.1
- First public release (as Sorcerous Bloodlines)
- Added 8 new bloodlines (Eldritch, Celestial, Fiendish, Stormborn, Rimeblooded, Groveborn, Sylvan and Revenant).

---

Ideas, criticism and comments always appreciated.

Have something you would like to see in this mod? Suggest it in the thread and I'll see what I can do.

Cahir

@Aquadrizzt since sorcerer is by far my favorite class I'd appreciate more options for it. I always wanted to play a dragon disciple of other color than red. Is it possible for you to made other variants of this class (specifically for blue, green, black and white dragons)? I would love to play a Blood of Morueme character, a blue half-dragon scion of clan Morueme from Nether Mountains. Oh, this would be awesome RP experience:)

Aquadrizzt

Cahir said:

@Aquadrizzt since sorcerer is by far my favorite class I'd appreciate more options for it. I always wanted to play a dragon disciple of other color than red. Is it possible for you to made other variants of this class (specifically for blue, green, black and white dragons)? I would love to play a Blood of Morueme character, a blue half-dragon scion of clan Morueme from Nether Mountains. Oh, this would be awesome RP experience:)

It might be doable albeit glitchy and very hacky. You could grant a one-time-use ability to declare a draconic heritage, but if it was used after 1st level it could get messy. It might be able to happen through having an NPC/interactive object near each of the spawning points (Candlekeep, Chateau Irenicus, ToB intro zone). I'll definitely see what I can do when I begin coding.

Aquadrizzt

@Cahir I just had a realization about how to implement multiple draconic heritages in a less hacky way. As innate abilities can vary with caster level, declaring a draconic ancestor could just give you all the draconic abilities up to that point and then let you progress as normal. It would be a lot of coding but much more feasible.

Cahir

@Aquadrizzt ir would be awesome if you would be able to cook something up. I know jack about coding stuff, but could provide some realmslore to class description if you like. It probably depends, if you aim in more generic descriptions or the ones that are more tied to Fearun lore.
Anyway, I'm thrilled of sheer idea of playing blue dragon disciple of clan Morueme, or black dragon disciple of House Orogoth from High Moor. It will be a great opportunity for more RP oriented evil playthroughs.

TheArtisan

Aquadrizzt said:

It might be doable albeit glitchy and very hacky. You could grant a one-time-use ability to declare a draconic heritage, but if it was used after 1st level it could get messy. It might be able to happen through having an NPC/interactive object near each of the spawning points (Candlekeep, Chateau Irenicus, ToB intro zone). I'll definitely see what I can do when I begin coding.

You might want to look for the creator of the Psionics Unleashed mod if he's still around. His scripts allow for a dialog at the start of gameplay where you have to pick a specialist to progress. That could be a workable way to implement different heritages with some tweaking.

booinyoureyes

Aquadrizzt said:

These sorcerer kits are inspired primarily from Pathfinder's Sorcerer Bloodlines and are designed to add flavor and variance (while maintaining balance) among sorcerers.

Hallelujah!

Tome

Looks great so far. Hope this one get finished.

On that note, hows your NPC class kits mod going?

Aquadrizzt

Tome said:

On that note, hows your NPC class kits mod going?

I've posted an update on progress on that thread. For BG1, the arcane casters and divine casters are done. Ideas for the rest have been sketched up but will take a while to implement.

Aquadrizzt

Question: Does anyone happen to know what the base sorcerer CLAB is? (CLABSO01 is the dragon disciple's) If sorcerers do what I suspect and use the generalist mage CLAB (CLABMA01), then how would I go about changing that?

Blackraven

Very interesting!

wolpak

@Aquadrizzt‌

You will need to do some 2da switching. Sorcs and specialist mages do not have clab files.

Look at kitlist.2da

See how line 35 is Dragon Disciple and points to CLABSO01, change it to CLABSO02, extract the CLABSO01 and rename it to CLABSO02.2da. Now your disciple will point to 02 and the base sorcerer will to CLABSO01. Test it out by giving the base sorcerer an ability and see who gets it.

Aquadrizzt

wolpak said:

@Aquadrizzt‌

You will need to do some 2da switching. Sorcs and specialist mages do not have clab files.

Look at kitlist.2da

See how line 35 is Dragon Disciple and points to CLABSO01, change it to CLABSO02, extract the CLABSO01 and rename it to CLABSO02.2da. Now your disciple will point to 02 and the base sorcerer will to CLABSO01. Test it out by giving the base sorcerer an ability and see who gets it.

So if I move DD to SO02, the game will automatically update the Sorcerer CLAB to SO01?

ghostowl

If you made the kits more different (they all seem to have the same amount of perks) and really differentiated each kit based on what it was (necromancer: summons army of skeletons, raise dead creatures to fight for you, dragon disciple: shapeshift into dragon)

it would make it more interesting rather than just different bonuses slapped onto different kits. Just food for thought.

SCARY_WIZARD

I love this idea! I'm very keen on the Arcane, Celestial, and Revenant Sorcerer kits. ! I can't wait to see these completed, and nice title for the thread!

Wolk

I love your idea! There might however be something you could have a problem with. The dragon disciple gaining unarmed attacks is awesome, but others might get an attack bonus on him because he is not a monk. You probably already though of it, but I wanted to make sure. I really love the idea of a sorcerer fighting with his bare fists (claws).
Just another idea you might like: give the fiendish the cleric's protection from evil, it lasts longer.

Kamigoroshi

@Aquadrizzt Hrm... I just noticed that this list lacks an Amorphous Sorcerer [Ooze Para-Elemental], or any other slimy sorcerer variant for that matter. I trust this oversight will be dealt with.

Gotural

It looks awesome ! Just a question, what are the cons of these kits ? Do you plan to add some ?

Valmyr

I personally love the Fey Sorcerer Kit . Would love to use it on my gnome sorceress~
I always liked themed spellcasting over the standard universalist approach.

/just saw elf/half-elf requirement. Heart broken QQ

Aquadrizzt

Update Time!

The first part of this mod, Sorcerous Bloodlines, is now out in beta. Download it from the top post of this thread. It adds a bunch of new kits as well as a couple new weapon and race options for sorcerers.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Aquadrizzt

subtledoctor said:

Gotural said:

It looks awesome ! Just a question, what are the cons of these kits ? Do you plan to add some ?

Srsly.

There are no explicit cons, although the primary (unwritten) drawback is that all sorcerers choose 1 fewer spell per level to account for the Bloodline spell. To clarify, sorcerers used to be able to choose 5 first level spells. Now they only get to choose 4, with the 5th spell being determined based on the bloodline they chose. This means that although their power is higher, their versatility is much lower.

If people feel that the new sorcerer kits are still too powerful, even with the significant reduction in versatility, I could consider adding some other drawbacks.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Aquadrizzt

You raise a bunch of good points and I'm definitely taking them into consideration. You are correct in that I approached these kits from a 3e perspective than a 2e perspective, but that was mostly a byproduct of the fact that sorcerers are an inherently 3+ edition creation.

One thing I do think you overlooked is that sorcerers gain power from specializing at the expense of not having the versatility of mages (much like specialist mages are supposed to be). This point is, unfortunately, undermined by the god awful vanilla spell system, where there are ~5 worthwhile spells at any given level (ignoring niche situations where scrolls would serve just as well). Thus, a sorcerer doesn't really feel the pain of specializing because there is nothing lost to them. (When was the last time you made a sorcerer that passed on Mirror Image for Know Alignment [hint: never, hopefully...]) This is more indicative of an issue with the viability of different spells rather than an inherent issue of sorcerers within the vanilla game.

I also disagree with you that Beamdog got the DD correct. Picture an item called "Talisman of the Red Dragon". This item gives you +5 Armor Class, +100% Fire Resistance, +2 Constitution, +20 hit points, a 8d8 Cone-Fireball, -1 spell per level per day. I would run an item like that on every mage I possibly could. It solves all the innate issues of mages with a very small sacrifice. A mage with +20 hit points and +5 AC (and possibly even innate regeneration from the bonus CON) is a mage that can cast spells more often instead of running from fighters and chugging health potions.

I do agree that slower casting time is a nicely thematic and quite impactful drawback, as is reduced spell knowledge (although I can only do 2 different spells known progressions currently). I actually have used slower casting time as a drawback on some of the sorcerers I did for an in-progress NPC Kits mod.

The issue with sorcerer drawbacks is that, other than further limiting spell selection and spell casting speed, what else is there to take away from them? They can't wear armor, they can barely use weapons, their d4 hit die is already low and messing with AC or saves would make them even more fragile. It's not like vanilla sorcerers have other special features to take away. Limited spell schools could also work, but then they're just more powerful specialist mages (and, as noted before, is taking away a single school really that impactful when its powergamed?). Ability drawbacks have incredibly variable effects and often have no effect at all (and would typically be better done as penalties to hit/dam, AC, or hit points, as applicable).

I do agree with your analysis of the activated abilities and I plan on revisiting them to either be drastically reduced in power, added as bonus spells, or removed entirely (and honestly, given the trouble that making and testing spells is, the removed entirely option is quite enticing).

The result of all of this is that, barring an overhaul of the entire spell system, vanilla sorcerers > vanilla specialists >>> vanilla mages, with the kits in this mod being more powerful than any of those. The ultimate goal should IMO be that all of these things are equal (with a possible additional goal of being balanced within a 2e framework). I am unsure of how to do that while still bringing in more flavor and customization options.

As an aside, one thing that I often encounter is that the game engine is not particularly well-suited to the needs of arcane magic kits, between a lack of conditional/school bonuses (i.e. +1 to caster level for fire spells) and a lack of the ability to make custom spell lists (which is possible for divine spell casters).

And now after all this meta-discussion and rambling, let me get back to the point. I do think that mages, specialists and sorcerers should all be mechanically balanced within the group of arcane casters. Bards could also be tossed in this mix, but vanilla bards are so comically unbalanced that I'm not even going to try with those.

Some changes that could bring everything closer to balance
- Give sorcerers an innate -1 casting time penalty.
- Make specialist mages actually block 2 schools (per Complete Wizards Handbook).
- Balance new abilities with reduced number of spells known or spells per day for all non-"trueclass" Sorcerers.

Those are just some ideas... What are your thoughts?

Aquadrizzt

subtledoctor said:

EDIT: wait, I just re-read your post about bloodline spells. (It's a bit hard to discuss this because I can't find a readme anywhere, I had to dig into your .tp2 and .tra files to see what's what.) So are the added abilities innates? Or spells forced upon the kit? The latter would be good. And, are you implementing one less spell to choose, or one less spell to cast (like the vanilla DD), or both? Again, the latter would be good. I think one fewer chosen spell, plus one fewer spell spell to cast of each level, plus a casting speed penalty... might be good?

Bloodline Spells are specific spells that replace one selected spell at each level. So, for example, trueclass sorcerers in unmodded games pick 2 spells at 1st level. Sorcerers in this mod would only pick a single spell at 1st level, and would be able to cast either that spell or their bloodline spell.

Aquadrizzt

I decided to take a stab and a tentative balancing act for mages and sorcerers, taking your ( @subtledoctor ) suggestions into account.

MAGE
- Gains access to a Familiar (per Find Familiar).
- Improved Lore (5/level)
- Full casting progression (as Mage)

SORCERER ("ELDRITCH")
- Gains access to a Familiar (per Find Familiar).
- Full casting progression (as Sorcerer)
- Bloodline spells
- Casting speed penalty (-1)

SPECIALIST MAGE
- Small school-based bonus (i.e. Abjurer gets +1 AC, Conjurer gets Find Familiar)
- Bonus spell slot per level per day
- Lose access to two opposed schools (per PnP, i.e. Abjurer loses Alteration and Illusion)

WILD MAGE
- Bonus spell slot per level per day
- Access to exclusive wild magic spells
- Wild magic casting effects (variable level and wild surges)
- Casting speed penalty (-1) [maybe? could also make this variable round to round]

BLOODLINE SORCERER
- Several significant, bloodline-themed bonuses (i.e. Dragon Disciple gets Claws and Breath Weapon)
- Bloodline spells
- One fewer spell slot per level per day
- Casting speed penalty (-1) [-2 for the more effect heavy kits]

Thus the baseline for all balance is trueclass Mage, which has been given a very small boost in power (although this boost could be slightly higher if necessary). Sorcerers get more casts per day, but on a significantly restricted list and with a casting penalty. Specialists lose access to 25% of spells but gain a bonus slot and some small thematic benefits. Wild Mages get a bonus spell, but slower cast time and the effects of wild surge. Bloodline sorcerers get powerful thematic effects but also have both slower casts and fewer spells per day.

I would toy with number of spells known for sorcerers, but it is mechanically impossible. There is only one file that determines sorcerer spells known per level (SPLSRCKN.2da) and it applies to all sorcerers regardless of kit.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Grammarsalad

@subtledoctor‌ that scribe scrolls ability is in atweaks and rogue rebalance (I think--it's definitely in atweaks--a similar brew potion may be in rr).

Personally, I give mages and sorcerers extra 1st to 4th level spell slots (equal to the number of bonus spells a cleric with a wisdom of 18 gets) to increase survivability and longevity at early levels. I am also probably going to up their HD to d6 (rogues to d8) for the same reason.

I was also thinking of giving sorcerers an "eldritch blast" like at will ability--think warlock from 3e-- and fluff it like they can tap into and release pure magic energy due to their supernatural connection. The nice thing about this one at least is that it gives kits something to lose (and, I think it's flavorful). The increased casting time could reflect a difficulty with shaping and focusing this raw power.

I don't know what to do with specialists really (I've been waiting for years for kit revisions to fix them--I think demi was going to give them a lot of extras, but actually reduce their # of spell slots (via spls in the clab) compared to vanilla mages.

As for bards one suggestion I like from kr is armored casting (and/or less penalties for them when they are wearing armor eg if you use ir increased casting time).

Edit: inspired by 5e I was thinking of giving casters a very long casing--as long as possible to prevent it from being cast in battle-- "recharge" innate that allowed them to recoup some spell slots. In 5e, casters can do this once per day with a 5 min rest. ( presumably to reduce the "nuke and sleep" strategy. )

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Aquadrizzt

SCRIBE SCROLLS
I do recall having seen it, and as Grammarsalad pointed out its part of aTweaks. Definitely something I will consider.

BONUS SPELLS FOR "HIGH INT"
I'm reluctant to mess around too much with spell slots beyond the specialist +1; bloodline -1. Although it could make low level mages much more viable.

ELDRITCH BLAST
But then it would conflict with a possible, totally-not-in-the-works-at-all Warlock. ;P

KIT REVISIONS
I believe Demi was going to give the bonus spell slot per level to generalists, but give specialists a LOT more abilities to compensate. In regards to Tome and Blood, most of how I go about balancing specialists will depend on the viability to blocking more than one school. If it's not viable or too much trouble, I will likely remove the bonus spell slot but find some other features (such as innate spell uses of their school's spells).

ARMORED CASTING
Although I don't think it really makes sense within the lines of Mages and Sorcerers (or Specialists or Bloodlines), I definitely will considering using it for other classes such as Magus, Warmage and Warlock.

SPELL RECHARGE
So this is entirely doable with Wondrous Recall abilities, to a certain extent. If you cast a version that recharged 1 spell at each level 1-4 but hadn't expended a 4th level spell, then you would get 2 recharged 3rd level spells. Blocking availability in combat is trivial (the Pocket Plane innate has a "can't use in combat" effect). You are correct @subtledoctor‌ that the actual spells regained aren't really controllable (although it has been shown that Wondrous Recall recharges in the order of the spell book, so if you expend the spell in the 1st memorization slot you get that one back).

GENERALIST WIZARD RECHARGES
I'm not sure how I feel about this. In theory if you cast it once you would get SOME tradeoff, but what if you have a level that doesn't have particularly compelling or currently relevant spells? Wondrous Recall trades 1 6th level slot for 2 5th (or lower) slots but competes with some very useful spells. There are certain levels of wizard spells where I'm sure people would be willing to trade ALL of their spell slots at that level for +1 spell cast at lower levels per slot expended. There is also hte issue that this would be incredibly gimmicky, especially when you think about how you would have to expend spells regularly before casting this one. It seems like a lot of trouble and I'm not sure if the reward would be balanced and satisfactory to mage players.