Wizard - Conjurer

Galvanist Kit

Description:  Galvanists are Conjurers who focus their attention not specifically 
upon the mass of ambient magical energy and the pools, channels, weaves, and 
fields in which it runs, but rather upon the vast electromagnetic fields that run 
through the universe.  They are masters of electrical energy and tend to be 
almost fanatic in their belief that the future of society will rest in one way or 
another upon the power they study and attempt to control.  Galvanists are 
forward-thinking in their outlook on magic and concentrate more on new spell 
research rather than deciphering ancient spell codices.  They believe that the key 
to improving society and gaining power is to revive and maintain the spirit of 
invention and discovery that built up the great civilizations of the past (rather 
than merely digging up their remains and poking about for table scraps left by 
the ancients).

Galvanists can verge on obsession when it comes to their views on electrical 
energy, and they tend to focus much more on their own personal goals and 
experimental ideas than on the party's long-term plans.  A Galvanist will 
question NPCs intently if he or she believes they might have some kernel of 
insight or useful information relating to their chosen path, but they will ignore 
contact with those whom they believe have nothing to offer.  If they can be 
convinced by others that their conduct is actually detrimental to the party, they 
may restrain themselves for a time, but such will always be temporary.  
Galvanists tend to be self-absorbed and humorless.  They will talk incessantly 
about electricity and their ideas for radical applications throughout all facets of 
life, but their eyes tend to glaze over quickly when others try to share their 
problems or opinions with him or her.  A Galvanist's attitude does little to 
endear him or her to companions, but they are often willing to overlook such 
things in view of a Galvanist's unique talents and skills in battle.

Requirements:  As a standard Conjurer.

Weapons & Armor:  As a standard Conjurer.  A Galvanist's first weapon of 
proficiency must always be the staff, and they almost always use a staff made of 
metal rather than wood.

Special Benefits:  Galvanists can make full use of any spell involving electricity, 
magnetism, or metal (due to the affinity of metal for electricity), regardless of 
Realm.  In addition, Galvanists in general are constantly researching new spells 
based on electricity, though they are very reluctant to share the results of their 
research with other wizards.  As a result, Galvanists have developed a number of 
very rare spells over the years that are all but unknown outside members of this 
kit.  Whether a PC has access to such unusual electrical spells is up to the DM's 
discretion and the Galvanist's effort in unearthing such magics.  For a sampling 
of rare or unique Galvanist or electrical spells, DMs are referred to the AD&D 
Odyssey:  Jakandor, Isle of Destiny supplement as well as Marco Volo's Guide 
to All Things Magical.  Regardless of the use of such supplemental spells, 
however, all Galvanists gain the following special abilities:

Channel Energy:  As a standard Conjurer, but this ability works at double its 
normal effectiveness when used to boost the effects of electrical, magnetic, or 
metal-affecting spells.  It cannot be used at all to boost non-Conjuration spells, 
and even other Conjuration spells can only be boosted by a Galvanist to the 
degree by which a standard Conjurer could boost a non-Conjuration spell (i.e., 
increase casting time by a full increment to eliminate a material component or 
increase range by 50% or duration or area of effect by 25%).

Comprehensive Conjuring:  As a standard Conjurer, but a Galvanist has no 
ability to detect conjured objects or summoned creatures.  In addition, his or her 
other Comprehensive Conjuring benefits are doubled but apply only with regard 
to spells involving electricity, magnetism, or metal.  He or she receives no 
bonuses with respect to other Conjuration spells.

Electrical Grounding:  Any time a Galvanist is the target of an electrical attack, 
he or she can attempt to use his or her metal staff to ground out the attack, 
dissipating its energy into the earth.  If the Galvanist has the initiative in a 
round, Electrical Grounding may be declared as his or her action for the round, 
preventing him or her from doing anything else.  Any damage that would be 
delivered to the Galvanist is dissipated up to a maximum equal to his or her 
current hit point total; thus, a Galvanist who had 30 hit points would dissipate 
the first 30 points of damage that would normally be inflicted by the attack.  
This damage reduction applies to the electrical attack itself and thus reduces 
damage that is suffered by all creatures within the area of effect, not just the 
Galvanist.  If there is any leftover damage after Electrical Grounding has been 
used, a Galvanist and any other creature that is in the area of effect of the 
electrical attack is still entitled to any saving throw normally allowed to avert or 
reduce damage.

Note that Electrical Grounding can also be used as a 'reflexive' maneuver, taking 
advantage of a Galvanist's unique awareness of electrical energies building to 
react just in time to at least partially ground out an attack.  If this is done, a 
Galvanist can declare an action normally during the round.  If he or she is 
targeted at any point during the round with an electrical attack, the Galvanist can 
abandon his or her previously declared action (if the attack comes before the 
Galvanist's opportunity to act, based on initiative) in order to attempt Electrical 
Grounding.  It can also be performed after the Galvanist has already taken his or 
her action for the round, assuming the Galvanist won initiative.  Regardless of 
the exact situation, using Electrical Grounding in this fashion (i.e., as anything 
other than the Galvanist's full and complete action for the whole round) causes it 
to work at only half normal efficacy (reducing damage by an amount equal to 
half the Galvanist's current hit point total).

It is important to note that there is no maximum limit to the amount of electrical 
energy that can be diffused through the use of Electrical Grounding.  Thus, a 
Galvanist could theoretically use this ability every round during a battle, and it 
could never be 'overloaded' or 'exhausted' by accumulation of diffused energy.  
The limit on damage diffusion by this power is applied individually to any 
electrical attack for which Electrical Grounding is used.

Electroconvulsive Therapy:  A unique procedure developed by Galvanists is the 
ability to use the shocking grasp spell to revive a character who has been 
reduced to zero or fewer hit points.  The spell is cast normally, but the damage 
that would normally accrue is instead applied as magical healing to the 
unconscious character.  In addition, if the recipient makes a successful System 
Shock roll he or she becomes fully functional at once, without needing bed rest 
to recover.  If the system shock roll is failed, he or she must have bed rest as 
usual and must also save vs. death magic or lose 1 point of Constitution.

If Electroconvulsive Therapy is used on a character who has even 1 hit point 
remaining, the shocking grasp spell will inflict damage as usual rather than 
curing damage, regardless of whether the recipient is conscious at the time.  
Also, if Electroconvulsive Therapy would heal a creature beyond its normal 
maximum hit points, the recipient must make a system shock roll to avoid 
massive brain damage, losing 1 point of Intelligence for every point by which 
the healing provided by Electroconvulsive Therapy exceeded the recipient's 
normal hit point total.  A character reduced to 0 Intelligence in this fashion is 
killed instantly.  If the system shock roll is made, the patient instead is put into a 
coma for one day for every point over the limit but awakens thereafter with no 
ill effects.

Special Hindrances:  Galvanists each have their own pet projects and private 
theories on how the power of electricity is going to reshape the face of the world 
(and how it already is so much a dynamic part of the way the world really 
works, though others may not acknowledge it), and they do not always get along 
with one another, but they are united in their devotion to the cause.  A Galvanist 
will never take on henchmen, though they may retain hirelings or tutor other 
wizards (though they rarely tutor wizards who are not Galvanists).  They are 
generally dismissed as misguided radicals by other wizards, suffering a -2 
reaction penalty with such characters.  Their single-mindedness and obsessive 
personality results in a -1 penalty with any sentient creatures, save for those that 
make extensive use of electricity themselves.

As described under Special Benefits, most of a Galvanist's unique abilities 
function only with respect to spells of electricity; they are not as well-rounded 
magically as other Conjurers.  They gain no access to the Realm of Necromancy 
and only a Minor FOS in Elementalism--thus, they retain a Major FOS to 
Sorcery and Minor FOS in Enchantment and Elementalism.  In addition, a 
Galvanist suffers a -10% penalty to his or her chance to learn any spell that does 
not deal with electricity, magnetism, or metal, over and above any other 
penalties normally suffered.

When casting a spells, a Galvanist becomes suffused with a blue-white aura of 
low-intensity electricity (occasionally with tiny bolts of electricity dancing 
across his or her skin or equipment), accompanied by a noticeable electrical 
crackle and a whiff of ozone.  This has no direct game effect, but it makes it 
very difficult for a Galvanist to cast his or her spells with any degree of secrecy.

Finally, Galvanists work so intimately with electricity that they become 
attractors of electrical energy.  Any discharge of electricity within 10 yards of a 
Galvanist, including touch-based electrical effects (e.g., shocking grasp), will 
inevitably be attracted to the Galvanist.  This does not apply to electricity that is 
generated by the Galvanist.  In the case of electrical discharges that are not 
specifically targeted (e.g., a natural lightning strike), there is instead a 50% 
chance that such a discharge will be drawn to the Galvanist and center its effects 
upon him or her.  With respect to other electrical discharges, a Galvanist 
automatically suffers one-half the effects of any electrical discharge within 10 
yards, even if he or she would not normally be within the area of effect.  A 
Galvanist can use his or her Electrical Grounding ability to diffuse electrical 
energy attracted in this way.  Note that this attraction of electrical energy by a 
Galvanist does not in any way decrease the damage inflicted by the electrical 
discharge to other creatures in contact with it.  If a Galvanist is already within 
the area of effect of an electrical discharge, he or she does not suffer extra 
damage as a result of this effect.

Bonus Proficiencies:  Metalworking
Required Proficiencies:  Reading/Writing, Spellcraft
Preferred Proficiencies:  Appraising, Arcanology, Battle Magic, Blacksmithing, 
Debate, Endurance, Engineering, Gem Cutting, Glassblowing, Jumping, 
Language (Ancient), Lens Crafting, Numeracy, Research, Tumbling, Weather 
Sense

***DISCLAIMER*** 

As with all postings by me of classes or races, it should be noted that portions 
of the information contained herein were inspired by or derived from 
information in published works of TSR, Inc., and may contain references to 
those works, quotations or passages of text (especially in the area of 'Character 
Description', where applicable sections from TSR works were often carried over 
more or less intact into my campaign world), or particular powers or abilities 
invented by TSR staff writers.  No relationship with TSR, Inc., is to be implied 
by this use, nor is any attempt being made to solicit profit or remuneration of 
any kind.  I have read the TSR Online Policy document, and have tried to 
accommodate the stipulations contained therein. 

In instances where I have lifted an essentially complete class or race without 
significant alteration, I have not included these in my postings but instead 
have inserted a reference to the appropriate D&D sourcebook for those curious 
in including it in their campaign.  Only variations that include a significant 
component of original work, alteration, or reformulation (including the 
compositing elements from various TSR sources into new combinations) of have 
been included in this set of postings. 


<a href="mail to:tjaden@u.washington.edu">Jason Eric Nelson </a> < tjaden@u.washington.edu >