I thought I knew what being a powerful wizard was like. But I was wrong. I guess I was a little egostistical. And not in a deserving way like Eegoh. The Esoteric. Afterall I stood no chance against the Master of the Vampires, or even the Duchess really. I may have had potential but I hadn't really got anywhere. Now that I had my second Template I was about to become much stronger even if it was a tier below the original.

Template(Intellect): Primordialist(Legendary*)

Base Stats:

Health 30(Rec 1) Mana 140(Rec 7)

Str 3 Dex 3 Con 3

Cha 4 Wis 7 Int 14

Mem 7

Stat Points: 7(0)

Skill Points 8 Archetype Points 4 FreePoints 2

Ability Points 5 Template Points 3

*Multiclass Status

So base stats, stat points, and pools were impacted by this being a multiclass template and not a base template. I didn't almost double in power stats wise. Template values were reduced but only because it was a Legendary rather than Unique Template. I also had some points I had saved up. In terms of raw impact I'd call this a 50% boost. Of course with synergy involved it was more like a 150% boost, maybe more.

Character Points:

Ability Points 2 Skill Points 5 Free Points 1

Now, let me get to the main attraction.

High Human Template Options|

Arcanist(Tier 2): A master of arcane magic, which lacks an elemental alignment, versatile and with some unique effects but not as strong at pure damage spells and lacking the benefit of significantly countering an opposing alignment

Burnisher(Teir 2): A master of boosting magic, you can improve allies and yourself with temporary bonuses.

Regresser(Tier 1): A master of corrupting magic, you can weaken and burden foes with penalties and limitations

Sustainer(Tier 2): Sustainers possess both powerful buffs and healing and have access to unique effects stacking with other buffs

Coordinator(Tier 2): A powerful talent for leading large parties and even armies, this capability stacks with administrative and buffing roles

I had 3 free points and I already knew what I wanted before I even looked at my new class Talents and Abilities. One of the remaining High Human Abilities were interesting to me but I made some tough choices on talents. I actually still had tough choices. Coordinator was right out and Regresser was right in. That left me 2 picks and 3 decent options. Sustainer was an obvious pick. Mana for days, presumably.

I *really* wanted to take 3 options but I needed Thoughtcaster. Not only did it Synergize with Tricaster but it prevented an unlucky Silence from totally wrecking me. I really did want Burnisher but I always had a shot later to grab it. When I eventually did take it I believed that I had made a correct but tough choice.

I had 7 total ability points lame, since I got 8 just from my original template and I didn't even match that with my bonus points from my quest reward. I decided I'd have to look at the Template and Archetype Abilities before I made a choice. So now we get to the Template itself.

Primordialist Template Options|

Archivist(Tier 1): A master of knowledge and research who knows feels the thrum of power in eldritch tomes and the flows of power through dusty stacks. Library magic is not technically a thing and bibliomancy a myth but intuitive knowledge of the ancient archives of the world is as close as it gets

Runescribe(Tier 1): Modern enchantment is a thing of finesse and form that trascends languages and cultures. Yet ancient and powerful cultures forged great works in their crude and primal way. Knowledge of ancient Runes mundane and magical provides unique benefits and carries the favor of fallen and forgotten gods. A fragment of divinity is still beyond the might of man or elf and even more so directed those few who remain with hidden and obscure knowledge

Adept(Tier 1): To understand mana and the channels through which it empower mortal minds is to be efficient and fantastic at the same time. A greater understanding of the laws of magic provides unique knowledge of improving mental defenses and exploiting the flaws of other minds

Arcanist(Tier 2): A master of arcane magic, which lacks an elemental alignment, versatile and with some unique effects but not as strong at pure damage spells and lacking the benefit of significantly countering an opposing alignment

Binder(Tier 2): While runes and enchantments are skills confined mostly to objects and monsters the magic of improving the body and the mind through visible signs allows the temporary and even permanent alternation of a sentient's essential nature

Haruspex(Teir 2): To divine the fate of men and kingdoms is typically a power reserved for the servants of the gods. However ancient mages understood the skills of piercing time's veil in their own limited. Chronomany allows a mage to wield power over time but it is also possible to engage in finer interactions with reality

Malignant(Tier 2): Not all magic engages the intellect of man with the audacity of creation and the joy of truth. Black magic bends intellect to nefarious ends and calls upon infernal powers of shadow and smoke or darker things

Ritualist(Tier 2): There are things in and beyond the world with unique and myriad purpose who are not concerned greatly with the ultimate fate of mortals. They grant boons or bonds for sacrifice or service to those who would carry out their will. Evil, amoral, or neutral powers make pacts with mortals just as the gods themselves

Alchemist(Tier 3): Knowledge comes in many forms and some provide great benefits without requiring great magical power. The brewing of potions and other concoctions can provide numerous benefits if time and money are invested

Enchanting(Tier 3): The ability to channel magical power through objects is very powerful. It is also expensive and time consuming to master

Pathfinder(Tier 3): Knowledge of terrain and nature and geography is of great benefit in military and adventuring matters as well as for gathering the materials for crafting professions. The path of finding provides numerous skills that are of great benefit outside of combat

Magnate(Tier 3): The magical power of gold and jewels has been understood for thousands of years. Understanding the values of goods and services and charting the movement of money has both theoretical and practical value

Performance(Tier 3): A knowledge of culture and literature and the skills to engage with and create it are of immense value for those who don't spent their whole lives trudging through distant and savage lands enacting a story of slaughter and carnage

Scrivener(Tier 4): Magical scrolls are an incredibly useful option for those who wish to increase their versitility in combat or other matters without actually learning a wide array of magic

Finesse(Tier 4): Some may prefer a darker implication but the ability to go places and find things is an invaluable skill

Trickery(Tier 4): Distraction, sleight of hand, sneakiness, all skills that can be put to useful ends if not particularly savory ones

Legendary Templates come with 3 Template points, and 8 Template Talents, and 4 Archetype Points. All Archetypes have 8 Talents. Its also relevant to note that many Templates will share one or two Talents. In this case I am able to pick Arcanist, should I choose to do so, a Talent I was unable to retrieve from my original Template. Secret Backgrounds actually surpass Unique Templates in some ways. You get more stat points and you trade one Archetype Point for a Template Point. I have a really tough choice now because only 3 of my 8 Talent points select from the awesome Template options. On the upside, I have a deep pool of Free Point options later.

I'm kind of upset because I can't get Arcanist plus my three tier 1 options. Arcanist has a very high synergy with my existing talents. I absolutely want Archivist. Runescribe is a bit of an iffy one. It is an Intellect/Knowledge skill unlike Adept and Arcanist. Archivist is as well but every template pretty much has a definining skill. It was Metamagic for High Human. In the end I settle on waiting out Runescribe. I don't have Arcana either. This turned out to be a pretty much even choice. Adept has more synergy with my current build even if Runescribe is very strong and has synergy with my build later on.

Archivist(Tier 1)

Adept(Tier 1)

Arcanist(Tier 2)

I've got 3 options for my Archetype points but this choice is much easier. I'm not set up for Enchanting and I don't care for the Tier 4 options so that leaves me with 4 obvious choices which have decent synergy.

Alchemist(Tier 3)

Magnate(Tier 3)

Pathfinder(Tier 3)

Performance(Tier 3)

Now we get to the ability options. There are some amazing Template abilities. Especially because of a rare synergy from High Human because of Enigmatic.

Primordialist Ability Options:

Esoteric: Gain an extra skill per level in a magical talent (Not Retroactive)

Paragon: Gain 10 Skill points every time you gain a Template (Retroactive)

Insight: 50% to bonus skillpoint gains rounded down (Not Retroactive)

Prodigy: 25% off Phase boosting rounded down (Not Retroactive)

Acumen: Gain 1 extra stat point per level (Not Retroactive)

Affinity: +2 Quality Level to crafted items

Astute: +14% Charisma Bonus to social checks

Intellect Archetype Ability Options:

Attentive: +14% Charisma Bonus to social checks

Endower: +1 Quality Level to crafted items

Discernment: +40% MEM for Identify ability application

Talent: +1 Ability point per 5 levels (Retroactive)

Sagacity: +28% Wisdom on spell saves

Analytical: +28% Wisdom for Arcana ability application

Tranquil: Freecast a single spell under Surprise penalty

I had 5 ability points applicable to Template Abilities. This was a pretty easy choice.

Esoteric

Paragon

Insight

Prodigy

Acumen

I had 2, currently, applicable to Archetype or Basic abilities. The first choice was obvious scoring me 2 extra ability points. After that I wasn't super impressed with my options. I picked up Arcana from the Magic Archetype tree and then Historian and Geographer from the Basic ability tree. Now that I was getting 3 Ability points per 5 instead of 2 I was confident I could clear out Sagacity, Analytical, and Tranquil before I actually needed them. If anything I would be loading up on Abilities too quickly.

Now I was sitting on 38 skill points and a whopping *9* new Talent trees thanks to my Free Points. I was going to have a real rough time making decisions between Phase boosts, learning my new trees, and the ever present yet mostly ignored option of using skill points for skill boosts. This is gonna be intense. Here we fucking go.

Sustainer Phase 1 Spell List:

Leech: Drain 20 | single target | ranged 20ft | Cast 1s | 20 mana

Lifesurge: Health Recovery 10/s _ 10s | self | Cast 1s | 25 mana

Attenuate: Damage Mitigation: 10% _ 10s | self | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Manafont: Mana Recovery 20% _ 10s | self | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Regresser Phase 1 Spell List:

Debilitate: Health Recovery -20% _ 8s | single target | ranged 20ft | Cast 1s | 25 mana

Supression: Damage Output -10% _ 8s | single target | ranged 20ft| Cast 2s | 25 mana

Shrivel: Health Cap _ Current _ 12s | single target | ranged 20ft | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Expurgate: Debuff 2 | sphere 8ft | ranged 20ft | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Adept Phase 1 Spell List:

Willpower: Save w WIS +20% _ 10s | Self | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Empower: Vest 100 cap - Magic Damage 10% _ 10s | self | Cast 1s | 50 mana

Manaflow: Mana cost -10% _ 10s | single target | ranged 40ft | Cast 1s | 40 mana

Arcanist Phase 1 Spell List:

Arcane Usurption: Ignore Type Disadvantage | 3 spells | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Arcane Endowment: +4 mana cost _ +4 damage _ +8% damage | 3 spells | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Arcane Stupefaction: Stun 5s | single target | ranged 40ft | 40 mana

Archivist Phase 1 Skill List:

Steel Mind: +14 MEM | Self | Perk

Anthropology: +28 WIS on spell saves _ 10s | Self | Cast 2s | 40 mana

Research: Training: -1 silver per Phase and Level| Self | Perk

So these are the 5 Template Talents I picked. There is quite a lot going on here including new concepts. I definitely picked Steel Mind and Research. I am a skill hoarder. I'm not super worried about Anthropology or Willpower yet. Those will be useful against Casters for sure though. I took all 3 Arcane skills. Stun is the best Crowd Control even if this one is single target. The other 2 spells are good with Metamagic. Arcane is Tier 2 but its pretty uncommon and Metamagic is even more rare. Getting both is awesome. They operate a bit differently especially at low Phases but they are a little broken in combination. Very nice on top of Pyromania, too.

I am now at 33/38 skill points. Steel Mind was a key pick up even though I plan to do some Phase boosts. Manaflow and Empower involve even more Highmagic goodness as far as spell boosting. Vest takes 100 mana off my max on top of 50 as a cost. I need to be sure to spend at least 50 mana before I use it or I lose 50 mana. Here I am really happy about Spellsage. A lot of time limited buffs. I'm going to take Phase 2 Metamagic now so I'm glad I grabbed the Phase boost Ability for cost reduction. This is going to be a big boost.

I am now at 31/38 skill points. I have 38 because I took Insight before Paragon. Insight applies to quest rewards and other events as well as Abilities. It also applies to Perks. I do get a Perk for that but not soon. Relevant to note that Perks can't be trained but they do get a Phase boost. OP. There's a reason Archivist is a Tier 1 talent and its not Anthropology. God bless Steel Mind.

Regresser is pretty interesting. Phase 1 has spells that clear buffs in an AOE, cap Health at the current value at the time the spell is cast, and drop damage output and healing. I am focusing a lot early on damage output but Tarnishing, Regresser, and Miasma are a potent debuff combination. Regresser and Tarnisher are primarily single target especially early one which makes them a bit weak for a solo player. They are obscene to have supporting you in a party, especially in boss fights. I take Expurgate since it has an AoE impact. Never know when I'll be dealing with a buffbot. 30/38 skill points.

Sustainer isn't super useful for me in Phase 1. I take the self buffs Attenuate and and Lifesurge. Attenuate is the spell that makes this a true Tier 1 especially early on. Self spells are functionally equivalent to AoE and multi-target spells for a solo player. They are comparatively weak in parties. 28/38 skill points.

I don't do anything with Magnate and Alchemist for now, so I'll save those Talent trees for later. I'll go through Performance, though. I want some social stuff to help me as I abuse the opportunities in the capital. I have a ton of remaining skill points so I'll talk about Phase boosts after that.

Performance Phase 1 Spell List:

Fascinating: Bonus dialogue options with non-noble significant NPCs | Self | Perk

Street Entertainer: +14% CHA on social checks with the common people | Self | Perk

Ebulliant: +1 Reputation if already positive | Self | Perk

Flamboyant: +10 CHA | Self | Perk

Phase 1 for Perfomarnce was 100% perks and some were pretty interesting. As a Tier 3 Talent in Phase 1 stat boosts were lowered a bit since they would trigger an extra Phase boost. A Tier 1 Social Talent would be significantly more useful but Social Talents didn't use mana for the most part. Afterall if you ever multiclassed to anything magical and got good INT its not like you'd be drying out your mana pool on Social actions. Good design decision in my opinion. I suggested they do some sort pool based system for live so you couldn't have all the social boosts at once but they didn't listen.

Their loss and my gain. I took everything. Why not? Tier 3s were cheap on Phasing, I was almost tempted to boost it straight up. With 24 skill points to go I coulda spent 9 points to max out Phase 2. But I really wanted Metamagic to boost and that was incredibly expensive. I wore myself out digging through web archives. Time to nap. I'm old, fuck you.