D&D: The Swordmage

Now that we're done with the classes from the first Player's Handbook, I'm moving on to the next published class, the Swordmage. The Swordmage comes from a popular idea in previous editions of the game - the character who could wield a sword and also use magic at the same time. While the Swordmage won't likely be throwing any fireballs, the powers it uses are distinctly magical, and if used correctly, very devastating. The Swordmage is, like the Fighter and the Paladin, a Defender; it is his job to protect his fellow party members and attract the attention of enemies. Though he is lightly armored, his skills more than make up for that, as you'll see here.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Serbahn, level 1
Shadar-kai, Swordmage
Swordmage Aegis: Aegis of Ensnarement

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 10, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 10.


AC: 19 Fort: 14 Reflex: 14 Will: 12
HP: 31 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +9, Athletics +6, Endurance +8, History +9

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +3, Bluff, Diplomacy, Dungeoneering, Heal, Insight, Intimidate, Nature, Perception, Religion +4, Stealth +3, Streetwise, Thievery +1

FEATS
Level 1: Grasping Ensnarement

POWERS
Swordmage at-will 1: Luring Strike
Swordmage at-will 1: Lightning Lure
Swordmage encounter 1: Falcon's Mark
Swordmage daily 1: Sweeping Frostblade

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Leather Armor, Broadsword
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As a shadar-kai, Serbahn has a racial ability allowing him to teleport a short distance once per encounter, which is a handy ability to have; his Swordmage ability, Aegis of Ensnarement, allows him to mark an opponent at range, and then if the opponent does not attack Serbahn, not only will the enemy suffer a penalty to attack rolls, but Serbahn can also pull the enemy to his side, leaving the foe open to attack. Luring Strike allows Serbahn to attack, move a square, and pull the target into the square he was just in, and also to move another square either before or after the attack, whereas Lightning Lure can attack a foe up to 3 squares away and then pull the foe to a square adjacent to Serbahn. Falcon's Mark requires Serbahn to throw his sword, but it allows him to mark the target with his Swordmage Aegis power, giving him two such targets. Sweeping Frostbalde lets Serbahn attack an opponent with an icy sword-strike, and if he hits, he immobilizes the target until the target passes a saving throw - so it can put a foe out of the game for a while.