Collge for
Swordmages
The Program: The Swordmage program offers a gish-like experience for those who don't want the extra workload of a minor to gish. Which is not to say you can't take Swordmage as a minor, or to take a minor with Swordmage. We're just saying, if you want a gish build, you can gish without specifically nerfing your build to gish. Is Swordmage a perfect gish? Probably not, but it's a better gish than any other single major gish so far presented. So, all you gish wannabes can finally gish to your heart's content.
You develop an affinity for your sword, like none other. You can call it to you like a pet. You can't have a pet hammer, so don't bother asking. It's called Swordmage, not "Hammermage" or "Axemage". And before you go around saying that limits your options, well, you can have any kind of sword you want. Even a dagger. Or a sickle! Hey, sickles are light blades, so that counts. You can be a Sicklemage. Or, even technically a Shurikenmage, but that sort of limits your options, since most of your abilities require melee attacks, but... Y'know what? Stick with a sword.
Because of the nature of the program, Swordmage freshmen are supplied a single bladed weapon by the school. Shh, don't tell the fighters; they won't take it well.
"The hell is a 'gish'? Talk like a real person, fanboi." --Maddie Weber, junior Drow Cleric
"I was sort of excited when this program started up, because it added a new element to Duelist lab. But then this Nari-lana shows up and starts every class challenging everyone to duels. She's a lab hog! And that was my job..." --The Crimson Lotus, sophomore Human Rogue
"I think the ability I like the best is that, um... Glamor Blade. Creates a duplicate of myself to pick up my slack. I just do it sometimes to check out my technique, because I'm so awesome." --Nari-lana, freshman Genasi Swordmage.
SWORDMAGE UPPERCLASSMAN MAJOR EMPHASIS
Anarch of Shyr: Learn the ways of the ancient genasi swordmages, learned thousands of years ago, on the world of Abeir, to fight the... you can shoot lightning out your sword. That's the gist of it; let's go with that.
"It's a multiple-millennia old tradition that taps the power of the Elemental Chaos, but in Faerun, the Elemental Chaos was created by merging the Elemental planes less than a hundred years ago... Does Ao even proofread reality anymore?" --Maddie Weber, junior Drow Cleric
Coronal Guard: We've selected the finest Eladrin swordmage masters in Cormyr to teach this distinct, highly defensive discipline. However, they all went to work at Silverymoon, so we selected the ones who would work for cheap.
"I like Professor Minala. Sure, she lectures straight out of the textbook, but she still manages to fend off a dozen assassins a class, and never once takes a hit." --Nari-lana, freshman Genasi Swordmage
Malec-Keth Janissary: Sigil Prep has hired some of the top professors away from the Tower of Malec-Keth in the City of Brass, because we offer tenure and have accreditation, which they certainly can't claim. This is just another part of Sigil Prep's promise to take fighting traditions and methods steeped in lore and pride, and offer to everybody, mass-produced, without all the effort and backstory you'd normally need. You're welcome.
"I'm, um, I'm going to have to admit, I thought this was going to be some fire-wielding, genie thing. I... I didn't realize it was just a fancy-named bodyguard school." --Jack Solon, freshman Genasi swordmage
Umbriri: Shadowy, stealthy, sneaky swordmages. This program is brought to you in cooperation with the Shadovar Conservatory, and brainwashing is included free of charge. Students who resist brainwashing earn a free Eternal Animosity degree from Shadovar.
"Frankly, I liked it better when Shadovar wuz usin' slaves for their startin' line. Stoopid Umbriri linesmen play a hell of'a night game. An' their arena ain't got no spotlights, neither." --Krusk, senior half-orc barbarian
Wandering Swordmage: The purpose of this department is to learn diversity in fighting style, so arrangements are made for Wandering Swordmage students to take classes in a number of our sister universities; Aegis Insight from the Conclave of Silverymoon, Faerunian History from Waterdeep U, Senior Calculus from Morgrave University, etc, etc. The result of this diversity is learning the same skills as every other Wandering Swordmage, but still...
"Y'ever notice how everybody is teleporting these days? Teleport after hitting an enemy, teleport the enemy after hitting him, teleport out of the room before she wants to cuddle. Well, it beats walking to class" --Hennet, junior human sorcerer