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Based on my understanding of the warmage, the spells learned by advanced learning are treated just like any other warmage spell and thus receive the benefit of the armored mage class feature.
At level 8, the warmage should be able to cast using medium armor without an arcane spell failure chance. As far as shields go, I'm not sure how that goes and I don't have Complete Arcane in easy reach right now.
With the Advanced Learning ability, the evocation spells chosen are considered additions to the warmage's spell list.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Warmages are proficient with all simple weapons, light armor, and light shields. At 8th level, a warmage gains proficiency with medium armor (see Armored Mage below).
No mention is made of heavy shields, so the 8th level warmage does not gain proficiency.
Armored Mage (Ex): Normally, armor of any type interferes with an arcane spellcaster's gestures, which can caus his spells to fail (if those spells have somatic components). A warmage's limited focus and specialized training, however, allows him to avoid arcane spell failure as long as he sticks to light armor and light shields. This training does not extend to medium or heavier armors, nor to heavy shields. Nor does this ability apply to spells gained from a different spellcasting class.
At 8th level, a warmage learns to use medium armor with no chance of arcane spell failure.
Heavy shields are specifically stated as not being covered in the Armored Mage ability. Even the Battle Caster feat does not allow the use of heavier shields.
Battle Caster
Building on your existing training allows you to avoid the chance of arcane spell failure when you wear armor heavier than normal.
Prerequisite: Ability to ignore arcane spell failure chance from armor.
Benefit: You are able to wear armor one category heavier than you can normally wear while still avoiding the chance of arcane spell failure. For example, if you have the ability to normally wear light armor without incurring a chance of spell failure, you can wear medium armor and continue to cast spells as normal. This ability does not extend to shields, nor does it apply to spells gained from spellcasting classes other than the class that provides the ability to cast arcane spells while in armor.
Kind of off topic, but if you are about to play a warmage you might find this interesting.
I have a player running one in my AoW campaign (well, actually he’s a Fighter 1/Warmage 6/Eldrich Knight 1). One spell combination he uses is fist of stone cast before combat, then casting a swift blades of fire and then launching his +1 greataxe with a power attack in the whirling blade spell. Working from a base of 16 strength and 12 intelligence for warmage edge, he gets a +10 attack (if using a two point power attack) and does 1d12+10 plus 1d6+1 fire damage (or 13-29) to every enemy target in a 60’ line. Kind of impressive, especially when you can throw it through your front line of fighters without any issues of hitting them.
Next level (9th) he plans to take Arcane Strike. If spending a third level spell slot, he gets a +14 attack bonus, and 1d12+10 plus 1d6+1 plus 3d4 damage (or 16-41) to every enemy target in a 60’ line.
I guess he’s spending a few resources to do this (one 1st, two 2nd and one 3rd level spell), but still - as the DM - I’m seriously starting to shake in my boots…
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Why not just do 8d6 (8-48) with a lightning bolt, use second level for scorching ray 8d6 (8-48) and use first for magic missiles 5d4+5 (10-25). I don't remember how Warmage Edge works, but presumably it'll slap a boost on those numbers too.
More pain for the same number of spells and less faffing about (and magic missiles are auto-hit whilst the lightning bolt only allows a save for half, feats not withstanding, rather than a miss chance).
Although I appreciate that the axe hurling is pretty cinematic and cool.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Cool always wins over practicality ;-)
One slight advantage is that the whirling blade of death is all untyped damage, and there's no spell resistance.
Now if he had a keen falchion, he could hit new highs in damage cheese on a crit.
2d4+12 doubled is evil enough (average of 34 points on a crit) let alone 1d6+1 plus 3d4 damage with only 1d6+1 of that being typed, resistable damage
Why not just do 8d6 (8-48) with a lightning bolt, use second level for scorching ray 8d6 (8-48) and use first for magic missiles 5d4+5 (10-25). I don't remember how Warmage Edge works, but presumably it'll slap a boost on those numbers too.
Yes, when you put it that way, I see it's not so very special. The Warmage Edge adds the INT bonus to damage, so the lightning bolt would do 7d6+1 to all targets, one of his two scorching rays would do 4d6+1, and one of his 4 magic missiles would do 1d4+2 damage. (Note - he hasn't got Practised Caster (yet), so would only have caster level 7 at 9th level)
Although I appreciate that the axe hurling is pretty cinematic and cool.
Yes. Probably why it still stands out in my mind as impressive. That, and everything he's managed to absolutely splatter with it, when lucky enough to do a x3 crit!
One slight advantage is that the whirling blade of death is all untyped damage, and there's no spell resistance.
He is about to come up against a levitating Mind Flayer with SR 32 in the AoW campaign. So I imagine the slight advantage will shine right there.
Now if he had a keen falchion, he could hit new highs in damage cheese on a crit.
2d4+12 doubled is evil enough (average of 34 points on a crit) let alone 1d6+1 plus 3d4 damage with only 1d6+1 of that being typed, resistable damage
Yikes! I'm half glad he hasn't thought of that yet!
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Ghost,
Some unsolicited advice: when dealing with a PC that can blow a serious chunk of his daily spells on one devestating attack, look at the entire campaign, and put it on a timer. That is, give the party a hard-and-fast long-term deadline.
'Cause if they feel they have time to waste, you'll have what Colin calls the "15-minute workday". The party will load up, have a single, exhausting encounter, and rest for the day. The party balance will be off-kilter, you'll have to keep throwing things at the party that's CR +4 to CR +6 just to keep things challenging, which'll screw with the experience tables. Pfagh.
It's one of the reasons I really like Red Hand of Doom. From the time the party realizes how much trouble they're in, until the not-entirely-metaphorical gates of Hell open, they have about a month. Ready, go.