Sunderfolk's Pyromancer Class Explained

Tactical tabletop-inspired RPG Sunderfolk will launch with a roster of six classes for players to choose from. Each class is represented by a different animal, each with a different set of abilities that can be used in combat. Some classes are more physically based, while others focus on magic. One of Sunderfolk's six classes, the Pyromancer focuses on high-damage spells and can use their fiery abilities to unleash deadly area-of-effect attacks across the battlefield.

For The Best War Games Advance, we spoke with several Secret Door devs about Sunderfolk's classes, with narrative designer Neo Zhang talking about the chaotic, powerful gameplay of the Pyromancer class.

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By Joshua Duckworth

Sunderfolk's Pyromancer Abilities Explained

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Described as "a fiery bundle of joy and chaos," by Zhang, the Pyromancer is a salamander, a type of amphibian traditionally associated with the element of fire. The association is rather obvious, as in mythology, the term "salamander" is sometimes used to refer to a fire elemental. The Pyromancer's abilities are obviously based around fire, but they can also be compared to a Sorcerer in Dungeons and Dragons who focuses on area-of-effect-spells. They possess Firepower, a passive ability that lets them absorb fire, granting +2 to each attack and can be stacked up to three times. In addition, as they level up, the Pyromancer gains access to a number of abilities they can cast in battle, including:

Bouncing Blaze - creates a ranged fireball that bounces between enemies
Flame Breath - attacks in a line and hits up to three enemies
Meteor Crash - lets the Pyromancer leap three hexes and attack all foes around the landing area
Trailblaze - sets a hexagon on fire, then transports the Pyromancer to that hex
Cauterize - absorbs fire and heals the Pyromancer based on the amount absorbed
Friendly Fire - directs fire at an ally, but only harms the enemies surrounding them

The Pyromancer Can Unleash An Inferno

The Pyromancer's Ultimate ability in Sunderfolk is Inferno. This massive flaming orb, similar to Dungeons and Dragons' Fireball spell, is one of the most powerful area-of-effect attacks available in Sunderfolk, capable of hitting large numbers of enemies at once and dealing a ton of damage. Even better, every hex that Inferno hits remains on fire after the attack is finished, making the battlefield more dangerous for enemies to traverse. As Zhang summarized the Pyromancer's Ultimate Ability and general strategy,

"They deal massive damage, but their actions usually leave the battlefield covered in flames — sometimes helpful, sometimes a big problem."

The Pyromancer's Fate Deck Explained

Sunderfolk differentiates itself from Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games by featuring a Fate Deck. Instead of rolling a D20, players draw from their character's Fate Deck each turn. Some Fate cards are straightforward, adding damage to or subtracting it from the attack's total. However, each class's Fate deck also features specialized cards that synergize with its play style.

The Pyromancer's Fate deck includes Leap cards, which increase their mobility and battlefield control by letting them move great distances at once. Some cards allow them to absorb the surrounding fire, boosting their Firepower passive ability. Some of these cards, much like the Cauterize ability above, also allow the Pyromancer to heal by absorbing fire. Finally, the deck includes cards that let the Pyromancer add even more fire to the board, which they can then make use of by boosting their attacks or traveling directly to any of these flaming hexes.

When Sunderfolk releases on April 23, the Pyromancer will team up with the Arcanist, Bard, Berserker, Ranger, and Rogue to embark on epic adventures and defend the townsfolk of Arden from the many threats of the Sunderlands. Tabletop game lovers who enjoy doing large amounts of damage, having control over the battlefield, and of course, attacking with lots and lots of fire should definitely give Sunderfolk's Pyromancer class a try.

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