Magus: Comparison of Normal vs. Unchained Class Abilities

Design Background:  Locally, there are some fans of gish-style characters, and this interest extends to the magus base class.  Some of us liked to play fighter-mages in 1st and 2nd edition D&D.  The feeling is that magi are interesting, but somewhat complicated and not terribly powerful.  The unchained magus is a complete overhaul of the class.  Magus arcana (and some basic class features) have been refashioned as customizeable / selectable "arcane talents."  For a breakdown, see the comparison of class abilities for the normal magus and the unchained magus. For house rule changes that only slightly up the power level of the magus class, see the house rules for magi.

MAGUS ARCANA CONVERTED TO ARCANE TALENTS

Arcane Accuracy

Bane Blade [Bane Weapon Arcana]

Close Range [Close-Range Strike]

Critical Strike [Arcane Critical]

Devoted Blade [Devoted Weapon Arcana]

Dispelling Strike

Disruptive [ Disruptive Strike]

Ghost Blade [Ghost Weapon Arcana]

Hasted Assault [Arcane Hastening]

Quickened Magic [Arcane Quickening]

Reflection [Reflecting Strike]

Wand Wielder [Wand Combat]

BASE CLASS ABILITIES CONVERTED TO ARCANE TALENTS

Counterstrike

Greater Spell Access [Spell Lore]

Heavy Armor [Armored mage (heavy)]

Medium Armor [Armored mage (medium)]

Spell Recall
Spellstrike

ELIMINATED CLASS ABILITIES

Improved Spell Recall

Knowledge Pool

Pantheon of the Southlands

Design Background: This pantheon draws upon the Popul Vuh, Mayan and Aztec mythology, as well as the AD&D 1st edition Deities & Demigods. 

The Pantheon of the Southlands is a family of gods that has been growing since the creation.  The most ancient and primal of these deities have always been tied to the creation and to nature (fire, rain, earth, nature, etc.).  It is a true pantheon, with numerous relationships between the deities. There are husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, etc.  After millennia, the original primal deities were joined by astral divinities.  Traveling from the stars to the Southlands, these astral divinities or "star demons" usurped the popularity of the primal gods and now lead the pantheon.  There are numerous minor (and undetailed) members of the pantheon.  The most important members of the pantheon are detailed here:

Title	Mesoamerican Deity	Status	Align	Portfolio	Domains	Favored Weapon	Symbol
The Obsidian Butterfly	Itzpapalotl	Greater goddess	N	Stars, the heavens, eclipses, midwives, female warriors, protector of the feminine, travel, obsidian, butterflies	Community, Darkness, Freedom, Protection, Travel, Void	Starknife & Butterfly Sword	A black butterfly over a star
The Plumed Serpent	Quetzalcóatl	Greater god	LN	The morning star, dawn, the priesthood, arts, crafts, learning, knowledge, snakes	Air, Animal, Artifice, Knowledge, Law, Scaleykind, Sun	Whip & Urumi	A snake with feathers over a star
The Ugly Brother	Xolotl	Greater god	LE	The evening star, dusk, guide for the dead, sickness, deformities, monsters	Darkness, Death, Earth, Evil, Law, Repose, Travel	Meteor Hammer	A black dog over a star
The Smoking Mirror	Tezcatlipoca	Intermediate god	CE	Night, moon, magic, destiny, divination, rulership, the nobility, jaguars	Animal, Chaos, Darkness, Evil, Magic, Nobility, Jaguars	Iron Claw (Tekko-Kagi)	The moon
The Turquoise Lord	Huehueteotl (Xiuhtecuhtli)	Intermediate god	CE	Day, sun, fire, heat, time, drought, famine, turqoise	Evil, Fire, Knowledge, Sun	Flambard	The sun
The Skull Mother	Mictecacihuatl	Intermediate goddess	NE	Death, bones, graves, cannabalism, owls	Animal, Death, Evil, Healing	Bladed Scarf	A grinning skull
The Green Giver	Tlaloc	Lesser god	LE	Rain, storms, floods, hurricanes	Destruction, Evil, Water, Weather	Flail & Heavy Flail	A lightning bolt
The Left-handed Hummingbird	Huitzilopotchli	Lesser god	CE	War, strife, human sacrifice, hunting, hummingbirds	Destruction, Evil, Strength, War	Battleaxe & Greataxe	A blue hummingbird
The Jade-skirted Goddess	Chalchiuhtlicue	Lesser goddess	NG	Beauty, love, fishing, rivers, streams, jade	Charm, Good, Healing, Water	Trident	A jade serpent
The Hearth Keeper	Chantico	Lesser goddess	CE	Hearths, gold, treasure, precious things, volcanoes	Community, Fire, Evil, Protection	Warhammer	A piece of melted gold
The Sin Eater	Tlazolteotl	Lesser goddess	CE	Sin, vice, forbidden desire, confession, spiders	Chaos, Charm, Evil, Vermin	Cat o' Nine Tails	A red spider
The Medicine Iguana	Itzlilton	Lesser god	N	Medicine, healing, herbs, tobacco, agave, cacao, iguanas	Animal, Healing, Plant, Scaleykind	Sickle	A green iguana
The Corn Doll	Chicomecoatl	Lesser god	LN	Agriculture, nourishment, plenty, maize	Community, Healing, Plant, Weather	Sickle	A corn doll
The Flower Prince	Xochipilli	Lesser god	NG	Pleasure, love between men, feasting, wine, frivolity, dance, flowers	Chaos, Charm, Liberation, Plant	Rapier	A yellow flower
The Old Coyote	Huehuecóyotl	Lesser god/dess	CN	Storytelling, singing, luck, cunning, pranks, shapechanging, coyotes	Animal, Chaos, Charm, Luck, Magic, Trickery, Travel	Shortsword	A singing coyote
The Death Bat	Camazotz	Demigod	CE	Darkness, caves, blood, bats	Animal, Darkness, Death, Earth	Longbow & Shortbow	A black bat
The Hero Twins	Huapu & Xbalanque	Demigod	CG	Heroism, sports, combat, vengeance, twins, eagles	Glory, Good, Strength, Travel	Sword, Two-Bladed	An eagle clutching a serpent in each talon
The Jewelled Bird	Chalchihuihtotolin	Demigoddess	CE	Sorcery, temptation, self-destruction, parrots	Animal, Charm, Destruction, Magic	Flying Talon	A bent-over green parrot
The Curved Knife	Ixquimilli	Demigod	CE	Stone, frost, cold, misery, punishment	Destruction, Earth, Water, Weather	Obsidian Dagger	An obsidian dagger