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View Full Version : Scholar Base Class (D&D 3.5 Homebrew)



Crel
2009-04-13, 10:37 PM
The Scholar
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th| 9th

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Scholar of Spells|3|1|-

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|-|4|2|-

3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|-|4|2|1|-

4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|-|4|3|2|-|-

5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Esoteric Knowledge|4|3|2|1|-|-

6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|-|4|3|3|2|-|-|-

7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|-|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-

8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|-|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-

9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6|-|4|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Esoteric Knowledge|4|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-

11th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|-|4|4|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-

12th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+8|-|4|4|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-

13th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+8|-|4|4|4|4|4|3|2|1|-|-

14th|
+7|
+4|
+4|
+9|-|4|4|4|4|4|3|3|2|-|-

15th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+9|Esoteric Knowledge|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|2|1|-

16th|
+8|
+5|
+5|
+10|-|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|3|2|-

17th|
+8|
+5|
+5|
+10|-|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|2|1

18th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+11|-|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|3|2

19th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+11|-|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|3

20th|
+10|
+6|
+6|
+12|Esoteric Knowledge|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4[/table]

The Scholar: Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|4|2|

2nd|5|2|

3rd|5|3|1|

4th|6|3|1|

5th|6|4|2|1|

6th|7|4|2|1|

7th|8|5|3|2|1|

8th|8|5|4|2|1|

9th|9|5|4|3|2|1|

10th|9|5|4|3|2|1|

11th|9|5|5|4|3|2|1|

12th|9|5|5|4|3|2|1|

13th|9|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|

14th|9|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|

15th|9|5|5|4|4|4|3|2|1|

16th|9|5|5|4|4|4|3|2|1|

17th|9|5|5|4|4|4|3|3|2|1|

18th|9|5|5|4|4|4|4|3|3|2|

19th|9|5|5|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|

20th|9|5|5|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|[/table]

Hit Die: d4
Alignment: Any, but strongly favors law.
Class Skills: Appraise, Concentration, Craft (all taken individually), Decipher Script, Forgery, Knowledge (all taken individually), Search, Speak Language, Spellcraft.
Skill Points: 4 + Intelligence modifier
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Scholars are not proficient with any armors or shields. They are proficient with daggers, quarterstaffs, and slings.
Spells: Intelligence determines the Scholar's bonus spells per day, and the save DCs of his spells. He casts spells spontaneously as a sorcerer for each spell slot he has. He keeps a spellbook, which he must study for an hour a day to prepare his mind for his casting. He chooses his spells known from the Sorcerer/Wizard list, and casts arcane spells. He is affected by arcane spell failure chance as normal, unless he takes the Spell Certainty Esoteric Knowledge.
Scholar of Spells: A Scholar can add spells to his spellbook, but in a way different than that of Wizards. A Scholar has a set number of spells known at each level (see above table), and he cannot add spells to his spellbook from an outside source (such as a Wizard's spellbook, a scroll, etc). Instead, he is able to study during downtime to learn new spells. It takes him eight hours of studying per spell level to learn a new spell. He also has to make a DC 15 + spell level Spellcraft check. 0-level spells count as 1/2 level for time, and the DC is 15. A scholar can attempt to study for a divine spell (which would be cast as arcane), but the spell level counts as double for the Spellcraft Check, and time required (i.e. a 2nd level divine spell would require a DC 19 Spellcraft check, and 24 hours of studying). A Scholar cannot study more than 8 hours per day, but can do other things, such as adventuring, on a day he studies. Time spent studying can be split up into increments of as small as 2 hours. If a scholar fails the Spellcraft check to study a spell, he cannot attempt to learn that spell until he gains another character level. Also, a Scholar can attempt to study a spell as a metamagic spell, but only if he has the appropriate metamagic feat. The effective spell level is used to study it. A Scholar can have no more than double the number of spells on her spells known table for her level total, including with studying.
Esoteric Knowledge: At 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level a Scholar gets access to Esoteric Knowledge. He has several options that he can learn:
Spell Certainty The Scholar can ignore up to 10% arcane spell failure from armor. He can take this only once.
Dragon's Health The Scholar gains 1d12 + Con modifier hit points. This does not count as a hit die for the purposes of any calculation, it only adds increased hit points.
Heroes' Skill The Scholar gains +2 to his Base Attack Bonus. This is not merely a competence bonus to hit, but a increase in BAB, including adding additional attacks, if possible. It cannot be used to qualify for a prestige class, (or a feat, or anything else similar).
Bonus Feat The Scholar gains a bonus feat that is either a Metamagic or Item Creation feat.

Hopefully, I've made this a little more coherent. I changed the levels for Esoteric Knowledge, tried to write a more thorough version of the spell studying, and put up a table of spells known. Enjoy!

Chronos
2009-04-13, 11:01 PM
I see very little difference between this and a standard sorcerer, and what differences I see are all in favor of this class. He gets access to his spells earlier than a sorcerer does, he gets more skill points (especially considering Int-based casting) from a better list, and he gets bonus feats (or other benefits you can't get from feats). Having to study from a book doesn't make much practical difference, as long as the spells are still spontaneous, and the time spent adding new spells is probably downtime between adventures anyway.

Icewalker
2009-04-13, 11:01 PM
The spellbook system is unclear. Their known spells list is their spellbook, but they cast spontaneously from anything in it? If separated from their spellbook, what happens to their casting? How about if they replace their spellbook with somebody elses?

Anyways, I really can't speak to the balance, but it looks alright. Interesting idea for Esoteric Knowledge, and I must say, it doesn't seem very scholarly, but eh.

Also you took my name :smallsigh: I've been long planning a class by the name of Scholar. Posted it as a PrC a while back, was a bad design, remaking it as a base class, although mine is a new spellcasting system as a student of ancient magic, so no real overlap.

Innis Cabal
2009-04-13, 11:02 PM
Speak langauge dosn't need to be a class skill

Crel
2009-04-14, 06:26 PM
Thanks for the info. I knew it wasn't a great idea, because i came up with it in only twenty minutes or so. Also, at least in most of the games I've played in, there hasn't been loads and loads of downtime for a class like this to study, make items, etcetera, so my view is a little flawed. I figured that since the class had a wizards spells per day, sorcerers (basically) spells known, and very little time to get more spells alternately (from my personal experience), it deserved more skill points and some unusual feats. The spellbook idea was because what kind of scholar doesn't have a book or four? Also, it added another weakness, because if he didn't have his spellbook, he would have no access to his spells. Sorry about any confusion. I'll work on seeing if i can revise it to make it a touch better, and see what shows up.

Harperfan7
2009-04-14, 07:24 PM
You could not have picked a less attractive name for your class.

At least wizards sound mystical.

However, if I were a minotaur and got killed by a scholar, it would be about the same as a barbarian being killed by a single kobold.

Crel
2009-04-15, 10:13 PM
Harperfan7, i concede your point. What then, would you suggest as a name for a class that uses knowledge and studying skills as its primary skills and is most benefited from studying constantly to obtain more spells and invent new ones, without the ability to gain new spells from others? Also, am putting the edit in, should be done by tomorrow.