Maerok
2009-07-13, 12:21 AM
In the quest for a playable and agreeable Shadowcaster, I present the latest of my musings. The biggest changes is the shift to spontaneous casting and the whole Channel Shadow mechanic which integrates most of the metashadow feat functionality. I wanted it to be on par and beyond the scope of the sorcerer (and possibly to replace it in some instances).
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The Shadowcaster
http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs28/f/2008/057/e/f/Aurasuavis_by_jezebel.jpg
"Enshrouded in darkness, torn between the shades that dance beyond reality, I've seen more of this world than you can ever imagine."
~Izulon Velakna, Prophet of Shadow and herald of the Shrouded Scion
Making a Shadowcaster
Abilities
Charisma is the most dominant trait of a shadowcaster. They boast fierce personality and work their magic through sheer force of will. However, they stress the importance of discipline and mastery of their ethereal power which requires Intelligence for great lengths of prudent study. Dexterity and the ability to move swiftly and deftly find many uses in combative situations.
Races
Almost any race prone to seeking enlightenment in all the wrong places or searching out means to greater power are captured by the allure of shadow magic. Most notably are humans, drow, and tiefling.
While still rare, shadowcasters can be most easily located in the Underdark or wherever the boundaries between this world and the Plane of Shadows can fluctuate. Word travels that several shadowcasters seek to overthrow the clerical foundations of drow society in favor of an extraplanar entity called the Shrouded Scion.
Alignment
Shadowcasters are generally associated with evil or unnatural dealings and their pursuit of discipline pushes them toward the lawful aspect. Many maintain a neutral outlook in spite of the shifting nature of their power.
Starting Gold
3d4x10 gp (75 gp)
Starting Age
As sorcerer. Most shadowcasters begin study long before actually acquiring 'the shadow's embrace' and will eventually gain them once they fully understand the Art inside and out. More naturally talented ones will gain the power first, but far less survive as the touch of shadow can be lethal.
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HD: d6
Skill Points: 4 + Int
Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcane, planes), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Spellcraft, Spot, Use Magic Device
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f286/pwned101/shadowcaster.png
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Shadowcasters are proficient with simple weapons but no armor.
Spellcasting: Shadowcasters can spontaneously cast any mystery of a level they have access to by class levels. The may only cast mysteries if their Charisma is equal to 10 + mystery level of the mystery they are trying to cast. The DC is Charisma-based. Fundamentals are now 0-level spells.
Channel Shadow: A shadowcaster merges unbridled talent with extreme discipline in order to gather the most power from her spells. While able to invoke the mysteries of shadow magic by force of will, her studiousness has allowed her to manipulate and master the ever-shifting nature of her Art.
Shift Points:
A shadowcaster has a number of Shift Points (SP) equal to her class level plus her Intelligence modifier. At first level and every time she gains access to a new mystery level, she may choose one of the following shifts to acquire which may be later activated as part of various actions. Whenever she gains access to a new level of mysteries, she may opt to exchange a single Shift for another in addition to gaining a new one.
Once a Shift is used and SP is spent, a shadowcaster must wait 1d8 - Intelligence modifier rounds before spending more SP.
**Whenever a metamagic effect is applied, it can never be used to cast mysteries beyond her available mystery level.**
Shifts:
Consume Shadow - As a standard action, the shadowcaster may spend SP to heal herself of twice that much damage. If she takes this Shift again, she may sacrifice a mystery slot to heal herself of SP spent * (1 + spell level).
Shadow Cast - By spending 1 SP, she can cast a spell through her shadow which invokes no attack of opportunity but may still require somatic or verbal components.
Dark Focus - When casting a spell, she may spend 1 or 2 SP to add that much to the DC of the spell. She may spend up to 3 SP at night.
Shifting Shadows - Once per day, she may sacrifice a mystery slot to gain SP equal to that mystery slot's level.
Shade Bulwark - As an immediate action, the shadowcaster may spend SP up to her Intelligence modifier in order to increase her AC or one saving throw (before the roll is made) by the amount of SP spent until the end of her next turn. This bonus does not stack with itself.
Nightshade - When at negative hitpoints, the shadowcaster may spend all her remaining SP as an immediate action to increase her hitpoint total by that much (she is at least stabilized if she spends 1 or more SP and does not recover above zero).
Dark Tasks - She may spend up to 3 SP to increase a single class skill check by that much.
Overcome - She may spend SP to overcome an immunity to the effects of one of her spells. When she casts a spell, the creature must succeed on a Will save (DC equal to spell DC + SP spent) or become vulnerable to all effects of the spell as if it had no immunities.
Shaded Reality - She may spend up to 3 SP when casting any shadow evocation in order to increase the realness by 10% per SP.
Midnight Cast - The shadowcaster may spend 1 SP to apply Silent Spell or Silent Spell to one of her mysteries (or 2 SP for both).
Extend - The shadowcaster may spend 1 Shift Points to apply Extend Spell to one of her mysteries.
Enlarge - The shadowcaster may spend 1 Shift Points to apply Extend Spell to one of her mysteries.
Widen - The shadowcaster may spend 2 Shift Points to apply Widen Spell to one of her mysteries.
Empower - The shadowcaster may spend 2 Shift Points to apply Empower Spell to one of her mysteries.
Shadow Wake - For 2 SP, the shadowcaster may apply the Line of Shadow metashadow feat to a mystery.
Maximize - The shadowcaster may spend 3 Shift Points to apply Maximize Spell to one of her mysteries.
Quicken - The shadowcaster may spend 4 Shift Points to apply Quicken Spell to one of her mysteries.
Mastery - By spending 2 SP as she casts a mystery, she alters the very nature of that mystery's foundation. If the mystery is of the highest three levels she can cast, it is treated as a spell-like ability. If the mystery is at least three spell levels lower than the highest she can cast, it is treated as a supernatural ability. Only a shadowcaster able to cast 4th level mysteries can take this Shift.
Umbral Sight: As noted in the chart. At 11th level, the Umbral Sight ability works in all darkness, even magical darkness.
Sustaining Shadow: As noted in the chart.
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The Shadowcaster
http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs28/f/2008/057/e/f/Aurasuavis_by_jezebel.jpg
"Enshrouded in darkness, torn between the shades that dance beyond reality, I've seen more of this world than you can ever imagine."
~Izulon Velakna, Prophet of Shadow and herald of the Shrouded Scion
Making a Shadowcaster
Abilities
Charisma is the most dominant trait of a shadowcaster. They boast fierce personality and work their magic through sheer force of will. However, they stress the importance of discipline and mastery of their ethereal power which requires Intelligence for great lengths of prudent study. Dexterity and the ability to move swiftly and deftly find many uses in combative situations.
Races
Almost any race prone to seeking enlightenment in all the wrong places or searching out means to greater power are captured by the allure of shadow magic. Most notably are humans, drow, and tiefling.
While still rare, shadowcasters can be most easily located in the Underdark or wherever the boundaries between this world and the Plane of Shadows can fluctuate. Word travels that several shadowcasters seek to overthrow the clerical foundations of drow society in favor of an extraplanar entity called the Shrouded Scion.
Alignment
Shadowcasters are generally associated with evil or unnatural dealings and their pursuit of discipline pushes them toward the lawful aspect. Many maintain a neutral outlook in spite of the shifting nature of their power.
Starting Gold
3d4x10 gp (75 gp)
Starting Age
As sorcerer. Most shadowcasters begin study long before actually acquiring 'the shadow's embrace' and will eventually gain them once they fully understand the Art inside and out. More naturally talented ones will gain the power first, but far less survive as the touch of shadow can be lethal.
-------------------------------------------
HD: d6
Skill Points: 4 + Int
Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcane, planes), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Spellcraft, Spot, Use Magic Device
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f286/pwned101/shadowcaster.png
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Shadowcasters are proficient with simple weapons but no armor.
Spellcasting: Shadowcasters can spontaneously cast any mystery of a level they have access to by class levels. The may only cast mysteries if their Charisma is equal to 10 + mystery level of the mystery they are trying to cast. The DC is Charisma-based. Fundamentals are now 0-level spells.
Channel Shadow: A shadowcaster merges unbridled talent with extreme discipline in order to gather the most power from her spells. While able to invoke the mysteries of shadow magic by force of will, her studiousness has allowed her to manipulate and master the ever-shifting nature of her Art.
Shift Points:
A shadowcaster has a number of Shift Points (SP) equal to her class level plus her Intelligence modifier. At first level and every time she gains access to a new mystery level, she may choose one of the following shifts to acquire which may be later activated as part of various actions. Whenever she gains access to a new level of mysteries, she may opt to exchange a single Shift for another in addition to gaining a new one.
Once a Shift is used and SP is spent, a shadowcaster must wait 1d8 - Intelligence modifier rounds before spending more SP.
**Whenever a metamagic effect is applied, it can never be used to cast mysteries beyond her available mystery level.**
Shifts:
Consume Shadow - As a standard action, the shadowcaster may spend SP to heal herself of twice that much damage. If she takes this Shift again, she may sacrifice a mystery slot to heal herself of SP spent * (1 + spell level).
Shadow Cast - By spending 1 SP, she can cast a spell through her shadow which invokes no attack of opportunity but may still require somatic or verbal components.
Dark Focus - When casting a spell, she may spend 1 or 2 SP to add that much to the DC of the spell. She may spend up to 3 SP at night.
Shifting Shadows - Once per day, she may sacrifice a mystery slot to gain SP equal to that mystery slot's level.
Shade Bulwark - As an immediate action, the shadowcaster may spend SP up to her Intelligence modifier in order to increase her AC or one saving throw (before the roll is made) by the amount of SP spent until the end of her next turn. This bonus does not stack with itself.
Nightshade - When at negative hitpoints, the shadowcaster may spend all her remaining SP as an immediate action to increase her hitpoint total by that much (she is at least stabilized if she spends 1 or more SP and does not recover above zero).
Dark Tasks - She may spend up to 3 SP to increase a single class skill check by that much.
Overcome - She may spend SP to overcome an immunity to the effects of one of her spells. When she casts a spell, the creature must succeed on a Will save (DC equal to spell DC + SP spent) or become vulnerable to all effects of the spell as if it had no immunities.
Shaded Reality - She may spend up to 3 SP when casting any shadow evocation in order to increase the realness by 10% per SP.
Midnight Cast - The shadowcaster may spend 1 SP to apply Silent Spell or Silent Spell to one of her mysteries (or 2 SP for both).
Extend - The shadowcaster may spend 1 Shift Points to apply Extend Spell to one of her mysteries.
Enlarge - The shadowcaster may spend 1 Shift Points to apply Extend Spell to one of her mysteries.
Widen - The shadowcaster may spend 2 Shift Points to apply Widen Spell to one of her mysteries.
Empower - The shadowcaster may spend 2 Shift Points to apply Empower Spell to one of her mysteries.
Shadow Wake - For 2 SP, the shadowcaster may apply the Line of Shadow metashadow feat to a mystery.
Maximize - The shadowcaster may spend 3 Shift Points to apply Maximize Spell to one of her mysteries.
Quicken - The shadowcaster may spend 4 Shift Points to apply Quicken Spell to one of her mysteries.
Mastery - By spending 2 SP as she casts a mystery, she alters the very nature of that mystery's foundation. If the mystery is of the highest three levels she can cast, it is treated as a spell-like ability. If the mystery is at least three spell levels lower than the highest she can cast, it is treated as a supernatural ability. Only a shadowcaster able to cast 4th level mysteries can take this Shift.
Umbral Sight: As noted in the chart. At 11th level, the Umbral Sight ability works in all darkness, even magical darkness.
Sustaining Shadow: As noted in the chart.