[3.5] Hand Wizard [prestige class][P.E.A.C.H.]

[AustontheGreat1]

Hand Mage

Some people have magic flowing throughout their entire body. To a hand mage, this is an unacceptable waste of resources. Hand mages choose to focus their talents to one particular area. Hand magess have more magic in one pinky, than most mages have in their entire body.

Requirements:
Abilities: Dexterity 15
Skills: Slight of Hand 4 ranks.
Feats: Cannot possess the still spell metamagic feat.
Spellcasting: Able to cast 3rd level arcane spells, including at least 4 touch spells.

HAND MAGE
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Spells

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Powerful Touch|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Healing Hands|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Arcane Smack|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

4th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Magic Hands|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Freedom|+1 level of existing spellcasting class[/table]

CLASS SKILLS

Hand Wizard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int).
(Skill points per level: 2 + Int. Mod.)

CLASS FEATURES

Spell Slots/Spells Known: When a new hand mage level is gained the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 3th-level spells before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 3th-level spells before he became hand mage, he must decide to which class he adds each level of hand wizard for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Powerful Touch (Ex): At first level, touch spells cast by a hand mage are considered at +2 caster level. Furthermore, the Save DC for touch spells cast by a Hand Mage is increased by 2.

Healing Hands (Su): By sacrificing a prepared spell or an unused spell slot, a hand mage or 2nd level or higher may heal a touched creature a number of points equal to the level of the spell or spell slot x 5. Doing so is a standard action and does provoke an attack of opportunity.

Arcane Smack (Su): At 3rd level, a hand mage can channel raw arcane force to his hands to deliver a powerful touch attack. By sacrificing a prepared spell or an unused spell slot, a hand mage can deliver a melee touch attack which deals damage equal to a number of d6 equal to twice the spell level of the spell or spell slot sacrificed.

Magic Hands (Ex): A hand mage has magic flowing through his fingers. All spells cast by a hand wizard are cast as if effected by the silent spell metamagic feat, only without any increase in casting time or spell level that usually accompanies. Additionally, a hand mage cannot cast spells that have been affected the Still Spell metamagic feat.

Freedom (Ex): To a hand mage, his hands are everything. A hands mage’s hands cannot be bound or impeded; he is always treated as if under the effects of a freedom of movement spell.

-0-

Kind of a WIP. Tell me if there any obvious flaws.

[DracoDei]

Capstone needs rewording so it doesn't give you 9th level spell slots when you can only cast 8th level spells. Also, it is way too good simply because most spells have somatic components. For this reason I would make it TOUCH range spells instead of (require that they be both, if you want to keep the flavor) ones with somatic components.

I would consider adding "...or Reach Spell" to every place you mention Still Spell, to keep the cheese down...

The Dexterity requirement is unusual, but in this case I think I approve. The concept with not using ability scores as requirements for PrCs is that you don't want to shut someone out permanently due to bad rolls at character creation. In this case though, you just need an 11 and gloves of Dexterity +4 as a pretty much worst case.

I would omit the caster level progression at first level. It isn't good to have a prestige class without something that is being traded off for its class abilities.

[Debihuman]

While I kinda like the class, I have to say that it has a bad porn name.

And to find out the class doesn't give a bonus to the various Bigby's spells is such a disappointment.

Debby

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

Gifted Hands is far two powerful. A lot of strong spells have somatic components, and this is taking away the only real advantage a Sorcerer has: more spells. Perhaps 1 extra spell, and that spell must be a Bigby's ___ Hand spell (they did make one for each level in some splatbook).

As it stands, I'd almost always take this class (level 5 entry and only 5 levels to get that ability), unless I had something really important planned, as it's an incredible ability and gives no loss of caster levels.

[AustontheGreat1]

Capstone needs rewording so it doesn't give you 9th level spell slots when you can only cast 8th level spells. Also, it is way too good simply because most spells have somatic components. For this reason I would make it TOUCH range spells instead of (require that they be both, if you want to keep the flavor) ones with somatic components.

I would consider adding "...or Reach Spell" to every place you mention Still Spell, to keep the cheese down...

The Dexterity requirement is unusual, but in this case I think I approve. The concept with not using ability scores as requirements for PrCs is that you don't want to shut someone out permanently due to bad rolls at character creation. In this case though, you just need an 11 and gloves of Dexterity +4 as a pretty much worst case.

I would omit the caster level progression at first level. It isn't good to have a prestige class without something that is being traded off for its class abilities.

Took your suggestion and removed the first level caster progression.

Removed Gifted hands all together, i had been teetering on the edge of scrapping it anyway.


While I kinda like the class, I have to say that it has a bad porn name.

And to find out the class doesn't give a bonus to the various Bigby's spells is such a disappointment.

Debby

Trust me, i wanted to do that, but i found it difficult to enhance those particular spells mechanically due to those spells not having a specific descriptor of their own.

Heh, changed the name to hand mage. hope that helps.


Gifted Hands is far two powerful. A lot of strong spells have somatic components, and this is taking away the only real advantage a Sorcerer has: more spells. Perhaps 1 extra spell, and that spell must be a Bigby's ___ Hand spell (they did make one for each level in some splatbook).

As it stands, I'd almost always take this class (level 5 entry and only 5 levels to get that ability), unless I had something really important planned, as it's an incredible ability and gives no loss of caster levels.

removed gifted hands altogether.