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View Full Version : Breaking the barriers: Casting for noncasters (D&D 3.5e) PEACH



Fable Wright
2010-09-20, 09:32 PM
We all know that there are two kinds of people in D&D- casters and noncasters. As of now, there is little support for people who want to have arcane casting power without being forced to multiclass- something that significantly cuts down on the noncaster's already limited power. I intend to make a series of feats that allow noncasters to carve out their own niche in the world- allowing them some, although limited, casting powers that they could use, and actually use them in ways that actual full casters cannot match. And here they are:

Arcane curiosity
This character, although not having the proper training of a wizard, or the innate power of a sorcerer, through dedication, he managed to wrest from the universe a modicum of arcane powers.
Prerequisites: May not have a caster or manifester level
Benefit: This character gains the ability to cast arcane spells as a wizard of 1/4 his character level, rounding down. If his wizard level would be 0, he instead learns how to cast 3 cantrips, and he may prepare up to 2 of these each day. He gains bonus spells for having a high cha stat. In addition, spellcraft is always a class skill for this character, and he gains a different use out of the 'practiced spellcaster' feat. Whenever he takes this feat, he increases his caster level by 2, and his effective wizard level by 1. This cannot allow the character to have a caster level higher than his character level, or to have an effective wizard level higher than half his caster level. If you gain a level in an arcane spellcasting class, you lose all benefits of this feat. Also, if you enter a prestige class that gives you "+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting/spellcasting class", you gain effective wizard levels as if you were a normal wizard taking the class. They may not exceed half your character level. You do not continue to gain effective wizard levels from this feat after this point, but you retain all benefits previously acquired.

Psionic minded
Although bereft of the natural talent psions and wilders had, though meditation and focus, this character managed to discover at last how to influence the world with his mind.
Prerequisites: May not have a caster or manifester level
Benefit: This character gains the ability to manifest psionic powers as a psion of 1/4 his character level, rounding down. If his psion level would be 0, he instead learns how to manifest 1 psion/wilder power, and he gains 1 power point. He does not gain bonus power points as a psion normally would until his effective psion level is at least 1. After this, he gains bonus power points for having a high int stat as is normal for a psion of his effective level. In addition, psicraft is always a class skill for this character, and he gains a different use out of the 'practiced manifester' feat. Whenever he takes this feat, he increases his manifester level by 2, and his effective psion level by 1. This cannot allow the character to have a manifester level higher than his character level, or to have an effective psion level higher than half of his manifester level. If you gain levels in a manifesting class, you lose all benefits of this feat. Also, if you enter a prestige class that gives you "+1 level of existing manifesting class", you gain extra effective psion levels as if you were a psion taking the class. They may not exceed half your character level. You do not continue to gain effective psion levels from this feat after this point, but you retain all benefits previously acquired.

Devout untrained
This character, dedicated to a god or ideal, although not trained as a child how to request spells from their source of faith, their devout prayers eventually allowed them to channel some of the power of their god through them.
Prerequisites: May not have a caster or manifester level
Benefit: This character gains the ability to cast divine spells as a cleric or druid (chosen at the time of gaining this feat) of 1/4 his character level. If his cleric level would be 0, he instead learns how to cast 3 orisons, and he may prepare up to 2 of these each day. He gains bonus spells for having a high wis stat. In addition, spellcraft is always a class skill for this character, and he gains a different use out of the 'practiced spellcaster' feat. Whenever he takes this feat, he increases his caster level by 2, and his effective cleric/druid level by 1. This cannot allow the character to have a caster level higher than his character level, or to have an effective cleric/druid level higher than half his caster level. If you gain levels in a divine spellcasting class, you lose all benefits of this feat. Also, if you enter a prestige class that gives you "+1 level of existing divine spellcasting/spellcasting class", you gain effective cleric/druid levels as if you were a normal cleric/druid taking the class. They may not exceed half your character level. You do not continue to gain effective cleric/druid levels from this feat after this point, but you retain all benefits previously acquired.

But that's just the beginning. Sure, with those, you might be able to get some powers, and be able to cast spells behind your level. When you are able to cast your first second level spell, the arcane casters will be able to cast 6th level spells, capable of much more power than you could hope to match with those feats. Although it's nice for the fighter to be able to heal himself, or for the rogue to make a magical floating disk to carry his loot, the spells lack real power, unless you blow alot of practiced spellcaster feats on them. I intend to allow characters who take these feats to have a unique type of power that cannot quite be matched by full casters. Although they may still remain weak, they have a chance of actually impacting the game at their level. And now, for the next part:


Psi-caster
Prerequisites: Arcane curiosity, Psionic mind
Benefit: When you select this feat, you may select one metamagic feat. You gain the ability to add this metamagic feat's effects to any arcane spell you cast through your Arcane Curiosity feat by expending 2 power points/spell level increase. For example, if a 8th level character with this feat casts Burning hands, and uses this feat to Empower it. The level of the spell would normally be increased by 2. With this feat, he uses 4 power points when he casts this spell, which allows him to activate the empower spell feat.

Arcane devotion
Prerequisite: Arcane curiosity, Devout untrained
Benefit: When you select this feat, select one school of magic. You gain the ability to spontaneously convert a divine spell that you cast into a spell of the chosen school that you have already prepared as an arcane spell. You may do this a number of times per day equal to your wisdom modifier.

Divine mind
Prerequisite: Devout untrained, Psionic mind
Benefit: Each day when you would normally regain your spell slots each day, you may choose to not regain a lost spell slot. If you do, then you gain bonus power points equal to 1+twice the sacrificed spell's level. At any point later in the day, you may regain those spell slots by expending power points equal to 1+twice the regained spell's level.


...And I plan on making more specialized feats later, but I'm going to bed now. Any thoughts you have would be appreciated, as well as any feats you'd like to recommend.