New class feature: spontaenous specialist

[Lactantius]

The spontaenous divination class feature inspired me to extend this ability to other schools aswell.
Since it would be undoubtly more powerful in larger school, I would restrict it a bit to balance it.
The goal is - again - to make spellcasting and bookkeeping a bit more easy going and comfortable.

- The class feature would only be available to specialist and work in their correspondend school. As an ACF, the specialist would give up the ability to summon a familiar permanently (that would also balance the more dangerous combos for conjurers since they must decide if they take abrupt jaunt, rapid summoning or this feature).
- It would work only INT times/day
- It would swap prepared spells just as a cleric would swap cure spells (just like in spont. divination)
- If it is still too strong, I would increase the spellcasting time to 1 full round.

I compared it with spontaenous divination and uncanny forethought.
The instant swap- aspect is from spont. div; the limit to INT and maybe full round is from UF.
Ont he other hand, UF is more powerful since it is not focused to one school, so that's why I gave the spontaenous specialist the ability to use it instantly (and not with open, unmemorized slots).

Furthermore, some combos and specialist do this stuff already (versatile spellcasters, shadowcraft mages) or have the stronger school anyways so that the spontaeneity matters not much (speaking of conjuration and transmutation).

In fact, I was thinking of abjuration, enchantment and necromancy which inspired me to write this feature since they lack in comparion with the other schools (okay, Necromancy can be done with the DN, but then, we speak about a completely other class and not of a specialist).

Comments?

[JadePhoenix]

Making Wizards more powerful, that's exactly what 3.5 needs!

[Spuddles]

If you want to remove the bookkeeping of a wizard; play a sorcerer!

[Lactantius]

If you want to remove the bookkeeping of a wizard; play a sorcerer!

If you remove the spells known limit (or, at least, expand the list a bit), then I'm in for the sorcerer.
But I find it boring being able to cast only some dozen spells in your whole lifetime.
Wizardry = field of research = applying man different magic effects.


So, yes, i try to mesh some sorcerer abilites with some wizard abilites.


Making Wizards more powerful, that's exactly what 3.5 needs!

A weak argument since the wizard class already has correspondent features that do exactly that stuff.
A shadowcraft mage can do exactly this trick.
A focused conjurer - though not spontaenous casting - has all the spells he needs to play.
So, in other words, I don't empower the wizard class itelf, I equalize the magic school one with another.

[Malachei]

I think it is interesting to have this. Personally, I'd prefer more spontaneous set-list caster (please PEACH my Fiendlord, if you find the time), but as a big fan of Uncanny Forethought, I think this is a good contribution.


spontaenous specialist the ability to use it instantly (and not with open, unmemorized slots).

This is big, because it does not limit the caster: if he'd leave spell slots open, he only has {UF list} choices. Now he has the memorized spell, as well.

Divination is a smaller school, and in-combat use is lower than that of other schools. Consider limiting this to a certain number of spells, not the whole school, i.e.: From the school you've specialized in, choose one spell that you know per spell level.

I would not increase casting time, as this will dramatically lower the benefit for certain applications / schools.

[Lactantius]

A good benchmark to compare are runestaves.

A runestaff usually can hold up to 6 spells.
Interesting here is the runestaff of power, the counterpart of the staff of power, giving 10 spontaneous spells for only 38,300 gp.
That's including a +2 weapon enchantment, a +2 luck bonus on AC and saves and a small smite ability.

If you include the customize rules for runestaves, you could build your own runestaff of power, maybe attached to a certain school.

Focused for abjuration spells, I would use spells you need a) rarely or b) you could need more than once/day.
For a), I would use those cool abjuration spells you only need once and then, like: ruby ray of reversal, reciprocal gyre, lesser globe, dismissal or
Under b) the dispel-array is working perfectly since you could need dispel more than once (or none, at all): arcane turmoil, greater dispel magic, greater dispelling screen. Energy-based protections also work well under b) since you could need them for more energy types or more targets (resist energy, energy immunity, elemental body).

Heck, if you could afford such a staff (and you definately could since ~ 40k gold are manageable at the correspondant levels), you could emulate all those spontaneous casting abilites completely.

Under such a view, I would find an ACF that does the same thing not too powerful.
runestaves and/or uncanny forethought are just plain good, the spontaenous specialist ACF would fit well and get its own spot.

Plus, if would give a specialist more rules backup and therefore emphasiize the specialist theme more directly than just extra slots.


Thoughts?

[nedz]

Your feature is a nice rationalisation of an existing option.

HOWEVER

With it Wizards can now duplicate the best feature of Sorceror, well no actually they are better since they are not limited to quite so few spells known. Their limit is the number of spells which they know in their own school.

An equivelant Sorceror only feat might be something which gave them all spells in one school as spells known. Only one school mind.

I think your suggestion is somewhat unbalanced.

[Lactantius]

Though I have already answered to the sorcerer-related stuff, I repeat it willingly:

the rules already allow a spontaenous wizard.
Check for the features spontaenous divination (CC), Spellpool (CArc/MoF) and Uncanny Forethought.

So, it's not like there would not already be such a feature.

I know that this sucks for a sorcerer class and I would gladly see the sorcerer class tweaked. That would be another topic, but to shorten it up, I would give the sorcerer the following features:
- eschew material feat at level 1 ( just because it fits with the spellcasting tradition and it isn't a powerful feat, so I'm fine);
- spellcasting progression just as a wizard (so no more "1-step-behind");
- 4 skill points instead of 2 (to even up with INT-based casting and not being totally screwed at skills). Makes CHA-based casters more appealing.

- most important: spells known. Okay, I would give a sorcerer more spells known. This is a difficult aspect, so I'm cautious.
To make a start, I would look at some level spots (5,10 and 15 for the start) and check how many spells he can use.
I don't count the cantrips. Maybe I would give the sorcerer an at-will-ability for cantrips, just as the Duskblade got it.

The table "Spells known" must be read one line farther, since we would allow 3rd-level spells for a 5th-level-sorcerer.

So, at level 5 (reading the line for 6th), a sorcerer could cast 7 different spells. Wow. I'm not impressed.
Especially since he can cast ONE of his highest spell level.

At level 10, he can cast 19 spells. That's just awful.

I don't need to continue with level 15 to be willing to give a sorcerer more spells known
- Very generous would be +1 spell known at each level. But I would be okay with it.
- More restrictive would be to use the ability modifier to get bonus spells known in some ways.


Anyway, this thread is about our spontaenous specialist.
I just wanted to show you that I agree how the sorcerer class is screwed.
But that does not make my attempt much stronger, since
a) there are already comparable options for wizards and
b) I would tweak the sorcerer class in the first place.

[Suddo]

Do you play with fighters or anything that isn't tier 1/2? I mean a Sorc that only had access to Conjuration but knew all the spells would be Tier 1 last time I checked. Also I'd run this by your DM if he's crazy enough to let you do it nothing we say to balance it will matter.

Isn't there a trick to make all your spells divination spells so your spontaneous divination spell just gives you all your spells.

Edit:
I guess I should be constructive. You could make it a form of specialization where you lose 3 spell schools, your familiar, bonus feats and don't get bonus spells then you can spontaneously cast Int/day spells from your specialization.

[nedz]

Do you play with fighters or anything that isn't tier 1/2? I mean a Sorc that only had access to Conjuration but knew all the spells would be Tier 1 last time I checked. Also I'd run this by your DM if he's crazy enough to let you do it nothing we say to balance it will matter.
I think that might be Tier 0 :smallsmile: