PDA

View Full Version : Wand Master [3.5 PrCs For the Discerning Artificer]



Lix Lorn
2012-12-27, 09:56 PM
Student of the Arcane Craft
‘Casting spells yourself is so uncouth.’

Background: A Student of the Arcane Craft is a specialist, who believes in the superiority of magic items with powerful spells bound into them. Most commonly, these items are wands, and can produce magic as effectively as a wizard.
Races: While any race can become a Student, by far the most common are humans, who have little regard for tradition, and the will to obsess and innovate. The quirks of gnomes can often lead to this path, and the Dwarven love of craft can too.
Other Classes: Most other magic users think the Arcane Craft to be foolish, weakening their other capabilities for minor advances in a minor art. Many who do not wield magic disagree, having seen the power their items can bring.
Role: A Student can craft Wands with phenomenal ability. These wands can give almost limitless blasting and curing ability, and can often be used even by the Student’s companions.
Students in the World: Some small groups of the Arcane Craft band together to advance their work, but most commonly they are lone researchers. Sometimes, they get a position supplying magical arms for large scale deployment.
Inspiration: I thought there was already a way to do this…

Prerequisites:
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 5th level spells OR 4th level Infusions.
Feats: Craft Wand
Skills: Use Magic Device 11 ranks

Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6
Class Skills-The Student‘s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (Arcana, Architecture and Engineering, The Planes), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int) and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points per Level: 4+ Int Modifier

Student


Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
Spellcasting


1st

+0

+0

+0

+2
Craft Specialty +1, Enhanced Wands (5th)
-


2nd

+1

+0

+0

+3
Assembly Line, Wand Mastery
+1 level of existing spellcasting


3rd

+2

+1

+1

+3
Craft Specialty +2, Wandlore
+1 level of existing spellcasting


4th

+3

+1

+1

+4
Simplicity
+1 level of existing spellcasting


5th

+3

+1

+1

+4
Craft Specialty +3, Enhanced Wands (6th), Wand Wielder
-



Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A Student gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Spellcasting: At 2nd, 3rd, and 4th level, a Student gains either spells known, spells per day and an increase in caster level as if he had gained a level in one spellcasting class he possesses. If he has artificer levels, he may instead increase his infusions, caster level and Craft Reserve.

Craft Speciality: A Student is more skilled at making wands than he is at any other form of crafting. He treats his caster level as being a number of levels higher equal to the number on the table when making Wands.

Enhanced Wands: A Student’s learning allows him to create more powerful Wands than those with a less focussed path. At 1st level, he becomes capable of creating wands capable of containing 5th level spells. At the 5th level of the class, he can create wands that contain 6th level spells. A 5th level Wand has a DC of 23 to use with Use Magic Device, and a 6th level Wand has a DC of 27.

Assembly Line: A 2nd level Student can create many wands in a short time. He halves the creation time for wands.

Wand Mastery: A 2nd level Student gains the Wand Mastery feat, even if he doesn’t meet the prerequisites. If he already possesses it, he gains a single bonus feat of his choice.

Wandlore: A 3rd level Student can use a Wand more competently than anyone. He gains a bonus equal to his class level to Use Magic Device checks made to use wands.

Simplicity: At 4th level, a Student has learnt to make his Wands easier to use. He reduces the DC required to use a Wand he makes with Use Magic Device by his class level.

Wand Wielder: While a Student is at his best making weapons, he can use wands like no other. He gains the Two Weapon Fighting and Double Wand Wielder feats, even if he doesn't meet the prerequisites. If he already possesses one or both feats, he gains that many bonus feats.

Master of the Arcane Craft (Epic)
Prerequisites:
Skills: Use Magic Device 23 ranks
Special: Ability to craft 6th level wands.

Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6
Class Skills-The Master‘s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (Arcana, Architecture and Engineering, The Planes), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int) and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points per Level: 4+ Int Modifier

{table=head]Level|Special|Spellcasting
1st| Enhanced Wands (7th)
2nd| Wand Expertise|+1 level of existing spellcasting
3rd| Enhanced Wands (8th)|+1 level of existing spellcasting
4th| Enhanced Wands (4th, Eternal)|+1 level of existing spellcasting
5th| Enhanced Wands (9th) [/table]

Spellcasting: At 2nd, 3rd and 4th level, a Master gains either spells known, spells per day and an increase in caster level as if he had gained a level in one spellcasting class he possesses. If he has artificer levels, he may instead increase his infusions, caster level and Craft Reserve.

Enhanced Wands: The Master has had his breakthrough, and the masterpieces just keep coming. At 1st level, he can create Wands that contain 7th level spells. At 3rd level, 8th level spells, and at 5th level, 9th level spells. The Use Magic Device DC to use these wands are 32 for a 7th level, 38 for an 8th level, and 45 for a 9th level. Their creation costs are as dictated by the usual formula-375xspell levelxcaster level.

At 4th level, a Master can create Eternal Wands of 4th level. An Eternal Wand is worth 20,100 gold, and a Use Magic Device check to use it has a DC of 30.

All the Wands only craftable due to this class ability are incredibly rare. If they can be found for sale at all, they generally demand prices of ten, twenty, or fifty times the worth that governs their cost.

Cieyrin
2012-12-27, 10:55 PM
I'd provide a Wand-only craft pool as part of these. Also, Assembly Line could be simplified, as the cost normally is 1 day per 1000 gp. You could just make it increase by 500 gp per class level.

I also don't think you need to grant Two-Weapon Fighting at the cap of the non-epic, as it's only purpose is to qualify for Dual Wand Wielder, which you're also granting. I'd say not worry about it and just grant Dual Wand Wielder. The 'even if you don't qualify' clause covers you just fine.

Lix Lorn
2012-12-27, 11:09 PM
I considered a craft pool, but that's what the artificier prereqs are for. xD
Assembly Line is worded like that so it stacks with similar things. xD

I gave TWF so that, if they use a spell with an attack roll, they don't suffer a -6 penalty on one of them.

Zman
2012-12-27, 11:30 PM
Interesting, though what happens when other players want their characters to buy Simplicity lvl 6 wands?


As a whole, I like the class and it pretty well made. After a preliminary read through I don't see any glaring issues.

Lix Lorn
2012-12-27, 11:58 PM
They pay about ten times the market value, due to scarcity. :smalltongue:

Morcleon
2012-12-28, 12:04 AM
As it is now, the first level in Master of the Arcane Craft can be taken at a minimum level of 22. Was this your intention? If so, it seems a bit odd, having to take one level into epic before this PrC...

Also, the table for MotAC is missing the +1 Spellcasting at levels 2-4.

Lix Lorn
2012-12-28, 12:32 AM
Whooops. First part is a mistake, thought I'd fixed the second.

Morcleon
2012-12-28, 12:45 AM
What would be really awesome is if you could get a Warlock 12 (for Imbue Item) into these PrCs somehow... Do invocations count for the purposes of qualifying?

Cieyrin
2012-12-28, 12:03 PM
What would be really awesome is if you could get a Warlock 12 (for Imbue Item) into these PrCs somehow... Do invocations count for the purposes of qualifying?

Warlocks can't qualify for PrCs that require specific levels of spells to be able to cast. They can meet CL requirements or spell requirements if an invocation is of that spell, though.