The Demented One
2006-12-28, 10:01 PM
Cosmic Librarian
http://images.elfwood.com/art/f/l/flingling/spellbook3.jpg
Everyone knows that knowledge is power. Cosmic Librarians just take the concept to its logical conclusion–if knowledge is power, then vessels of knowledge must hold some power to be tapped. Most worked with books even before they took up their mantle–wizards with their spellbooks, archivists with their books of prayer. They became Cosmic Librarians when they realized that any book can hold power, from a penny dreadful to a thousand-page tome. To a Cosmic Librarian, the whole of the world is but a single great book–and they have but to open it to make it their own.
d4 HD
Requirements
To qualify to become a Cosmic Librarian, you must fulfill all the following criteria.
Feats: Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Divination), Greater Spell Focus (Divination)
Skills: Decipher Script 8 ranks, Knowledge (Any Two) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks
Spellcasting: Must be able to prepare 3rd level spells from a spellbook or similar tome.
Class Skills
The Cosmic Librarian’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (N/A), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
{table="head"]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Spellcasting
1st|+0|+0|+0|+2|Bibliomancy, Lore|–
2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3|Book Learning|+1 level of spellcasting class
3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3|Mystic Library|+1 level of spellcasting class
4th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Narrative Divination|+1 level of spellcasting class
5th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Polyglot|+1 level of spellcasting class
6th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Send Sigil|+1 level of spellcasting class
7th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Cosmic Research|+1 level of spellcasting class
8th|+4|+2|+2|+6|Call Forth the Tome|+1 level of spellcasting class
9th|+4|+3|+3|+6|Forewarned is Forearmed|+1 level of spellcasting class
10th|+5|+3|+3|+7|Spell Lore|+1 level of spellcasting class
[/table]
Class Features
All the following are class features of the Cosmic Librarian prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
You gain no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spellcasting
Whenever you gain a new Cosmic Librarian level, except 1st, you gain new spells per day and spells known as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class you belonged to before you added the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.
Bibliomancy (Sp)
You can divine information through books. You gain the benefits of a constant read magic spell. In addition, once per day, by spending at least ten minutes paging through a book, you may gain the benefits of the augury spell, with a caster level equal to your own. The book you read to perform the augury must somehow be related to the subject matter of the question you ask.
Lore (Ex)
You gain the ability to recall information and secrets concerning a broad variety of topics, similar to the bardic knowledge ability. You add your class level and Intelligence modifier to the lore check.
Book Learning (Su)
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to draw skill and expertise from books. Once per day, as a standard action, you may touch a book to draw knowledge from it. You gain a number of temporary ranks in one skill of your choice equal to your class level (it does not matter if the skill is a class skill for you). At 7th level, when you use this ability, you may gain temporary ranks in two skills instead of just one. The skill you put the temporary ranks into must be one related into the book–a penny dreadful about a cunning con man might grant ranks in Bluff or Forgery, while a book about a jungle-dwelling hero might aid your Climb or Survival skills, but neither could aid your Use Magic Device. The temporary skill ranks last for twenty four hours, or the next time you use this ability, whichever comes first.
Mystic Library (Ex)
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to tie certain spells to books other than your spellbook, allowing you to prepare them even when you are bereft of your favored tome. You cannot tie spells to another spellbook–it must be an actual, printed book. The maximum number of spells you can tie to a given book is equal to your class level plus your Intelligence modifier. To tie the spells, you must first have them all at hand, scribed into a spellbook or similar. You must then begin reading the book you wish to tie the spells to, taking at least one hour for each spell to be tied. Once the tie is complete, you may prepare those spells from the book they have been tied to as if it were your own spellbook. It does not have to be the unique book you tied it to–any copy of the book will do for preparing them, so long as the content is unaltered.
Narrative Divination (Sp)
At 4th level, you gain the ability to scry through books. Once per day, by spending an hour reading a book, you may create an effect similar to the scrying spell, with caster level equal to your own and a save DC of 10 + your class level + your Intelligence modifier. However, you do not actually perceive the target of the spell–instead, the text of the book temporarily changes to describe what is happening to it, giving just as much information as a normal scrying spell. The book you read must somehow relate to the creature you are scrying on. However, even that is not enough–the book must be rare or of exceptional quality, and must be worth at least 100 gp.
Polyglot (Ex)
At 5th level, you gain the ability to speak, understand, read, and write in all languages, excluding secret languages such as Druidic.
Send Sigil (Sp)
At 6th level, you may send written information over long distances. Once per day, by meditating for ten minutes, you may compose a brief message and send it to a creature you know, as the sending spell, with caster level equal to your own. However, instead of receiving the message mentally, the subject encounters a mystic sigil–typically, the design of your own arcane mark–on a conspicuous surface, typically a blank piece of paper. Upon seeing the sigil, the subject immediately understands its significance. When the subject touches the sigil, it immediately rearranges itself to display your written message. The subject may then compose his own message and send it to you in the same way.
Cosmic Research (Sp)
At 7th level, you gain the ability to scour the cosmos for information on a specific person, place, or thing. By spending 2d6 hours reading a book, you may gain the benefits of the legend lore spell, with caster level equal to your own. The book you read must relate to the thing you wish to learn more about. However, even that is not enough–the book must be rare or of exceptional quality, and must be worth at least 500 gp.
Call Forth the Tome (Su)
At 8th level, you may summon forth any book at will as a standard action. To summon the book you must know its name, and you cannot summon books that are magical or one of a kind. The price of the book does not matter. You may only have one book summoned at a time–you must dismiss one before you can summon another, which requires a swift action. By summoning forth the right book, you may give yourself a +10 circumstance bonus on any Knowledge check or Intelligence check. In addition, you can use summoned books in conjunction with your class features that require the use of particular books. After twenty four hours, a summoned book returns to where it came from, even if you did not dismiss it.
Forewarned is Forearmed (Su)
At 9th level, you gain the ability to give yourself the edge in any situation through some careful research. To gain this edge, you must spend ten minutes leafing through a book–it does not matter what it is, as long as you read it. You may only do this once per day. Whatever you read is deeply ingrained in your subconscious, and your mind constantly goes over it, analyzing that information to give you the advantage in any situation. As an immediate action, you may expend this edge as an immediate action to grant yourself a +4 insight bonus on any attack roll, caster level check, damage roll, saving throw, or skill check. You lose the edge if you do not expend it within 24 hours or before the next time you use this ability.
Spell Lore (Su)
At 10th level, your vast knowledge and wide readings let you twist your magic, reshaping spells as an author might rewrite a sentence. When you cast a spell, you make a Knowledge check–Knowledge (Arcana) if the spell is arcana, Knowledge (Religion) if it is divine. The base DC of the check is 20, and you apply the listed modifiers below according to which effect or effects you wish to apply to the spell. You may apply one to three of the effects listed below to your spell. You cannot select a combination of effects that would increase the check’s DC to above 45. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier. If you fail the check, the attempt is still wasted. In addition, you must make a caster level check, DC 20 plus the spell’s level, or lose the spell.
{table="head"]Effect|Modifier
Remove Inexpensive Material Component|+0
Enlarge Spell|+5
Extend Spell|+5
Increase Effective Spell Level by One|+5
Remove Somatic Component|+5
Remove Vocal Component|+5
Empower Spell|+10
Ignore Spell Resistance|+10
Maximize Spell|+15
Quicken Spell|+20
[/table]
<hr>
Book Statistics
People playing a Cosmic Librarian may find it useful to have statistics on hand. In terms of pricing, most paperback books cost anywhere from 5 sp to 1 gp, while most hardback books cost from 5-20 gp. However, this pricing is just for the run of the mill–first editions, signed copies, and rare books can be far more expensive, ranging from 100 gp to perhaps as high as 2,500 gp–even higher for unique books.
Most softback books have a hardness 0, and 5 hit points, while most hardback books have hardness 1, and 15 hit points. All books are vulnerable to fire. If a book is submerged in water, it is completely destroyed. However, certain magical protections can be purchased for books, ranging from fireproofing to magical trapping. For complete descriptions and pricing of these enhancements, see Complete Arcane.
Transporting books can be difficult. Most paperback books weigh half a pound, while hardbacks can range from one to three pounds. Thus, anyone wishing to carry anything more than a small traveling library may encounter some encumbrance problems. Extradimensional storage is often employed by a Cosmic Librarian who wishes to carry a large number of books. Handy haversacks are an ever-popular choice, as are portable holes, which can have shelving built in them.
<hr>
Inspired by Greg Stolze and John Tynes
http://images.elfwood.com/art/f/l/flingling/spellbook3.jpg
Everyone knows that knowledge is power. Cosmic Librarians just take the concept to its logical conclusion–if knowledge is power, then vessels of knowledge must hold some power to be tapped. Most worked with books even before they took up their mantle–wizards with their spellbooks, archivists with their books of prayer. They became Cosmic Librarians when they realized that any book can hold power, from a penny dreadful to a thousand-page tome. To a Cosmic Librarian, the whole of the world is but a single great book–and they have but to open it to make it their own.
d4 HD
Requirements
To qualify to become a Cosmic Librarian, you must fulfill all the following criteria.
Feats: Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Divination), Greater Spell Focus (Divination)
Skills: Decipher Script 8 ranks, Knowledge (Any Two) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks
Spellcasting: Must be able to prepare 3rd level spells from a spellbook or similar tome.
Class Skills
The Cosmic Librarian’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (N/A), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
{table="head"]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Spellcasting
1st|+0|+0|+0|+2|Bibliomancy, Lore|–
2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3|Book Learning|+1 level of spellcasting class
3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3|Mystic Library|+1 level of spellcasting class
4th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Narrative Divination|+1 level of spellcasting class
5th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Polyglot|+1 level of spellcasting class
6th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Send Sigil|+1 level of spellcasting class
7th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Cosmic Research|+1 level of spellcasting class
8th|+4|+2|+2|+6|Call Forth the Tome|+1 level of spellcasting class
9th|+4|+3|+3|+6|Forewarned is Forearmed|+1 level of spellcasting class
10th|+5|+3|+3|+7|Spell Lore|+1 level of spellcasting class
[/table]
Class Features
All the following are class features of the Cosmic Librarian prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
You gain no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spellcasting
Whenever you gain a new Cosmic Librarian level, except 1st, you gain new spells per day and spells known as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class you belonged to before you added the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.
Bibliomancy (Sp)
You can divine information through books. You gain the benefits of a constant read magic spell. In addition, once per day, by spending at least ten minutes paging through a book, you may gain the benefits of the augury spell, with a caster level equal to your own. The book you read to perform the augury must somehow be related to the subject matter of the question you ask.
Lore (Ex)
You gain the ability to recall information and secrets concerning a broad variety of topics, similar to the bardic knowledge ability. You add your class level and Intelligence modifier to the lore check.
Book Learning (Su)
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to draw skill and expertise from books. Once per day, as a standard action, you may touch a book to draw knowledge from it. You gain a number of temporary ranks in one skill of your choice equal to your class level (it does not matter if the skill is a class skill for you). At 7th level, when you use this ability, you may gain temporary ranks in two skills instead of just one. The skill you put the temporary ranks into must be one related into the book–a penny dreadful about a cunning con man might grant ranks in Bluff or Forgery, while a book about a jungle-dwelling hero might aid your Climb or Survival skills, but neither could aid your Use Magic Device. The temporary skill ranks last for twenty four hours, or the next time you use this ability, whichever comes first.
Mystic Library (Ex)
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to tie certain spells to books other than your spellbook, allowing you to prepare them even when you are bereft of your favored tome. You cannot tie spells to another spellbook–it must be an actual, printed book. The maximum number of spells you can tie to a given book is equal to your class level plus your Intelligence modifier. To tie the spells, you must first have them all at hand, scribed into a spellbook or similar. You must then begin reading the book you wish to tie the spells to, taking at least one hour for each spell to be tied. Once the tie is complete, you may prepare those spells from the book they have been tied to as if it were your own spellbook. It does not have to be the unique book you tied it to–any copy of the book will do for preparing them, so long as the content is unaltered.
Narrative Divination (Sp)
At 4th level, you gain the ability to scry through books. Once per day, by spending an hour reading a book, you may create an effect similar to the scrying spell, with caster level equal to your own and a save DC of 10 + your class level + your Intelligence modifier. However, you do not actually perceive the target of the spell–instead, the text of the book temporarily changes to describe what is happening to it, giving just as much information as a normal scrying spell. The book you read must somehow relate to the creature you are scrying on. However, even that is not enough–the book must be rare or of exceptional quality, and must be worth at least 100 gp.
Polyglot (Ex)
At 5th level, you gain the ability to speak, understand, read, and write in all languages, excluding secret languages such as Druidic.
Send Sigil (Sp)
At 6th level, you may send written information over long distances. Once per day, by meditating for ten minutes, you may compose a brief message and send it to a creature you know, as the sending spell, with caster level equal to your own. However, instead of receiving the message mentally, the subject encounters a mystic sigil–typically, the design of your own arcane mark–on a conspicuous surface, typically a blank piece of paper. Upon seeing the sigil, the subject immediately understands its significance. When the subject touches the sigil, it immediately rearranges itself to display your written message. The subject may then compose his own message and send it to you in the same way.
Cosmic Research (Sp)
At 7th level, you gain the ability to scour the cosmos for information on a specific person, place, or thing. By spending 2d6 hours reading a book, you may gain the benefits of the legend lore spell, with caster level equal to your own. The book you read must relate to the thing you wish to learn more about. However, even that is not enough–the book must be rare or of exceptional quality, and must be worth at least 500 gp.
Call Forth the Tome (Su)
At 8th level, you may summon forth any book at will as a standard action. To summon the book you must know its name, and you cannot summon books that are magical or one of a kind. The price of the book does not matter. You may only have one book summoned at a time–you must dismiss one before you can summon another, which requires a swift action. By summoning forth the right book, you may give yourself a +10 circumstance bonus on any Knowledge check or Intelligence check. In addition, you can use summoned books in conjunction with your class features that require the use of particular books. After twenty four hours, a summoned book returns to where it came from, even if you did not dismiss it.
Forewarned is Forearmed (Su)
At 9th level, you gain the ability to give yourself the edge in any situation through some careful research. To gain this edge, you must spend ten minutes leafing through a book–it does not matter what it is, as long as you read it. You may only do this once per day. Whatever you read is deeply ingrained in your subconscious, and your mind constantly goes over it, analyzing that information to give you the advantage in any situation. As an immediate action, you may expend this edge as an immediate action to grant yourself a +4 insight bonus on any attack roll, caster level check, damage roll, saving throw, or skill check. You lose the edge if you do not expend it within 24 hours or before the next time you use this ability.
Spell Lore (Su)
At 10th level, your vast knowledge and wide readings let you twist your magic, reshaping spells as an author might rewrite a sentence. When you cast a spell, you make a Knowledge check–Knowledge (Arcana) if the spell is arcana, Knowledge (Religion) if it is divine. The base DC of the check is 20, and you apply the listed modifiers below according to which effect or effects you wish to apply to the spell. You may apply one to three of the effects listed below to your spell. You cannot select a combination of effects that would increase the check’s DC to above 45. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier. If you fail the check, the attempt is still wasted. In addition, you must make a caster level check, DC 20 plus the spell’s level, or lose the spell.
{table="head"]Effect|Modifier
Remove Inexpensive Material Component|+0
Enlarge Spell|+5
Extend Spell|+5
Increase Effective Spell Level by One|+5
Remove Somatic Component|+5
Remove Vocal Component|+5
Empower Spell|+10
Ignore Spell Resistance|+10
Maximize Spell|+15
Quicken Spell|+20
[/table]
<hr>
Book Statistics
People playing a Cosmic Librarian may find it useful to have statistics on hand. In terms of pricing, most paperback books cost anywhere from 5 sp to 1 gp, while most hardback books cost from 5-20 gp. However, this pricing is just for the run of the mill–first editions, signed copies, and rare books can be far more expensive, ranging from 100 gp to perhaps as high as 2,500 gp–even higher for unique books.
Most softback books have a hardness 0, and 5 hit points, while most hardback books have hardness 1, and 15 hit points. All books are vulnerable to fire. If a book is submerged in water, it is completely destroyed. However, certain magical protections can be purchased for books, ranging from fireproofing to magical trapping. For complete descriptions and pricing of these enhancements, see Complete Arcane.
Transporting books can be difficult. Most paperback books weigh half a pound, while hardbacks can range from one to three pounds. Thus, anyone wishing to carry anything more than a small traveling library may encounter some encumbrance problems. Extradimensional storage is often employed by a Cosmic Librarian who wishes to carry a large number of books. Handy haversacks are an ever-popular choice, as are portable holes, which can have shelving built in them.
<hr>
Inspired by Greg Stolze and John Tynes