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Xuldarinar
2014-01-12, 08:16 PM
KEEPER OF THE TOME
"My word is my bond, and that bond is to shadow." -???

Keepers of the tome are individuals that seek to bring together three seemingly separate forms of magic. Learning the truenames of vestiges and becoming able to bind them to shadow in place of themselves, keepers of the tome are capable of feats few can even imagine.

BECOMING A KEEPER OF THE TOME
Given the requirements of the class, multiclass binder/shadowcaster/truenamers make up the vast majority of keepers of the tome. Members of other classes with similar disciplines can manage to enter the class, but this is almost unheard of.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Skills: Knowledge (the planes) 4, Spellcraft 8 ranks, Truespeak 10 ranks.
Mysteries: Ability to cast 2nd-level mysteries.
Special: Ability to bind a 2nd-level vestige.
Special: Ability to use 1st-level utterances.

Table 1-1: The Keeper of the Tome---Hit Die: D4
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Mysteries
1st|+0|+0|+0|+2|Bestow Form, Soul Binding +1, Utterances +1|+1 of existing mystery-using class
2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3|Word of Shadow, Soul Binding +2, Utterances +2|+1 of existing mystery-using class
3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3|Elocuted Binding, Soul Binding +3, Utterances +3|+1 of existing mystery-using class
4th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Imbue Vestige, Soul Binding +4, Utterances +4|+1 of existing mystery-using class
5th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Shared Form, Soul Binding +5, Utterances +5|+1 of existing mystery-using class
6th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Mysterious Utterance, Soul Binding +6, Utterances +6|+1 of existing mystery-using class
7th|+3|+2|+2|+5|Vestige Ventriloquy, Soul Binding +7, Utterances +7|+1 of existing mystery-using class
8th|+4|+2|+2|+6|Word of Vestiges, Soul Binding +8, Utterances +8|+1 of existing mystery-using class
9th|+4|+3|+3|+6|Soul Binding +9, Utterances +9|+1 of existing mystery-using class
10th|+5|+3|+3|+7|Shared Form, Soul Binding +10, Utterances +10|+1 of existing mystery-using class
11th|+5|+3|+3|+7|Soul Binding +11, Utterances +11|+1 of existing mystery-using class
12th|+6|+4|+4|+8|Soul Binding +12, Utterances +12|+1 of existing mystery-using class
13th|+6|+4|+4|+8|Soul Binding +13, Utterances +13|+1 of existing mystery-using class
[/table]
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Knowledge (All skills, taken individually), Preform (oratory), Search, Spellcraft, and Truespeak.

CLASS FEATURES
All of the following are class features of the keeper of the tome prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Keepers of the tome gain no new proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Mysteries: At each level, you gain new mysteries known and an increase in caster level (and uses per mysteries per day, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in your mystery using class.You do not, however, gain any other benefits a character of the class would have gained. If you had more than one mystery using class before becoming a keeper of the tome, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purposes of determining caster level, and mysteries known.

Soulbinding: At each level your soulbinding ability improves as if you had also gained a level in the binder class. Thus, your keeper of the tome levels stack with your binder levels for the purpose of determining your bonus on binding checks, the effectiveness of your vestige-granted abilities, your ability to bind higher-level vestiges, and the number of vestiges you can bind. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a binder would have gained.

Utterances: At each level, you gain utterances known and an increase in your effective Truenamer level as if you had also gained a level in the truenamer class. Thus, your keeper of the tome levels stack with your truenamer levels for the purpose of determining your ability to use higher-level utterances, the effectiveness of your utterances, and your utterances known. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a truenamer would have gained.

Bestow Form (Su): Through the merging of shadow magic, utterances, and binding, you gain the ability to bestow a physical form to a vestige. These physical vestiges count against the maximum number of vestiges you can have bound at once. You may not have more than one vestige bestowed physical form. For the purposes of statistics, treat the vestige bestowed form as a shadow elemental with hit die equal to your caster level, and possessing the vestige bound to it. When a vestige is bound in this manner, regardless of if the pact is good or bad, the vestige's bestowed form possesses the vestige's sign and influence. If the pact was good, then the bestowed vestige is otherwise completely loyal to the keeper of the tome that bound it. If the pact was bad, then the vestige bestowed form's attitude towards you is based on by how much you failed the Binding DC. For example; a binding check result of 18, with the DC being 20, when binding Savnok to their bestowed form would result in him starting out as friendly. He may help you, but without further attempts to improve his stance with you, he will not take risks that would result in his 'death' on your behalf.

Table 1-2:
{table=head]Amount DC failed by|Vestige Bestowed Form's Attitude
1-4|Friendly
5-8|Indifferent
8-12|Unfriendly
13+|Hostile [/table]

Word of Shadow (Su): Beginning at 2nd level you gain the ability to expend a number of uses of a single mystery you know to gain a bonus to your Truespeak checks for the rest of the turn. You may use this ability at-will as a swift action, but no more often than once per round. The bonus is equal to the level of the mystery expended times the number of uses expended. You may not expend more uses of a single mystery than half your class level.

Elocuted Binding (Su): Starting at 3rd level, for the purposes of soulbinding, you may choose to make a Truespeak check in place of your usual binding check.

Imbue Vestige (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you acquire the ability to give your mysteries to your vestige bestowed form. By succeeding a Truespeak check (DC 20 + 3 x Mystery level), you may expend a number of uses of a single mystery to give your vestige bestowed from to cast the mystery as a spell-like ability a number of times per usage spent.

Shared Form (Su): Upon reaching 5th level, you gain the ability to bind two vestiges to a single form via Bestow Form. Upon reaching 10th level, you gain the ability to bind three vestige to a single form via Bestow Form.

Mysterious Utterance (Su): Beginning at 6th level, you gain the ability to cast your mysteries with truespeach. When using this class feature, you may make an appropriate Truespeak check in place of expending a use of one of your mysteries. Mysteries cast in this manner follow the laws of resistance and sequence.

Vestige Ventriloquy: Upon reaching 7th level, you gain the ability to speak your utterances through your vestige. When using an utterance, or a similar ability that requires you to make a Truespeak check, you may add 5 to the DC to treat the utterance as being used from your vestige bestowed form's location. For all intents all purposes except for the DC of the utterance and the Truespeak check, your vestige bestowed form is treated as the one speaking the utterance.

Word of Vestiges (Su): Beginning at 8th level, you gain the ability to expend a number of uses of your supernatural abilities bestowed by your bound vestiges to gain a bonus on your Truespeak checks for the rest of the turn. You may use this ability at-will as a swift action, but no more than once per round. This bonus is equal to the level of the vestige from which each use was expended.

PLAYING A KEEPER OF THE TOME
You are a rising master of three forms of magic, able to shape shadow, call vestiges, and utter the fundamental language of the universe. You are most likely scholarly and cynical, given the widespread misconceptions about your magics. While you may never truly master any of your disciplines as a single-classed contemporary of any one of them might, not until much later at least, your ability to tie these three magics together makes you in the very least their equal.
Every major organization, with the exception of ones devoted to a deity, associated with binders, shadowcasters, and truenamers has a place for keepers of the tome, and given how few they are in number some organizations actively seek those out with the combination of disciplines. Other guilds associated with magic may take interest in keepers of the tome and even allow their entry, but these are relatively few and far between.

COMBAT
At lower levels, your combat techniques may not differ greatly from those of other mystery-users. Typically standing back, though using utterances and your bound vestiges to supplement your abilities.
As you progress, your options grow. You grow more comfortable moving about, and your abilities begin to integrate more. In time you gain the ability to bind a vestige outside of yourself, allowing it to go into the fray while you maintain your place just close enough your utterances and mysteries can find their mark.

ADVANCEMENT
Your arts are learned ones, spanning from the profanely simple art of summoning vestiges, to the complexities of utterances and mysteries. Whether by teaching or by shear accident, you have learned of and sought to become a keeper of the tome.
Advancement requires substantial study and use of your abilities, more so than that of any who studies but one of your disciplines. While you may never have to bind the strongest of vestiges, speak the most profound utterances, or cast the most difficult of mysteries, your techniques combine these three.
As you rise in power, you face many of the same decisions as other mystery-users, only you must now consider their interactions with your other abilities. What vestiges you come to favor and the names regularly spoken shouldn't be forgotten when making these decisions. Raising both Intelligence and Charisma is a wise idea, and any feats or items that enhance any or all of your abilities are incredibly valuable.

RESOURCES
Generally, you tend to view other keepers of the tome as, at best kindred souls and at worst rivals. Be it by trade with fellow keepers of the tome or acquisition on your own or with aid, you will have to acquire resources. Anything to enhance your Truespeak checks, your mystery-using abilities, or your supernatural abilities granted by your vestiges is of great use to you.

KEEPERS OF THE TOME IN THE WORLD
"They are the most vile of spellcasters. Speaking in a tongue so profane the world shutters in its wake, calling upon beings even hell itself spat out, and wielding magics that could only come from the darkest depths of the abyss." -Oskir Unhek, cleric of Moradin

DAILY LIFE
A keeper of the tome spends most of their time in study, research being required to master their disciplines. Keepers of the tome tend to devote the rest of their time to adventuring or advancing the goals of their organization.
Keepers of the tome seldom take part in politics, but those that do tend to make full use of their abilities for the protection of, or control over, others. Arrogance and paranoia are common among keepers of the tome, given the magics they wield and the misconceptions that follow them.

NOTABLES
Given that keepers of the tome are both rare and prefer to keep quiet about what magics they weave when it comes to the ignorant masses, none are known to have reached any sort of notoriety. Still, its possible that some famous individuals believed to have bee mystery-users or binders, or even unknown for what magics they used, may have been keepers of the tome themselves.

ORGANIZATION
Keepers of the tome generally function as other mystery users, binders, and truenamers when it comes to organizations. While sought after, many keep their diverse abilities quiet, as there are many that even in such organizations that may frown upon the use of some of their other magics. The Votairies of Vecna in particular, many of its more devoted members may frown upon the use of binding, especially when it comes to binding the vestige Kas.

NPC REACTIONS
The majority of people react to keepers of the tome as they would a binder, a shadowcaster, or a truenamer, depending upon which the keeper of the tome resembles most. Only those that are familiar with, or are practitioners of, any or all of the magics a keeper of the tome practices recognize them as something else. Generally, shadowcasters and binders are indifferent or friendly to keepers of the tome, though some find the other's practices to be unsavory. Truenamers are more likely to take umbrage, seeing their discipline mixed with shadow and binding, one or both being considered by some to be forbidden magics.

KEEPER OF THE TOME LORE
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (the planes) can research keepers of the tome to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including the information from lower DCs.
-DC 10:The keeper of the tome is a spellcaster that combines a vastly different and obscure forms of magic to great effect.
-DC 15: Keepers of the tome have the ability to use the power of shadow, call upon beings from outside existence called vestiges, and use words to alter the world around them.
-DC 20: Keepers of the tome have acquired a means of learning the truenames of vestiges, beings that do not actually exist and therefore should not have truenames, and giving them form outside of themselves with shadow.
A bardic knowledge check or a Gather Information check can reveal the same information as these Knowledge checks, but in each case the DC is 5 higher than the given value.
__________________
I simply wish to revisit and refine this homebrew of mine. I've improved it since it last saw these forums, but still it may need some fine tuning.

Amnoriath
2014-01-13, 06:23 AM
Love what you did here and makes it quite distinct however this PrC tips out at level 5 so I think some things can be spread out and even possibly added. You could move Elocuted Form to level 3 and start throwing in some flat truespeak checks to alter your vestige forms. You also didn't advance utterances.

Xuldarinar
2014-01-13, 07:43 AM
Love what you did here and makes it quite distinct however this PrC tips out at level 5 so I think some things can be spread out and even possibly added. You could move Elocuted Form to level 3 and start throwing in some flat truespeak checks to alter your vestige forms. You also didn't advance utterances.

I've moved elocuted binding to 3rd level. As for spreading things out a bit more, that I'm still figuring that out. Perhaps at 10th, as part of it, allow the binding of three vestiges to the Bestowed Form. It seems a little front loaded but I'm not sure how it should be spaced out or what further could be added. Perhaps some more things that tie the three magics together, more interactions if anything.

As for advancing utterances, there is no precedent for it. Even in prestige classes that are wrapped around truenaming, there is no advancement of it, only abilities that rely on the checks as well.

Amnoriath
2014-01-13, 09:34 AM
As for advancing utterances, there is no precedent for it. Even in prestige classes that are wrapped around truenaming, there is no advancement of it, only abilities that rely on the checks as well.

Yeah, I know I just thought I mention it just in case you forgot but even so those PrC's have certain truespeech DC's for specific abilities of their own. All this currently does is boost them and replaces a binding check for a Truespeech check.

Xuldarinar
2014-01-13, 09:56 AM
Yeah, I know I just thought I mention it just in case you forgot but even so those PrC's have certain truespeech DC's for specific abilities of their own. All this currently does is boost them and replaces a binding check for a Truespeech check.

Granted, Truespeak checks only get used for two things in this PrC, and a few class features boost them. Perhaps I should give them uses related to Bestow form. I was thinking of something but Im not certain about it or where to put it. An ability to use utterances, or other things that requires a Truespeak check, using the Vestige Bestowed form as the source in your stead. This wouldn't have much use with most utterances, but some class features could expand that, such as Mysterious Utterance.

Do you have any suggestions?


Edit: I've expanded it to 15 levels now. Just seems like it wouldn't hurt to allow further progression. The gap in the table between 10 and 11 is intentional.

Amnoriath
2014-01-13, 01:05 PM
I would say allow them to imbue mysteries into the Vestige forms. The check would be 20+(3 x mystery level). This would expend a use but allows the vestige forms to use it as a spell-like ability once a day per use expended. I would also stick in a form of healing based upon your binding check.

Xuldarinar
2014-01-14, 06:07 AM
I would say allow them to imbue mysteries into the Vestige forms. The check would be 20+(3 x mystery level). This would expend a use but allows the vestige forms to use it as a spell-like ability once a day per use expended. I would also stick in a form of healing based upon your binding check.

I've added Imbue Vestige, which functions as this. I've also added one based on my idea, Vestige Ventriloquy. Both will effectively allow one to cast mysteries through their vestige, but one is prepared and the other is more flexible and usable on the fly.

A form of healing though, Im no certain exactly how to approach it.

Only 9th level and 11th+ lack class features beyond advancement, but as a theurgic class I didn't imagine i'd be tossing in so many. Can we get someone in here on game balance? What are we looking at now?

peacenlove
2014-01-15, 11:21 AM
Word of vestiges should be a swift action.
Balancewise it is not much stronger than the binder and solves the shadowcaster`s limited uses per day. Weaker than anima mage that`s for sure.

Xuldarinar
2014-01-15, 11:59 AM
I've added the change, tacked it on really.

That makes sense for where it stands and is a good point to be. Not too powerful, but stronger than it's parts.

Amnoriath
2014-01-15, 03:40 PM
There are only a couple of things to be done to be called perfect. I think you should spread out your abilities giving it an effective capstone. I would also sprinkle in some knowledge oriented stuff as it makes sense with the theme and isn't going to change the course of encounters to often.
I would also suggest making it a 13 level class as not only there isn't any precedent for 15 level's aside from variants. Here is an example of a good 10+ level PrC. Even though it is a Druid base it still does forsake a couple of things while increasing in another so it gets a gold stamp in my book.
http://dndtools.eu/classes/moonspeaker/

peacenlove
2014-01-15, 03:40 PM
In table, at 3rd level there is a redundant "1 to existing class" under mysteries column.

Prestigious classes (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm) are 15 level long, and to be frank after you finish a theurge class you immediately start looking for another.
However breaking this up thematically into a 10 level and a 5 level prestige, loosely connected (just like master specialist followed by archmage, without strict requirements) would be preferable IMO.

Amnoriath
2014-01-15, 05:26 PM
In table, at 3rd level there is a redundant "1 to existing class" under mysteries column.

Prestigious classes (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm) are 15 level long, and to be frank after you finish a theurge class you immediately start looking for another.
However breaking this up thematically into a 10 level and a 5 level prestige, loosely connected (just like master specialist followed by archmage, without strict requirements) would be preferable IMO.

Those are variants which are otherwise exact copies of the base classes so I don't consider them genuine PrC's.
This PrC won't be taken until after level 7 which fits perfectly in a 13 level PrC archetype as this is what your character will be.

Xuldarinar
2014-01-15, 06:29 PM
In table, at 3rd level there is a redundant "1 to existing class" under mysteries column.

Thank you. Cannot believe I missed that.



Prestigious classes (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm) are 15 level long, and to be frank after you finish a theurge class you immediately start looking for another.
However breaking this up thematically into a 10 level and a 5 level prestige, loosely connected (just like master specialist followed by archmage, without strict requirements) would be preferable IMO.

Hmm.. That makes a lot of sense. Perhaps the last 5 levels will be set aside further for another PrC. We shall see


Those are variants which are otherwise exact copies of the base classes so I don't consider them genuine PrC's.
This PrC won't be taken until after level 7 which fits perfectly in a 13 level PrC archetype as this is what your character will be.

It can easily be started at 6th level, though I can see where you'd get after 7th.


Skills: Knowledge (the planes) 4, Spellcraft 8 ranks, Truespeak 4 ranks.

Easily attainable as of 5th level so long as spellcraft is a class skill.

Mysteries: Ability to cast 2nd-level mysteries.

Shadowcaster 3

Special: Ability to bind a 2nd-level vestige.

Binder 1 + Improved Binding (Or Binder 3, but thats slower)

Special: Ability to use 1st-level utterances.

Truenamer 1 or Truename Training + Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind.


Binder 1/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1 (Requires Improved Binding)
or
Binder 1/Shadowcaster 3/(Anything) 1 (Requires Improved Binding, Truename Training and Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind)
or
Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3 (Requires Truename Training and Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind)
or
Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1

Amnoriath
2014-01-16, 05:03 PM
It can easily be started at 6th level, though I can see where you'd get after 7th.


Skills: Knowledge (the planes) 4, Spellcraft 8 ranks, Truespeak 4 ranks.

Easily attainable as of 5th level so long as spellcraft is a class skill.

Mysteries: Ability to cast 2nd-level mysteries.

Shadowcaster 3

Special: Ability to bind a 2nd-level vestige.

Binder 1 + Improved Binding (Or Binder 3, but thats slower)

Special: Ability to use 1st-level utterances.

Truenamer 1 or Truename Training + Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind.


Binder 1/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1 (Requires Improved Binding)
or
Binder 1/Shadowcaster 3/(Anything) 1 (Requires Improved Binding, Truename Training and Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind)
or
Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3 (Requires Truename Training and Minor Utterance of the Evolving Mind)
or
Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1
Except the problem is you don't have enough for 15 levels. Even WoTC had problems making good 10+ level PrC's so think of my suggestion as a way for you to reduce the work while knowing what to expect out of it(have them work to be it). I also think that if you look at other Truenamer prestige classes you realize they don't require utterances. You also have an ability which changes the target of the utterance so having 1 utterance known sin't giving it much mileage at all. All in all I say make 13 levels enter at level 8 and advance utterances.

erevis_fail
2014-01-16, 06:28 PM
While I'm familiar with the classes from Tome of Magic, I don't have a good enough handle on them to comment on specific class features. But, I really like how you blended the class's together. The vestige-shadow-elemental is an awesome image!

Xuldarinar
2014-01-17, 09:19 AM
I've added advancement to utterances, raised the Truespeak ranks required to enter, and set it to 13 levels. Looking at this, I cannot help but think it needs a solid ability for completing the PrC.


Minimums for entry:
Binder 1 (with a particular feat)
Shadowcaster 3
Truenamer 1 (or dump feats in but advancement goes to waste)

Requiring character level 7 before all prerequisites can be met, this means If you don't wish to devote any feats to the effort, then it clears up nicely as
Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1

Binder 3/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1/Keeper of the Tome 13 would effectively be: Binder 16/Shadowcaster 16/Truenamer 14 for their respective 'casting'. 7th level vestiges (without feat), 8th level mysteries, 5th level utterances (LotEM), 3rd level utterances (LotCT) and 2nd level utterances (LotPM)

However, given that there is a feat that increases your effective binder level for the purposes of determining what level of vestiges you can bind, two of the binder levels are not entirely necessary.

Binder 1/Shadowcaster 3/Truenamer 1/x 2

If someone wanted a more mystery focused build, they could toss the remaining two levels at shadowcaster or a mystery-using PrC. If someone wanted to focus more on truenaming, they could toss instead into truenamer.

Personally, I believe the best route would be: Binder 2/Shadowcaster 4/Truenamer 1/Keeper of the Tome 13

Binder 15 (17 for vestige level)/Shadowcaster 17/Truenamer 14.

8th level vestiges, 9th level mysteries. Later in the game than most for either, but you manage to get them both.

Amnoriath
2014-01-19, 07:10 AM
As I said before I think moving the shared vestiges up the levels would help. In the former levels you could make something like this.
Make a Truespeak check in place of a knowledge check.
This could then be your capstone. The theme is making vestiges more real correct? It may need a little more fleshing out but I think it works without too much spamming.
Oration of Existence
By making a Truespeak check equal to double the binding check your vestige forms shed their shadowy imitations and become themselves. What this effectively does is they become their original race as well as class. They can only have as many single class levels or racial hit die equal to your effective caster level-4 in which they then can multiclass. They may only choose from base classes and not from prestige classes. You can assign their feats as well as skills up to your effective hit die treating them as having an effective binder level equal to yours. If you choose to bring into existence a shared form you must choose which one it embodies. However bringing one into existence requires an equivalent level of mystery to sacrifice and requires concentration to maintain.