Shadow Caster?

[Moogle0119]

Hi everyone. Our DM has started up a new game and I was curious about playing a Shadow Caster from the Tome of Magic but I haven't had a chance to go over it completely yet and determine whether it's a good class or not. I have read the flavor descriptions and it sounds very interesting. Are there any good Shadowcaster builds (with and/or without any PrCs added on) as well as general advice?

[Storm Bringer]

straight answer: form what I've heard on the forum thier less effective than a good wizard, and maybe less than a medicore wizard, due to the focused (as in, limited slection) nature of thier casting. But don't let that stop you if you like the fluff. I'd say go for it and see how it pans out.

[jjpickar]

My only experience with the class is when I played a Wiz2/Shadow Caster 2 on his way to Nocturnamancer who got killed before getting there. They aren't as powerful as a wizard but they aren't the worst class by far. I particularly enjoyed a feat (the name escapes me) that allows them to cast spells without provoking Attacks of Opportunity if their shadow isn't threatened. I didn't play long enough to get an accurate feel for the class but since you can trade wizard levels for ShadowCaster levels in increments you could start off as a wizard pwn all then, when high enough level, slowly morph into a shadow caster and pwn in a shadowy manner.

[Skjaldbakka]

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=611162

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=184955

http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2957649&postcount=76

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=167796

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54201

Here are some links to other discussions of the shadowcaster and an errata to the class as well. Definitly worth looking at if you want to play a shadowcaster.

[Dhavaer]

They're very weak due to having less mysteries known and per day than either wizards or sorcerers do spells. On the other hand, they do have a better skill list (Hide, Move Silently, Spot), better HD and if you take the Still Mystery feat, they can cast in armour.

[TheLogman]

I've heard that the shadowcaster is the Warlock that doesn't suck. I've read up on them, and flavor-wise, they are a lot more fun than a Wizard. Plus, with prestige options like the Noctumancer, and the Shadow Smith, you can have a lot of fun.

The Mysteries gained is a little slow, and the fact that the mysteries have to have the first mystery in the tree to gain the rest is a little annoying. However, as you progress, you gain the abilities to not have to eat and sleep, and eventually your mysteries become supernatural abilities that you can cast whenever you want.

[Dhavaer]

and eventually your mysteries become supernatural abilities that you can cast whenever you want.

Only Fundamentals ever become usable at will, mysteries cap at 3/day unless you take one twice or take the Favoured Mystery feat.

[Overlard]

I've heard that the shadowcaster is the Warlock that doesn't suck.
No, that would be the well-played warlock.

[Skjaldbakka]

No, that would be the well-played warlock.

Take your warlock-mongering to another thread. Where I can proceed to rant about how a warlock broke my Eberron game. Quickly, before this thread turns into a warlocks suck/don't suck debate.

I see warlocks as better off than pre-errata shadowcaster (errata which I'm not sure is canon.)