BowStreetRunner
2018-03-19, 10:28 AM
Archivist Class Spell Access
One of my favorite classes for both playability and role-playing flavor is the Archivist. I've found there is a lot of information available regarding one of the most interesting of their class abilities - specifically how they add to their spell list - but that it isn't all gathered conveniently in one place. After compiling the information for my own reference, it occurred to me that other players might appreciate having it easily accessible as well - so here it is. I hope you find it useful and informative.
The Prayerbook
The Archivist class (Heroes of Horror p.82) uses a Prayerbook to record the spells she knows, with the exception of Read Magic which she can prepare from memory. At each class level the Archivist receives a selection of new Cleric spells that she may automatically add to her Prayerbook. Additionally she can copy from scrolls containing divine spells to add to her Prayerbook.
While this appears at first glance to give the Archivist access to an absolutely enormous range of spells, there are a couple of restrictions that have the potential to keep this in check. The only spells the Archivist gains automatically at each level are a small number of Cleric spells (all 0 level spells, 3 + Intelligence bonus 1st level spells, then 2 new spells per level after first). Beyond that the Archivist has to find a divine scroll of a spell in order to copy it. This means there doesn't only need to be a divine spellcaster who knows the spell, but also someone with the Scribe Scroll feat to create a divine scroll from it. Fortunately for the Archivist, this is a bonus feat at first level and the rules for creating magic items state that where prerequisites to create an item include spells that must be known by the item's creator, access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed.
Divine Scrolls
The simplest way to add a spell to the Archivist's list is therefore to just acquire a divine spell scroll that someone else has crafted. She must still "make any rolls and spend the time required", which follows the same rules as a Wizard (Player's Handbook p.178). If not using the Read Magic spell, or the assistance of the person who wrote the scroll, then a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + Spell Level) is required to decipher the spell. She must then spend a day studying the spell and make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + SL) to understand the spell. If unsuccessful the scroll remains but she cannot attempt to copy it again until she gains another rank in Spellcraft. If successful the spell can be scribed into her Prayerbook and disappears from the scroll.
Note that the Archivist rules specifically call out the section 'Adding Spells to a Wizard's Spellbook', which also allows for Independent Research without access to an existing spell. The DMG covers this and your DM may make this an option. Also, the Archivist rules do not call out the subsequent section titled 'Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook' so it is unclear how much time and cost is required to write a new spell into a Prayerbook. If the Wizard rules are considered to carry over here as well, then it takes 24 hours to scribe the spell into her Prayerbook, and the prayer takes up one page per spell level (minimum 1 page), with a material cost of 100 gp per page.
If the Archivist locates either a spellcaster or item who can cast the spell, she has the option of working with the item or other spellcaster to craft a scroll. While the original rules for such collaboration were vague (Dungeon Master's Guide p.282), a later book (Magic Item Compendium p.232) clarifies that when such collaboration occurs any place that the text "refers to the “creator” of a magic item, it includes all characters supplying at least one prerequisite for the item’s creation." [Note that this is not presented as a new rule, but merely a clarification of existing rules, so would be similar in nature to Errata or FAQ.] To scribe a scroll with such assistance the caster providing the spell must have it prepared for casting or, in the case of a spontaneous caster, have the appropriate slot available, along with any material components (which are used up in creating the scroll), spell focus (which must be available but is not used up), and spend any XP cost included in the spell itself. Alternately, the Archivist can just have an item ready to cast the spell. The base price of the scroll is set at 25 gp x spell level x caster level, which uses the caster level at which the spell is cast during the creation of the scroll. [Note that the spell level will remain at the level given in the spell list of the person who provided the spell - so a lesser restoration provided by a Paladin becomes a 1st level Archvist spell but provided by a Druid becomes a 2nd level Archivist spell.] The creator will need to provide at the time of creation materials equal to 1/2 the base price. The person contributing the Scribe Scroll feat will need to spend XP equal to 1/25 the base price. The time to create the scroll is one day per 1000 gp of the base price, with a minimum of one day. Note that a scroll with multiple spells may take less time to create then multiple scrolls with the same spells, as the one day minimum is per scroll not per spell.
[As mentioned above, the spell level doesn't change when an Archivist learns a spell from another divine caster. Clerics, Druids, Paladins, Rangers, Adepts, and members of various other base classes and prestige classes may have the same spell on their lists but at different levels. An Archivist will generally want the lowest level version possible, although there may be specific circumstances when a higher level version is desirable (such as casting into a globe of invulnerability).]
Arcane Spells
Sometimes it may be possible to acquire a divine scroll of a spell that is normally an arcane spell. There are several methods that provide divine casters access to arcane spells as divine spells that can then be put into a scroll. Note that many of these are by no means guaranteed to provide the spell that the archivist is looking for, as the character with the ability must not only have the ability in question but also have used it to acquire the specific spell the archivist is looking for. Here are the methods I've found so far. Not all of them will be available as options in every campaign, since many rely on alternate rules that a particular DM may not employ, and quite a few rely on DM interpretations of the rules.
Domain Spells (Player's Handbook p.185, Spell Compendium p.271, etc.) often include spells that aren't on any of the normal divine spell lists. The nice thing about these spells is that someone with the domain and a high enough caster level is pretty much guaranteed to have that spell.
The Adept NPC class (Dungeon Master's Guide p.107) has several spells that are normally arcane spells but cast as divine spells by these characters. Adepts know all of the spells on their spell list, so one with a high enough caster level is going to have the spells of that level.
A Cleric with the Divine Magician alternate class feature (Complete Mage p.33) can add one abjuration, divination, or necromancy spells at each level from the wizard list as divine spells. This is like having a custom domain. However, unlike domain spells there is no guarantee that a particular Divine Magician will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A Favored Soul with the Favored of Bahamut/Tiamat alternate class feature (Dragon Magic p.13) can choose one first level sorcerer spell to add to their list of divine spells and later add one more sorcerer spell of up to sixth level. Again here there is no guarantee that a particular Favored of Bahamut/Tiamat will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
Bards with the Divine Bard variant class (Unearthed Arcana p.50) cast all of their bard spells as divine spells. Since bards have a limited number of spells known, there is once again no guarantee that a particular Divine Bard will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A member of the Hexer prestige class (Masters of the Wild p.63 - a 3.0 book that was never updated to 3.5) is generally going to be a divine caster (must be able to cast lightning bolt as a divine spell) and can add one bonus spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list at every even level. As with the other examples above, there is no guarantee that a particular Hexer will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A Warlock of 12th level or higher gains the Imbue Item supernatural ability (Complete Arcane p.8) to create magic items even if he does not know the spells required to make an item. So a 12th level warlock with Scribe Scroll could potentially create scrolls of any divine spell. This also alleviates the issue of finding a caster who has chosen the specific spell desired, as the warlock can theoretically create any divine scroll as long as that spell is able to be a divine spell.
A member of the Sword of the Arcane Order prestige class (Champions of Valor p.34) can cast Wizard spells in their Paladin or Ranger slots. This prestige class does not specifically explain whether the spells remain arcane or become divine, so a DM ruling is needed before using this.* If the DM rules these are divine, then not only can you search out members of this prestige class to provide spells, but these would also be available to the 12th level warlock mentioned above. Note that Paladin and Ranger slots normally only go from 1st to 4th level, so this would make any Wizard spell in that range available, but not Cantrips or higher level spells. If using the Prestige Ranger or Paladin options from Unearthed Arcana however, these extend your base casting class by 7/15 or 8/15 levels, so can get up to 6th level 7th level spells.
A dual divine and arcane caster with the Alternative Source Spell feat (Dragon Magazine #325 p.61) can cast any of their arcane spells as divine spells. This potentially opens up any arcane spell to the archivist.
A dual divine and arcane caster with the Customize Domain feat (Dragon Magazine #325 p.61) can replace spells on their domain spell list with similar spells from any spell list they have access to. So they could put spells from their arcane spell list in their domain slots. Again, this potentially opens up any arcane spell to the archivist.
A divine caster with the spell Anyspell (Spell Compendium p.14) or Greater Anyspell (Spell Compendium p.15) can use the spell to cast an arcane spell of up to 2nd or 5th level respectively from their domain slot. Note that the wording does not explicitly state that the arcane spell is cast as divine, so a DM ruling is needed for this to work.*
An arcane caster with the Southern Magician feat (Races of Faerûn p.168) can cast any of his arcane spells as divine spells. Note that while it explicitly states this can be done, it somewhat confusingly adds that "the actual source of the spell's power doesn't change, nor does its means of preparation." So there is the possiblity of a DM ruling against this one too.*
A member of the Artificer class (Eberron Campaign Setting p.29) can create scrolls of any spell by using a Use Magic Device check instead of using the spell itself. Since magic items created by an artificer are considered neither arcane nor divine, this would normally prevent an Archivist from using such scrolls to add to her spell list. However, as was already noted above, two characters working together can each provide part of the prerequisites to craft a magic item. Since the Archivist already has the Scribe Scroll feat, she could create a divine scroll with assistance from an Artificer, who would only be needed to supply the UMD check in place of the spell. However, it could be argued that since "magic items created by an artificer are considered neither arcane nor divine" and when "collaboration occurs any place that the text "refers to the “creator” of a magic item, it includes all characters supplying at least one prerequisite for the item’s creation" that these are still created by an artificer and therefore neither arcane nor divine. So a DM ruling is going to be required here as well.*
A member of the Arcane Disciple variant class (Dragon Magazine #311 p.49) can add spells from the bard or sorcerer/wizard spell list up to 8th level (one level lower than the highest-level divine spell the character may cast, so 9th level if the caster has some way to gain access to 10th level spells.) to their spell list and cast them as divine spells.
A member of the Geomancer prestige class (Complete Divine p.41) can mix or match spellcasting parameters from his arcane and divine caster classes when casting spells. Since the rules don't explicitly call out exactly what does and does not constitute an eligible parameter, it is possible he could cast an arcane spell as a divine spell. Obviously this is another option that will require a DM ruling.*
*[Note to commenters - in the above list I sometimes mention that a DM ruling is required where the text of the relevant rules fails to explicitly support some part of the method in question. In doing so I am not attempting to take a position in favor or against the method, but merely pointing out the fact that DMs may not all agree that it works. If you would like to post a comment regarding one of these methods the most useful thing you can add would be to give your suggestions on what arguments a player could use to convince their DM to accept the method, or what arguments a DM could use to explain to their players why they aren't going to accept the method.]
One of my favorite classes for both playability and role-playing flavor is the Archivist. I've found there is a lot of information available regarding one of the most interesting of their class abilities - specifically how they add to their spell list - but that it isn't all gathered conveniently in one place. After compiling the information for my own reference, it occurred to me that other players might appreciate having it easily accessible as well - so here it is. I hope you find it useful and informative.
The Prayerbook
The Archivist class (Heroes of Horror p.82) uses a Prayerbook to record the spells she knows, with the exception of Read Magic which she can prepare from memory. At each class level the Archivist receives a selection of new Cleric spells that she may automatically add to her Prayerbook. Additionally she can copy from scrolls containing divine spells to add to her Prayerbook.
While this appears at first glance to give the Archivist access to an absolutely enormous range of spells, there are a couple of restrictions that have the potential to keep this in check. The only spells the Archivist gains automatically at each level are a small number of Cleric spells (all 0 level spells, 3 + Intelligence bonus 1st level spells, then 2 new spells per level after first). Beyond that the Archivist has to find a divine scroll of a spell in order to copy it. This means there doesn't only need to be a divine spellcaster who knows the spell, but also someone with the Scribe Scroll feat to create a divine scroll from it. Fortunately for the Archivist, this is a bonus feat at first level and the rules for creating magic items state that where prerequisites to create an item include spells that must be known by the item's creator, access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed.
Divine Scrolls
The simplest way to add a spell to the Archivist's list is therefore to just acquire a divine spell scroll that someone else has crafted. She must still "make any rolls and spend the time required", which follows the same rules as a Wizard (Player's Handbook p.178). If not using the Read Magic spell, or the assistance of the person who wrote the scroll, then a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + Spell Level) is required to decipher the spell. She must then spend a day studying the spell and make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + SL) to understand the spell. If unsuccessful the scroll remains but she cannot attempt to copy it again until she gains another rank in Spellcraft. If successful the spell can be scribed into her Prayerbook and disappears from the scroll.
Note that the Archivist rules specifically call out the section 'Adding Spells to a Wizard's Spellbook', which also allows for Independent Research without access to an existing spell. The DMG covers this and your DM may make this an option. Also, the Archivist rules do not call out the subsequent section titled 'Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook' so it is unclear how much time and cost is required to write a new spell into a Prayerbook. If the Wizard rules are considered to carry over here as well, then it takes 24 hours to scribe the spell into her Prayerbook, and the prayer takes up one page per spell level (minimum 1 page), with a material cost of 100 gp per page.
If the Archivist locates either a spellcaster or item who can cast the spell, she has the option of working with the item or other spellcaster to craft a scroll. While the original rules for such collaboration were vague (Dungeon Master's Guide p.282), a later book (Magic Item Compendium p.232) clarifies that when such collaboration occurs any place that the text "refers to the “creator” of a magic item, it includes all characters supplying at least one prerequisite for the item’s creation." [Note that this is not presented as a new rule, but merely a clarification of existing rules, so would be similar in nature to Errata or FAQ.] To scribe a scroll with such assistance the caster providing the spell must have it prepared for casting or, in the case of a spontaneous caster, have the appropriate slot available, along with any material components (which are used up in creating the scroll), spell focus (which must be available but is not used up), and spend any XP cost included in the spell itself. Alternately, the Archivist can just have an item ready to cast the spell. The base price of the scroll is set at 25 gp x spell level x caster level, which uses the caster level at which the spell is cast during the creation of the scroll. [Note that the spell level will remain at the level given in the spell list of the person who provided the spell - so a lesser restoration provided by a Paladin becomes a 1st level Archvist spell but provided by a Druid becomes a 2nd level Archivist spell.] The creator will need to provide at the time of creation materials equal to 1/2 the base price. The person contributing the Scribe Scroll feat will need to spend XP equal to 1/25 the base price. The time to create the scroll is one day per 1000 gp of the base price, with a minimum of one day. Note that a scroll with multiple spells may take less time to create then multiple scrolls with the same spells, as the one day minimum is per scroll not per spell.
[As mentioned above, the spell level doesn't change when an Archivist learns a spell from another divine caster. Clerics, Druids, Paladins, Rangers, Adepts, and members of various other base classes and prestige classes may have the same spell on their lists but at different levels. An Archivist will generally want the lowest level version possible, although there may be specific circumstances when a higher level version is desirable (such as casting into a globe of invulnerability).]
Arcane Spells
Sometimes it may be possible to acquire a divine scroll of a spell that is normally an arcane spell. There are several methods that provide divine casters access to arcane spells as divine spells that can then be put into a scroll. Note that many of these are by no means guaranteed to provide the spell that the archivist is looking for, as the character with the ability must not only have the ability in question but also have used it to acquire the specific spell the archivist is looking for. Here are the methods I've found so far. Not all of them will be available as options in every campaign, since many rely on alternate rules that a particular DM may not employ, and quite a few rely on DM interpretations of the rules.
Domain Spells (Player's Handbook p.185, Spell Compendium p.271, etc.) often include spells that aren't on any of the normal divine spell lists. The nice thing about these spells is that someone with the domain and a high enough caster level is pretty much guaranteed to have that spell.
The Adept NPC class (Dungeon Master's Guide p.107) has several spells that are normally arcane spells but cast as divine spells by these characters. Adepts know all of the spells on their spell list, so one with a high enough caster level is going to have the spells of that level.
A Cleric with the Divine Magician alternate class feature (Complete Mage p.33) can add one abjuration, divination, or necromancy spells at each level from the wizard list as divine spells. This is like having a custom domain. However, unlike domain spells there is no guarantee that a particular Divine Magician will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A Favored Soul with the Favored of Bahamut/Tiamat alternate class feature (Dragon Magic p.13) can choose one first level sorcerer spell to add to their list of divine spells and later add one more sorcerer spell of up to sixth level. Again here there is no guarantee that a particular Favored of Bahamut/Tiamat will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
Bards with the Divine Bard variant class (Unearthed Arcana p.50) cast all of their bard spells as divine spells. Since bards have a limited number of spells known, there is once again no guarantee that a particular Divine Bard will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A member of the Hexer prestige class (Masters of the Wild p.63 - a 3.0 book that was never updated to 3.5) is generally going to be a divine caster (must be able to cast lightning bolt as a divine spell) and can add one bonus spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list at every even level. As with the other examples above, there is no guarantee that a particular Hexer will have chosen the specific spell desired at that level.
A Warlock of 12th level or higher gains the Imbue Item supernatural ability (Complete Arcane p.8) to create magic items even if he does not know the spells required to make an item. So a 12th level warlock with Scribe Scroll could potentially create scrolls of any divine spell. This also alleviates the issue of finding a caster who has chosen the specific spell desired, as the warlock can theoretically create any divine scroll as long as that spell is able to be a divine spell.
A member of the Sword of the Arcane Order prestige class (Champions of Valor p.34) can cast Wizard spells in their Paladin or Ranger slots. This prestige class does not specifically explain whether the spells remain arcane or become divine, so a DM ruling is needed before using this.* If the DM rules these are divine, then not only can you search out members of this prestige class to provide spells, but these would also be available to the 12th level warlock mentioned above. Note that Paladin and Ranger slots normally only go from 1st to 4th level, so this would make any Wizard spell in that range available, but not Cantrips or higher level spells. If using the Prestige Ranger or Paladin options from Unearthed Arcana however, these extend your base casting class by 7/15 or 8/15 levels, so can get up to 6th level 7th level spells.
A dual divine and arcane caster with the Alternative Source Spell feat (Dragon Magazine #325 p.61) can cast any of their arcane spells as divine spells. This potentially opens up any arcane spell to the archivist.
A dual divine and arcane caster with the Customize Domain feat (Dragon Magazine #325 p.61) can replace spells on their domain spell list with similar spells from any spell list they have access to. So they could put spells from their arcane spell list in their domain slots. Again, this potentially opens up any arcane spell to the archivist.
A divine caster with the spell Anyspell (Spell Compendium p.14) or Greater Anyspell (Spell Compendium p.15) can use the spell to cast an arcane spell of up to 2nd or 5th level respectively from their domain slot. Note that the wording does not explicitly state that the arcane spell is cast as divine, so a DM ruling is needed for this to work.*
An arcane caster with the Southern Magician feat (Races of Faerûn p.168) can cast any of his arcane spells as divine spells. Note that while it explicitly states this can be done, it somewhat confusingly adds that "the actual source of the spell's power doesn't change, nor does its means of preparation." So there is the possiblity of a DM ruling against this one too.*
A member of the Artificer class (Eberron Campaign Setting p.29) can create scrolls of any spell by using a Use Magic Device check instead of using the spell itself. Since magic items created by an artificer are considered neither arcane nor divine, this would normally prevent an Archivist from using such scrolls to add to her spell list. However, as was already noted above, two characters working together can each provide part of the prerequisites to craft a magic item. Since the Archivist already has the Scribe Scroll feat, she could create a divine scroll with assistance from an Artificer, who would only be needed to supply the UMD check in place of the spell. However, it could be argued that since "magic items created by an artificer are considered neither arcane nor divine" and when "collaboration occurs any place that the text "refers to the “creator” of a magic item, it includes all characters supplying at least one prerequisite for the item’s creation" that these are still created by an artificer and therefore neither arcane nor divine. So a DM ruling is going to be required here as well.*
A member of the Arcane Disciple variant class (Dragon Magazine #311 p.49) can add spells from the bard or sorcerer/wizard spell list up to 8th level (one level lower than the highest-level divine spell the character may cast, so 9th level if the caster has some way to gain access to 10th level spells.) to their spell list and cast them as divine spells.
A member of the Geomancer prestige class (Complete Divine p.41) can mix or match spellcasting parameters from his arcane and divine caster classes when casting spells. Since the rules don't explicitly call out exactly what does and does not constitute an eligible parameter, it is possible he could cast an arcane spell as a divine spell. Obviously this is another option that will require a DM ruling.*
*[Note to commenters - in the above list I sometimes mention that a DM ruling is required where the text of the relevant rules fails to explicitly support some part of the method in question. In doing so I am not attempting to take a position in favor or against the method, but merely pointing out the fact that DMs may not all agree that it works. If you would like to post a comment regarding one of these methods the most useful thing you can add would be to give your suggestions on what arguments a player could use to convince their DM to accept the method, or what arguments a DM could use to explain to their players why they aren't going to accept the method.]