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CopperElfCleric
2018-07-15, 05:48 PM
The Shadowmage:

Some spellcasters who discover the existence of the Plane of Shadow learn how to tap directly into its power using the weave, altering their magic slowly to take advantage of its effects. Others are more reckless, hurling themselves into the mysteries of shadow magic immediately to acquire all the gifts available to the casual student and discover secrets unavailable to all but the most dedicated. These latter spellcasters are the shadowmages, who make great sacrifices with respect to some aspects of the Art in order to reap greater benefits elsewhere.

Most shadowmages were previously sorcerers or wizards, and these are the ones who stand to gain the greatest power from adopting this path. Any spellcaster can tap the Plane of Shadow through the Weave, however, and a few bards and beguilers have also been known to make this choice.

Requirements
To qualify to become a Shadowmage, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Alignment: Any non-good.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 8 ranks.
Feats: Spell focus (Illusion, Enchantment or Necromancy)
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 3rd-level arcane spells.

Class Skills:
The shadowmage's class skills are Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Hide, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Profession, and SpellCraft.

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features
All the following are Class Features of the shadow adept prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadowmages gain no proficiency with any weapon, armor, or shield. Armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, and Tumble, and double the normal armor check penalty applies to Swim checks.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new shadowmage level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class granted him access to 3rd-level spells before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus metamagic or item creation feats, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. This essentially means that he adds the level of shadowmage to the level of whatever other spellcasting class granted him access to 3rd-level spells, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.

If a character had more than one spellcasting class that granted access to 3rd-level spells before he became a shadowmage, he must decide to which class he adds each level of shadowmage for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

Advanced Shadow Magic: Starting at 1st level, from now on, your spells tap the Plane of Shadow directly through the Weave.

The saving throw for every spell you cast from the schools of enchantment, illusion, and necromancy increases by +2. You also get a +2 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance with spells from these schools.

Shadow Magic proves less than optimal for effects involving energy or matter. Your effective caster level for spells you cast from the schools of evocation or transmutation (except spells with the shadow or darkness descriptor) is reduced by one.

Shadow Mastery (Ex): At 1st level a shadowmage automatically adds two shadow spells to his spellbook every time he gains a level that grants access to a new spell level. Furthermore, any time the shadowmage learns a new shadow spell, he treats that spell as if he had mastered it with the Spell Mastery feat.

Darkvision (Ex): At 2nd level, a shadowmage can see in the dark as though he were permanently affected by a darkvision spell. If the shadowmage already has darkvision, then its range is doubled..

Shadow Defense (Ex): At 3rd level, a shadowmage gains resistance to the kinds of spells that are favored by Shadow Magic. He gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells from the schools of enchantment, illusion, and necromancy, as well as spells with the shadow or darkness descriptor.

Shield of Shadows (Su): A shadowmage of at least 4th level can surround himself with a globe of purple-black force as a standard action. This shield of shadows functions like a shield spell, granting him a +4 shield bonus to AC and absorbing magic missiles cast at him. In addition, the shield of shadows provides concealment (50% miss chance) against melee and ranged attacks. The shadowmage can see and reach through the shield, so it does not provide cover or concealment to opponents. The shadowmage may use a shield of shadows for up to 1 round per caster level per day. This duration need not be consecutive - the shadowmage may break it up into increments as small as 1 round if he so desires. Creating or dismissing the shield of shadows is a swift action. When the shadowmage reaches 8th level, the shield also grants him spell resistance equal to 12 + his shadowmage level, as if he were under the effect of a spell resistance spell.

Deadly Shade (Sp): At 5th level the shadowmage creates tendrils of darkness that flow from the ground like smoke, filling the area with writhing, shifting darkness. The area of deadly shade is filled with shadowy illumination, as per darkness. In addition, each time you use this SLA you decide if you wish the spell to deal or absorb damage.

If you choose to deal damage, anyone within the area who suffers hit point damage from any source must make a Fortitude save. Failure indicates that the subject gains a negative level. Success prevents the negative level, but if the individual is damaged again within the area, he must attempt a new save. These negative levels fade in 1 hour per caster level, and they never cause permanent level loss.

If you choose instead to have the deadly shade absorb damage, all creatures within the area gain DR 4/- and energy resistance 4 against all energy types. (This stacks with other forms of resistance or other sources that grant DR X/-.) This SLA takes a standard action and has a range of 25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels, an area of 30-ft.-radius emanation, and lasts 1 round/level. A Fort save negates and the target can use its SR if it has any.

Clinging Darkness {Sp): At 6th level you cause shadows to ooze out of the floors, the walls, even the air, filling the area with wisps of writhing blackness. Creatures within the area become coated in these clinging shadows.

Any creature within the area affected by this SLA, or that enters the area on its turn, must make a Reflex save or become immobilized.

Each round on its turn, an immobilized subject can attempt a new saving throw to end the condition. Because of the subject’s condition, this save is a full-round action (but does not provoke attacks of opportunity). If an immobilized subject succeeds on its save, it still needs to save again at the start of its next turn in order to avoid succumbing to the darkness again. This SLA takes a standard action and has a range of 25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels, an area of 20-ft.-radius emanation, and lasts 1 round/level. A Ref save negates and the target can use its SR if it has any.

Superior Darkvision (Su): At 7th level, a shadowmage can see through any form of normal or magical darkness without hindrance.

Tomb of Night (Sp): At 8th level the shadowmage can solidify extraplanar shadow, creating a solid prison of darkness. This SLA immobilizes the subject in a prison of shadowstuff. This prison blocks both line of effect and line of sight to the creature inside it, and is impenetrable from the outside. The creature inside the prison takes 3d6 points of cold damage at the beginning of each round that it remains inside the prison.

Once each round as a standard action, a creature caught in the prison can attempt a Fortitude saving throw against the spell’s original DC to break out of the prison. Success means that the creature can move out of the prison, and the prison fades to nothingness. Failure means that the creature gains one negative level. This SLA takes a standard action and has a range of 25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels, it can affect one Huge or smaller creature and lasts 1 round/level. A Fort save negates and the target can use its SR if it has any.

Ephemeral Storm (Su): At 9th level, anytime the shadowmage is reduced to 0 hitpoints the air explodes with shadowy tendrils that slice like blades. Targets of ephemeral storm must make a Fortitude save or die. Those who succeed take 5d6 points of damage. If the targets fail their save and die, then the shadowmage absorbs all targets remaining hitpoints at the time of their death until she reaches her full max hitpoints. If the targets succeed at a Fortitude save, then the shadowmage heals the 5d6 points of damage instead. This supernatural ability has a range of 25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels centered on the shadowmage, and targets one living creature/2 levels, no two of which are more than 20 ft. apart. A Fort save grants partial and the target can use its SR if it has any.

Shadow Double (Su): Once per day, a 10th-level shadowmage can use a standard action to create a double of himself woven from shadowstuff. The double has the ability scores, base AC, hit points, saves, and attack bonuses of its creator, but no equipment. (Any apparent clothing or equipment is nonfunctional.) Since it can use anything its creator can, the double can attack the creator's enemies if given a weapon or item with which to do so. Alternatively, it can function as the target of a project image spell, duplicating the creator's actions and functioning as the origin of the creator's spells when it is within his direct line of sight. Mentally commanding the double is a free action. Using it as the originator of a spell counts as an action of the sort needed to cast the spell for both the creator and the double. Causing either the creator or the double to leave the plane they share dismisses the double.

The double lasts 1 round per caster level. The death of the double does not affect the shadowmage or vice versa. If its creator dies, the shadow double still lasts until its duration expires.

Shadowmage Hit Dice: d4


Level
BAB
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
Spells per day


1st
+0
+0
+0
+2
Advanced shadow magic, Shadow mastery
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


2nd
+1
+0
+0
+3
Darkvision
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


3rd
+1
+1
+1
+3
Shadow defense
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


4th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Shield of shadows
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


5th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Deadly shade
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


6th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Clinging darkness
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


7th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Superior darkvision
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


8th
+4
+2
+2
+6
Tomb of night
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


9th
+4
+3
+3
+6
Ephemeral storm
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


10th
+5
+3
+3
+7
Shadow double
+1 level of existing spellcasting class

Maat Mons
2018-07-17, 01:29 AM
Arguably, knowledge (the planes) would be a sensible requirement for a prestige class based of drawing power from the plane of shadow.

I'm not sure about having a metamagic feat as a prerequisite. The class doesn't tie into metamagic any more than all the other casting classes do. Are you sure you can't come up with a more thematic prerequisite?

I don't think you need the part explaining how armor check penalties work on a class that doesn't grant any armor proficiency.

The advanced shadow magic class ability seems a lot like an improved version of the shadow weave magic feat. Have you considered having that feat as a prerequisite, and making the class feature explicitly augment it?

I'd just skip low-light vision, and grant darkvision earlier. Then, later, you can grant the ability to see through magical darkness within the range of your darkvision.

Don't get me wrong, swift displacement is neat, but... you're writing it like it's a domain ability that needs to account for the fact that a 1st-level character has access to it. This ability comes online at 9th level, when people have already been casting displacement for 4 levels. When the very same characters who are taking this class have been casting displacement for 4 levels.

Just give self-only displacement at will. (Swift, of course. And maybe continuous too.)

And skip the other stuff. +4 to AC pales in comparison to a 50% miss chance. (Or a 40% miss chance, as you wrote it.) Magic missile is a very specific effect, and not really the sort of thing you defens against as a class feature. And spell resistance will be a hindrance to any character who wanted to receive spells from part members, if you include it at all it should be something that can be toggled independently.

Even aside from the fact that shadow weapon is literally the spectral weapon spell, everything about how it works screams "spell-like ability" not supernatural.

Also, I question the inclusion of an effect that creates a melee weapon on a class with 1/2 base attack bonus and a 1d4 hit die. And characters aren't very likely to have a lot of attack bonus and HP from their previous class either. Furthermore, spectral weapon can only create a weapon with which you are proficient, the class offers no weapon proficiencies of its own, and the likely entry classes don't offer much by way of proficiencies.

Spectral weapon really seems like more of a gish spell. And this is not a gish class.

I think most people entering this class will be sorcerers or wizards, so they'd already be able to cast shadow walk by the time you give it as a spell-like ability. Giving people the ability to do things they can already do is... not the greatest.

CopperElfCleric
2018-07-17, 02:34 AM
Thank you... I love the critique. Keep it coming. I shall take all your considerations into mind by tomorrow night and hopefully produce a PrC that everyone enjoys.

CopperElfCleric
2018-07-17, 02:50 AM
And deff not the faerunian shadow weave.... these spells and abilities are powered directly from the Plane of Shadow through the weave, not the hidden weave, or shadow weave.

CopperElfCleric
2018-12-20, 11:45 AM
Okay, I completely re-worked this PrC to not seem so much like the Shadow Adept PrC. I re-vamped all the class abilities and requirements.

Hope you enjoy!

CEC

CopperElfCleric
2018-12-24, 03:24 AM
Fixed the requirements

khadgar567
2018-12-24, 08:26 AM
and we left epic range by 5 levels, Elric, you have a pm request in your inbox.

CopperElfCleric
2019-02-23, 06:37 PM
and we left epic range by 5 levels, Elric, you have a pm request in your inbox.

I don't understand.