I kindle the candle and darkness will flow from it.
Duncan Aotrom
Duncan was old. Very old. Almost all his life he was a wizard's apprentice. Probably, he could have become a full wizard years ago, but... You know, wizards, those people who are obsessed with knowledge and magic. It wasn't about Duncan. He always was obsessed with light, shadows and candles. Most likely, his life story would have ended this way. Forever apprentice till death and only on his gravestone would it be posthumously written "Wizard!"
But fate decreed otherwise, one day his teacher had a colleague who remained in visiting. He looked at Duncan and said: "You have talent for shadow magic! I could give you one grimoire if your master had no objection to it." Master hadn't. Firstly, Duncan took the idea without enthusiasm, but when he began reading he imperceptibly sank into a book with all his mind.
TN Human Shadowcaster 5/Candle Caster 1
Spoiler: Stats
Show
Abilities |
Initial |
Venerable Age |
4 ECL |
Total |
STR |
10 |
-6 |
|
4 |
DEX |
10 |
-6 |
|
4 |
CON |
14 |
-6 |
|
8 |
INT |
18 |
3 |
1 |
22 |
WIS |
9 |
3 |
|
12 |
CHA |
13 |
3 |
|
16 |
Spoiler: Build
Show
Level |
Class |
BAB |
Fort |
Reflex |
Will |
Skills |
Feats |
Class Features |
Mysteries & Fundamentals |
1st |
Wizard 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
32: {+4} Concentration: 4; {+4} Craft (Candlemaking): 4; {+4} Decipher Script: 4; {+4} Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+2} Knowledge (Local): 2; {+1} Knowledge (Nature): 1; {+4} Knowledge (Religion): 4; {+1} Knowledge (The planes): 1; {+4} Spellcraft: 4; {+4 CC} UMD: 2; |
Extraordinary Artisan1, Greate FortitudeH, Scribe ScrollB |
Summon familiar, scribe scroll |
- |
2nd |
Shadowcaster 1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
8: {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1} Craft (Candlemaking): 5; Decipher Script: 4; {+3} Hide: 3; {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 5; Knowledge (Local): 2; Knowledge (Nature): 1; Knowledge (Religion): 4; Knowledge (The planes): 1; {+1} Spellcraft: 5; {+1 CC} UMD: 2.5; |
|
Fundamentals of shadow, apprentice mysteries |
Arrow of Dusk, Sight Obscured, Umbral Hand, Carpet of Shadow |
3rd |
Shadowcaster 2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
8: {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1} Craft (Candlemaking): 6; Decipher Script: 4; {+2} Hide: 5; {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 6; Knowledge (Local): 2; Knowledge (Nature): 1; Knowledge (Religion): 4; Knowledge (The planes): 1; {+1} Move Silently: 1; {+1} Spellcraft: 6; {+1 CC} UMD: 3; |
Legendary Artisan3, Sudden ExtendB |
Bonus feat; see text |
Steel Shadows |
4th |
Shadowcaster 3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
9: {+1} Concentration: 7; {+1} Craft (Candlemaking): 7; Decipher Script: 4; {+1} Hide: 6; {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 7; Knowledge (Local): 2; Knowledge (Nature): 1; Knowledge (Religion): 4; Knowledge (The planes): 1; {+3} Move Silently: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 7; {+1 CC} UMD: 3.5; |
|
Umbral sight (darkvision 30 ft.) |
Black Fire |
5th |
Shadowcaster 5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
9: {+1} Concentration: 8; {+1} Craft (Candlemaking): 8; Decipher Script: 4; {+1} Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Local): 2; Knowledge (Nature): 1; Knowledge (Religion): 4; {+3} Knowledge (The planes): 4; Move Silently: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 8; {+1 CC} UMD: 4; |
|
Sustaining shadow (eat 1 meal/week), bonus fundamental |
Black Candle, Clinging Darkness, Sight Eclipsed |
6th |
Candle Caster 1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
9: {+1} Concentration: 9; {+1} Craft (Candlemaking): 9; Decipher Script: 4; Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 9; Knowledge (Local): 2; Knowledge (Nature): 1; {+5} Knowledge (Religion): 9; Knowledge (The planes): 4; Move Silently: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 9; UMD: 4; |
Ritual Transference6, Scribe ScrollB |
Scribe candle |
Voice of Shadows |
# |
Epic Feats |
E1 |
Magical Artisan (Extraordinary Artisan) |
E2 |
Magical Artisan (Legendary Artisan) |
E3 |
Magical Artisan (Scribe Scroll/Candle) |
E4 |
Enhance Item (Scribe Scroll/Candle) |
E5 |
Enhance Item (Legendary Artisan) |
E6 |
Enhance Item (Extraordinary Artisan) |
E7 |
Exceptional Artisan |
E8 |
Enhance Item (Exceptional Artisan) |
E9 |
Magical Artisan (Exceptional Artisan) |
E10 |
Magical Artisan (Enhance Item (Extraordinary Artisan)) |
E11 |
Magical Artisan (Enhance Item (Legendary Artisan)) |
E12 |
Magical Artisan (Enhance Item (Scribe Scroll/Candle)) |
E13 |
Magical Artisan (Enhance Item (Exceptional Artisan)) |
It is a simple idea. Shadowcaster for the Darkness, Candle Caster for the Light.
What is the weakness of Shadowcaster that Candle Caster could compensate for? Of course being short on ammo. Candle Caster has a sorta Scribe Scroll, so I decided to optimize it. I need to decrease creating prices and to increase efficiency, namely save DCs. You can see the result in the next table.
Spoiler: Scribing
Show
Level |
1st (CL 1) |
2nd (CL 3) |
3rd (CL5) |
1st (CL6) |
2nd (CL6) |
3rd (CL6) |
Save DC bonus |
Full price (gp) |
25 gp |
150 gp |
375 gp |
150 gp |
300 gp |
450 gp |
|
6th |
9.38 gp, 0.750 XP |
56.25 gp, 4.500 XP |
140.63 gp, 11.250 XP |
56.25 gp, 4.500 XP |
112.50 gp, 9.000 XP |
168.75 gp, 13.500 XP |
|
E1 |
7.03 gp, 0.563 XP |
42.19 gp, 3.375 XP |
105.47 gp, 8.438 XP |
42.19 gp, 3.375 XP |
84.38 gp, 6.750 XP |
126.56 gp, 10.125 XP |
|
E2 |
5.27 gp, 0.422 XP |
31.64 gp, 2.531 XP |
79.10 gp, 6.328 XP |
31.64 gp, 2.531 XP |
63.28 gp, 5.063 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
|
E3 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
23.73 gp, 1.898 XP |
59.33 gp, 4.746 XP |
23.73 gp, 1.898 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
71.19 gp, 5.695 XP |
|
E4 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
118.65 gp, 9.492 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
142.38 gp, 11.391 XP |
+6 |
E5 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
118.65 gp, 9.492 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
142.38 gp, 11.391 XP |
+12 |
E6 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
118.65 gp, 9.492 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
142.38 gp, 11.391 XP |
+18 |
E7 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
118.65 gp, 9.492 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
142.38 gp, 11.391 XP |
+18 |
E8 |
3.96 gp, 0.316 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
118.65 gp, 9.492 XP |
47.46 gp, 3.797 XP |
94.92 gp, 7.594 XP |
142.38 gp, 11.391 XP |
+24 |
E9 |
2.97 gp, 0.237 XP |
17.80 gp, 1.424 XP |
44.49 gp, 3.560 XP |
17.80 gp, 1.424 XP |
35.60 gp, 2.848 XP |
53.39 gp, 4.271 XP |
+24 |
E10 |
2.22 gp, 0.178 XP |
13.35 gp, 1.068 XP |
33.37 gp, 2.670 XP |
13.35 gp, 1.068 XP |
26.70 gp, 2.136 XP |
40.05 gp, 3.204 XP |
+24 |
E11 |
1.67 gp, 0.133 XP |
10.01 gp, 0.801 XP |
25.03 gp, 2.002 XP |
10.01 gp, 0.801 XP |
20.02 gp, 1.602 XP |
30.03 gp, 2.403 XP |
+24 |
E12 |
1.25 gp, 0.100 XP |
7.51 gp, 0.601 XP |
18.77 gp, 1.502 XP |
7.51 gp, 0.601 XP |
15.02 gp, 1.201 XP |
22.53 gp, 1.802 XP |
+24 |
E13 |
0.94 gp, 0.075 XP |
5.63 gp, 0.451 XP |
14.08 gp, 1.126 XP |
5.63 gp, 0.451 XP |
11.26 gp, 0.901 XP |
16.89 gp, 1.352 XP |
+24 |
Feats beyond E10 are in my build just to demonstrate full potential of combo, but even without the last three I can craft candles with less than 1/10 of market price and with negligible consumption of XP. Plus, with the Ritual Transference feat I could create candles with almost any spell. Yes, it could be a problem to use it myself, but it can be sold with 463% revenue or I can just work together with party-members who have needed spells in the spell list.
My own spells to deal with enemies are Clinging Darkness and Voice of Shadows. First is total movement-lock, second - well control. Enemy drops weapon, stays still and does nothing, lies on the ground. Yes, it is only 1 round, 2 with Sudden Extend abuse, but it is almost unavoidable with Will DC 35.
If I wanna kill I use Black Fire. With Clinging Darkness it kills anybody who isn't immune to cold.
Also I have Steel Shadows and Sight Eclipsed for obvious reasons.
I think you agree with me, the possibility of obtaining +2 Int item isn't an overly bold assumption for me. And with it I have +4 more to my DCs.
One level of Wizard was traded off at the 5th level via Creeping Darkness rule (ToM, p. 115).
I needed this level to be able to take Extraordinary Artisan and Legendary Artisan before entering Candle Caster. Having these both feats I clearly can trade wizard, because since 3rd level they work as prerequisites to each other.
And actually, I have nothing more to say.
Spoiler: Sources
Show
Type |
Name |
Book |
Page |
Race |
Human |
PHB |
12 |
Class |
Wizard |
PHB |
55 |
Class |
Shadowcaster |
Tome of Magic |
111 |
Prestige Class |
Candle Caster |
Tome and Blood |
52 |
Feat |
Extraordinary Artisan |
Eberron Campaign Setting |
53 |
Feat |
Greate Fortitude |
PHB |
94 |
Feat |
Scribe Scroll |
PHB |
99 |
Feat |
Legendary Artisan |
Eberron Campaign Setting |
56 |
Feat |
Sudden Extend |
Complete Arcane |
83 |
Feat |
Ritual Transference |
PHB 2, Web Enhancement |
link |
Feat |
Magical Artisan |
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting |
36 |
Feat |
Enhance Item |
Epic Level Handbook |
114 |
Feat |
Exceptional Artisan |
Eberron Campaign Setting |
52 |