DruchiiConversion
First Post
Apologies if there's already a Sage class out there somewhere, as I'm sure there will be. It doesn't much concern me to be honest.
Anyhow, I'm looking for feedback on a class tailored to a 'BBEGG' (Big Bad Evil Good Guy, loooong story.) in my campaign. While I realise that I could just add the class regardless of balance, I'd rather at least believe that the class was balanced to some degree. Potential exploits are unimportant to me, as are multiclassing abilities - it's a single NPC only class. I think the biggest problem currently is the ability to cast 4th level spells at level 1, but with the cost of 4th level spells and the fact that the sage doesn't gain any in spellbooks for free, I wouldn't expect that to be a huge problem. Further, the spellcasting ability of a sage is lower than that of a cleric or druid, and it doesn't have all the other nice combat abilities they do - it's fundamentally a skill-y class who shouldn't really be in combat.
Anyway...
Class: Sage
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d4.
Skill Points: 6 + Int modifier per level.
Class Skills: The sage’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int).
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Scribe Scroll 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Basic Lore 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Loremaster 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Bardic Knowledge 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Basic Lore, Improved Skills 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 Loremaster 2 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Greater Scribe Scroll 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Basic Lore 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 Loremaster 3 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Improved Skills, Ultimate Lore 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0
11th +5 +3 +3 +7 Basic Lore 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0
12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Loremaster 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0
13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0
14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0
15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Loremaster 5, Improved Skills 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0
16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0
17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Loremaster 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3
20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Ultimate Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Weapon and Armour Proficiency
Sages are proficient with all simple weapons, but not with any type of armour or shield.
Spells
A sage casts arcane spells which are drawn from any divine spellcaster’s spell list. A sage must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time (see below).
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the sage must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a sage’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the sage’s Intelligence modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a sage can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Sage. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score.
A sage may know any number of spells. She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting a good night’s sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook, or the tome in which the spell is contained. While studying, the sage decides which spells to prepare.
Spellbooks
A sage must study her spellbook each day to prepare her spells. She cannot prepare any spell not recorded in her spellbook, or another tome which contains spells.
A sage begins play with a spellbook containing no spells. The sage does not gain any new spells as she increases in level, and must research any further spells.
Basic Lore
The sage may add one skill to his class list each time she gains a new piece of Basic Lore. She must own a book on the subject of the skill she is gaining. This occurs at 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th levels.
Loremaster
1: The sage gains the ability to understand magical text at all times, as though permanently effected by the read magic spell.
2: The sage gains increased reading speed, and can now read 500 words per minute instead of the usual 250.
3: The sage remembers what she has read more effectively, and gains +2 to all Knowledge checks.
4: The sage understands text in all languages, as though permanently effected by the Comprehend Languages spell.
5: The sage’s keen eye allows him to see through illusion spells which would mask words on a page, such as Illusory Script. She also gets +4 to all saves against illusion spells.
6: Such is the sage’s familiarity with texts of all kinds, she can immediately tell when one has been tampered with in any way – including transmutation, burning the paper itself, and erasing the words upon it – and can read the paper as though this were no obstacle. For destroyed paper, any fragment of the remains – no matter how small – will suffice. A speck of ash is enough to read a colossal tome burned to a crisp in the hell-fires of Baator.
Improved Skills
At 5th, 10th, and 15th levels, the number of skill points per level gained by the Sage for Sage levels increases by 2. This is retroactive, so at 5th level the Sage will gain 8 skill points retroactively plus her new total skill points per level.
Greater Scribe Scroll
The sage can scribe magical scrolls without any magical ink or paper, and does not need any of either to do so. These scrolls are only usable by the sage, since they contain no magical content whatsoever – just guidelines which remind the sage of what she already knew.
Deep Lore
The sage may choose from any of the following:
1 – The sage gains a Favoured Enemy, as the Ranger rules.
2 – The sage gets +1 to her Caster Level.
3 – The sage gains three new spells of a level she can cast.
4 – The sage gains any of the following feats: Acrobatic, Agile, Alertness, Animal Affinity, Athletic, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Diligent, Investigator, Magical Aptitude, Negotiator, Nimble Fingers, Persuasive, Self-Sufficient, Stealthy. All these feats give +2 to two skills.
5 – The sage gains any Divine Metamagic feat.
6 – The sage gains any four class skills.
7 – The sage gets +2 to Bardic Knowledge checks.
8 – The sage gains a bonus 1st and 2nd level spell per day.
9 – The sage gains the Track feat.
Ultimate Lore
The sage may choose from any of the following:
1 – The sage need never pay material components for any spell ever again, including high-value components. This does not include experience components.
2 – The sage may cast Arcane spells as though they were spells of double their spell level.
3 – The sage counts as having 4 ranks in every skill, and counts as trained in them all.
4 – Any three of the sage’s spells become spell-like abilities, cast 1/day. They may still be prepared as normal in addition to this. The Miracle spell cannot become a spell-like ability in this way.
5 – The sage may cast her spells of 3rd level or lower spontaneously.
6 – The sage gains one Domain. She does not gain a bonus spell from the domain, but rather can swap prepared spells for those on the Domain list spontaneously. She gains all the spells from this domain in a tome in her library.
Anyhow, I'm looking for feedback on a class tailored to a 'BBEGG' (Big Bad Evil Good Guy, loooong story.) in my campaign. While I realise that I could just add the class regardless of balance, I'd rather at least believe that the class was balanced to some degree. Potential exploits are unimportant to me, as are multiclassing abilities - it's a single NPC only class. I think the biggest problem currently is the ability to cast 4th level spells at level 1, but with the cost of 4th level spells and the fact that the sage doesn't gain any in spellbooks for free, I wouldn't expect that to be a huge problem. Further, the spellcasting ability of a sage is lower than that of a cleric or druid, and it doesn't have all the other nice combat abilities they do - it's fundamentally a skill-y class who shouldn't really be in combat.
Anyway...
Class: Sage
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d4.
Skill Points: 6 + Int modifier per level.
Class Skills: The sage’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int).
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Scribe Scroll 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Basic Lore 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Loremaster 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Bardic Knowledge 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Basic Lore, Improved Skills 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 Loremaster 2 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Greater Scribe Scroll 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Basic Lore 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 Loremaster 3 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Improved Skills, Ultimate Lore 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 0
11th +5 +3 +3 +7 Basic Lore 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0
12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Loremaster 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0 0
13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0
14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0 0
15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Loremaster 5, Improved Skills 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0
16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 0
17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Loremaster 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Deep Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3
20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Ultimate Lore 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Weapon and Armour Proficiency
Sages are proficient with all simple weapons, but not with any type of armour or shield.
Spells
A sage casts arcane spells which are drawn from any divine spellcaster’s spell list. A sage must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time (see below).
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the sage must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a sage’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the sage’s Intelligence modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a sage can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Sage. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score.
A sage may know any number of spells. She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting a good night’s sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook, or the tome in which the spell is contained. While studying, the sage decides which spells to prepare.
Spellbooks
A sage must study her spellbook each day to prepare her spells. She cannot prepare any spell not recorded in her spellbook, or another tome which contains spells.
A sage begins play with a spellbook containing no spells. The sage does not gain any new spells as she increases in level, and must research any further spells.
Basic Lore
The sage may add one skill to his class list each time she gains a new piece of Basic Lore. She must own a book on the subject of the skill she is gaining. This occurs at 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th levels.
Loremaster
1: The sage gains the ability to understand magical text at all times, as though permanently effected by the read magic spell.
2: The sage gains increased reading speed, and can now read 500 words per minute instead of the usual 250.
3: The sage remembers what she has read more effectively, and gains +2 to all Knowledge checks.
4: The sage understands text in all languages, as though permanently effected by the Comprehend Languages spell.
5: The sage’s keen eye allows him to see through illusion spells which would mask words on a page, such as Illusory Script. She also gets +4 to all saves against illusion spells.
6: Such is the sage’s familiarity with texts of all kinds, she can immediately tell when one has been tampered with in any way – including transmutation, burning the paper itself, and erasing the words upon it – and can read the paper as though this were no obstacle. For destroyed paper, any fragment of the remains – no matter how small – will suffice. A speck of ash is enough to read a colossal tome burned to a crisp in the hell-fires of Baator.
Improved Skills
At 5th, 10th, and 15th levels, the number of skill points per level gained by the Sage for Sage levels increases by 2. This is retroactive, so at 5th level the Sage will gain 8 skill points retroactively plus her new total skill points per level.
Greater Scribe Scroll
The sage can scribe magical scrolls without any magical ink or paper, and does not need any of either to do so. These scrolls are only usable by the sage, since they contain no magical content whatsoever – just guidelines which remind the sage of what she already knew.
Deep Lore
The sage may choose from any of the following:
1 – The sage gains a Favoured Enemy, as the Ranger rules.
2 – The sage gets +1 to her Caster Level.
3 – The sage gains three new spells of a level she can cast.
4 – The sage gains any of the following feats: Acrobatic, Agile, Alertness, Animal Affinity, Athletic, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Diligent, Investigator, Magical Aptitude, Negotiator, Nimble Fingers, Persuasive, Self-Sufficient, Stealthy. All these feats give +2 to two skills.
5 – The sage gains any Divine Metamagic feat.
6 – The sage gains any four class skills.
7 – The sage gets +2 to Bardic Knowledge checks.
8 – The sage gains a bonus 1st and 2nd level spell per day.
9 – The sage gains the Track feat.
Ultimate Lore
The sage may choose from any of the following:
1 – The sage need never pay material components for any spell ever again, including high-value components. This does not include experience components.
2 – The sage may cast Arcane spells as though they were spells of double their spell level.
3 – The sage counts as having 4 ranks in every skill, and counts as trained in them all.
4 – Any three of the sage’s spells become spell-like abilities, cast 1/day. They may still be prepared as normal in addition to this. The Miracle spell cannot become a spell-like ability in this way.
5 – The sage may cast her spells of 3rd level or lower spontaneously.
6 – The sage gains one Domain. She does not gain a bonus spell from the domain, but rather can swap prepared spells for those on the Domain list spontaneously. She gains all the spells from this domain in a tome in her library.
