A Wiz+Sor PrC: The Arcane Synergist

[Quip]

I had halfway made this class some time ago, the recent appearance of the Mystic Theurge PrC promted me to finish it up.

Its a bit weaker than WotC's class as far as spellcasting levels are concerned, but the special abilities make this class considerably more interesting. In some aspects its even stronger than a single classed wizard or sorcerer!

Love it or hate it, just tell me what you think.




The Arcane Synergist


Requirements: Ability to cast arcane spells of 2nd level as both a wizard and sorceror.

HP, BAB, Saves and Skills as Wizard

Spells:

1. +1 Wiz, +1 Sor
2. +1 Wiz, +1 Sor
3. +1 Wiz
4. +1 Wiz, +1 Sor
5. +1 Sor
6. +1 Wiz, +1 Sor
7. +1 Wiz
8. +1 Wiz,+1 Sor
9.. +1 Sor
10. +1 Wiz, +1 Sor


Special

1. Synergy I
2.
3. Synergy II
4.
5. Synergy III
6.
7. Synergy IV
8.
9. Synergy V
10. Synergy VI



Synergy I
At 1st level the Arcane Synergist uses either his Int score or his Cha score, whichever is higher, to determine maximum level of spells available and spell save DC's for both spell lists. Spells per day of each list are not affected.


Synergy II
At 3rd level the Arcane Synergist can combine his arcane powers to strengthen his magic. He uses his total combined caster level to determine dispel checks, for overcoming spell resistance, and for magic item creation.


Synergy III
At 5th level the Arcane Synergist combines his spells per day lists. He can use his wizard spell slots to spontaniously cast sorceror spells, or sorceror slots to prepare wizard spells. He cannot use slots prepared as a wizard to cast sorceror spells

Synergy IV
At 7th level the Arcane Synergist can apply his wizardly power to his sorcerer spells. All spells known by the arcane synergist as sorceror spells have their wizard spell levels added to their total effecive caster level in all respects. However, if a sorcerer spell known is not on the wizard spell list, due to being a specialist wizard, then that spell is not effected.

Synergy V
At 9th level the Arcane Synergist can convert any spell slots prepared as wizard spells to spontaniously cast any of his spells known as a sorcerer.

Synergy VI
At 10th level the Arcane Synergist use their total combined spellcaster levels for all spells cast as either a wizard or sorceror. However, if a sorcerer spell known is not on the wizard spell list, due to being a specialist wizard, then that spell is not effected.

 

[Eldorian]

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?threadid=46542

Is the one I came up with. I think yours might be a tad overpowered. All the synergies save number 5 are a bit too powerful. The number 5 i was thinking of adding to my PrC, before I saw yours, in order to facilitate characters that pick wizard as their primary spell casting class. In fact, I think I will.

Your class's ability to combine effective caster levels lets him exceed, by far, his character level in effective caster level. For example, a level 18 character with 4 levels of sorcerer and 4 levels of wizard would have an effective caster level of 24, 6 levels higher than his character level. This is the main problem I see with the class.

Eldorian Antar

 

[Quip]

It's not a bug, its a feature.

I wanted to give the class a little bit of something extra, something he could actually do better than a straight classed wizad or sorceror besides cast a metric ton of spells. Normally, the inability to overcome SR and all the other penalties for a multiclass caster levels makes the advantges of many lesser spells not quite worth it.

The final ability gained is rather strong, but its not quite as bad as it seems. Maximum damage for castable spells at that is 15d6 at the most, so its only 3 levels higher there. Still, maybe it can get too strong with more levels, I'm considering restricting it to duration, targets and similar effects. Work in progress you know.

 

[Andion Isurand]

How about giving the class no BAB advancement??

(( Like "The Survivor" (5 level PrC) found in Savage Species. ))

 

[Al]

Aside from Synergy IV and Synergy VI, it looks fine. After all, it's never going to get 9th level spells in either class (in fact, it will only get 8th/7th) and this is the primary objective of arcane class builds. Not to mention the fact that for three levels it is gaining effectively nothing at all.

Synergy IV and VI, however, push far too hard in the opposite direction. If I read it correctly, you can combine caster levels for sorceror and wizard. So a Wiz6/Sor4/ArS10 would have effective caster level 30 (as effective wiz caster level is 16 and sor caster level is 14). To my mind, that seems a little too powerful.

Scrap or tone down Synergies IV and VI, and I think you have a workable PrC.

 

[Quip]

How about giving the class no BAB advancement??

(( Like "The Survivor" (5 level PrC) found in Savage Species. ))

Even if I thought that a zero BAB made sense, it still wouldn't be an effective balancing factor. It would just penalize the use of touch attacks and rays., so why bother?

To my mind, that seems a little too powerful.

I had feeling that it was, but not too sure how bad it was or what that fix might be. I wanted it's magic to be in some way more robust than a normal caster, and stacking caster levels seemed a good way to reflect that. What if I limited it to only duration and targetting? Or just capped it at a lower amount? Wiz+sor+AS levels?

Or just replace it with something else?