Divine Spontaneous Caster (was: Divine Feat)

[Trainz]

Hm, looking much better.

So I'm figuring at this point that you're discarding the feat and going with a variant class? Or do you take the feat to become the variant? I'd prolly do a straight variant class meself.

Me too (changed the thread title).

I think there was actually a mystic prc in Dragon around when 3.0 first arrived (maybe it was even the first prc in Dragon?), too- but if you don't use either of the other versions there is no reason you couldn't use the name too.

Dana's right, the name sucks. I need a name that's not too weird, that hasn't been really used before, and that evokes a priest of some kind...

Got to think...

Reverend ? Pastor ? Preacher ?

Patriarch ? Exalted ? Friar ?

...

Wise-guy ?

 

[the Jester]

Miracle worker..?

Or give it a campaign-specific name- acolyte of the scarlet veil, or something.

 

[pawsplay]

The problems with the Favored Soul:
- It's combat oriented.
- It has Monk saving throws and Fighter Weapon Specialization, which strike me as design no-nons for a base class
- lack of domain access = Favored Souls of Pelor without smite evil
- stupid winged dwarves

Problems with the Dragonlance Mystic:
- very few, from a mechanical standpoint, possibly underpowered compared to a Cleric
- some flavor problems: they don't "belong" to specific deities, and they have their own specialty domains, reflecting that they are casters of a different nature in Dragonlance than Clerics, and are basically the opposite of Favored Souls.

Favored Souls and Mystics are both stabs at spontaneous divine casters. One is a dedicated personification of their deity's will. The other is a god-less mystic. In between, a generic divine caster should reflect some connection to "the Source." Favored Soulds are Cha based, apart from Save DCs. Mystics are Wis casters, exactly like Clerics. Neither turns undead.

Being intuitive, it seems to me that spontaneous divine casters should rely on Wis. However, there is a strong argument for Cha, based on "force of will," as well as sorcerer-like Outsiders with clerical spells. You might make Wis the ability for maximum spell level, and use Cha for DCs and spells per day. However, I don't like the split. I'd prefer a unified ability, like other core classes. It seems like turning undead ought to be the province of at least some spontaneous divine casters.

 

[pawsplay]

Some notes, rough, on what I would do for a spontaneous divine caster, to use in a campaign alongside traditional Clerics.

PROPHET


BAB: As Wizard. This is not a trained fighter.
Hit Dice: d6, likewise, but not as bookish as a Wizard.
Saves: Good Fort and Will, reflecting strength of purpose and resilience against disease, undeath, and other mortal ailments.
Skills: Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Knowledge (religion, arcana, the planes), Profession, Spellcraft. 2 skill points per level.
Weapons and armor: Proficient with simple weapons and deity's favored weapon. Proficient with light and medium armor only, and shields.

Spellcasting: They do not receive Domains or Domain bonuses.
Spells known: Use the Sorcerer chart. Maximum spell level is based on Wisdom. Spells may be selected from the Cleric list or ANY domain list for the god. For those without patrons, select two domain lists.
Spellcasting: use sorcerer chart. Spell-casting is based on Charisma.
level

Levels and special abilities:
Level 1 - Pick one Special Ability
Level 2 - gains Skill Focus: Knowledge (religion)
Level 8 - use Divination 1/week with no XP cost as spell-like ability

Special Abilities:
Armor Proficiency (Heavy)
Domain Skills: If any Domain the Prophet can cast spells from causes any Cleric to gain class skills, the Prophet gains the class skill.
Instrument of Wrath: Gains Weapon Focus in deity's favored weapon for free, and at level 6, gains Weapon Spec in the weapon, as a Fighter
Turn or Rebuke Undead: May either turn or rebuke undead, as a Cleric of their level.
Seer: Add Wis bonus to effective caster level when casting a spell of the Divination school.

I feel like it needs some "oomph," but I'm not sure what to add.

 

[Sertimon]

Name suggestions ...

Here's a short list of some suggestions for names of the top of my head:
Acolyte, Believer, Devoted, Devotee, Disciple, Divine Advocate, Divine Channeler, Faithgard, Forecaster, Pilgrim, or Prelate.

Don't know if any of these 'envokes' a picture of priest/cleric, more some kind of divine spellcaster. Otherwise, I like the ring of Reverend actually. More than the other suggestions anyway

 

[Trainz]

Here's a short list of some suggestions for names of the top of my head:
Acolyte, Believer, Devoted, Devotee, Disciple, Divine Advocate, Divine Channeler, Faithgard, Forecaster, Pilgrim, or Prelate.

Don't know if any of these 'envokes' a picture of priest/cleric, more some kind of divine spellcaster. Otherwise, I like the ring of Reverend actually. More than the other suggestions anyway

I really like Devoted. I think I'll take that. Thanks !