Flame my PrC: Arcane-Mentor

[Thain]

I just came up with this PrC, to explain my motives I wanted something that allowed me to become a virtual foutain metamagic feats, but the Incantantrix(sp?) wasfar to focused on Abj. magic for me.

I also got inspired to turn my cohort into more than just a high profile squire, but into more of a gifted protégé. An apprentice who was as dedicated to The Magic as his mentor.

What can I say, I've been re-reading Dragonlance Legends, and find the Raistlin/Dalamar realtionship a wonderful roleplay opportunity... even if my character is a stalwart NG, and I don't think my gaming group would go for the yaoi subtext.

But I digress, here's my PrC. Please read, and post your comments, critiques, and flames.

Arcane Mentor

The Arcane Mentor uses her knowledge to watch over and train another spellcaster, forming a close personal bond between master and aprentice. This student once selected, remains
conected to the Menotr until either the Menotr or the student dies. The Arcane Mentor typically teaches by example, spending a great deal of time conducting research, studying anceint tomes, and often adventures to hone her arts in the field. The Mentor's protogee is expected to accompany her on such excursions, in a way each day is a test- whichyou either pass or die tring.

Class Skills:
Craft(int), Dechiper Script(int), Diplomacy(cha), Knowledge(any)(int), Heal(wis), Sense Motive(wis) and, Spellcraft(int).

Skill Points at each level: 6+ Int modifier.

Hit Die: d4

Alignment: Any non-lawful.
Feats: Any two metamagic feats, Leadership.
Spellcraft: 8 ranks.
Knowledge(Arcana): 8 ranks.
Any two other Knowledge skills: 4 ranks each.
Special: Must be capable of casting Arcane spells of 3rd level or higher.
Special: Cohort gained through the leadership feat must have two or more levels in the same Arcane magic using class as the Arcane Mentor.

Lvl BAB _ Fort Ref Will _ Special _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _Spells per Day
1 _ 0 _ _ _0 _ _ 0 _ _ _2 _ _ _Spell Secret, Ivory Tower _+1 level
2 _ 1 _ _ _0 _ _ _0_ _ _ 3 Arcane Training
3 _ _ _ 1 _ _ _1 _ _ _1 _ _ 3 _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ __ +1 level
4 _ _ _ 2 _ _ _ 1 _ _ _1 _ _ 4 _ _ _Spell Secret _ __ _ __+1 level
5 _ _ _ 2 _ _ _1 _ _ _1 _ _ 4 Arcane Training
6 _ _ _ 3 _ _ _2 _ _ _2 _ _ 5 _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ __ +1 level
7 _ _ _ 3 _ _ _2 _ _ 2_ _ _ 5 _ _ _Spell Secret_ _ __ _ __ __+1 level
8 _ _ _ 4 _ _ _2 _ _ 2_ _ _ 5 Arcane Training
9 _ _ _ 4 _ _ _3 _ _ 3 _ _ _6 _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ +1 level
0 _ _ _ 5 _ _ _3 _ _ 3_ _ _7 _ _ _Spell Secret_ _ _ __ _ __ _+1 level

Weapon and Armor Prof:
No new profs, you know how the default text reads.

Spells per day:
You know how this works. +1 level at 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th level.

Ivory Tower:
Because of the intense and close relationship between the Arcane Mentor and her cohort, the Mentor has very little time to cultivate a working relationship with her followers. Because of this academic isolation, the Arcane Mentor has a permanate -10 modifier to her Leadership Score for purpouses of attracting followers ONLY. Her Leadership score is unaffected for purposes of attracting a cohort.

Spell Secret:
The Mentor uncovers applicable knowledge during her studies. Choose a bonus metamagic feat at 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th level.

Arcane Training:
The Arcane Mentor is not just a gifted teacher, her student is a gifted pupil as well. At 2nd, 5th, and 8th levels the Arcane Mentor may select a Metamagic feat she possesses and may pass the secret onto her student as a bonus feat.

 

[kreynolds]

Fine. Put this in the right damn forum, ya' munchkin.

Hey, you did ask for flamage.

EDIT: OK. Now that's it moved, I took a look at it. Pretty cool, actually.

 

[Thain]

Touché, K

I have just been been Iconic Pimp Smacked... but, I guess I deserved it.

Seriously though folks, tell me what you think of this PrC. Is it too powerful (and why), is it too weak (and why), is it too much a blatant attempt at X?

I'm going to be asking my GM to take this, and I want to have counters to his protests.

 

[kreynolds]

Well, first of all, here's a nicer level chart. The other was hurting my eyes.

[color=white][b]Class	Base	Fort	Ref	Will
Level	Attack	Save	Save	Save	Special				Spells per Day[/b]
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Spell Secret, Ivory Tower	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Arcane Training			
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	-				+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Spell Secret			+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Arcane Training			
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	-				+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Spell Secret			+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	Arcane Training			
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	-				+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Spell Secret			+1 level of existing spellcasting class[/color]

The only thing that really jumps out at me are the 7 metamagic feats you'll gain by 10th level, and a -10 penalty to Leadership doesn't make up for that. Additionally, you're also getting 7 levels worth of spellcasting, a bigger hit die, and more skill points.

It looks like you're going for some kind of Bard/Wizard (or Sorcerer) Hybrid? Comparing it to the Archmage from the FRCS, it actually doesn't look that bad, but the number of metamagic feats still bothers me. Maybe too much?

 

[hammymchamham]

One thing I do like about this is the ability to pass on a metamagic feats to your cohort. I don't know about giving 6+INT mod as skill points, this seems great for wizards who want an apprentice, and wizards already have a high INT for skill points. With only 7 skills on the class list (what happened to Concentration??) a human with an intellegence of 10 could max out each skill on the skill list. Maybe 2+ INT modifery?

Edit: Yeah yeah, I know Knowledge is many skills, but still
How about scry also on the skill list?

 

[Thain]

My fault

Actually you only gain 4 Metamagic feats from this PrC. The Spell Secrets are bonus feats for you, the Arcane Trainign are bonus feats for your cohort (which must be chosen from the feats you possess).

Yes, that is powerful but its the central focus of this class. I didn't think a slowed spells per day progress was that unreasonable, most of the classes in Tome & Blood (which I consulted while making this PrC).

The skill points were a gamble on my part, I guess your right... 4+Int modifier is better... Concentration and Scry should be on the list. I wanted to leave the skills as close to the normal Wiz/Sor list as possible, hence the open ended Knowledge skill.

Oh, and K- the Hit Die is a D4... same as Wizards, not larger. As for the numebr of feats (bearing in mind that's it 4, not 7) is this that much more powerful than Incantatrix or Arcane Order?

 

[hammymchamham]

Re: My fault

Oh, and K- the Hit Die is a D4... same as Wizards, not larger. As for the numebr of feats (bearing in mind that's it 4, not 7) is this that much more powerful than Incantatrix or Arcane Order?

I noticed K's point on that, but I think he ment skill points

 

[Spatzimaus]

First look:

BAB, saves, and HP are the same as a Wizard.

Skill points: drop to 4+INT. You didn't provide a reason to have more, you have a really small class list anyway, and the base class only gives 2+INT.

Skills: add Concentration.

Requirements: looks a lot like Loremaster, except easier to get.
Alignment: Why NOT Lawful? It helps if you explain this part.

I guess the big question is, why would you want it? You get less followers. You gain 4 metamagic Feats, but you'll already have 2 from the prerequisites, so now you have 6. Frankly I usually run out of ones I really want after the first three. You sacrifice THREE levels of spellcasting ability, which is not something most Wizards lose lightly. Your cohort gains free metamagic Feats though; I'd rather be him, since he doesn't lose anything.

How to compensate? If you want this guy to be the master of metamagic, he needs something besides just more Feats. An increased ability to use them? (letting you apply them instantaneously X times per day to one of your prepared spells IF you've left an open spot at the correct level, maybe).

Also, the Cohort should gain more than just a few metamagic Feats. For example, if you're giving the -10 to followers on the Leadership table, give +10 to Cohort. (This practically guarantees that your cohort will be one level below you)

I'll have to think about this a bit more.

 

[las]

Hay this allmost look like mine. Its an Archmage for the Wu Jen. Its still on this at least Its epic conter part. Go check it out. Yours looks good but still needs a little something.

 

[Ravellion]

I think the loss of spellcasting levels balances this out quite nicely, Though it might be a tad iffy if you would take this up to Epic levels though.

Rav