version 3
Considerably weakened at higher levels; dropped improved evasion and immunity to disease and poison. SR is reduced to level+5, and pushed right to the end, to reward those who take all 20 levels. [edit]dropped disable device- only the rogue has it among the core classes, let's keep it hard to get.[/edit]
The Occultist
Abilities: Intelligence powers an occultist’s spells, and enhances his skills. Constitution and dexterity are most important for sheer survivability.
Alignment: any non-good
Hit dice: d6
Armor and Weapons: light armor, no shield, simple weapons
Attacks: medium BAB (like a rogue)
Saves: all good (like a monk)
Skill points: 4 + Int modifier
Class skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Knowledge (any), Move Silently, Open Locks, Profession, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft.
Key ability for spells: Intelligence.
Code:
[color=silver]
Level
1 sneak attack +1d6, trap sense
2 knack
3 evasion
4 familiar, spellcasting (level-3)
5 mettle
6
7 uncanny dodge
8
9 sneak attack +2d6
10
11
12
13 improved uncanny dodge
14
15
16
17 sneak attack +3d6
18
19
20 spell resistance 25[/color]
Special Abilities:
Knack (Ex): A second level occultist gains insight either into the use of a weapon or a skill in which he has no skill ranks. If a weapon is chosen, the occultist gains Weapon Focus with that weapon. If a skill has been chosen, the occultist is henceforth treated to have a number of ranks in that skill equal to his class level plus his intelligence bonus (if any). A knack in a skill counts for the purpose of meeting prerequisites for a feat or prestige class. The occultist loses all benefits of a knack if he ever buys ranks in the chosen skill.
Sneak attack, trap sense, evasion and
(improved) uncanny dodge are as the rogue abilities. With respect to improved uncanny dodge, a rogue whose level is higher than the occultist may flank him normally.
Mettle is like evasion, only for fort and will saves- it is the hex blade's 3rd level ability (in Complete Warrior), and spell resistance is like the monk ability, although it doesn't scale with level.
The occultist's
familiar and
spellcasting is much the same as for a standard wizard 3 levels lower, except that an occultist must give up a school of magic (as a specialist wizard does) without gaining any of the benefits of specialization. An occultist may give up any school of magic except for divination. An occultist prepares his spells using a spellbook, just as a standard wizard does. Occultists suffer a chance of arcane spell failure if they wear armor when casting spells; armor is mostly for low level occultists.
Ex-occultists: There is something a little off about the occultist’s approach to the world, one which does not appeal to good characters. An occultist who becomes good retains all class abilities, but cannot gain further levels as an occultist.
Role: Many occultists are failures in some other field of endeavor; they are the wizard’s apprentice who cannot learn any spells, the novice cleric whose faith is too weak, or the would-be bard who does not have the heart for the profession. It is not that the occultist’s talent is lacking; but it is hidden too deeply for the standard training of a character class to unlock. Resentment over this early failure tends to embitter the character, though they may put on a cheerful face.
Other occultists are scholars (experts) who feel that they have hidden talents waiting to be discovered; talents which will bring them wealth and power. They pore over old tomes and practice exotic meditation techniques in order for these powers to be uncovered. Occultists will often form secret societies in which their discoveries can be shared; occultists are natural conspirators, and are well suited to skullduggery. Still other occultists are bored aristocrats who seek the thrill of secret knowledge and the reassurance of a group of fellow strivers.
And finally, there are the occultists who are raised and trained as such; typically such occultists are also cultists of one kind or another. These cults rarely worship true deities, but may be on quite friendly terms with various fiends.
Whatever their background, occultists are convinced that there is a secret to success, and that this secret is within their grasp. Though sometimes dismissed as charlatans, dillettantes and con artists, occultists sometimes stumble onto the secrets of real magic; rarely, however, do they achieve the power of standard wizards. For this reason spell-casting occultists tend to resent wizards and sorcerers, and sometimes clerics as well. This animosity is usually kept well hidden.
The benefits of the slow path to power are not inconsiderable. Occultists are more aware of themselves and their world, and thus are harder to assail either physically, mentally, or spiritually. The most obvious of an occultist's awakened talents is arcane spellcasting. But occultists will also have a skill or weapon with which they exhibit unusual skill; this is their "knack." Even occultists who do not have a weapon knack seem unusually competent with a dagger or club; especially when they strike from surprise or from behind. Conversely, an occultist who has a weapon knack is more skilled than a wizard of equal intelligence.
Multiclassing: Occultists can (with a knack for disable device) easily become arcane tricksters, and those with blacker hearts are well-suited to become assassins or ur-priests.
