Help me finish this prestige class - the Arcanist

[robjh]

The skill requirements are a little on the high side. Most PrC are intended for 6th-level characters, so 9 ranks should work. Plus having three skills with 11 ranks puts a serious dint in the skill point allocation.

I don't think it would hurt balance any to allow more level-0 spells, and I'd allow at least a couple of 0-level spells at first level. That way a 10-Int character might be willing to take a level to get a 0-level spell.

What about allowing a familiar? Also I'd make it an improved familiar, as the character is probably up several levels when they get this class. The familiar would need all the help it can get.

The skill points 4 + Int isn't much of an additional benefit for a high-Int character, at least with the limited selection of Wizard skills.

 

[Quartz]

The skill requirements are a little on the high side. Most PrC are intended for 6th-level characters, so 9 ranks should work. Plus having three skills with 11 ranks puts a serious dint in the skill point allocation.

Do note the bit about skills becoming class skills. But yes, this is supposed to be tough to qualify for. After all, you get to work magic, and you progress very rapidly. Level 6 is too soon.

But good idea about the familiar.

 

[robjh]

Do note the bit about skills becoming class skills. But yes, this is supposed to be tough to qualify for. After all, you get to work magic, and you progress very rapidly. Level 6 is too soon.

So to satisfy the Use Magic Device (assuming you're disallowing Bard) the character will need to be at least Rogue 8, or else some other class at level 16 (while taking Use Magic Device as a cross-class skill). Do you really want the primary entry class for the Arcanist to be a Rogue?

Rather than having Use Magic Device and Scribe, why not come up with a new profession for this class called, say, profession (Arcanist)? It describes a wizard in training and is synergistic with Alchemy Use Magic Device, Knowledge (arcane), scribe and spellcasting. It could work like a limited read magic skill, &c. with knowledge of wizards and wizardry, and qualify the character to work as an apprentice to a true Wizard.

 

[Quartz]

I'm expecting the typical entrant to be a fighter 4 / rogue 4 or ranger 4 / rogue 4 or thereabouts. By taking levels in Rogue, the character gets UMD as a class skill for all classes.