My School Mastery PrCs: Transmutation(Edited)

[Merlion]

Ok this is the first of my "school master" prestige classes, the Master Transmuter. I just threw it together this second so I'm sure it will need some work.

Edit: Ok I changed where and when Transmutation Focus comes in, made Specialization for wizards a requirement, and decided to have it give full spellcasting progression.
The only thing I dont like is the spell reqirements make it impossible for a PHB sorcerer to qualify until level 8...

The Master Transmuter




Prerequisites:

Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 10 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks

Feats: Spell Focus (Transmutation), Greater Spell Focus (Transmutation)

Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 4th level Arcane spells. Must know at least 7 different Transmutations which must include Alter Self, Baleful Polymorph, and Polymorph

Special: Wizards who wish to become Master Transmuters must be specialized in the school of Transmutation.
BAB, Saves, and Skills: All as Wizard

Class Features:

Transmutation Power:
At first level, the Master Transmuter recieves a +1 bonus to caster level when casting Transmutation spells. This applies to all aspects of caster level, including range, duration, damage, and caster level checks to overcome spell resistance. This bonus increases by +1 at 4th, 7th, and 10th level.

Transmutation Defense: At 2nd level, the Master Transmuter gains a +1 competence bonus on all saving throws against Transmutation spells and affects. this increases by +1 at 5th and 8th level.

Transmutation Focus:
At 3nd level the Master Transmuter gains a +1 competence bonus to the saving throw DC of all Transmutation spells he casts. At 6th level, this bonus increases to +2.



Alter Form:
at 3rd level, the Master Transmuter is able to alter his physical form as though using an Alter Self spell a number of times per day equal to his Master Transmuter level.

Change Form:
at 6th level, the Master Transmuter may tran sform himself as per the Polymorph spell a number of times per day equal to his Master Transmuter level.

Transform Other:
at 9th level, the Master Transmuter may use Baleful Polymorph once per day.

Transformation Mastery: at 10th level, the Master Transmuter may use Shapechange once per day as the spell. He also gains a spell resistance of 25 against all Transmutation spells and spell like abilities.

its diffacult to do a proper table in here so I'm going to do it this way:

1st level: Transmutation Power +1,

2nd level: Transmutation Defense +1,

3rd level: Transmutation Focus +1 Alter Form

4th level: Transmutation Power +2,

5th level: Transmutation Defense +2

6th level: Transmutation Focus +2, Change Form,

7th level: Transmutation Power +3

8th level: Transmutation Defense +3

9th level: Transform Other

10th level: Transformation Power +4, Transformation Mastery

 

[Nifft]

Very interesting! Here's my reply, which is based on the idea that Specialist Wizards would be a good basis for PrCs. The assumption of this PrC is that no Wizard can start out as a Specialist -- all Specialists are Prestige Classes.


Transmuter as PrC

Role: Specialist Wizard

Prerequisites:
- Feats: Spell Focus (Transmutation)
- Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 4th level Wizard spells.
- Spells: Must know at least two Transmutation spells of each spell-level 1 through 4.


Class Benefits:
- HD: d4
- BAB: Poor (as Wizard)
- Good Save: Will / Bad Saves: Fortitude, Reflex
- Skill Points: 2 + Int bonus
- Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Craft (Any) (Int), Decypher Script (Int), Knowlege (any) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

[u]
Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Spellcasting	Special Abilities[/u]
 1	+0	+0	+0	+2	+1 Level	Extra Spells, Prohibited Schools
 2	+1	+0	+0	+3	+1 Level	School Defense +1
 3	+1	+1	+1	+3	+1 Level	A Thousand Faces
 4	+2	+1	+1	+4	+1 Level	Transmuation Power +1
 5	+2	+1	+1	+4	+1 Level	School Defense +2
 6	+3	+2	+2	+5	+1 Level	Trans-Augmentation
 7	+3	+2	+2	+5	+1 Level	Transmutation Power +2
 8	+4	+2	+2	+6	+1 Level	School Defense +3
 9	+4	+3	+3	+6	+1 Level	Trans-Augmentation
10      +5	+3	+3	+7	+1 Level	Ability Increase (+2 Int)

Special Abilities:

• Spellcasting: Increases apply to Wizard spells.
• Extra Spells: Starting at 1st level, the Transmuter may prepare one extra Transmutation spell at each available spell level. This ability functions exactly as described in the SRD under Wizard School Specialization.
• Prohibited Schools: At 1st level, the Transmuter must select two schools of magic, from which he may never again prepare spells. This prohibition functions exactly as described in the SRD under Wizard School Specialization.
• School Defense (Su): The Transmuter gains the indicated bonus to any save against Transmutation effects, including spells of the Transmutation school or any of these effects: Slow, Petrification, Polymorph, Discorporate, Disintegrate, Enlarge, and Reduce.
• A Thousand Faces (Su): At 3rd level, the Transmuter gains the ability to change his form at will. This functions exactly like the 13th level Druid ability of the same name.
• Transmutation Power (Su): The Transmuter gains the indicated bonus to his Caster Level when casting Transmutation spells. This is equivalent to, and stacks with, the Archmage's Spell Power ability, but applies only to Transmutation spells.
• Trans-Augmentation: The Transmuter gains one ability from the following list:
  * Morpho-Augmentation: When taking a shape not his own, the Transmuter gains +4 Str and +4 Dex.
  * Elasticity: The Transmuter gains +2 to all Reflex saves.
  * Tenacity: The Transmuter gains +2 to all Fortitude saves.
  * Augmented Flesh: The Transmuter gains DR 5/Magic (Su).
  * Augmented Health: The Transmuter becomes immune to all non-magical diseases. (Magical diseases include Mummy Rot and Lycanthropy.)
  * Augmented Metabolism: The Transmuter gains +1 Con. This bonus is gained as if through level advancement.
• Ability Increase (Ex): The Transmuter gains a total of +2 Intelligence. This bonus is gained as if through level advancement.

 

[Merlion]

Very very nice, but not quite my goal. I think the specialists should be avaible as non prestig classes. My prestige classes are to continue that.
And specfic advice on my rought draft?

 

[Merlion]

However the big question I want to decide upon before I begin working on and posting first drafts of the others in this line is...shall I require specialization for wizards? Or not? Or have the class make a nonspecialized character who takes it into a specialist? (and exactly which of the various options on how to handle that to use)

 

[Nifft]

However the big question I want to decide upon before I begin working on and posting first drafts of the others in this line is...shall I require specialization for wizards? Or not? Or have the class make a nonspecialized character who takes it into a specialist? (and exactly which of the various options on how to handle that to use)

I'd turn the non-Specialist into a Specialist -- like the mechanic that the Red Wizard uses. But if the character is already a Specialist, he shouldn't have to pay anything extra. I like using PrCs as "focusing" tools -- the PC shouldn't have to be pre-focused except for having the required Feats & Skills.

-- N

 

[Merlion]

I decided to go with requiring that a wizard already be a specialist. It seems to make the most sense overall.

 

[Corlon]

very cool, but what about all the other schools besides transmutation?\

I like the idea of not specializing however, because this could also allow sorcerers in to the prestige class, and even if this takes away the wizards bonus of specializing, it still keeps the penalties, and to learn the spells required, the sorcerer must really want to be a "transmuting master".

 

[Merlion]

I'm waiting for some feedback on something besides the pre requisites before I start posting the basics of the others that I have at the moment ( I have the basics of Evocation and Enchantment pretty much done in rough draft.
Just because a wizard has to be specialized doesnt mean sorcerers cant take the prestige class. I wouldnt design a prestige class like this and bar sorcerers.