New Class: Mage

[Tequila Sunrise]

I've always loved the idea of an 'all-magician'; a character that can cast every spell in existance. I've never seen a published class that truly accomplishes this (mystic theurge comes closest), so I decided to make one. I'm not good at putting rules into all that legal-esque language that appears in published books so bear with me.

The Mage
HD: d4
BAB: Poor
Good Save: Will
Skills: 2 + Int (Wizard class skills)

Spells: A mage's spells are arcane and are Intelligence based. A mage can cast any spell from any spell list. The mage's Spells per Day progression is exactly the wizard's. This progression also acts as the mage's Spells Prepared; a mage casts spells spontaneously. Spells Prepared represent the last spells which the mage studied from his spell book; as long as these spells are prepared, the mage can cast any of them spontaneously.

Spell Books: Like wizards, mages use spell books to store and study spells. Unlike wizards, mages can scribe any spell from any spell list into his spell book.

Metamagic Specialist: Mages can apply metamagic to their spells without increased casting time. This only applies to spells derived from mage levels.

Spell Aptitude: A mage has great aptitude with spells. By spending one hour of meditation, she can change the designated school for one or all of her feats that apply to a single school such as Spell Focus. To use this ability the mage must additionally be able to cast a spell from the newly designated school herself; in the hour of meditation the mage uses a spell slot as if she had actually cast the required spell.

Cooperative Spell: Bonus feat at first level.

Immortal: At 20th level a mage becomes immortal; he ages until he becomes venerable but will never naturally die.

 

[Ryu Shadowstep]

Sorry...

Sorry...not to burst your bubble or anything but...there is already a mage class and its called "Wizard"...like i said sorry i thought you should know

but i really do like the class idea however

 

[dagger]

Sorry...not to burst your bubble or anything but...there is already a mage class and its called "Wizard"...like i said sorry i thought you should know

What was the point of this? Sheesh :\



Anyway, I like the idea of removing all the full spellcasting classes and replacing them with a Mage class. I have thought of doing something similar before.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Sorry...not to burst your bubble or anything but...there is already a mage class and its called "Wizard"...like i said sorry i thought you should know

but i really do like the class idea however

Thanks! Wizard is my favorite published class but it is not the All-Magician that I want; there are a whole bunch of spells that a wizard cannot cast.

 

[jaker2003]

How about the generic Spellcaster from Unearthed Arcana. They can cast spells from the cleric, driud, and Wiz/Sorc spell lists. Is that broad enough?

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

How about the generic Spellcaster from Unearthed Arcana. They can cast spells from the cleric, driud, and Wiz/Sorc spell lists. Is that broad enough?

I like that class, but it is limited in its spells known which is a big problem for me.

 

[starwed]

So, how is this balanced against the current spell-casters? It seems to be way more powerful than a sorc, at least.

It also seems to use the spirit shaman spell casting mechanic, yet with way more spells prepared at any time. I'd switch over to the spirit shaman spells prepared (maxes out at 3 of each level), and/or make some interesting drawback to casting spells.

 

[Nifft]

Here's one I posted here a while back. It does indeed use the Spirit Shaman rules for spellcasting. It's based around a deity in my setting: Selene, the Silvery Lady of the Moon, Knowledge, Death, Water and Magic. Our Lady of Tides favors Owls, Wisdom, Law and Order. Here is her favored mystical spellcasting class:


Favored Mystic of Selene
Those chosen to serve the Pale Lady Herself are a breed apart from the clergy of other Gods. The Mistress of Magic has granted them unparalleled access to spells.

Benefits:
HD: d4
Saves: Good Will
BAB: Half
Skill Points/Level: 2 + Int
Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

Table:

[u]Lev  BAB Fo/Re/Wi	Special Abilities [/u]
1    +0  +0/+0/+2	Spellcasting
2    +1  +0/+0/+3	--
3    +1  +1/+1/+3	--
4    +2  +1/+1/+4	Minor Gift
5    +2  +1/+1/+4	--
6    +3  +2/+2/+5	--
7    +3  +2/+2/+5	--
8    +4  +2/+2/+6	Lesser Gift
9    +4  +3/+3/+6	--
10   +5  +3/+3/+7	--
11   +5  +3/+3/+7	--
12   +6  +4/+4/+8	Crescent Moon Gift
13   +6  +4/+4/+8	--
14   +7  +4/+4/+9	--
15   +7  +5/+5/+9	--
16   +8  +5/+5/+10	Full Moon Gift
17   +8  +5/+5/+10	--
18   +9  +6/+6/+11	--
19   +9  +6/+6/+11	--
20   +10 +6/+6/+12	Greater Gift

[u]Level	0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 [/u]
1	3/4 1/1 --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
2	3/5 2/2 --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
3	3/5 2/3 1/1 --  --  --  --  --  --  --
4	3/5 3/4 2/2 --  --  --  --  --  --  --
5	3/5 3/4 2/3 1/1 --  --  --  --  --  --
6	3/5 3/4 2/4 2/2 --  --  --  --  --  --
7	3/5 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1 --  --  --  --  --
8	3/5 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2 --  --  --  --  --
9	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1 --  --  --  --
10	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2 --  --  --  --
11	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1 --  --  --
12	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2 --  --  --
13	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1 --  --
14	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2 --  --
15	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1 --
16	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2 --
17	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3 1/1
18	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/4 2/2
19	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 2/3
20	3/5 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4

Special Abilities:

• Spellcasting: Unlike a Wizard or Cleric, the Favored Mystic of Selene must excel in intellect and intuition, for his spellcasting relies upon Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma. His Int grants bonus prepared (currently "known") spells, his Wisdom provides additional spell-slots, and his Cha bonus determines the DC of his spells. The character uses whichever mental ability score is highest to determine the highest spell he can cast -- like any other spellcaster, he must have an ability score equal or greater than 10 + spell level to cast a given spell.
  A Favored Mystic of Selene casts spells spontaneously, like a Sorcerer; however, unlike a Sorcerer, he chooses his spells known each morning, during an hour-long meditation ceremony. He prepares up to three spells at each spell-level (plus bonus spells for Int).
  A Favored Mystic of Selene may select his daily Spells Known from the Cleric or Sor/Wiz spell list. In the case of Cleric spells, he simply gains them by praying (like a Cleric). In the case of Sor/Wiz spells, he must maintain a spellbook (like a Wizard). Also like a Wizard, a Favored Mystic of Selene may add two free Sor/Wiz spells to his spellbook each level.
  Any spell cast by a Favored Mystic of Selene is Arcane, and thus subject to Arcane Spell Failure, even if the spell derives from the Cleric list via prayer. The Goddess moves in mysterious ways.
  Metamagic feats are applied to spells when prepared (like a Cleric or Wizard), not when cast (like a Sorcerer), taking up a higher-level "prepared" slot.
  For example, a 9th level Mystic who knows magic missile and has the Quicken Spell feat could prepare quickened magic missile as one of his two readied 5th level spells. Because the metamagic is applied in advance, a Mystic does not require additional time to cast metamagical spells.
  A favored mystic may leave "known" slots open, just like a Wizard or Cleric, and can fill one slot with 15 minutes of study or prayer.
• Minor Gift : The Favored Mystic of Selene may choose one of the following:
  • Familiar : The character may summon a Familiar as though he were a Sorcerer three levels lower than his Mystic level.
  • Lore (Ex): The character gains Bardic Lore, as though he were a Bard three levels lower.
  • Minor Mage Sight (Sp): The character may use Detect Magic at will as a spell-like ability.
  • Minor Knowledge : The character immediately gains Skill Focus (any Knowledge) as a bonus feat.
• Lesser Gift : The Favored Mystic of Selene may choose one of the following:
  • Bonus Metamagic : The character immediately gains any one Metamagic feat as a bonus feat.
  • Moon Sight (Ex): The character gains low-light vision.
  • Arcane Insight : From now on, whenever leveling up as a Favored Mystic of selene, the character freely adds three Sor/Wiz spells to his spellbook (instead of two).
  • Divine Protection (Ex): The character gains Cold Resistance 5.
  • Lesser Arcane Sight (Su): The character gains permanent See Invisibility , as the spell.
• Crescent Moon Gift : The Favored Mystic of Selene may choose one of the following:
  • Witch Sight (Su): The character gains permanent arcane sight , as the spell.
  • Foresight (Su): The character gains a permanent +2 Insight bonus to AC and initiative rolls.
  • Tenacious Magic (Su): The character's spellcaster level is treated as two levels higher for the purpose of resisting dispel attempts.
• Waxing Moon Gift : The Favored Mystic of Selene may choose one of the following:
  • True Sight (Su): The character gains permanent true seeing , as the spell.
  • True Lore (Sp): The character may cast identify at will as a spell-like ability.
  • Communion (Sp): The character may cast commune once per day as a spell-like ability with no XP cost.
• Full Moon Gift : The Favored Mystic of Selene may choose one of the following:
  • Divine Insight : The character gains a permanent +2 to his Intelligence and Wisdom. This bonus is treated as though gained through level advancement.
  • Flesh of the Goddess (Ex): The character gains DR 5/epic.
  • Mind of the Goddess (Su): The character becomes immune to all effects with the [Fear], [Charm] or [Compulsion] descriptor.

Cheers, -- N

 

[wolfpunk]

If it is something you really want to do, I think it has potential. Maybe, I am going way crazy overboard, but why not make your All-Magician a prestige class, and just do something simple like this. I would definitely require spell components and the gold cost for scribing spells into a spell book be strictly enforced.



Prerequisite: Ability to cast second level spells from at least three different spellcasting lists. Spellcraft: 13 ranks. Scribe Scroll.

BAB: As wizard.
Saves: As wizard.
HP: No additional hit points.

Skills: As wizard.

Abilities:
Level 1: Choose one metamagic feat.
Level 2 through 10: the All Magician gains +1 spellcasting level for each spellcasting class they have. They gain no additional abilities from that class.
Level 10: the All-Magician becomes immortal; he ages until he becomes venerable but will never naturally die.


Spells: A mage's spells are arcane and are Intelligence based. The All-Magician can cast any spell from any spell list that he possessed before taking the All-Magician prestige class. The All-Magician's Spells per Day progression is exactly as the wizard's. This progression also acts as the All-Magician's Spells Prepared; the All-Magician casts spells spontaneously. Spells Prepared represent the last spells which the All-Magician studied from his spell book; as long as these spells are prepared, the All-Magician can cast any of them spontaneously.

Spell Books: Like wizards, the All-Magician use spell books to store and study spells. Unlike wizards, the All-Magician can scribe any spell from any of his spell lists into his spell book.

 

[jaker2003]

Let me get this straight, He prepares each spell he wants to cast that day once each, and then spontaneously casts them that day as if they were a sorcerer's spells known?