PrC: Arcane Valet (extended Pirate edition)

[Velmont]

If you are searching for something to give a little +, I may have an idea. As you have put nothing at level 5, it could be added at that level, and here what it is:

Quicker than master's mind.
Not only now the arcane valet can feels the master's need as they appears, but he can satified it before his master would formulate it. Everytimes the arcana valet is near his master (in the same room or at 60fts from him), he gains a +4 insight bonus to initiative.

What do you think of it. Improve initiative is a good feats for caster. To give some arcane valet flavor to it, the bonus would be useable only near his master, but as it is an insight bonus, it can stack with the Improved Initiative, so it is almost equivalent to the feat.

And I wanted to know, the spell per day, is it restricted to only arcane caster level (which would make sense when reading the name of the prestige class), because I'm thinking of the arcane valet with one level of wizard/sorcerer and the remaining in cleric (with Knowledge domain) who summon Heroe's feast for his master, purify his food to be sure he would not eat poison or have a scroll of true ressurection reserved only for his master needs.

 

[Velmont]

Thinking of it. As the sorcerer lose less than the wizard by taking this class (as he have no bonus feats), I would add one restriction:

If the Arcane Valet lose the ability to cast any pre-requisit spell, he can no longer progress in this class. If he lose Detect Tough, he loses Anticipate Master's need, Quicker than master's mind, Let me ajust that for you and Social invisibility.

So that way, the sorcerer would have to sacrifice some spell slot. As they are low level, the sacrifice is not great, but it would disallow a sorcerer to take for only 2 level one spell that are precious enough for them.

 

[bret]

If you are searching for something to give a little +, I may have an idea. As you have put nothing at level 5, it could be added at that level, and here what it is:

Quicker than master's mind.
Not only now the arcane valet can feels the master's need as they appears, but he can satified it before his master would formulate it. Everytimes the arcana valet is near his master (in the same room or at 60fts from him), he gains a +4 insight bonus to initiative.

What do you think of it. Improve initiative is a good feats for caster. To give some arcane valet flavor to it, the bonus would be useable only near his master, but as it is an insight bonus, it can stack with the Improved Initiative, so it is almost equivalent to the feat.

Improved Initiative is certainly an excellent feat. I'm making a list of the various suggestions, plan to talk to the GM and a couple of the other players, see what they think.

Thanks for the suggestion.

And I wanted to know, the spell per day, is it restricted to only arcane caster level (which would make sense when reading the name of the prestige class), because I'm thinking of the arcane valet with one level of wizard/sorcerer and the remaining in cleric (with Knowledge domain) who summon Heroe's feast for his master, purify his food to be sure he would not eat poison or have a scroll of true ressurection reserved only for his master needs.

As currently written, there is nothing that would prevent such a character. In my own mind, I would not have a cleric serve as a valet. The reason is that they are supposed to be serving a higher cause, that of their god. This isn't to say the concept couldn't work, just that I had intended to exclude clerics and by multiclassing you've found a way around it.

I certainly don't see anything wrong with this. If it fits the concept, go for it.

 

[bret]

Thinking of it. As the sorcerer lose less than the wizard by taking this class (as he have no bonus feats), I would add one restriction:

If the Arcane Valet lose the ability to cast any pre-requisit spell, he can no longer progress in this class. If he lose Detect Tough, he loses Anticipate Master's need, Quicker than master's mind, Let me ajust that for you and Social invisibility.

So that way, the sorcerer would have to sacrifice some spell slot. As they are low level, the sacrifice is not great, but it would disallow a sorcerer to take for only 2 level one spell that are precious enough for them.

I think the standard rule covers this. If you no longer meet the prerequisites, you couldn't use any of the special abilities of the PrC. You would still have the BAB, saves, hit points, skills, and caster level. Everything else would go away.

On the other hand, it does point out a very minor hole in Innate Cantrips. They could take a cantrip as Innate and then (provided it isn't one of the ones required by the PrC) swap that cantrip out. Since Cantrips give so little power by the time you would be doing this, I don't know if it really matters.


Having never played a sorcerer, I don't know if this PrC is too good a deal for one.


Thanks again for the comments, Velmont.

 

[Sanackranib]

None of the NPC classes can cast arcane spells, so it would be a little strange to have them as an Arcane Valet. On the other hand, a Wiz3/Expert3 should easily be able to qualify. I could also see making up a varient that builds off an expert template and keeps some of the same abilities. . .
Thanks again to everyone who has replied.

I think that you may be forgeting about the Adept.

 

[Sanackranib]

from a flavor standpoint I think the Sorc would actually be better since he would not have trained for years under a mentor or studied at an accadamy. in my experience most wizards dont take on the roll of "servent". I still like the Idea of an expert taking this class, but as written an adapt would be more likely.

 

[bret]

from a flavor standpoint I think the Sorc would actually be better since he would not have trained for years under a mentor or studied at an accadamy. in my experience most wizards dont take on the roll of "servent".

Ever heard of something called a Grad Slave?

Apprenticeship as a wizard is likely to be far worse than serving as a gentleman's gentleman. I am thinking of the people like Jeeves, Alfred, Normal, or the guy that served Phillious Fogg (80 days around the earth).

If by serving someone else you get access to better facilities (libraries, social contacts, etc), I can see someone doing this.

The other (more evil) version is someone who wants to manipulate things from the shadows. Use their employer as a figurehead, but manipulate things to their own advantage. I have intentionally allowed any alignment precisely because of this. I am sure that an evil spellcaster could find some use for the information gathering and varient of Hide in Plain sight that this class gives.

I still like the Idea of an expert taking this class, but as written an adapt would be more likely.

I just checked, Adept can't qualify for the PrC as written.

I had initially ignored them because they are divine casters. Looking over their spelllist, they can't make the prerequisites. They are missing most of the spells required and do not get domains as far as I can tell.

Specifically, they are missing: Mage Hand, Prestigitation, Unseen Servant, and Detect Thoughts. The only prerequisite spell they do have is mending!

The prerequisite spells are also the biggest cost for a Sorcerer or Bard. They are using up Spells Known to enter the class. About half their cantrips and one spell at each of first and second level. Not a horrible cost, but definately a cost.

Now if they had an NPC class that cast spells as a wizard or sorcerer, I could see that qualifying. At least in the 3.0 SRD, there isn't one.

 

[Sanackranib]

as an NPC class I would like to see NPC's qualify for it without resorting to taking up adventuring classes to do so. what about dropping the spell requirements and giving the level 0 and level 1 spells at 1st level of the PrC and the level 2 spell at level 3 then adjusting the PrC's powers as nessicary to compensate.

 

[bret]

as an NPC class ....

Just so it is clear...

This is NOT intended as an NPC class.

As I've said before, I'm designing this for one of my characters. A character that I'm currently playing in a FR campaign.

I would like to see NPC's qualify for it without resorting to taking up adventuring classes to do so. what about dropping the spell requirements and giving the level 0 and level 1 spells at 1st level of the PrC and the level 2 spell at level 3 then adjusting the PrC's powers as nessicary to compensate.

Would you mind answering why you see this only as an NPC class, not one for PCs?

 

[Sanackranib]

this is basically an assistant or henchman type class. if you want to playone thats fine. but its basically an NPC class like an expert which would make for a natural progression into the Valet PrC.

Its baically the same as playing the squire rather then the knight. that's why I see it as an NPC class. now having said that I have played in several games where people took levels in commoner, expert or noble. so I am by no means trying to limit this class to NPC's just trying to make it clear that since that is who most valets will be drawn from (even the really good ones) that they should be able to qualify for it without having to take adventuring levels