PRC: Gifted Mage

[szilard]

The following is an idea for a five-level prestige class that I just thought up while thinking about the Abjurant Champion. Let me know how broken you think it is.

-Stuart

Gifted Mage

Hit Die
d4.

Requirements

To qualify to become a gifted mage, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Skills

Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks.
Feats

Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Practiced Spellcaster

Spells

Ability to cast 3rd-level arcane spells

Class Skills

The gifted mage’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (alchemy) (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), and Spellcraft (Int).

Skill Points at Each Level
2 + Int modifier.

BAB: Poor

Fort Save: Poor
Reflex Save: Poor
Will Save: Good

Class Features:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Gifted mages gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Spells per Day/Spells Known

When a new gifted mage level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 3rd-level spells before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class in which he could cast 3rd-level spells before he became a gifted mage, he must decide at his first class level to which class he will add levels of gifted mage for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Gifted Spellcaster

At fifth level, a gifted mage's level for determining spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) is equal to his character level

 

[Cheiromancer]

At 10th level this is like a sorcerer who gave up 2 feats (Spell Focus, Practiced Spellcaster)- thereafter every level is a gestalt-sorcerer level?

 

[Nifft]

Gifted Spellcaster

At fifth level, a gifted mage's level for determining spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) is equal to his character level

I note you don't specify arcane, divine, spontaneous or prepared here.
This is either worthless, or infinitely abusable. I'd suggest re-working.

Cheers, -- N

 

[javcs]

I note you don't specify arcane, divine, spontaneous or prepared here.
This is either worthless, or infinitely abusable. I'd suggest re-working.

Cheers, -- N

As it stands - infinitely abusable, all you need is to qualify, finish the class, and then multiclass your way through every casting class available .... -shudder-.

 

[Nifft]

As it stands - infinitely abusable, all you need is to qualify, finish the class, and then multiclass your way through every casting class available .... -shudder-.

Cool.

Wizard 5 / GM 5 / Clr 1 / Drd 1 / Sorc 1 / Favored Soul 1 / Healer 1 / Spirit Shaman 1 / Warmage 1 / Dread Necromancer 1 / Beguiler 1 / Bard 1

Level: 20
BAB: +4
Will save: +28? (8 + 2 x 10)
Spellcasting: Yes.

Yipes, -- N

 

[Jack Simth]

Very busted. More busted the higher up you go. Even if you limit the capstone ability to just one casting class.

Consider:
Assuming (for the moment) fractional BAB and saves, a Wiz-5/Gifted Mage-4 is only down two feats from a normal Wizard (how many wizards don't have at least 8 ranks each in Knoweledge(Arcana) and Spellcraft?). (Without fractional BAB and saves, he's down a point of BAB, Reflex, Fort, and up 2 points of Will).
A Wiz-5/Gifted Mage 5/Monk-2 has boosted HP, saves, BAB, skills, and class abilities, and is only lacking the two feats (well, and 1 Wizard bonus feat).
A Wiz-5/Gifted Mage 5/PrC balanced by a lack of caster progression-5 is down... what, exactly?

Oh, and you might want to include caster level in the capstone ability to remove the oddity of 9th level spells at caster level 14. Or emphasize that you still need to have the appropriet minimum caster level to cast a spell. Either way.

Edit: Oh, and Nift: You're a more effective munchkin starting with, say, Cleric or Druid for the increased BAB and HD (skills, too, in the Druid's case).

 

[szilard]

Okay. The capstone ability was meant only to apply to the class that the GM spellcasting applies to - and to caster levels for those spells.

I realize this is still broken.

Here's a question, though: would it cease to be broken if it were a 10-level class with the capstone ability at level 10 (minimum character level 15)?

-Stuart

 

[Nifft]

Oh, and Nift: You're a more effective munchkin starting with, say, Cleric or Druid for the increased BAB and HD (skills, too, in the Druid's case).

Sure, in a long-term sense. But my build gives you the same spell access as a Wizard of the exact same level at every level (you're never behind). It's just that starting with 11th level, you rapidly begin to rule the spellcasting world. Because it's almost strictly better than a Wizard (only bad part: two feat choices already made), it's easier to demonstrate that it's broken.

@ szilard: That sort of "suck now, rule later" balance never struck me as particularly balanced. Basically, multi-classing works. For spellcasters, boosting caster level would be balanced (like Abjurant Champion class or Practiced Spellcaster feat), but actually adding spells known and ability to cast higher level spells? That can't be easily balanced, IMHO.

Cheers, -- N

 

[szilard]

[edit: wasn't paying attention to what you were responding to. sorry.]

Sure, in a long-term sense. But my build gives you the same spell access as a Wizard of the exact same level at every level (you're never behind). It's just that starting with 11th level, you rapidly begin to rule the spellcasting world. Because it's almost strictly better than a Wizard (only bad part: two feat choices already made), it's easier to demonstrate that it's broken.

Well - two substandard feat choices, one of which (Practiced Spellcaster) is likely useless to you.... plus the loss of Wizard bonus feats and familiar advancement.

@ szilard: That sort of "suck now, rule later" balance never struck me as particularly balanced. Basically, multi-classing works. For spellcasters, boosting caster level would be balanced (like Abjurant Champion class or Practiced Spellcaster feat), but actually adding spells known and ability to cast higher level spells? That can't be easily balanced, IMHO.

Cheers, -- N

I know. Multiclassing with spellcasters, though, is usually less than ideal. This is sort of a thought experiment for me as I fumble vaguely toward what I hope might be another way of doing things...

-Stuart

 

[Nifft]

Well - two substandard feat choices, one of which (Practiced Spellcaster) is likely useless to you.... plus the loss of Wizard bonus feats and familiar advancement.

The thing about that class feature, though, is that it's useless for the character who goes straight through and takes the class as early as possible.

I know. Multiclassing with spellcasters, though, is usually less than ideal. This is sort of a thought experiment for me as I fumble vaguely toward what I hope might be another way of doing things...

Take a look at this: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/magicRating.htm
Combined with the Practiced Spellcaster feat, it might not be so terrible.

Cheers, -- N