Prestiege Class: Noldorin Mage

[Bozidar]

Yeah, i know the name's ripped off from Tolkien, but i wanted it to sound prestiegious Let me know what you think, this is my absolute first attempt at a prestiege class.

Race: Elf
Alignment: Any good
Spells: Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells
Skills:
Spellcraft: 8 Ranks
Knowledge (Arcana): 4 Ranks
Knowledge (Elven History): 4 Ranks
Concentration: 4 Ranks

Feats: Noldorin Mark (see below), 1 Metamagic from this list:
Chain Spell, Delay Spell, Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Persistant Spell, Quicken Spell, Repeat Spell, Sculpt Spell, Silent Spell, Twin Spell, Widen Spell

1: Cooperative Spell, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
2: Favored Metamagic Feat, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
3: Elven Chant +3, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
4: +1 arcane spell level in existing class
5: Circle Leader, Favored Metamagic Feat, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
6: Elven Chant +6, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
7: Circle Magic Adept +2, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
8: Favored Metamagic Feat, +1 arcane spell level in existing class
9: +1 arcane spell level in existing class
10: Circle Master, Circle Magic Adept +4, +1 arcane spell level in existing class

Cooperative Spell: It's the nature of the Noldorin to work well together to create greater magic, and thus at first level a Noldorin Mage is granted the Cooperative Spell feat.

Favored Metamagic Feat: At 2nd, 5th, and 8th level the Noldorin Mage chooses one of the metamagic feats that is listed above as a prerequisite. At later levels, they need not choose the same feat multiple times, but can if they wish. This ability lowers the level requirement of each favored metamagic feat you take. Use of this ability can not lower the level requirement below 0.

Elven Chant: At 3rd level the Noldorin Mage gains the Elven Chant ability. While conducting, or participating in Elven Circle Magic the character can add their Elven Chant bonus to the Circle's level pool, but those levels can only be used by the circle leader towards enchantment spells. At 6th level this ability increases to +6.

Circle Leader: At 5th level, the Noldorin Mage can now lead a circle magic spell.

Circle Magic Adept: At 7th level, the Noldorin Mage gains the power of Circle Magic Adept. This ability allows them, when the center of a Circle Magic spell, to add their bonus to the spell pool for that circle. This ability stacks with Elven Chant, if the spell cast is an enchantment.

Circle Magic Master: At 10th level the Noldorin Mage becomes a Circle Magic Master. This ability allows them to form a circle magic spell with up to 9 assistants, rather than the normal limit of 5. In addition to this ability, most Circle Magic Masters also serve on the Noldorin Council for their community.



Noldorin Mark (General)
Prerequsite: Elf, Council Approval

Description: An elf wishing to take this feat must go before the Noldorin Council, petition them, and gain their approval. The specifics of what a council will ask for depend on the social setting. For example, in times of war, more elves might be accepted into the prestiegous order, but in peace times they will be more selective in giving out membership. When the character officially joins the order, the Noldorin Mark is placed upon them, and is faintly visible under the skin of his or her chest.

Benefit: The elf much choose a school of magic, and in that school they get a +1 DC for all spells, and a +1 to their spell penetration checks.

Special: Able to participate in Elven Circle Magic. Should the character fall out of favor with the Council, it is within their power to revoke membership. The character need not be present for the mark to be removed. An elf with the Noldorin Mark may not participate in any other Circle Magic, except for this specific type.

 

[Knight-of-Roses]

An interesting idea, but I am unclear on how this magic circle works. Is that an aspect of cooperative magic? And, if so, where is that feat from?

I would suggest adding Knowledge (arcana) to the prerequisites.

I would argue that Favored Metamagic Feat is too powerful to be given out three times. Maybe twice (at most) and/or restricted it to only being able to favor a metamagic feat once.
Othwerwise expect to see a lot of Wiz5/NoM5 with FMF Empower Spell twice and all of their spells empowered.

The Noldoran Mark feat is strong too, but with serious role-playing limits so it should work out.

 

[The Iron Mark]

Change Favored Metamagic so that the minimum level is 1, not 0. Else you'll be seeing a lot of wizards walking around with magic missles empowered 10^793 times or so.

 

[Bozidar]

An interesting idea, but I am unclear on how this magic circle works. Is that an aspect of cooperative magic? And, if so, where is that feat from?

I would suggest adding Knowledge (arcana) to the prerequisites.

I would argue that Favored Metamagic Feat is too powerful to be given out three times. Maybe twice (at most) and/or restricted it to only being able to favor a metamagic feat once.
Othwerwise expect to see a lot of Wiz5/NoM5 with FMF Empower Spell twice and all of their spells empowered.

The Noldoran Mark feat is strong too, but with serious role-playing limits so it should work out.

1) Circle Magic is from the Forgotten Realms Campaign book. The feat is a new one, that i formed based on the two feats in the Forgotten Realms handbook that also give the ability to use Circle Magic. Instead of using their feats, which are for their special societies (the Hathran and the Red Wizards of Thay), i've made my own for my world.
2) Knowledge (Arcana) -- excellent, and obvious suggestion I should have thought of that.
3) I'm begining to agree with you on FMF, and i'll discuss that next..

 

[Bozidar]

Change Favored Metamagic so that the minimum level is 1, not 0. Else you'll be seeing a lot of wizards walking around with magic missles empowered 10^793 times or so.

I actually don't know. I think disallowing Empower Spell might be a better solution. If you take a look at the Arcane Devotee, and War Wizard of Cormyr from the Forgotten Realms setting, you'll see that they give the ability to use a feat (enlarge spell for AD, widen spell for WWoC) multiple times per day. They don't have to prep it in advance, just decide to use it a number of times per day equal to 1+ their CHA bonus. Now the CHA bonus seemed quite arbitrary to me, so we wanted to go in a different direction. Also, unlike those two classes, we thought that the Noldorin Mage should be a little less strict.

Anyway, thanks for pointing this out. I don't power-game very much, so i don't think of these kinds of things Are there any other MM Feats that you see which could be a danger? Obviously Empower Spell has to be nixed..

 

[Technik4]

In 3.5 you cannot stack the same metamagic on top of itself (no double empowered).

Technik

 

[Bozidar]

In 3.5 you cannot stack the same metamagic on top of itself (no double empowered).

Technik

Thanks, Technik.. that's a good rule to adapt for 3.0 too, which is what my group and I play.

 

[Bozidar]

anyone else have any input?

thanks for the help given, and thanks in advance for any to come

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Did you really mean to not give a +1 spell level at level 8?

Other than that, I like the flavor a lot. But it does seem too powerful. I can't think of a single reason a wizard would not want to take this prestige class. That's a problem. There should be some trade off.

 

[Bozidar]

Did you really mean to not give a +1 spell level at level 8?

nope, an accident. Thanks

Other than that, I like the flavor a lot. But it does seem too powerful. I can't think of a single reason a wizard would not want to take this prestige class. That's a problem. There should be some trade off.

Well, obviously non-good and non-elf wizards wouldn't want to take this class, since they're prohibited. Did you have something in mind, or any thoughts for a trade off? I had suggested to my DM some kind of prohibition on necromancy, either a reduced spell level/dc thing, or just not let them learn any new spells in that school once they join. Let me know if you, or anyone, have any ideas.

Thanks again for the input!