Kerrick
First Post
Well, since no one seems inclined to post anything, I might as well get the ball rolling. 
This is the new version of the wizard I want to use for Project Phoenix. I'm posting this one because I'm missing one or two abilities and was hoping for some ideas. I've posted the monk and the sorcerer in the House Rules forum in the past few months, and they've gotten really good reviews. The wizard didn't change nearly as much as those two (they were completely overhauled), but I still think it's a lot more interesting to play now.
Basically, all the base abilities (saves, BAB, bonus feats, spells) are the same; they get 4 + Int skill points now. at 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, they get an ability related to their specialization (school); generalists also get generic abilities.
Cantrips (Sp): Wizards can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, and can cast these spells at will as a spell-like ability.
Arcane Training: At 1st and 2nd levels, wizards undergo advanced training; those who wish to specialize (specialists) focus more on their chosen school, while those who don't (arcanists) broaden their knowledge of arcane magic as a whole.
At 1st level, the wizard can choose either of the following:
Preferred School (Ex): The wizard chooses a school of magic. She gets a +2 bonus to Spellcraft checks related to magic and spells from this school, and gets 1 extra spell (from the chosen school) per spell level that she can cast to scribe into her spellbook. She must also choose the school(s) of spells that her specialization will cause him to neglect.
Expanded Knowledge (Ex): The wizard gains a +2 bonus to Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft checks.
At 2nd level, the wizard can choose either of the following:
Specialty School (Ex): The specialist wizard can prepare and cast one extra 1st level spell each day from the preferred school selected at 1st level.
Cantrip Expertise (Ex): The wizard can prepare a number of cantrips equal to 1/2 her Int modifier without referring to a spellbook (as if she had take the Spell Mastery feat).
School Ability: At 3rd level, the wizard must choose to fully specialize in her preferred school, or give up those abilities in favor of becoming an arcanist (likewise, an arcanist can choose to become a specialist). In either case, the wizard loses the abilities gained from her former path and gains those from her new path. Once this choice is made, it is permanent.
At 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, the wizard gains additional abilities related to her specialization (or lack thereof).
School Specialization
A school is one of eight groupings of spells, each defined by a common theme. If desired, a wizard can specialize in one school of magic (see below). Specialization allows a wizard to cast extra spells from her chosen school, but she then never learns to cast spells from some other schools.
A specialist wizard gains additional abilities at 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, as noted below. She also gains a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks to learn the spells of her chosen school. She must choose whether to specialize and, if she does so, choose her specialty at 1st level.
At this time, she must also give up two other schools of magic (unless she specializes in Divination; see below), which become her prohibited schools. She cannot give up Divination as a prohibited school. Spells of the prohibited school(s) are not available, and she can’t even cast such spells from scrolls or fire them from wands. She cannot change either her specialization or her prohibited schools later.
The eight schools of arcane magic are Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation.
Spells that do not fall into any of these schools are called universal spells.
Abjuration
[sblock]Spells that protect, block, or banish. An Abjuration specialist is called an abjurer. Abjurers gain proficiency with light armor and have the following abilties.
Resistance to Energy (Su): Once per day at 3rd level, an abjurer can create a mystical shield that grants herself or any one creature that she touches resistance 5 + half her class level against a chosen energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic). Activating this ability is a standard action. Once activated, the protection lasts for 1 hour. This protection overlaps the effects of spells such as resist energy.
Spontaneous Dispelling (Ex): At 8th level, an abjurer can sacrifice a prepared spell of 3rd level or higher to spontaneously cast dispel magic. She can use this ability in conjunction with a readied action to use dispel magic (or greater dispel magic or disjunction; see below) as a counterspell.
At 13th level, she can sacrifice a prepared spell or 6th level or higher to spontaneously cast greater dispel magic.
At 18th level, she can sacrifice a prepared spell or 9th level or higher to spontaneously cast disjunction.
Aura of Protection (Ex): Once per day at 13th level, an abjurer can generate a protective aura around herself or another creature that she touches that shields against both physical and magical attacks. It grants deflection bonus to her Armor Class and a resistance bonus on all saves equal to her Intelligence modifier (this overlaps similar bonuses from other sources). This ability requires a standard action to activate; once activated, the aura lasts for 1 minute or until the abjurer dismisses it, whichever comes first. She gains an additional use every 3 class levels after 13th.
Mastery of Counterspelling: At 18th level, when the wizard counterspells a spell, it is turned back upon the caster as if it were fully affected by a spell turning spell. If the spell cannot be affected by spell turning, then it is merely countered.[/sblock]
Conjuration
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Spells that bring creatures or materials to the caster. A Conjuration specialist is called a conjurer. Conjurers gain Diplomacy and Intimidate as class skills and a +2 bonus to Knowledge (the planes) checks, and have the following abilities.
Spontaneous Summoning (Ex): At 3rd level, a conjurers can sacrifice a prepared spell to cast any summon monster spell of a lower level. For example, a conjurer who has prepared greater invisibility (a 4th-level spell) can sacrifice that spell to cast summon monster I, II, or III.
Note: Since conjurers obviously summon monsters frequently, the DM should
require the player to prepare simple record sheets ahead of time for each monster that the character commonly summons. It is also important to emphasize speedy play on the part of the conjurer and his summoned monsters.
Enhanced Summoning (Ex): At 8th level, the conjurer's summoned creatures become harder to dispel – they gain a +2 bonus to the DC against caster level checks. At 18th level, this increases to +4.
Rapid Summoning (Ex): At 13th level, the casting time for conjurers using any summon monster spell is reduced to 1 standard action, rather than 1 round. (Creatures so summoned can only take a standard action in the round they are summoned.) The conjurer gains the normal benefits from quickening such a spell.
Multiple Summoning (Ex): At 18th level, a conjurer can call one extra creature when casting a summon monster spell.[/sblock]
Divination
[sblock] Spells that reveal information. A Divination specialist is called a diviner. Unlike the other specialists, a diviner must give up only one other school. Diviners gain Gather Information, Perception, and Search as class skills and have the following abilities.
Enhanced Awareness (Ex): At 3rd level, a diviner needs to study an item for only 1 round (rather than 1 minute) when casting identify.
An arcane eye cast by the diviner travels at 20 feet per round when studying its surroundings (rather than 10 feet per round).
Enhanced Divination (Ex): A diviner can cast divination rituals more quickly than normal – the casting time is halved.
All-Seeing Eye (Ex): At 13th level, a diviner's proficiency with scrying is such that she can use any smooth, reflective surface to scry with, as long as she has sufficient light to see. She can also hear the subject and its surroundings (anything that is not immediately visible, like another person outside of the sensor's sight, requires a DC 15 Perception check to hear it), and her area of view is doubled if the target makes its save (she can view a 20-foot radius).
Foresight (Ex): At 18th level, a diviner can view the lines of probability a few seconds into the future. This grants her a +2 insight bonus to Armor Class and attack rolls, but only against opponents she can see. This bonus applies even if she is flat-footed.[/sblock]
Enchantment
[sblock]Spells that imbue the recipient with some property or grant the caster power over another being. An Enchantment specialist is called an enchanter. Enchanters gain Bluff, Diplomacy, and Gather Information as class skills and have the following abilities.
Extended Enchantment (Su): At 3rd level, Enchanters can ensnare the minds of others more easily with their magic, and as a result their Enchantment spells last longer than those cast by other spellcasters. Once per day per point of her Int bonus, an enchanter can cast an Enchantment modified by the Extend Spell feat without a level adjustment. This ability cannot be used to extend a spell with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent.
Cohort (Ex): Any time after reaching 8th level, the enchanter gains the service of a loyal cohort of the player's choice (with the DM's approval). The cohort is a 4th-level character (or a creature up to ECL 4) when first gained; after that point, follow the normal rules described in the Leadership feat to determine the cohort's level, but treat the enchanter's level as being two lower than normal.
The enchanter doesn't gain any followers from this ability. If she selects the Leadership feat, she attracts followers as normal, the penalty to her effective level is eliminated, and she automatically qualifies for the "special power" modifier to her Leadership score.
Empowered Enchantment (Ex): At 13th level, an Enchanter's ability with charm and compulsion spells is unparalleled. Charm effects increase the target's attitude by three steps instead of two, and the save made when given self-destructive commands (as with dominate person) receives no bonus.
Charm the Masses (Ex): At 18th level, the number of targets an enchanter can have under her influence at any given time via the charm and dominate spells is increased to 1 per point of her Int bonus.[/sblock]
Evocation
[sblock]Spells that manipulate energy or create something from nothing. An Evocation specialist is called an evoker. Evokers gain a +2 bonus to caster level checks to counter evocation spells.
Energy Affinity (Ex): At 3rd level an evoker can choose an energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic), which cannot be changed afterward. Any time she casts an Evocation spell with the chosen energy type, her caster level is 1 higher for purposes of range, duration, damage, caster level checks, and any other relevant factors. She also gains resistance 5 to that energy type, which stacks with resistances gained from other sources.
Mastery of Elements (Ex): At 8th level, an evoker can substitute energy of one type for another. When casting a spell that has an energy descriptor (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic), she can change the energy descriptor and the spell's effects to energy of a different type. Using this ability is a free action that must be declared before the spell is cast. She can use this ability once per day per point of her Int bonus.
Overcome Resistance (Ex): At 13th level, an evoker's energy spells can ignore some or all of a target's energy resistance. Using this ability is a free action that must be announced before the evoker casts the spell to be affected. Every creature affected by the spell is treated as if its resistance to the spell's energy type were 10 points lower, to a minimum of 0. (This lowered resistance applies only to this spell; other effects with the same energy descriptor must get through the creature's normal resistance.) If the creature does not have resistance to that energy type, it is unaffected by this ability.
The evoker can use this ability once per day per point of her Int bonus.
Increased Damage Cap (Ex): At 18th level, an evoker's energy spells deal more damage; the damage cap for all such spells is increased by 5 dice (so a fireball deals a maximum of 15d6 instead of 10d6).[/sblock]
Illusion
[sblock]Spells that alter perception or create false images. An Illusion specialist is called an illusionist. Illusionists gain Bluff and Stealth as class skills and have the following abilities.
Illusion Affinity (Ex): An illusionist can recognize an illusion for what it is – he gains a +4 bonus to Will saves to disbelieve illusions. If the spell doesn't allow a save, he gets one with no bonus.
Chains of Disbelief (Ex): Even if a viewer disbelieves an illusion created by an illusionist and communicates the details of the illusion to other creatures, those others do not receive the normal +4 bonus on their saves to disbelieve it. Furthermore, even when presented with incontrovertible proof that the illusion isn't real, creatures must still succeed on a Will save to see objects or creatures that the illusion obscures, though they get a +10 bonus on the save.
Shadow Shaper (Ex): At 13th level, an illusionist has a special bond with the Plane of Shadow. All spells of the Shadow subschool gain a +10% increase in the amount of shadow essence infusing them. This increases to 20% at 13th level and 30% at 18th level.
Illusion Mastery (Ex): At 18th level, the illusionist treats all illusion spells he learns as if he had mastered them with the Spell Mastery feat.[/sblock]
Necromancy
[sblock]Spells that manipulate, create, or destroy life or life force. A Necromancy specialist is called a necromancer. Necromancers have a +4 competence bonus to all Knowledge checks regarding the undead, can command or rebuke undead as a cleric of equal level, and gain the following abilities.
Skeletal Minion: At 3rd level, a necromancer can create an undead minion (the default is a human skeleton, but she can have other creatures, with the DM's approval). Obtaining this minion takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. This minion takes the place of her normal familiar.
This creature is a loyal servant that follows the necromancer's commands and accompanies her on adventures if desired. If the skeletal minion is destroyed, the necromancer suffers no ill effects and can replace it by performing a ceremony identical to the one that allowed her to obtain her first servant.
At 3rd level, the skeleton is completely typical, but it gains power as the necromancer gains levels. It has a number of Hit Dice equal to the necromancer's class level. Add half her class level to the skeleton's natural armor bonus and one-third of her class level to the skeleton's Strength and Dexterity scores.
Enhanced Undead (Ex): At 8th level, undead created by the necromancer via animate dead, create undead, or create greater undead are more powerful. They gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength and Dexterity and 2 additional hit points per Hit Die. This ability does not affect the number or Hit Dice of animated creatures that the necromancer can create or control.
Undead Affinity (Ex): At 13th level, a necromancer can walk among undead without harm, as if she were one of them. Mindless undead will ignore her unless attacked first or ordered to do so by another creature controlling them.
Master of the Dead (Ex): At 18th level, the number of undead the necromancer can create or control is increased to 3 HD/level for creation and 6 HD/level for control. This increase stacks with any increases gained from prestige classes or other abilities – for example, if a class ability doubled the number of HD of undead she could create/control.[/sblock]
Transmutation
[sblock]Spells that transform the recipient physically or change its properties in a more subtle way. A transmutation specialist is called a transmuter. Transmuters gain Bluff and Disguise as class skills and have the following abilities.
Enhance Attribute (Su): At 3rd level, a transmuter can add a +2 enhancement bonus to any one of her ability scores as a standard action. This bonus lasts for a number of minutes equal to her class level. She can use this ability once per day per point of her Int modifier.
At 13th level, she automatically adds +2 to the bonus granted by any of the "animal buff" spells – bull's strength, cat's grace, etc.
Mastery of Shaping (Ex): At 8th level, the transmuter can alter area effect spells that use one of the following shapes: burst, cone, cylinder, emanation, or spread. The alteration consists of creating spaces within the spell’s area or effect that are not subject to the spell. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a 5-foot cube. Furthermore, any shapeable spells have a minimum dimension of 5 feet instead of 10 feet.
Change Shape (Su): At 13th level, a transmuter can change her shape, as the spell polymorph, as a standard action. This lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to her class level. The time spent in another form need not be all at once – she could change for 5 rounds once, then another 3 later, for example. Any form she takes cannot have a CR greater than her class level.
Transmutable Memory (Ex): At 18th level, a transmuter can alter some of her prepared spells in a short amount of time. Once per day, the transmuter can give up a number of prepared spell levels (up to a total equal to half her class level) and prepare different spells in their place, as long as the number of newly prepared spell levels is equal to or less than the number of spell levels given up (0-level spells don't count).
For example, a 12th-level transmuter can lose two 1st-level spells and two 2nd-level spells from memory (a total of six spell levels, half her class level) and prepare two 3rd-level spells.
Using this ability requires a number of minutes of concentration equal to the number of spell levels given up. If the transmuter's concentration is broken during this time, all spells to be lost are gone and no spells are gained in their place.[/sblock]
Universal
Not a school, but a category for spells that all wizards can learn. A wizard cannot select Universal as a specialty or prohibited school. Only a limited number of spells fall into this category.
Generalist Wizards
Wizards who choose not to specialize are called Generalists; they can choose any three skills as class skills and gain the following abilities.
Versatile Arcanist I (Ex): The Arcanist can cast any one 1st level spell she has prepared one additional time per day (that is, she prepares the spell once, but can cast it twice before losing it from her memory).
Versatile Arcanist II (Ex): At 8th level, the Arcanist can cast any two extra 1st or 2nd level spells per day, as per Versatile Arcanist I, and can cast one extra 3rd or 4th level spell per day, selected from any prepared 3rd or 4th level spell.
Versatile Arcanist III (Ex): At 13th level, the arcanist can cast one extra 5th or 6th level spell per day from her prepared spells, as per Versatile Arcanist I.
Versatile Arcanist III (Ex): At 18th level, the arcanist can cast two extra spells from 1st to 4th level, and one extra spell from 7th to 9th level, per day from her prepared spells, as per Versatile Arcanist I.
This is the new version of the wizard I want to use for Project Phoenix. I'm posting this one because I'm missing one or two abilities and was hoping for some ideas. I've posted the monk and the sorcerer in the House Rules forum in the past few months, and they've gotten really good reviews. The wizard didn't change nearly as much as those two (they were completely overhauled), but I still think it's a lot more interesting to play now.
Basically, all the base abilities (saves, BAB, bonus feats, spells) are the same; they get 4 + Int skill points now. at 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, they get an ability related to their specialization (school); generalists also get generic abilities.
Cantrips (Sp): Wizards can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, and can cast these spells at will as a spell-like ability.
Arcane Training: At 1st and 2nd levels, wizards undergo advanced training; those who wish to specialize (specialists) focus more on their chosen school, while those who don't (arcanists) broaden their knowledge of arcane magic as a whole.
At 1st level, the wizard can choose either of the following:
Preferred School (Ex): The wizard chooses a school of magic. She gets a +2 bonus to Spellcraft checks related to magic and spells from this school, and gets 1 extra spell (from the chosen school) per spell level that she can cast to scribe into her spellbook. She must also choose the school(s) of spells that her specialization will cause him to neglect.
Expanded Knowledge (Ex): The wizard gains a +2 bonus to Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft checks.
At 2nd level, the wizard can choose either of the following:
Specialty School (Ex): The specialist wizard can prepare and cast one extra 1st level spell each day from the preferred school selected at 1st level.
Cantrip Expertise (Ex): The wizard can prepare a number of cantrips equal to 1/2 her Int modifier without referring to a spellbook (as if she had take the Spell Mastery feat).
School Ability: At 3rd level, the wizard must choose to fully specialize in her preferred school, or give up those abilities in favor of becoming an arcanist (likewise, an arcanist can choose to become a specialist). In either case, the wizard loses the abilities gained from her former path and gains those from her new path. Once this choice is made, it is permanent.
At 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, the wizard gains additional abilities related to her specialization (or lack thereof).
School Specialization
A school is one of eight groupings of spells, each defined by a common theme. If desired, a wizard can specialize in one school of magic (see below). Specialization allows a wizard to cast extra spells from her chosen school, but she then never learns to cast spells from some other schools.
A specialist wizard gains additional abilities at 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 18th levels, as noted below. She also gains a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks to learn the spells of her chosen school. She must choose whether to specialize and, if she does so, choose her specialty at 1st level.
At this time, she must also give up two other schools of magic (unless she specializes in Divination; see below), which become her prohibited schools. She cannot give up Divination as a prohibited school. Spells of the prohibited school(s) are not available, and she can’t even cast such spells from scrolls or fire them from wands. She cannot change either her specialization or her prohibited schools later.
The eight schools of arcane magic are Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation.
Spells that do not fall into any of these schools are called universal spells.
Abjuration
[sblock]Spells that protect, block, or banish. An Abjuration specialist is called an abjurer. Abjurers gain proficiency with light armor and have the following abilties.
Resistance to Energy (Su): Once per day at 3rd level, an abjurer can create a mystical shield that grants herself or any one creature that she touches resistance 5 + half her class level against a chosen energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic). Activating this ability is a standard action. Once activated, the protection lasts for 1 hour. This protection overlaps the effects of spells such as resist energy.
Spontaneous Dispelling (Ex): At 8th level, an abjurer can sacrifice a prepared spell of 3rd level or higher to spontaneously cast dispel magic. She can use this ability in conjunction with a readied action to use dispel magic (or greater dispel magic or disjunction; see below) as a counterspell.
At 13th level, she can sacrifice a prepared spell or 6th level or higher to spontaneously cast greater dispel magic.
At 18th level, she can sacrifice a prepared spell or 9th level or higher to spontaneously cast disjunction.
Aura of Protection (Ex): Once per day at 13th level, an abjurer can generate a protective aura around herself or another creature that she touches that shields against both physical and magical attacks. It grants deflection bonus to her Armor Class and a resistance bonus on all saves equal to her Intelligence modifier (this overlaps similar bonuses from other sources). This ability requires a standard action to activate; once activated, the aura lasts for 1 minute or until the abjurer dismisses it, whichever comes first. She gains an additional use every 3 class levels after 13th.
Mastery of Counterspelling: At 18th level, when the wizard counterspells a spell, it is turned back upon the caster as if it were fully affected by a spell turning spell. If the spell cannot be affected by spell turning, then it is merely countered.[/sblock]
Conjuration
[sblock]
Spells that bring creatures or materials to the caster. A Conjuration specialist is called a conjurer. Conjurers gain Diplomacy and Intimidate as class skills and a +2 bonus to Knowledge (the planes) checks, and have the following abilities.
Spontaneous Summoning (Ex): At 3rd level, a conjurers can sacrifice a prepared spell to cast any summon monster spell of a lower level. For example, a conjurer who has prepared greater invisibility (a 4th-level spell) can sacrifice that spell to cast summon monster I, II, or III.
Note: Since conjurers obviously summon monsters frequently, the DM should
require the player to prepare simple record sheets ahead of time for each monster that the character commonly summons. It is also important to emphasize speedy play on the part of the conjurer and his summoned monsters.
Enhanced Summoning (Ex): At 8th level, the conjurer's summoned creatures become harder to dispel – they gain a +2 bonus to the DC against caster level checks. At 18th level, this increases to +4.
Rapid Summoning (Ex): At 13th level, the casting time for conjurers using any summon monster spell is reduced to 1 standard action, rather than 1 round. (Creatures so summoned can only take a standard action in the round they are summoned.) The conjurer gains the normal benefits from quickening such a spell.
Multiple Summoning (Ex): At 18th level, a conjurer can call one extra creature when casting a summon monster spell.[/sblock]
Divination
[sblock] Spells that reveal information. A Divination specialist is called a diviner. Unlike the other specialists, a diviner must give up only one other school. Diviners gain Gather Information, Perception, and Search as class skills and have the following abilities.
Enhanced Awareness (Ex): At 3rd level, a diviner needs to study an item for only 1 round (rather than 1 minute) when casting identify.
An arcane eye cast by the diviner travels at 20 feet per round when studying its surroundings (rather than 10 feet per round).
Enhanced Divination (Ex): A diviner can cast divination rituals more quickly than normal – the casting time is halved.
All-Seeing Eye (Ex): At 13th level, a diviner's proficiency with scrying is such that she can use any smooth, reflective surface to scry with, as long as she has sufficient light to see. She can also hear the subject and its surroundings (anything that is not immediately visible, like another person outside of the sensor's sight, requires a DC 15 Perception check to hear it), and her area of view is doubled if the target makes its save (she can view a 20-foot radius).
Foresight (Ex): At 18th level, a diviner can view the lines of probability a few seconds into the future. This grants her a +2 insight bonus to Armor Class and attack rolls, but only against opponents she can see. This bonus applies even if she is flat-footed.[/sblock]
Enchantment
[sblock]Spells that imbue the recipient with some property or grant the caster power over another being. An Enchantment specialist is called an enchanter. Enchanters gain Bluff, Diplomacy, and Gather Information as class skills and have the following abilities.
Extended Enchantment (Su): At 3rd level, Enchanters can ensnare the minds of others more easily with their magic, and as a result their Enchantment spells last longer than those cast by other spellcasters. Once per day per point of her Int bonus, an enchanter can cast an Enchantment modified by the Extend Spell feat without a level adjustment. This ability cannot be used to extend a spell with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent.
Cohort (Ex): Any time after reaching 8th level, the enchanter gains the service of a loyal cohort of the player's choice (with the DM's approval). The cohort is a 4th-level character (or a creature up to ECL 4) when first gained; after that point, follow the normal rules described in the Leadership feat to determine the cohort's level, but treat the enchanter's level as being two lower than normal.
The enchanter doesn't gain any followers from this ability. If she selects the Leadership feat, she attracts followers as normal, the penalty to her effective level is eliminated, and she automatically qualifies for the "special power" modifier to her Leadership score.
Empowered Enchantment (Ex): At 13th level, an Enchanter's ability with charm and compulsion spells is unparalleled. Charm effects increase the target's attitude by three steps instead of two, and the save made when given self-destructive commands (as with dominate person) receives no bonus.
Charm the Masses (Ex): At 18th level, the number of targets an enchanter can have under her influence at any given time via the charm and dominate spells is increased to 1 per point of her Int bonus.[/sblock]
Evocation
[sblock]Spells that manipulate energy or create something from nothing. An Evocation specialist is called an evoker. Evokers gain a +2 bonus to caster level checks to counter evocation spells.
Energy Affinity (Ex): At 3rd level an evoker can choose an energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic), which cannot be changed afterward. Any time she casts an Evocation spell with the chosen energy type, her caster level is 1 higher for purposes of range, duration, damage, caster level checks, and any other relevant factors. She also gains resistance 5 to that energy type, which stacks with resistances gained from other sources.
Mastery of Elements (Ex): At 8th level, an evoker can substitute energy of one type for another. When casting a spell that has an energy descriptor (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic), she can change the energy descriptor and the spell's effects to energy of a different type. Using this ability is a free action that must be declared before the spell is cast. She can use this ability once per day per point of her Int bonus.
Overcome Resistance (Ex): At 13th level, an evoker's energy spells can ignore some or all of a target's energy resistance. Using this ability is a free action that must be announced before the evoker casts the spell to be affected. Every creature affected by the spell is treated as if its resistance to the spell's energy type were 10 points lower, to a minimum of 0. (This lowered resistance applies only to this spell; other effects with the same energy descriptor must get through the creature's normal resistance.) If the creature does not have resistance to that energy type, it is unaffected by this ability.
The evoker can use this ability once per day per point of her Int bonus.
Increased Damage Cap (Ex): At 18th level, an evoker's energy spells deal more damage; the damage cap for all such spells is increased by 5 dice (so a fireball deals a maximum of 15d6 instead of 10d6).[/sblock]
Illusion
[sblock]Spells that alter perception or create false images. An Illusion specialist is called an illusionist. Illusionists gain Bluff and Stealth as class skills and have the following abilities.
Illusion Affinity (Ex): An illusionist can recognize an illusion for what it is – he gains a +4 bonus to Will saves to disbelieve illusions. If the spell doesn't allow a save, he gets one with no bonus.
Chains of Disbelief (Ex): Even if a viewer disbelieves an illusion created by an illusionist and communicates the details of the illusion to other creatures, those others do not receive the normal +4 bonus on their saves to disbelieve it. Furthermore, even when presented with incontrovertible proof that the illusion isn't real, creatures must still succeed on a Will save to see objects or creatures that the illusion obscures, though they get a +10 bonus on the save.
Shadow Shaper (Ex): At 13th level, an illusionist has a special bond with the Plane of Shadow. All spells of the Shadow subschool gain a +10% increase in the amount of shadow essence infusing them. This increases to 20% at 13th level and 30% at 18th level.
Illusion Mastery (Ex): At 18th level, the illusionist treats all illusion spells he learns as if he had mastered them with the Spell Mastery feat.[/sblock]
Necromancy
[sblock]Spells that manipulate, create, or destroy life or life force. A Necromancy specialist is called a necromancer. Necromancers have a +4 competence bonus to all Knowledge checks regarding the undead, can command or rebuke undead as a cleric of equal level, and gain the following abilities.
Skeletal Minion: At 3rd level, a necromancer can create an undead minion (the default is a human skeleton, but she can have other creatures, with the DM's approval). Obtaining this minion takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. This minion takes the place of her normal familiar.
This creature is a loyal servant that follows the necromancer's commands and accompanies her on adventures if desired. If the skeletal minion is destroyed, the necromancer suffers no ill effects and can replace it by performing a ceremony identical to the one that allowed her to obtain her first servant.
At 3rd level, the skeleton is completely typical, but it gains power as the necromancer gains levels. It has a number of Hit Dice equal to the necromancer's class level. Add half her class level to the skeleton's natural armor bonus and one-third of her class level to the skeleton's Strength and Dexterity scores.
Enhanced Undead (Ex): At 8th level, undead created by the necromancer via animate dead, create undead, or create greater undead are more powerful. They gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength and Dexterity and 2 additional hit points per Hit Die. This ability does not affect the number or Hit Dice of animated creatures that the necromancer can create or control.
Undead Affinity (Ex): At 13th level, a necromancer can walk among undead without harm, as if she were one of them. Mindless undead will ignore her unless attacked first or ordered to do so by another creature controlling them.
Master of the Dead (Ex): At 18th level, the number of undead the necromancer can create or control is increased to 3 HD/level for creation and 6 HD/level for control. This increase stacks with any increases gained from prestige classes or other abilities – for example, if a class ability doubled the number of HD of undead she could create/control.[/sblock]
Transmutation
[sblock]Spells that transform the recipient physically or change its properties in a more subtle way. A transmutation specialist is called a transmuter. Transmuters gain Bluff and Disguise as class skills and have the following abilities.
Enhance Attribute (Su): At 3rd level, a transmuter can add a +2 enhancement bonus to any one of her ability scores as a standard action. This bonus lasts for a number of minutes equal to her class level. She can use this ability once per day per point of her Int modifier.
At 13th level, she automatically adds +2 to the bonus granted by any of the "animal buff" spells – bull's strength, cat's grace, etc.
Mastery of Shaping (Ex): At 8th level, the transmuter can alter area effect spells that use one of the following shapes: burst, cone, cylinder, emanation, or spread. The alteration consists of creating spaces within the spell’s area or effect that are not subject to the spell. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a 5-foot cube. Furthermore, any shapeable spells have a minimum dimension of 5 feet instead of 10 feet.
Change Shape (Su): At 13th level, a transmuter can change her shape, as the spell polymorph, as a standard action. This lasts for a number of rounds per day equal to her class level. The time spent in another form need not be all at once – she could change for 5 rounds once, then another 3 later, for example. Any form she takes cannot have a CR greater than her class level.
Transmutable Memory (Ex): At 18th level, a transmuter can alter some of her prepared spells in a short amount of time. Once per day, the transmuter can give up a number of prepared spell levels (up to a total equal to half her class level) and prepare different spells in their place, as long as the number of newly prepared spell levels is equal to or less than the number of spell levels given up (0-level spells don't count).
For example, a 12th-level transmuter can lose two 1st-level spells and two 2nd-level spells from memory (a total of six spell levels, half her class level) and prepare two 3rd-level spells.
Using this ability requires a number of minutes of concentration equal to the number of spell levels given up. If the transmuter's concentration is broken during this time, all spells to be lost are gone and no spells are gained in their place.[/sblock]
Universal
Not a school, but a category for spells that all wizards can learn. A wizard cannot select Universal as a specialty or prohibited school. Only a limited number of spells fall into this category.
Generalist Wizards
Wizards who choose not to specialize are called Generalists; they can choose any three skills as class skills and gain the following abilities.
Versatile Arcanist I (Ex): The Arcanist can cast any one 1st level spell she has prepared one additional time per day (that is, she prepares the spell once, but can cast it twice before losing it from her memory).
Versatile Arcanist II (Ex): At 8th level, the Arcanist can cast any two extra 1st or 2nd level spells per day, as per Versatile Arcanist I, and can cast one extra 3rd or 4th level spell per day, selected from any prepared 3rd or 4th level spell.
Versatile Arcanist III (Ex): At 13th level, the arcanist can cast one extra 5th or 6th level spell per day from her prepared spells, as per Versatile Arcanist I.
Versatile Arcanist III (Ex): At 18th level, the arcanist can cast two extra spells from 1st to 4th level, and one extra spell from 7th to 9th level, per day from her prepared spells, as per Versatile Arcanist I.
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Arcanist sounds like a good name for generalists.
Like I said, considering they had nothing to begin with, adding anything would be beefing them up. I think they're on a par with wizards now.
