Throw the Spellbook at 'Em!

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

What harm could there be from reading a book? I think we all know the answer to that, but for those that prepare their spells, damaging your foes is just one of the many options available in Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology... And I'm going to pass on a few of these arcane secrets to you!

Illustration by Melvin Chan

Illustration by Kenneth Solis

Not all spellbooks are created equal—and I'm not talking about the handy waterproof or travel-sized versions. In Arcane Anthology, certain tomes will grant additional abilities when you prepare from them with the Ritualistic Preparation feat, like the formula book known as the Galtan Cookbook, which grants the blast finesse action for alchemists.

Oh yes, there are more options in here than just for wizards—pretty much every arcane spellcaster is going to want to grab the Arcane Anthology, for reasons such force sword, grand destiny, Last Azlanti's defending sword, and splinter spell resistance.

Force Sword

School evocation [force]; Level bloodrager 2, magus 2, occultist 2, psychic 2, sorcerer/wizard 2, spiritualist 2, witch 2

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S

Range 0 ft.

Effect one sword-shaped weapon of force

Duration 1 minute/level

Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

You create a +1 longsword of pure force sized appropriately for you that you can wield or give to another creature like any other longsword. At 8th level, the sword functions as a +2 longsword. At 13th level, it functions as a +3 longsword. A force sword cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it.

If a creature you attack with the sword has spell resistance, you must attempt a caster level check (1d20 + your caster level) against that spell resistance the first time the force sword strikes it. If you fail the check, the spell is dispelled. If you succeed, the weapon has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.

In the Age of Anguish, there was one spellcaster whose name has survived even to the current Age of Lost Omens: Jatembe. Angels, gods, demons, the Ten Magic Warriors—these are the stuff of legends, and now your spellcaster can use the same legendary magic themselves. Spells like celestial healing, Jatembe's ire (which supposedly eradicated the lost city of Ird), and a number of mask-based feats help capture the glory that Old-Mage carved out of those terrible times in Golarion's past.

While this volume is called Arcane Anthology, this is not solely devoted to students of the arcane. The eldritch scoundrel archetype for rogues, not to mention the Child of Acavna and Amaznen fighter archetype, are just some of the new content within—and it's shipping to your Friendly Local Gaming Store and subscribers now.

May you succeed on your next caster level check,

Liz Courts
Community Manager