Ive been looking through the class and I really like it. I have a 2nd level 'zard (:p) and the Noctumancer looks like a really cool PrC as well that would be easily accesible with a few levels of Shadowcaster.
Im curious as to people's reactions to the class.
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I've always thought the class looks pretty cool. And can be worked into a campaign much more easily than a truenamer or binder.
One thing to keep in mind is to always see your paths through to the end as quickly as possible. You fall behind if you're not taking the highest level mysteries available to you.
Yes, I agree. And the class allows the player the ability to swap out previous caster levels for more caster levels in the shadowcaster class. When you take in to account the fact that the Shadowcaster cannot cast many area affect spells and only 1 9th level spell it seems to even out with a wizard or sorcerer.
Yes, I agree. And the class allows the player the ability to swap out previous caster levels for more caster levels in the shadowcaster class. When you take in to account the fact that the Shadowcaster cannot cast many area affect spells and only 1 9th level spell it seems to even out with a wizard or sorcerer.
Well my wife is playing one in our STAP game. She is currently only 2nd level so it's hard to tell. So far it seems to play like a very focused wizard. She seems to like it and it adds another stealthy character to the game. Much like a Sorcerer, mystery choices are very critical based on player prefeence and group need. The group doesn't have a full wizard so we'll see how well a Shadowcaster can cover that. Although they do have a Spelltheif as well so it looks like they will work together to cover the spellcasting, scout, sneaky rolls.
I did the math once, and if I remember correcntly, a shadowcaster can always at least equal, if not surpass a wizard in actual spells per day. The only weakness I see in the class is a lack of enough damaging spells at low level, and lack of non-spell means to make up for it. However, this can be circumvented in a number of ways. As shadowcasters can wear light armor pretty well, and can sneak around decently, taking Weapon Finesse may not be a bad idea. This is particularly good if you plan on multiclassing with Rogue.
Alternately, you can just stick to crossbows. Shadowcasters can make scrolls and wands of their mysteries, so you can take the appropriate feats and use those to offset the small number of castings per day.
I've also thought of expanding their skill list to include Use Magic Device, as it seems to fit and I think might give them that little extra punch of versatility they might currently lack.
By the mid levels, you've shucked the problem of not having enough spells per day. Especially if you take the mysteries that allow you to suck up enemy spells and sling your own back.
If you want damage, Killing Shadows and Umbral Touch come fast enough and are extremely good abilities. Prison of Night and Tomb of Night are just scary spells, no two ways around it!
Alternately, the Shadowcaster gets a lot of spells that make them excellent scouts and spies, right from 1st level on through to the upper levels.
I've only actually seen the class played at 2nd level (I also had a 9th level vampire shadowcaster NPC planned for the party once, but they didn't ever get to him). However, I've done some examining of them, and from what I've seen, I love the class. The only hesitation I have towards them at all is the aforementioned seeming lack of potent abilities at the lowest levels, but I'm not sure that it's something that really needs tinkering as much as it is that the shadowcaster simply has to act more like a rogue at those levels and then move into being more properly "mage-like" when they've got the spells/day to back that type of behavior up.
Hey, thanks for the information, Saern. Could you enlighten me as to where you found the information on scribing scrolls from mysteries? I was just thinking that would be a great ability to have but I couldnt find it.
If Steve Greer allows it Im going to go for the Noctumancer PrC since Im already a 2nd level wizard.
It's right there in the Tome of Magic's chapter on Shadow Magic, under the magic items. You have to root around for it on the page, though. It's not clearly headlined at all. But it is there.