Prerequisites:
Channel Energy 2d6
Must be able to cast 2nd level arcane spells
Selective Channeling, 2 meta magic feats from the following list (empower spell, widen spell, maximize spell, quicken spell, heighten spell)
Knowledge (Religion) 5 Ranks
Knowledge (Arcane) 5 Ranks
Spellcraft 5 ranks
Statistics:
BAB: Poor (d6 hd)
Good Save: Will
Skill Points: 2+Int Mod
Skills: All Knowledge Skills
Level -- Ability
1 -- +1d6 channel Energy
2 -- Meta Channel
3 -- +1d6 channel Energy
4 -- Bonus Feat (must be either a metamagic feat or channeling feat)
5 -- +1d6 channel energy
6 -- Spell channel
7 -- +1d6 channel energy
8 -- Bonus Feat (must be either a metamagic feat or channeling feat)
9 -- +1d6 channel energy
10 -- Insight of Nethys
Spells per Day: When a new arcane initiate of Nethys level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if she is a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an arcane initiate of Nethys, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Channel Energy: Arcane initiate of Nethys levels stack with cleric levels for the purposes of determining the DC of channel energy and any effects it might have. However the Arcane initiate of Nethys gains extra dice of channel energy at odd levels in the class instead of when a cleric would normally gain them.
Meta Channel: When channeling energy an arcane initiate of Nethys that is 2nd level or higher may choose to enhance the channel energy with a metamagic feat. Doing so requires sacrificing an arcane spell memorized or spell slot of equal level to the increase in spell level for the metamagic feat (i.e. 1st level spell for widen spell, 4th level spell for quicken spell). This ability can be used with alternate uses of channel energy gained through feats such as channel alignment or elemental channel.
Bonus Feat: This bonus feat must be choosen off the following list: Any metamagic feat, Extra channel energy, improved channeling, alignment channel, elemental channel, channel smite.
Spell Conduit: An arcane initiate of Nethys with at least 6 levels in this class can spend a channel energy use as a swift action while casting a spell. The targets of that spell are also affect by the arcane initiate of Nethys's channel energy. If a save throw is given by the channel energy then that save is made seperately for the channel energy attempt. Any affect that redirects the spell also redirects the channel energy, and if the spell fails for any reason (spell immunity, but not a successful save throw, or energy immunity) then the channel energy has no affect on that target either.
Insight of Nethys: An arcane initiate of Nethys of 10th level may choose to channel positive or negative energy each time they channel energy or use a class feature that involves the channel energy class feature.
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This is the rough draft. I would appreciate any opinions, ideas, or suggestions anyone has for this. If you want an explanation on anything just ask and I'll happily oblige.
:: Shameless bump for attention because I really do want some feed back ::
I actually kinda like this, though as a flavor thing I'd probably give up the last channeling improvement for a "critical channeling" or something in that neighborhood
I think that the prerequisites are a bit excessive for an arcane spellcaster that trades almost all other normal class benefits (bloodlines or school abilities) for channel energy and a few channel ability related abilities.
I would think this would be more appropriate. Reducing Channel Energy so that a 1st level would meet that requirement, removed most of the feats (since for a 5th level character three feats would be a heavy price for most to pay and that most of the metamagic feats listed aren't usable by the character going into the class), and drop some of the Knowledge (religion) cost to give some more ability to sorcerers to have unique skill choices (and bring it a bit closer to the Mystic Thuerge requirements).
Prerequisites:
Channel Energy 1d6
Must be able to cast 2nd level arcane spells
Selective Channeling
Knowledge (Religion) 2 Ranks
Knowledge (Arcana) 5 Ranks
Spellcraft 5 ranks
Blazej I think you have the wrong idea here. This class has more in common with the arcane trickster than mystic theurge, and both classes (arcane trickster and mystic theurge) cannot be taken before 7th level.
2nd divine and 2nd arcane means 3 levels in cleric (or druid) and 3 levels in wizard = 6 levels total.
2d6 sneak attack means 3 levels in rogue and 2nd level arcane means 3 levels in wizard = 6 levels total.
I see this as the earliest any character should be able to enter into the prestige class since that follows the designs that have already been presented to us in the final rules.
My class follows those ideas, though I do agree on the ranks, it was supposed to be 3 of each of the three skills.
Actually there are two reasons for the feat requirements: 1. It makes sense. The first ability you get is the ability to metamagic your channel energy, hence you should need a metamagic feat to give you some idea in character how you would do that. 2. Mystic Theurge exists. I did not want a character to be able to simply skip back and forth between these two classes without anything else separating them. If the feat requirements are removed then you could then take say 6 levels of Arcane initiate of Nethys, then 8 levels of mystic theurge, and have:
Wizard 3/ cleric 3/ Arcane Initiate 6/ Mystic Theurge 8 for 17th level arcane, 11th cleric, 9th channel energy and be able to apply that energy to your arcane spells. Do the feats prevent that? No, but it is something that must be reached for instead of a "no brainer" for an optimizer.
As for the critical channel ability:
I assume you mean something like the eldritch knights spell critical. While that might be a neat idea, it doesn't really follow what this class is. This is an arcane caster that worships Nethys and through that worship has found a means to channel energy. He is not a sword swinger, nor is he likely to critical in the first place. I feel that the ability to channel both negative and positive energy is a huge capstone in truth. No cleric can do it, and the arcane initiate can do that, then choose which energy to apply to which spell. He could fireball with a channel negative energy attached to hurt something, then cast haste with a positive energy attached to heal and help his friends.
I like it Abraham. I agree with the others that the requirements are a bit stiff, but keep the +2d6 Channeling.
I'd say Prerequisites:
Channel Energy 2d6
Must be able to cast 2nd level arcane spells
One Metamagic Feat
Knowledge (Religion) 2/5 Ranks
Knowledge (Arcana) 5 Ranks
Spellcraft 5/2 ranks
(I think the Religion 5, Spellcraft 2 fits better)
Also, Widen Spell costs +3 levels (your example lists a 1st level spell for it).
Interesting for a Pal4/Sorc4 to qualify for.
Also, Widen Spell costs +3 levels (your example lists a 1st level spell for it).
Interesting for a Pal4/Sorc4 to qualify for.
O.O that's a huge difference than 3.5 when it was just a +1 level difference... I want a when and why on this!
I noticed that too about the pal4/sorc4... I hadn't put in the deity requirements yet and not sure that I don't like the idea. In the end the requirement of having Nethys as your patron god will probably go in, however if it was dropped by someone using this class it wouldn't hurt my feelings.
Also, Widen Spell costs +3 levels (your example lists a 1st level spell for it).O.O that's a huge difference than 3.5 when it was just a +1 level difference... I want a when and why on this!
Well, I think you need to be looking back further, since my 3.5 PHB has Widen Spell as +3 spell levels as well.
Yeah don't know how I got where I did, but I've always thought that the widen spell was only 1 spell level. I still say someone changed reality on me...
Blazej I think you have the wrong idea here. This class has more in common with the arcane trickster than mystic theurge, and both classes (arcane trickster and mystic theurge) cannot be taken before 7th level.
2nd divine and 2nd arcane means 3 levels in cleric (or druid) and 3 levels in wizard = 6 levels total.
2d6 sneak attack means 3 levels in rogue and 2nd level arcane means 3 levels in wizard = 6 levels total.
I see this as the earliest any character should be able to enter into the prestige class since that follows the designs that have already been presented to us in the final rules.
I would suggest though, that improving channel energy isn't anywhere as good as improving sneak attack.
To me, a wizard trading their arcane school class abilities for channel energy and a few channel related abilities is about reasonable as far as power. Adding the cost of three cleric levels to that only seems excessive. Honestly, if they are taking those three cleric levels, they might as well ignore this prestige class and just go straight into Mystic Theurge as it grants more benefits at a lesser cost.
If you feel that 6th level should be a requirement for the class, I would suggest setting that up by changing one of the skill rank requirements to 6 instead of requiring 2d6 channel energy.
Actually there are two reasons for the feat requirements: 1. It makes sense. The first ability you get is the ability to metamagic your channel energy, hence you should need a metamagic feat to give you some idea in character how you would do that. 2. Mystic Theurge exists. I did not want a character to be able to simply skip back and forth between these two classes without anything else separating them. If the feat requirements are removed then you could then take say 6 levels of Arcane initiate of Nethys, then 8 levels of mystic theurge, and have:
Wizard 3/ cleric 3/ Arcane Initiate 6/ Mystic Theurge 8 for 17th level arcane, 11th cleric, 9th channel energy and be able to apply that energy to your arcane spells. Do the feats prevent that? No, but it is something that must be reached for instead of a "no brainer" for an optimizer.
But, on the other hand, (Even if you reduce the feat requirements to just Selective Channeling. Although after 16 levels I would imagine it would be reasonable at that point for the character to pick up those two metamagic feats) I would see the optimizer just going "Wizard 3 / Cleric 3 / Mystic Theurge 10" and have 13th level arcane, 13th level divine, and the Spell Synthesis power. Then they are just as likely to go into more levels of Cleric to improve their channeling (and even their other domain abilities), or levels in Wizard to gain a bonus feat and some additional benefits of the other school powers. To me, this prestige class is only a no brainer for a Mystic Theurge has run out of Mystic Theurge and is looking for other places to go, and then I can't seen them really caring about this prestige class still because all they really are the spells. Everything else is secondary. The only way you could make this a no brainer for the Mystic Theurge character was actually improve the spells of both casting classes, since you don't do that, I can't see the optimizer caring much about this class, they might take it, but it isn't an obvious choice to me.