Grand Magus
The grand magus combines the versatility of the wizard with the firepower of the sorcerer.
Requirements:
Knowledge arcana 7 ranks
Spellcraft 7 ranks
Ability to prepare 2nd level arcane spells
Ability to spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells
Any meta-magic feat
Scribe Scroll
Class Features:
BAB: +½
Good Saves: Will
Hit Dice: 1d6
Class Skills: Craft, Knowledge arcana, Profession, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Int modifier
LEVEL ABILITY
1. Arcane Preparation, Caster Level, Spellbook, Spell Level (3rd), Spontaneous Casting,
2. Spell Power +1
3. Spell Level (4th)
4. Arcane Focus +1
5. Spell Level (5th)
6. Spell Power +2
7. Spell Level (6th)
8. Improved Arcane Focus
9. Spell Level (7th)
10. Spell Power +3
11. Spell Level (8th)
12. Greater Arcane Focus
13. Grand Magic, Spell Level (9th)
Arcane Preparation. Each day, the grand magus can prepare a number of spells at each spell level equal to his Intelligence bonus (minimum 1). These spells must be chosen from the spells in his spell book. The grand magus must have an Intelligence score of 10 + the spell level to prepare a spell of that level. The grand magus can choose to prepare a spell altered by one or more meta-magic feats; the spell is then prepared at the higher level spell slot and does not have an increased casting time when cast.
Caster Level. The grand magus adds his class level to his highest arcane caster level when determining the caster level of his arcane spells.
Spellbook. The grand magus adds 2 spells to his spell book for each level he gains in this class.
Spell Level. At 1st level, the grand magus gains the ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells from the sorcerer/wizard list of spells. At 3rd level, and every odd level thereafter, the maximum spell level the grand magus can cast increases by 1.
Spontaneous Casting. Each day, the grand magus can cast a number of spells from each spell level he has attained equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum 1). These spells must be chosen from the ones prepared by the grand magus for the day. The grand magus must have a Charisma score of 10 + the spell level to cast a spell of that level. The Save DC, if any, of a grand magus is 10 + the spell level + his Charisma bonus. The grand magus can choose to apply a meta-magic feat to a spell at the time of casting; this increases the casting time of the spell accordingly.
Spell Power (Ex). At levels 2, 6, and 10, the grand magus increases his arcane caster level by +1. This increase in caster level cannot exceed the grand magus’s character level.
Arcane Focus. At 4th level, the Save DC of the grand magus’s arcane spells increases by +1
Improved Arcane Focus. At 8th level, the grand magus adds ½ his Intelligence bonus to the Save DC of his arcane spells. This ability replaces the grand magus’s Arcane Focus ability.
Greater Arcane Focus. At 12th level, the grand magus adds his Intelligence bonus to the Save DC of his arcane spells. This ability replaces the grand magus’s Improved Arcane Focus ability.
Grand Magic. Once per day at 13th level, the grand magus can apply a single meta-magic feat to a spell without increasing the spell slot the altered spell uses.
You do realise that the rank requirement means that the class can't be entered before 8th level and the character will be epic before she can finish it?
It's designed to be a wizard 3/sorcerer 4/grand magus 13.....that's 20 levels.
LOL ...
The name makes me think of the Grand Nagus from Star Trek Deep Space Nine!
Maybe the metamagic feat required should be Enlarge Ears!
I really like the concept. I like the idea of a person who studies magic and has to memorize spells at first, but then after a while he can cast spells without need of preparation. Do the "Arcane Preparation" and Spontaneous Casting" abilities replace normal casting abilities or would a Grand Magus with an 18 Int and 18 Chr be able to cast 16 level 1 spells and 12 level 2 spells?
I really like the concept. I like the idea of a person who studies magic and has to memorize spells at first, but then after a while he can cast spells without need of preparation. Do the "Arcane Preparation" and Spontaneous Casting" abilities replace normal casting abilities or would a Grand Magus with an 18 Int and 18 Chr be able to cast 16 level 1 spells and 12 level 2 spells?
I'm not sure. There is a 2 or 3 level wait for 9th level spells (actually a 2 or 3 level wait for each level above 3rd level spells), so it might be worth it to get some extra low-level casting.
I'm also not sure I'm being clear with my Arcane Preparation and Spontaneous Casting class features. Basically, the Arcane Magus prepares a number of spells each level equal to his Int bonus, and then can spontaneously cast those spells as if they were his known sorcerer spells. Basically, the sorcerer spells he knows can change day by day when he prepares spells.
Level 7 and 8 will be horrible for this character. You'll only have 2nd level spells for too long.
I'd suggest changing requirements to 3 levels spontanous arcanist, 3 levels preparing arcanist. Also makes it easier for bard/wizards (the masters of knowledge!)
Level 7 and 8 will be horrible for this character. You'll only have 2nd level spells for too long.
I'd suggest changing requirements to 3 levels spontanous arcanist, 3 levels preparing arcanist. Also makes it easier for bard/wizards (the masters of knowledge!)
They actually get 3rd level spells at character level 8. And as it stands right now, bard 4/wizard 3 and sorcerer 4/wizard 3 both qualify at the same time.
Granted, character levels 5, 6, and 7 will suck, as they'll only have 2nd level spells, with lower than average caster levels, than a single classed arcanist, which is why it's an unusual build and requires a PrC to make such a concept tenable. They're always going to have a delay on when they get access to higher level spells, but the way this PrC was designed, when they do get access to those higher level spells, they will have more versatility and spells per day, so hopefully that makes the wait worth it.