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Somebody I know has expressed interest in playing a character that is capable of stealing other peoples' magic. I thought it was an interesting concept so I put this template together. Admittedly, it's pretty wacky and wouldn't really work in a typical game or group. That said, I think it's neat. Stole some bits from the Sandman Bard (ironically enough, haha). Considering adding something similar to vampiric withdrawals, as well.
Whether born in a region of wild or dead magic, or exposed to terrible arcane experiments, you've been made incredibly resistant to magic. Unfortunately, you've also acquired an addiction to magic and must feed upon its energies frequently.
Skills:
You gain Spellcraft as a class skill. Further, you gain a bonus on Spellcraft checks equal to 1/2 your character level (minimum +1).
Special Attacks:
Arcane Sight (Sp): You gain arcane sight as a constant spell-like ability. Your caster level for this effect is equal to your character level.
Mana Pool (Su): You can store magical energy which you can use to cast stolen spells. Your mana limit is equal to 1/2 your character level + your Constitution modifier. This pool does not refresh on its own. To regain mana, you must absorb magic or siphon it from a mana spring*.
- Absorb Magic: Whenever you resist a spell due to your spell resistance, you gain a number of mana points equal its spell level. You may not gain mana points in excess of the maximum value available to you in this way.
- Siphon Magic: As a full-round action, you can siphon mana from a mana spring* to regain 1 mana point. You may not gain mana points in excess of the maximum value available to you in this way.
- Steal Spell: You can steal spells from your foes and add them to his list of spells known. You can steal a prepared spell or a spell known from another creature with a touch attack as a standard action. The target receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 your level + your Constitution modifier) to negate the effect. You spell stolen is random, but it is always of the highest level that the target possesses which you are capable of casting. The target loses the prepared spell or spell known and you add it to your list of temporary spells known for up to 1 minute per character level, after which it reverts to the original recipient. While stolen, you may cast the spell by expending a number of points from your mana pool equal to the level of the spell. If you steal another spell while a spell is stolen, the previous spell immediately reverts to its original owner. The spell save DC of any spell you cast is determined by your Constitution modifier. At 1st level, you can cast 1st level spells with this ability. At 4th level and every two levels thereafter, you can cast spells one level higher (to a maximum of 9th level spells at 18th level).
Special Defenses:
Spell Resistance (Ex): You possess spell resistance (SR) equal to 11 + your character level. However, you are incapable of voluntarily lowering your spell resistance.
Weaknesses:
No Magic (Ex): You may never gain a level in a class which has the “spells” class feature.
* = A mana spring can be found in any place where particularly potent ley-lines converge, or where wild magic is present.
this is freakin sweet.
Thank ye kindly. You're free to make use of it all you like! Any suggestions / critiques?
not really though i think it should be a +1 cr for every five hit dice or something, as being able to steal and use 9th level spells is major awesome. i do like the mandatory SR, as it's both thematic and mechanically balancing
Wow.
You need to make more templates. This is awesome.
Decided to add the following:
Magic Addiction (Ex): You may safely go a number of days equal your character level without “feeding” on magic before you start to feel the effects of magic deprivation. Each additional day after this period, you must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level, + 1 for each previous check). If you fail this save, you enter withdrawal and become sickened until you “feed” again (you cannot avoid this condition even if you are otherwise immune to the sickened condition). Whenever you regain mana you are considered to have fed.
magic addiction makes this perfect.
I think this is a very interesting idea. The one question I have is whether he can steal a spell he couldn't cast. Example: at level six he can cast level three spells. If his party faces a level seven cleric or wizard with access to fourth level spells, could he steal one though he couldn't cast it?
No, he'd steal the highest level spell he is capable of casting which his target has prepared/known. In this case, that would be a 3rd level spell. He can't steal the wizard's 4th level spells because he isn't high enough level yet to cast those himself.