Yeah, I had a hard time deciding on how to rate it, and only picked a color after much waffling. It's great when you need it, but only a subset of foes have spellcasting levels. If the ability allowed you to counter SLAs as well, I would be all over that.
It can become anything from somewhat useful to pretty useful at higher levels, where you have tools to help you overcome your more limited spells per day, and where creatures with innate spellcasting become more common.
Since it's only situationally useful (whereas EVERY spell can benefit at least a tiny amount from a boost to either its caster level or its save DC), the counterspelling exploit can't be blue. But it isn't red by any stretch of the imagination. Whether it's orange or green is really a matter of your DM's table expectations.
In a campaign revolving around dragons, rakshasas, or cults of divine spellcasters? By all means pick it up. In a campaign about stemming the tide of an invasion of giants? Not so much. (Although I suppose the final encounter in Rise of the Runelords would be hilariously anticlimactic if the party arcane caster were a counterspelling arcanist.)
That's what the counterspell version of dispel magic is for. It gives you a chance to stop another spell of higher than 3rd level, but with no guarantee.
Counterspelling works on a principle essentially equivalent to Newton's Third Law: equal and opposite reaction.
If the wizard 9/bloatmage 4 is throwing 7 spell level's worth of necromancy magic at you, you need to provide 7 levels of magic tailored to oppose it in order to cancel it out.
Otherwise, there's a chance the effect might still get through.
And if counterspelling only required an AOO, casters of all stripes would be forced to run through their spells per day very very quickly, as counterspelling would become too easy, and everyone would do it.
Counterspelling would become the D&D equivalent of the Blue Shell from Mario Kart.
Dispel Magic is indeed a very nice spell, but it can only be used when you can use a full spell, as in, on your turn or by standing around waiting and hoping you actually get to use it, thus it is useless for anything you didn't see well ahead of time (as far as counterspelling anyway).
Newton's third law is only needed if you need to completely cancel out all the energy to nothing, but really all that is needed to disrupt a spell energy so it can't form properly (thus a Dispel can affect higher spells, but what about at lower levels before dispel can be learned?).
Besides, nothing wrong with easy counterspelling, after all spells per day are limited, thus it becomes a tactical choice of countering a spell or saving resources to use later, which has always been the point of limiting spells per day anyway (use the spell energy now, later), otherwise, without that choice between using your resources now or later, what would be the point in not allowing a wizard to cast their spells at will? So where is the "forcing" coming from?
So long as a an option has limited use but with many more opportunities then uses, there will be an element of strategy about when and how to use said option. This is why 15-min workday is an issue, it makes uses vs opportunities more equal.
Are there any rules on unlettered and blade adept? Blade adept makes your black blade a familiar like thing.. and prevents any familiars from any ohter way.
So could you use a black blade as your familiar to commune with for spells?
(i'm in a home game so I was gonna sk my gm anyway, and he likely won't mind).
because witch spell list combined with spellstrike and say eldritch knight can make a debuff version of a magus. Witch has some really really amusing touch attacks that cause various fun effects.
I would recommend against that, because the only touch spells the witch gets that the arcanist doesn't are frostbite (1st level spell that deals nonlethal damage and fatigue, but can't make a target exhausted), poison (4th level, 1d3 Con per round for 6 rounds, Fort negates, SR negates, Fort each turn to prevent damage for that round and end spell early), and slay living (6th level, SR negates, ~57 damage on failed Fort save, ~26 damage on successful Fort save).
While spell strike with slay living may sound awesome, remember that you don't get it until character level 14, by which point the spell's terrible scaling (it's designed to be good when the cleric gets it at level 9, but be garbage by the time finger of death and destruction come on line) and the fact that it's a level higher make it almost not worth it. Spending a 6th-level slot for 50-60 damage with a save to reduce by over half is a bad trade.
And while any sane DM would allow you to use your black blade as a familiar for purposes of storing spells, the rules as written do not permit it. You could theoretically take both archetypes, but you would have nothing in which to store your spells, and thus could not prepare spells.
Besides, nothing wrong with easy counterspelling, after all spells per day are limited, thus it becomes a tactical choice of countering a spell or saving resources to use later, which has always been the point of limiting spells per day anyway (use the spell energy now, later), otherwise, without that choice between using your resources now or later, what would be the point in not allowing a wizard to cast their spells at will? So where is the "forcing" coming from?
So long as a an option has limited use but with many more opportunities then uses, there will be an element of strategy about when and how to use...
The problem with easy counterspells is just...well what if as a GM you want to have a big bad lich be the final boss? And you aren't planning on having a pile of extra super strong minions all over?
If the party caster can easily counter everything the lich does then the boss is not at all a threat. One guy stands around and counters, everyone else pounds on him.
If you want this, you've already lost. Single bosses don't work because of the action economy.
I don't even need counter spells. A barbarian will do just fine; just ready an action to hit the lich mid-spell. The lich fails his concentration check due to 30+ points of damage. So easy counterspelling doesn't make much difference. A wand of magic missile can do the same thing.
Personally, if I were trying to make that encounter work, I'd rule that since the lich can't feel pain he doesn't need to make concentration checks when damaged, so the barbarian would need to grapple or trip him or get rid of his pouch to stop him.
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main issue i have with counterspelling: for an arcanist, you're hard-pressed to have a high enough slot to counter whatever big guns people are throwing at you due to sorcerer spell advancement (which is why i said it might be pretty cool for an exploiter wizard)
However, it seems unwise to discount the exploits because they can't stop the Big Bad Evil Guy's Ultimate Spell of Doom.
Actually, it can. The problem is that it's very rare that the enemy is a caster with the same caster level as you, the same highest-level spell slot as you, and something like a DC 35 save-or-lose. In that case, yes, it is quite useful.
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main issue i have with counterspelling: for an arcanist, you're hard-pressed to have a high enough slot to counter whatever big guns people are throwing at you due to sorcerer spell advancement (which is why i said it might be pretty cool for an exploiter wizard)
Here is probably the best thing for counterspelling, and it is not even an exploit
Just look at the rules for dueling here and see how great it is
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You may want to add the following exploits to your guide, as there are some real gems here:
Altered Shifting (Su): When the arcanist is under the effect of a spell of the polymorph subschool that she cast, she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to change to another valid form allowed by the spell. This reduces the spell’s caster level by 1, which can take the spell’s caster level below the minimum caster level necessary to cast the spell, and reduces the spell’s duration if applicable. The arcanist must have the Lepidstadt shifter exploit to select this exploit.
First-World Face Thief (Su): The arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to assume an illusory disguise as disguise self. If she expends 2 points from her arcane reservoir instead of 1, the duration of the effect increases to 10 minutes per level.
First-World Illusion Catcher (Su): The arcanist gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against illusions. If the arcanist successfully disbelieves an illusion, she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to try to negate or steal control of the illusion. The arcanist attempts a caster level check as if she were dispelling the effect with dispel magic. If she succeeds, she can either end the effect or alter it as if she were the spell’s caster. If the spell’s duration is concentration, the arcanist must concentrate on the new effect or it ends. The arcanist must have the first-world face thief exploit to select this exploit.
Lepidstadt Shifter (Su): The arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to cast a spell while under the effects of a polymorph spell. This ability works like Natural Spell, except the arcanist uses the ability to cast while under the effects of a spell instead of wild shape.
Nidalese Shadow Veil (Su): By expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, an arcanist can pull a veil of shadows around her, making her more difficult to spot and strike. The arcanist gains concealment (20% miss chance) and a +5 bonus on Stealth checks. This effect lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + the arcanist’s Charisma bonus.
Sonic Blast (Su): The arcanist can loose a deafening blast of sonic energy by expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir and succeeding at a ranged touch attack against any one target within 30 feet. The blast deals an amount of sonic damage equal to 1d6 + the arcanist’s Charisma modifier, plus an additional 1d6 points of sonic damage for every 2 levels beyond 1st (to a maximum of 10d6 at 19th level). The target is also deafened for 1 minute. The target can attempt a Fortitude save to halve the damage and negate the deafness.
Third Eye (Su): The arcanist can open her eye of the Arclord one additional time each day by expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir. She can gain more uses, but each subsequent use costs 1 additional point from her reservoir (2 points for the second additional use, 3 points for the third use, and so on). The arcanist must have the Eye of the Arclord feat (Pathfinder Campaign Setting: The Inner Sea World Guide 286) to select this exploit.
I'm particularly fond of Lepidstat Shifter. Now if only they would make Shapeshifting Mastery a non-mythic option.
Notes on School Understanding:
Foresight school's Prescience ability doesn't need to scale, it's broken-good already.
Life School's Share Essence is fairly good without using a point from your pool.
Universalist's Hand of the apprentice is crap at all levels... unless you happen to be a blade adept arcanist with spell strike, at which point it becomes a way of delivering touch spells at range. Not fantastic, but a lot better than for everyone else.
Also suggesting that Arcane Weapon becomes better if you're a Blade Adept.
Of course, the flaw with the last two is that you have to be a Blade Adept, which isn't exactly a great archetype. :(
Has anyone seen any builds that seem viable for simulating the blockbuster wizard but with using an Arcanist? I have tried different builds using School Savant and I find myself lacking feats as if I had just gone Crossblooded Sorcerer.
I tried one build with a dip in to Crossblooded Sorcerer as well as one that was pure School Savant once I realized the delay to level 7 before getting 3rd level spells seemed harsh.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **...
two things, 1 your school savant can't pick up school understanding.
2. I suggest you go normal arcanist and just grab school understanding admixture. that way it uses up 1 exploit instead of 3.| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
Actually, I posted an arcanist build for blasting that I thought was pretty good. It was deleted because the build name was a portmanteau of "arcanist" and the name of a certain organization known for blowing things up whose name also starts with "a."
Potent Magic is better than Spell Specialization because it can be used with ANY blast spell for a +2 caster level, rather than just burning hands (and later fireball). But in a dedicated blaster build, you will want to have both, since they stack.
And you want school savant for the Intense Spells power.
With caster level boosts, spell penetration feats are not necessary.
Human School Savant (evocation [admixture])
Traits: Wayang Spellhunter (fireball), magical lineage (fireball)
Level (caster level for main blast, caster level for main blast spending reservoir point):
1 (3, 4): Spell Specialization (burning hands), Spell Focus (evocation)
2 (4, 5):
3 (5, 6): Intensify Spell (yes, I know you'll need to wait a level, but it's still worth getting now)
4 (6, 7):
5 (7, 9): metamagic knowledge (Empower Spell), Extra Exploit (potent magic)
6 (8, 10): swap (burning hands) for (fireball) as your spell specialization spell
7 (10, 12): Varisian Tattoo (evocation)
8 (11, 13):
9 (12, 14): Dazing Spell, quick study
10 (13, 15):
11 (14, 16): Extra Exploit (metamixing), greater metamagic knowledge
12: (15, 17):
13 (16, 18): any exploit you want, any feat you want
(..................if your DM permits retraining, retrain Extra Exploit (metamixing) for another feat you want and learn metamixing as your 13th-level exploit.
...................Potential feat choices: Greater Spell Focus (evocation), Selective Spell, Persistent Spell, Quicken Spell)
14 (17, 19):
15 (18, 20): any exploit you want, Spell Perfection (fireball)
16-20: It doesn't really matter what you do here, since you can change your spells and one of your metamagic feats each day, and your metamagic fireballs no longer require you to spend one of your higher-level spell slots or spells known.
..............................................
At level 6, you can immediately start casting Empowered fireballs that are already at the 10d6 damage cap, and you add 1/2 your arcanist level to damage, for effectively 15d6+3 damage.
At level 7, you no longer need to spend reservoir points to hit the caster level damage cap and can instead use it to boost the DC (or boost the caster level if you *really* need to overcome some tough SR, though with a caster level 3 higher than normal I can't see this coming into play that often).
At level 8, you can prepare Empowered Intensified fireball (18d6+4) in your 4th-level slot and free up a 3rd-level slot for haste or fly or whatever.
At 10th level, your Empowered Intensified fireballs now do 20d6+5 damage. You can prepare Dazing Intensified fireball in a 5th level slot, and you now have quick study in case you need to teleport that day.
At 11th level, you gain greater metamagic knowledge, allowing you to pick between Quicken Spell, Selective Spell, or Persistent Spell for a given day, and now that you have more metamagic feats available it makes sense to pick up metamixing.
At 12th level, you are now at the damage cap for Intensified fireballs even without spending points, and so you can use metamixing without worrying about running out of points to boost your damage.
Instead, you can use metamixing and greater metamagic knowledge to pick between Quickened Intensified, Dazing Empowered, or Persistent Intensified Empowered, and still leave your 6th-level slot open for something like tar pool or summon monster VI.
From now on you can pick exploits however you please. At 13th level, pick up Greater Spell Focus (evocation) [or, if your DM is completely asleep at the wheel, Ascendant Spell], and at 15th level pick up Spell Perfection (fireball).
With Spell Perfection (fireball), you can now cast what are effectively up to 11th-level spells out of a 3rd-level slot. With a lesser Quicken metamagic rod, that becomes 15th-level spells out of a 3rd-level slot up to 3 times per day.
Could this just be a case where a Wizard or Sorcerer would be better for the role of an Evoking Wizard?
Nope. Potent Magic is that good.
The whole point of the blockbuster wizard is to both be good at blasting and to have *versatility.* Stacking two bloodlines for +2 damage per die with one elemental damage type is the opposite of that.
And if you dump Charisma like you're supposed to, School Understanding (admixture) is only usable once per day.
And an arcanist has a one-up on the admixture wizard in the versatility department: in addition to being able to switch out his energy damage type on a whim, the arcanist can also change metamagic feats on the fly and doesn't need to guess ahead of time exactly how many fireballs he needs to prepare.
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Could this just be a case where a Wizard or Sorcerer would be better for the role of an Evoking Wizard?Nope. Potent Magic is that good.
The whole point of the blockbuster wizard is to both be good at blasting and to have *versatility.* Stacking two bloodlines for +2 damage per die with one elemental damage type is the opposite of that.
And if you dump Charisma like you're supposed to, School Understanding (admixture) is only usable once per day.
And an arcanist has a one-up on the admixture wizard in the versatility department: in addition to being able to switch out his energy damage type on a whim, the arcanist can also change metamagic feats on the fly and doesn't need to guess ahead of time exactly how many fireballs he needs to prepare.
(emphasis mine) unless you're a wordcaster.
(emphasis mine) unless you're a wordcaster.Could this just be a case where a Wizard or Sorcerer would be better for the role of an Evoking Wizard?Nope. Potent Magic is that good.
The whole point of the blockbuster wizard is to both be good at blasting and to have *versatility.* Stacking two bloodlines for +2 damage per die with one elemental damage type is the opposite of that.
And if you dump Charisma like you're supposed to, School Understanding (admixture) is only usable once per day.
And an arcanist has a one-up on the admixture wizard in the versatility department: in addition to being able to switch out his energy damage type on a whim, the arcanist can also change metamagic feats on the fly and doesn't need to guess ahead of time exactly how many fireballs he needs to prepare.
Wow Thelemic_Noun thanks so much for the writeup and sample build! I think I was getting away from the blasting roots by trying to fit in Dimensional Step and School Understanding(Void). While those things are good, they made the overall build weaker.
@AndIMustMask - Wordcasting looks really strong. I think my DM might be a hard sell on a lot of that though.
compared to stopping time and creating new universes on a whim, it's hardly strong compared to standard wizard casting.
it IS, however, quite flexible. the main issue is if the player and GM dont both have a little sit-down to go over how wordcasting works and the GM-in-question's stance on certain effects/rule wordings (in particular: being able to double-dip spell focus bonuses by stacking school descriptors, spell lengths when combining extended and instantaneous spells, etc.) then there's gonna be a lot of holdup at the table.
if that talk DOES happen, then you'll find that wordcasting (particularly on the sorcerer or arcanist chassis) is a fluid and fun style, and makes blasting actually viable for once.
(also its the most stable way to be a minion-mancer--the undeath word is component-less for the necromancer crowd, and the servitor spells are all standard actions)
...
Dimensional Slide allows an Arcanist (or exploiter wizard) to move in, land a touch spell and then Slide away without provoking. It's not used only to get away to safety, it can be used to attack and then get away to safety.
How do you move both in and out in one round with this?
"Dimensional Slide (Su): The arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to create a dimensional crack that she can step through to reach another location. This ability is used as part of a move action or withdraw action, allowing her to move up to 10 feet per arcanist level to any location she can see. This counts as 5 feet of movement. She can only use this ability once per round. She does not provoke attacks of opportunity when moving in this way, but any other movement she attempts as part of her move action provokes as normal."
...
Dimensional Slide allows an Arcanist (or exploiter wizard) to move in, land a touch spell and then Slide away without provoking. It's not used only to get away to safety, it can be used to attack and then get away to safety.
How do you move both in and out in one round with this?
"Dimensional Slide (Su): The arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to create a dimensional crack that she can step through to reach another location. This ability is used as part of a move action or withdraw action, allowing her to move up to 10 feet per arcanist level to any location she can see. This counts as 5 feet of movement. She can only use this ability once per round. She does not provoke attacks of opportunity when moving in this way, but any other movement she attempts as part of her move action provokes as normal."
I'd suggest it might work with spring attack, but that's a long feat tree to pick up a touch spell trick. Better off with: Lunging spell (+5 foot reach for touch spells), Aberrant Bloodline (3rd level ability gives you reach for spells. Combine with the above for 15 foot reach by 3rd level, and up to 25 foot reach by 17th level. Those are long arms!), Reach spell metamagic (touch spell becomes close range touch for +1 level), a familiar with some buffs (to go around touching people for you) or even just cast Spectral Hand. My point is... is... is...
Did I even have a point?
Hmm won't let me add this to my previous post.
Do you think Wayang Spellhunter is good enough to warrant a feat for additional traits? My DM is requiring that we all take at least one trait from the Campaign setting for S&S. It would mean slowing feat progression though and subsequently MM access, but it seems really worthwhile to have along with magical lineage.
Yeah, Wayang Spellhunter is indeed that good. If I took Extra Traits, I'd pair it with Clever Wordplay (Use Magic Device), which does the same thing as Pragmatic Activator without taking up your magic trait slot.
I'd pick up Extra Traits at 3rd level, and rely on rods for Intensified Spell, since you're not always going to be hitting the damage cap until almost halfway through the game, and sometimes it makes more mathematical sense to reduce their chance of halving all damage by 10% than eking out 7 more points of damage.
In such a case, swap Varisian Tattoo for Intensified Spell, and don't bother picking up Varisian Tattoo, because by the time you get another feat, you'll be at the damage cap and it'll be far more useful to pick up Dazing Spell or Persistent Spell.
So I've received Advanced Class Origins in the mail and have had a chance to look it over.
I added the new exploits to the guide, as well as a writeup on the Twilight Sage, which I will copy-paste here (it's green, by the way):
.
Twilight Sage
While it does smack a little bit of “ew, evil, icky, gross,” this is actually a pretty nice archetype.
You’ll want a slightly higher Charisma than with other archetypes, since you’ll probably be dealing with undead more often and it helps for your command undead spell to let you actually convince ghouls and wights to bugger off and stop attacking the other party members.
Because of your higher Charisma, the Twilight Barrier becomes pretty good for the low levels where it is needed most.
But the awesome things about this archetype are consume life and twilight transfer. You may want to play an elf for their favored class bonus, since it has an immediate payoff with consume life, whereas normal elf arcanists have to wait for Scribe Scroll and Consume Magic Items.
For twilight transfer, make sure you also have the Dimensional Slide exploit to get to the fallen ally immediately. This makes for an excellent panic button for if the cleric goes down. If things are truly desperate, Dimensional Slide to the fallen party member as a move action, activate getaway as a swift action, and use twilight transfer as a standard action, using the captive mastodon your hirelings pump full of drow poison and oil of taggit when you go adventuring to power the healing.
Also, if you make sure to deal nonlethal damage, you can simply use this ability to dispose of unconscious enemies and heal a teammate of 5d8 + your caster level of hit points with each reservoir point spent. They don’t even get a save as they would with a coup de grace, and since most paladins don’t have ranks in Spellcraft or Knowledge (arcana), they will have no idea what you’re doing and there will be no drama unless your DM decides to create it.
Consume life is rather useful, if a bit front-loaded. At first glance it may scream Evil with a capital “E,” but keep in mind that until level five you can power this ability with common livestock (level 7 if you can find a reliable source of aurochs).
And you can always get at least 1 point out of an elephant even at level 20, though you will go through those elephants pretty damn quick.
For maximum cheese, find as many items as you can that bestow temporary negative levels so long as you are wearing them and keep them in a bag of holding for when you need to fill ‘er up (or borrow something from the paladin or divine caster if they have something to use). This strategy may even allow you to get some use out of “evil only” magic items harvested from BBEGs that you couldn’t otherwise use but are too dangerous or disturbing to sell. Also possible is casting sharesister via UMD or having the cleric place it in a ring of spell knowledge IV (yes, I looked over the item, and it doesn’t actually state that the spell you teach it has to be arcane. However, since sharesister is also a witch spell, your DM might let it fly). Temporary negative levels extend the mileage you can get out of livestock, because they reduce your Hit Dice (and thus character level) for the purpose of the consume life calculation.
Since grease is a conjuration spell, yes, you'll be getting some mileage out of both of those feats from day 1. Other conjuration spells that benefit from a save boost are glitterdust, stinking cloud, web, and a crapton of others.
And since your summons will last an entire fight starting at day one, then yes, giving all of them the advanced template is worth it, especially since the celestial and fiendish creatures also get smite powers.
Since the Augment Summoning gives them a bonus to Con as well as Str, even things like lantern archons benefit, due to increased staying power.
So yes, the feats are worth it, especially since you get summon monster access at the wizard rate rather than the sorcerer rate.
I am taking Reactionary and Pragmatic Activator to shore up my lack of CHA.
Technically, Clever Wordplay (which is a social trait) can be used to turn one Charisma skill into an Int skill, so it can be taken instead of pragmatic activator and still have room for a magic trait.
Of course, unless you're taking Additional Traits, the difference is academic since your second trait will be Reactionary.
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giving all of them the advanced template is worth it
@_@??? How do you give normal summon monsters creatures the advanced template???
I thought only the, Animal Shamans, Druid archetypes have the ability to give their specific animals type summons, via summon nature's ally, the advanced, young and giant templates?
The Augment Summoning feat only gives a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength and Constitution right? While something like the advanced template, actually gives +4 to all ability scores (except Int scores of 2 or less) and +2 natural armor?
You can combine/get both Augment Summoning and advanced templates on summon monsters spells creatures?! Want to do that! *Drools...
Don't forget, you can "hold the charge" for a touch spell unless specified otherwise (the only ones I know of that prohibit this are a few utility spells where you touch multiple creatures, which all must be touched in the same round) allowing to cast a touch spell on one round and then use it on another round.
Granted, you can't cast another spell while holding a charge, but you can make an unarmed attack the next round with the touch spell attached, or use items or other things.
giving all of them the advanced template is worth it@_@??? How do you give normal summon monsters creatures the advanced template???
I thought only the, Animal Shamans, Druid archetypes have the ability to give their specific animals type summons, via summon nature's ally, the advanced, young and giant templates?
The Augment Summoning feat only gives a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength and Constitution right? While something like the advanced template, actually gives +4 to all ability scores (except Int scores of 2 or less) and +2 natural armor?
You can combine/get both Augment Summoning and advanced templates on summon monsters spells creatures?! Want to do that! *Drools...
It doesn't actually give them the advanced template, but the difference is minimal at lower levels where everything dies so quickly, and at higher levels Evolved Summoned Monster can add more abilities, like that +2 natural armor.
Has anyone seen any builds that seem viable for simulating the blockbuster wizard but with using an Arcanist? I have tried different builds using School Savant and I find myself lacking feats as if I had just gone Crossblooded Sorcerer.
I tried one build with a dip in to Crossblooded Sorcerer as well as one that was pure School Savant once I realized the delay to level 7 before getting 3rd level spells seemed harsh.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **...
I just built an Arcanist for PFS and I was also going to dip into Sorcerer[Cross-blooded],
but it does seem like a long wait for 3rds.I also wanted Spell Penetration before I remembered that as a free action--if needed--I can increase my CL.
Used with Potent Magic that is a +4 at will to your CL.
Better than 2 feats!
Go Arcanist!
So euh, which item does the Arcanist use to replenish his spellslots, Pearls of Power or Runestones of Power?
Regardless, these seem like a big candidate to (re)fuel his Arcane Reservoir in a cost efficient and long term way, especially if you're making them yourself (taking 1 day each).
Seems rather amazing to fuel the Occultist's Summon Monster ability which tops at 9 points per casting, so per 9 consumption of one of these items you'll be gaining an effective 9th level slot and at 4500/9000gp a pop this seems rather overpowering since you'll be able to do it daily...
Of note is that the Consume Spells feature only works with Arcanist spell slots and as such you just can't dip a casting class with the soul purpose of draining those slots each day.
I guess we'll have to wait for a FAQ on the issue but i'm quite sure this won't fly in it's anticipated form...
In any event, Spell Perfection is pretty good on an Elven Arcanist (doubles modifiers to 1 spell) and the requirements are easier to meet due to the Metamagic Knowledge exploit saving you feats. (no Spell perfection is a general feat and not metamagic :()
So euh, which item does the Arcanist use to replenish his spellslots, Pearls of Power or Runestones of Power?
Pearls of power should be able to be used by Arcanists. They should replenish the spell slot. Here is my reasoning.
First forget prepared or spontaneous. Arcanists are a mix of the two.
Arcanists prepare their spells. When casting their spells, they expend a spell slot of that level.
The pearl, once per day, enables the possessor to recall any spell that was prepared and cast that day. That spell is then prepared again, **just as if it had not been cast**.
The spell has been prepared so the pearl can have an effect. The effect of the spell not having been cast is that the spell slot would still be available. So, the spell slot would still be available upon use of the pearl of power.
That is rules as written. I do believe the rules as intended would imply this as well.
Arcanists prepare spells but use a resource, just like spontaneous casters, to actually cast it. The verbiage above (particularly the bit in bold) simply doesn't fit. Also you might have to consider strange things like using a pearl of power to recall a spell after you've used quick study to swap it out.
Traditionally, this rune is one of many runes for magic, but more recently created runestones of power often substitute runes from other cultures—the nature of the rune itself has no effect on the runestone’s actual powers. These objects are potent aids to all spellcasters who cast spells spontaneously (bards, inquisitors, oracles, sorcerers, and summoners, but not to spellcasters like clerics who have the option to spontaneously cast certain spells).
Once per day, a spontaneous caster can draw upon a runestone of power to cast a spell—doing so is part of the spellcasting action, and expends that runestone’s power for the day rather than one of the spellcaster’s actual spell slots for the day. An expended runestone of power recharges its capacity after 24 hours. The spell must be of a particular level, depending on the runestone.
On the other hand the runestone of power fits nicely.
Funny how two people can use the same sentence as reasoning for two opposite conclusions. How much you want to bet we will never see this particular item explained by any game designer or posted in a faq? All we need is for some writer to slip up and include one item or another on an NPC arcanist in some pathfinder adventure and the precedent will be set.
Well one person sees preparation as separate from casting slots, while the other sees them as the same thing.
This is why they have different opinions. The sentence focuses on preparation, if prep and slot are one, then you regain a slot, if prep and slot are separate, then you don't regain a slot.
The item was created when preparation casters always prepped slots, and the rule was written with that assumption in mind. Now however, that assumption has become false. Design intention no longer applies. Designers thus need to determine how the item should fit into the new prep/slot frameworks.
Edited for clarity.
You can trade spells into summons on a 1-to-1 basis, i.e. summon monster V in exchange for a 5th-level slot.
Is there something other than actions preventing arcanist from consuming nine level 1 slots to gain 9 arcane reservoir points and cast SMIX with them?