While the wizards of the world devote years of study to categorizing, classifying, and separating spells from one another, the spellblender arcanist realizes the unity of magic, and how they can shape that power without diluting it through the prism of wizardly thought.
Shape Magic (Su): The spellblender arcanist can cast an arcanist spell they have prepared without expending a spell slot by instead spending a number of points from their arcane reservoir equal to 1 + twice the level of the spell slot. This increases the casting time as if they were applying a metamagic feat on the fly. This does not allow them to actually apply a metamagic feat on the fly. They cannot augment this spell with their arcane reservoir, metamagic feats, or other exploits such as metamixing.
This ability cannot be used to supply spell slots for archetype abilities such as spellblending or eldritch tapestry (see below).
When an arcanist with this ability uses the consume spells class feature, they gain only 1/2 the normal amount of reservoir points, rounded down (minimum 0). This does not affect the consume magic items exploit.
This ability alters the consume spells class feature and the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.
Spellblending (Su): Beginning at 5th level, a spellblender arcanist can cast an arcanist spell of any level he has access to of 2nd level or higher by spending 1 point from his arcane reservoir and two spell slots one level lower. For example, a 5th-level spellblender arcanist could cast mirror image by spending two 1st-level spell slots, reducing the number of 1st-level spells per day that he has remaining by 2 until he rests to regain spells. Doing so does not expend a 2nd level slot. This ability applies only to spell slots per day and has no effect on the number of spells the arcanist can prepare in a day. The arcanist chooses whether or not to apply this effect at the time of casting. Only spell slots of one level lower can be used with this ability; The arcanist cannot expend four slots two levels lower, eight slots three levels lower, or any other combination other than two slots one level lower. This ability has no effect on 1st-level spells or cantrips.
The arcanist must have prepared the spell in question to cast it with this ability.
This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 5th level.
Spellblending: Beginning at 11th level, a spellblender arcanist can cast an arcanist spell they have prepared as a 1st-level spell and an arcanist spell they have prepared as a 4th-level or lower spell as a single standard action by spending one 5th-level spell slot and 1 point from their arcane reservoir. Neither spell chosen can have a casting time longer than 1 standard action, nor can they have an expensive material or focus component. Both spells take effect in the order the caster chooses, as if the arcanist had cast them one after the other. Each of the chosen spells has its normal effect, including range, target, area, duration, saving throw, and spell resistance as appropriate to the spell's level. If the arcanist has the metamixing exploit, he can apply it to the spells cast with spellblending, but must expend points separately for each spell, and neither spell can exceed the maximum level allowed (1st and 4th).
Only the higher-level spellblended spell provokes attacks of opportunity. If it is interrupted, however, both spells fail.
At 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th level, the arcanist can choose to forgo the exploit they would gain as part of their class progression in order to increase the maximum allowed spell levels of their spellblending by 1 (such as casting a 2nd and 5th level spell by spending a 6th level slot). The Extra Arcanist Exploit feat does not allow them to select this option.
This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 11th level.
Eldritch Harmonics (Su): At 20th level, the arcanist can use spellblending and eldritch tapestry without spending points from their reservoir. Their shape magic ability now only costs 1 point per level of the spell to be duplicated.
This ability replaces magical supremacy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
So, I tried to balance this via an intricate series of mathematical interrelationships, and I'd like to know if anybody can think of a way to bust this.
Nobody?
Hmm. Seems like nobody.
You'd think someone would have dropped in, if only to scream "BROKEN!"
I'm not really a fan of archetypes that let you cheat spell slot economy. Being able to cast any 1-4th level spell as a standard action is kind of broken, in my opinion, even at the cost of a 5th level spell. That's even better than Quicken Spell. I want archetypes that will make playing the class more fun. This doesn't really make it fun and instead just gives more munchkin tools.
Being able to cast any 1-4th level spell as a standard action is kind of broken, in my opinion, even at the cost of a 5th level spell. That's even better than Quicken Spell.
I was going to explain how that's not what it does, but then I realized there was a typo. The final draft was supposed to have spellblending take 1 full round, just like a summon spell, until 20th level when it becomes a standard action.
When I read the title, I thought it would be either blending two spells on their spell list or blending the two types of magic, arcane and divine. Much like a Mystic Theurge archetype. Which sort of happened here. Not sure I like the first aspect of Spellblending. It's nice, but it needs something...