I'm attempting to homebrew a feat to grant usable Cantrips for a character concept that it makes sense to have them, but doesn't.
For Context: I'm building a Variant, Demon-free Warlock that is a representation of an internal well of Arcane energy. Part of his backstory is that he was taken in as an apprentice by an Elven Wizard, but couldn't handle the more esoteric complexities of the craft, since everything for him is instinctual and just calling up effects from the aether. He uses this, with a few exceptions, to shoot magic lasers.
This is what I came up with:
Failed Student
You were inducted into a Magical Academy, Tradition, or Apprenticeship at a young age, but turned out to have little talent for the rote lessons and memorization. You did manage to remember a few of the simpler tricks though.
Prerequisite:
Caster Level of 1+, Does not normally have access to level-0 spells
Benefit:
Select (from 1 to 3, depending on GM's choice) Cantrips or Orisons (level-0 spells), you may cast these spells using your Caster Class's mechanics. (For Instance, a Warlock would cast them as Invocations, using his Charisma score as his casting ability score.) This Feat can only be taken once.
Is this too much?
Leaving your feat partially undefined with "(from 1 to 3, depending on GM's choice)" would lead to discomfort for both player and GM. Pick a number. Failed Student has a tougher prerequisite than Arcane Talent, so it should be stronger than Arcane Talent. On the other hand, it would be strange for it to grant more cantrips than Extra Cantrips or Orisons, so you should limit it to two cantrips at most.
Arcane Talent
Magic is in your blood, and at your fingertips.
Prerequisites: Cha 10; elf, half-elf, or gnome.
Benefit: Choose a 0-level spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. You can cast this spell three times per day as a spell-like ability. The caster level is equal to your character level. The save DC is 10 + your Charisma modifier.
(from Advanced Player's Guide)
Extra Cantrips or Orisons
You are a master of minor spells.
Prerequisites: Ability to cast cantrips or orisons.
Benefit: Add two cantrips to your cantrips known or two orisons to your orisons known.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, add two cantrips or orisons to your spells known.
(from Ultimate Magic)
Another big question is if a class, such as Alchemist, Bloodrager, Paladin, or Ranger does not have any 0-level spells in their spell list, then from which list is the 0-level spells selected? I created a Bloodrager archetype that gave it cantrips, and since bloodrager is a barbarian/sorcerer hybrid, I used the sorcerer/wizard list. Yet the Bloodrager playtest had been with magus spells, so perhaps the magus list would have been more appropriate.
If the class is an archetype that loses cantrips from a class that ordinary has cantrips, do the cantrips come from the original list?
Mathmuse wrote: Leaving your feat partially undefined with "(from 1 to 3, depending on GM's choice)" would lead to discomfort for both player and GM. Pick a number. Failed Student has a tougher prerequisite than Arcane Talent, so it should be stronger than Arcane Talent. On the other hand, it would be strange for it to grant more cantrips than Extra Cantrips or Orisons, so you should limit it to two cantrips at most.
Another big question is if a class, such as Alchemist, Bloodrager, Paladin, or Ranger does not have any 0-level spells in their spell list, then from which list is the 0-level spells selected? I created a Bloodrager archetype that gave it cantrips, and since bloodrager is a barbarian/sorcerer hybrid, I used the sorcerer/wizard list. Yet the Bloodrager playtest had been with magus spells, so perhaps the magus list would have been more appropriate.
If the class is an archetype that loses cantrips from a class that ordinary has cantrips, do the cantrips come from the original list?
Adjusted:
Failed Student
You were inducted into a Magical Academy, Tradition, or Apprenticeship at a young age, but turned out to have little talent for the rote lessons and memorization. You did manage to remember a few of the simpler tricks though.
Prerequisite:
Caster Level of 1+, Does not normally have access to level-0 spells
Benefit:
When you select this feat, choose Arcane or Divine.
For Arcane, spells are drawn from Wizard/Sorcerer Spell lists.
For Divine, Spells are drawn from Cleric/Druid Spell lists
Select 2 Cantrips or Orisons (level-0 spells), you may cast these spells using your Caster Class's mechanics. (For Instance, a Warlock would cast them as Invocations, using his Charisma score as his casting ability score.) This Feat can only be taken once.
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