I've long been a fan of 3.5's shadowcaster, and while I've seen it updated and even the content expanded upon, I never quite felt it has been brought into the system. So, I've set out to bring it into the system by using the Kineticist as a framework.
So here it is The Umbralist. This link will take you to the original post on the Giant in the Playground. Why there? Because if I have to change something, I can change it there.
Quick notes;
Uses shadowcaster mysteries as Wild Talents. 10 examples given, derived from 9 mysteries that were given as web enhancement to get a feel for the simple conversion. These wild talents are closer to Utility than they are any other form. There are enough mysteries between web enhancement and the two home-brew projects I linked in the original post that someone can get a Wild Talent at each level without using Tome of Magic, but it helps to have.
Rather than using burn, Umbralists get to use each wild talent they know 1/day for free then have to take Presence damage for subsequent damage. Later on, they can have 2 'safe uses' per day.
Presence is closer to Mind Burn than it is regular burn, but deals with Charisma, forces one to take on a Stain when reduced to 1 Presence, and causes them to pass out at 0 and below. This pool increases slightly with level.
Your link isn't working for me, shame too, I love the sound from what you've said
Your link isn't working for me, shame too, I love the sound from what you've said
Oh. thats a shame. The link works fine for me. Here, see if this works better. Worst comes to worst, you may have to manually go to the Giant in the Playground forums and look under Homebrew Design.
That link worked, thanks, okay I'm no master of balance or anything but it looks pretty good to me, but why is their presence equal to cha mod only? Isn't it usually cha mod plus half your umbralist level
That link worked, thanks, okay I'm no master of balance or anything but it looks pretty good to me, but why is their presence equal to cha mod only? Isn't it usually cha mod plus half your umbralist level
Interesting you invoke that. While with a number of classes with pools of energy they can use it is (ability score) + 1/2 class level, this isn't the frame this one follows. Deriving the class from the kineticist's mechanics, Presence is roughly equivalent to Burn (3 + Con mod). Using a mental ability score, instead it is closer to Mind Burn (Wis Mod). Making up for this, and making it useful into later levels, I bridged the gap between these; It starts at Charisma modifier then increases up to 3 + Charisma modifier as they advance.
Presence, rather than activating different abilities, functions more as bonus spells for high ability score for them that have a draw back for use, and also to cover the level adjustment of metamagic effects.