Any suggestions on how to recreate a blue mage?

[Malik Gyan Daumantas]

So I made a thread earlier about a shapechanger sorcerer as (And I'm sure I didn't mention this) I wanted to make a character that makes a pact with a doppelganger for power. But as I tinkered around I realized wanted was something akin to a blue mage with the ability to either learn or adapt a multitude of different spells and abilities on the fly.

And now that i know this, i wonder if such a thing is even possible? If anyone has any ideas i'd love to hear them.

[OmniMage]

You mean the blue mages from the Final Fantasy series? I'm not aware of any class in pathfinder that can learn monster magic or any magic by observing it. Also, I think most monster magic are really spell like abilities, which are basically spells they get without class levels.

[Malik Gyan Daumantas]

OmniMage wrote:

Do You mean the blue mages from the Final Fantasy series? I'm not aware of any class in pathfinder that can learn monster magic or any magic by observing it. Also, I think most monster magic are really spell-like abilities, which are basically spells they get without class levels.

Well, it doesn't have to be one-to-one, more like the ability to cast spells they have no reason to.

[Senko]

I think pathfinder is generally designed to prevent you casting spells you're not meant too. Only examples I can think of off the top of my head is the Mgambyan archetype for arcanist who get a small selection of druid spells to suppliment their arcane ones. And the mythich archmage ability that lets them cast any spell as long as they spend mythic power to do so.

[OmniMage]

Well, if you are determined to still move forward on this, I think your best bet is to make your own class. Most Square Enix games have magic that most closely resembles spontaneous magic. So I'm thinking the class should be based upon the Arcanist or Sorcerer... or use the Psion (which isn't covered by 1st party products IIRC). Psionics is the closest match to have a supply of mp for spells.

Alternatively, you could base the class upon the Spell Sage Wizard archetype. The spell sage gets the ability to cast *any* spell on the Bard, Cleric, and Druid spell list spontaneously. So they have a very big spell list, one that could be replaced by spells you've seen monsters use. Normally it costs them 2 spell slots of the appropriate level per spell, has limited uses per day, and takes extra time to cast.

[Pounce]

Something like a Ring of Spell Knowledge might be helpful.

[Temperans]

Your best bet is looking at Final Fantasy d20 which uses pathfinder as its basis.

Otherwise, your best bet is probably occultist or a wizard/arcanist making heavy use of the "create new spell" option.

Honestly, if I remember correctly blue mage is effectively a "solo" job and as such works best in a solo campaign where the GM (or yourself) allows you to do whatever. A lot like how Master Summoner works best in a solo campaign.

[VoodistMonk]

Spell Sage Wizard's Spell Study is probably your best option.

False Priest Sorcerer gets both False Piety and False Channel, as well as the False Focus feat... allowing you to pretend you're casting divine spells. Combined with Mnenomic Vestments, you can "cast" a lot of spells you shouldn't be able to.

[Temperans]

Wait, I just realize...

This is one the cases were Stylish spell and similar are perfect. You can use those to change how your spells look so that they mimic monsters.

If you work with the GM you might be able to make something out of that.

[UnArcaneElection]

^I couldn't find a Stylish Spell -- maybe you meant Stylized Spell?

Another way to snag off-list spells -- although it can't cross the barriers between arcane, divine, and occult -- is to be a Samsaran with the Mystic Past Life alternate racial trait. Not anywhere near as versatile as Spell Sage Wizard, but works with normal action economy.

In the line of working of Spell Sage Wizard, also consider the Skald class -- as long as you don't use an archetype that trades out the Spell Kenning class feature, Spell Kenning does exactly what you want, not as high level as what Spell Sage Wizard can do, but with better action economy (although not as good as what Samsaran gets). And a Skald is a decent semi-martial and a decent support for other martials and semi-martials.

Another option that works more like Samsaran, but with more flexibility (although coming online later), is the Pathfinder Savant prestige class. The Esoteric Spells class feature does what you want once per level from 2 through 10. This prestige class does leave out a level of spellcasting progression at 1st level, so you may want to get Favored Prestige Class and Prestigious Spellcaster if you can fit these feats into your build.

If you want even more flexibility than Pathfinder Savant, Daivrat is another prestige class that has a class feature that REALLY does exactly what you want, although at the cost of more spell slot levels and very limited uses per day. Again, this restige class does leave out a level of spellcasting progression at 1st level, so see Pathfinder Savant above.

The Magaambyan Arcanist prestige class and the Magaambyan Initiate Arcanist archetype let you snag a few Druid spells (in the latter case also Cleric spells having the Good descriptor).

[Temperans]

Sorry I always get the name of Stylized Spell wrong, in my head 90% of the time that line is used just to flex on the opponent how cool you are (aka stylish).