Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Hariman 04-21-06, 08:42 PM	Hughman brought up a spontaneneous/prepared spellcaster Hybrid, and I decided to post my own variant class in the same vein. So here it is: The Impromptu Wizard Alignment: Any. Hit Die: d4. Class Skills The impromptu wizard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int) and Use Magic Device (Cha). Skill Points at 1st Level (2 + Int modifier) ×4. Skill Points at Each Additional Level 2 + Int modifier. BAB: Poor Saves: Good Will Save, Poor Fortitude and Reflex Saves. Spells Slots: As Specialist Wizard. Bonus Feats: Are Gained at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20. Class Features: All of the following are class features of the wizard. Weapon and Armor Proficiency Impromptu Wizards are proficient with the club, dagger, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield. Armor of any type interferes with an impromptu wizard’s movements, which can cause her spells with somatic components to fail. Spells A impromptu wizard casts arcane spells which are drawn from the sorcerer/ wizard spell list. A impromptu wizard must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time (see below). To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the wizard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a wizard’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the wizard’s Intelligence modifier. Like other spellcasters, an impromptu wizard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Impromptu Wizard. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score. Unlike normal Wizards, an impromptu wizard gains a bonus spell slot at each level that can be cast without preparation. In effect, one of the impromptu wizard's spells is treated as a sorcerer's spell slot that can be cast as a spontaneous spell, using the spells contained within the book that the wizard is uses to prepare spells. If no spellbook is available, then these slots can be used only with spells that were learned via gaining levels as a wizard. This is explained in more detail below. These bonus spell slots are subject to all of the normal penalties and benefits of spontaneous spellcasting. Unlike a bard or sorcerer, an impromptu wizard may know any number of spells. She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting a good night’s sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook. While studying, the wizard decides which spells to prepare. Bonus Spells Bonus spells from high intelligence must be prepared as normal wizard spells. Forbidden schools: An Impromptu Wizard must give up two schools of magic, which become her prohibited schools. Bonus Languages A impromptu wizard may substitute Draconic for one of the bonus languages available to the character because of her race. Familiar An impromptu wizard can obtain a familiar in exactly the same manner as a sorcerer can. An impromptu wizard does not gain Scribe Scroll at first level. They still gain the normal bonus feats at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20. Spellbooks: An impromptu wizard must study her spellbook each day to prepare her spells. She cannot prepare any spell not recorded in her spellbook, except for read magic, which all wizards can prepare from memory. An impromptu wizard begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level wizard spells (except those from her prohibited school or schools, if any; see School Specialization, below) plus three 1st-level spells of your choice. For each point of Intelligence bonus the impromptu wizard has, the spellbook holds one additional 1st-level spell of your choice. At each new impromptu wizard level, she gains two new spells of any spell level or levels that she can cast (based on her new wizard level) for her spellbook. At any time, a wizard can also add spells found in other wizards’ spellbooks to her own. If an Impromptu Wizard is left without a spellbook, they retain memory of all spells gained from leveling as a wizard. They cannot use this memory to prepare daily spells, but they can use this memory to cast their spontaneous spell slots and bonus spells. Example: Jonah the 1st level Impromptu Wizard has had his spellbooks stolen, he is unable to prepare his spells as normal the next day. However, any spell that he learned from taking his first level wizard can be used with his spontaneous spell slots. Spells that he purchased and scribed into his spellbook cannot be used with his spontaneous spell slots. The exception to this rule are spells mastered by the Spell Mastery feat. Any spell that an impromptu wizard has mastered with the Spell Mastery feat can be used with an Impromptu Wizard's spontaneous spell slots, even if it wasn't a spell gained directly from leveling as a wizard. Special: An impromptu wizard cannot take the Collegiate Wizard feat. Impromptu Wizards may take the time to study magic on their own, but they have no patience for the rigid, overly structured environment of a wizard's college. They prefer to study by themselves, or even with sorcerers. END So what do you think? Are there any blatant mistakes? Can you see any major balance issues? Do you think this is good for my first attampt at a base class? Thanks in advance, Hariman
Hariman 04-22-06, 12:42 PM	:bump:
Zitchas 04-22-06, 01:30 PM	It's essentially a specialist wizard who has given up two schools, and sacrifices the +1 caster level for a certain school in exchange for a slot that can be cast as anything the caster knows. I like it. Doesn't seem unbalanced. It's a good mix of abilities. A few things you should clarify: 1) Is the impromptu spell slot available for any spell the mage knows, or a limited selection? What if the mage has multiple spell books (aka. a "mastercopy" he keeps at home that has literally every spell he has ever cast, and a travel book that has every spell he is likely to ever want to have while adventuring, but doesn't have those he doesn't think he'd ever want). Personally, I think the impromptu slot should be restricted to those spells the mage has at least had the opportunity to study when he last rested. 2) Specifically, are bonus spells from high Int normal memorization slots or impromptu? One idea: Have bonus spells split evenly between memorized or impromptu. First bonus spell in a level goes into memorized, the next into impromptu (this is only relevant for particularly high Int scores, but should be adressed to prevent problems later on) Anyway, looks like a rather intresting class. Could be fairly powerfull. Deffinitly gives a bit of flexibility to the otherwise rather solid wizard. Oh, and another sugestion: Might be good to think up a somewhat more creative name. Impromptu mage just doesn't really have much of a ring to it.
Hariman 04-22-06, 02:00 PM	First, thank you for posting. It's essentially a specialist wizard who has given up two schools, and sacrifices the +1 caster level for a certain school in exchange for a slot that can be cast as anything the caster knows. I like it. Doesn't seem unbalanced. It's a good mix of abilities. A few things you should clarify: 1) Is the impromptu spell slot available for any spell the mage knows, or a limited selection? What if the mage has multiple spell books (aka. a "mastercopy" he keeps at home that has literally every spell he has ever cast, and a travel book that has every spell he is likely to ever want to have while adventuring, but doesn't have those he doesn't think he'd ever want). Personally, I think the impromptu slot should be restricted to those spells the mage has at least had the opportunity to study when he last rested. I will add the text necessary to restrict this only to spellbooks that the spellcaster has studied since the last time he prepared spells. I forgot that wizards often have backup spellbooks in other locations. 2) Specifically, are bonus spells from high Int normal memorization slots or impromptu? One idea: Have bonus spells split evenly between memorized or impromptu. First bonus spell in a level goes into memorized, the next into impromptu (this is only relevant for particularly high Int scores, but should be adressed to prevent problems later on) I did add the text stating that bonus spells had to be prepared as normal wizard spells. I'll move it to a more prominent location. I might change it to allow some extra spontaneous spell slots. Your suggestion is interesting, the key is applying it in a clear and concise manner. Anyway, looks like a rather intresting class. Could be fairly powerfull. Deffinitly gives a bit of flexibility to the otherwise rather solid wizard. Oh, and another sugestion: Might be good to think up a somewhat more creative name. Impromptu mage just doesn't really have much of a ring to it. Names are always hard with D&D, so many good ones have all been taken. Does Spontaneous Wizard sound any better? Or Bloodline Wizard (explaining the spontaneous slots as part of a bloodline) sound any better?
Otto the Bugbear 04-22-06, 04:47 PM	In effect, one of the impromptu wizard's spells is treated as a sorcerer's spell slot that can be cast as a spontaneous spell, using the wizard's spell list as spells known for the purposes of casting. This needs to change. The way it's worded now it could be pointing to that individual wizard's spell list, or the wizard's spell list. You know, found in the PHB, Complete Arcane, etc. In effect, one of the impromptu wizard's spells is treated as an open spell slot. From this open spell slot, he may spontaneously cast any spell he has scribed into the spellbook he last studied. Maybe not perfect, but you get the idea. Other than that, it's pretty good overall. Cheers Otto :)
Xylem 04-22-06, 10:02 PM	Does Spontaneous Wizard sound any better? Or Bloodline Wizard (explaining the spontaneous slots as part of a bloodline) sound any better?How about Extermporemancer? Or Eskhatomancer? Hm. Maybe not. I like this as it mimics the usual mechanism for specialist wizards so closely. In fact, this is sort of like taking Sorcery as your specilist school, but calling it a Sorcerous Wizard would be kind of confusing I would think.
Hariman 04-23-06, 01:41 AM	I've added a restriction on the feat Collegiate Wizard, as this makes the spontaneous spell slots twice as good/flexible when the variant is without a spellbook. This needs to change. The way it's worded now it could be pointing to that individual wizard's spell list, or the wizard's spell list. You know, found in the PHB, Complete Arcane, etc. In effect, one of the impromptu wizard's spells is treated as an open spell slot. From this open spell slot, he may spontaneously cast any spell he has scribed into the spellbook he last studied. Maybe not perfect, but you get the idea. Other than that, it's pretty good overall. Cheers Otto :) Thank you for pointing out the ambiguous phrasing of that sentence and thank you for the suggestion. However, I have already decided on an alternate method for when this wizard variant loses his spellbooks. But the help is appreciated. How about Extermporemancer? Or Eskhatomancer? Hm. Maybe not. I like this as it mimics the usual mechanism for specialist wizards so closely. In fact, this is sort of like taking Sorcery as your specilist school, but calling it a Sorcerous Wizard would be kind of confusing I would think. And Impromptu Wizard lacks any kind of ring to it. Using Spontaneous Specialist Wizard is probably too much of a mouthful. Arcanist Wizard? Sorcerizard? Sorizard? Wizerer? Freezard? Sorcerer Wannabe? Arcanist Wizard and Spontaneous Specialist are the only names that have any sort of a ring to them. Do you think one of them is a good name? Any other suggestions?