Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darcon_Firedrake 01-18-07, 08:54 PM	Beast Arcanist By: Darcon_Firedrake A few unintelligible words and fleeting gestures carry more power than a battleaxe, when they are words and gestures of a beast arcanist. There are no books, no mentors, no theories, just the power of channeled chaos that is directed at will. It’s true that many beast arcanists often have striking good looks, usually with a hint of chaotic tendencies that hint at a chaotic history. Adventures: The Typical beast arcanist adventures in order to improve his/her abilities. Only by testing their limits can they surpass them. A beast arcanists powers are innate part of his/her soul. Developing these powers is a quest in its self for any beast arcanist no matter how they decide to wield their power. Some beast arcanists are driven by the need to prove themselves. Marked as different by the powers, they seek to win a place in society and to prove themselves to others. Where as some would see themselves as superior to all around them and seek more power over those they look down upon. Characteristics: Beast arcanists cast spells trough inborn powers, rather than careful study. Their magic is intuitive rather than logical. A beast arcanist knows fewer spells than a wizard and can cast fewer than a sorcerer, but like a sorcerer doesn’t have to select and prepare spells ahead of time. Beast arcanists do not specialize in a certain school of magic as wizards some times do. Alignment: Beast arcanists are never lawful. They may be honorable, but their heart is wild. This wildness is there power source and it could not live in a lawful soul. At best beast arcanists are free and expressive. At worst, they are thoughtless and destructive. Religion: Some beast arcanists favor Boccob (god of magic), while others revere Wee Jas (goddess of death and magic). However, many beast arcanists follow none at all. Background: Beast arcanists develop meager spell casting abilities at puberty. (not finnished the fluff) Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special Spells Per Day 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Beast Form (1/day) 3 1 - - - - - - - - 2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Beast Form (Darkvision) 4 2 - - - - - - - - 3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Natural armor +1 4 2 1 - - - - - - - 4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Beast Form (2/day 4 3 2 - - - - - - - Gore/bite) 5th +2 +1 +1 +4 DR 1/cold iron 4 3 2 1 - - - - - - 6th +3 +2 +2 +5 Natural armor +2 4 3 3 2 - - - - - - 7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Beast Form (3/day) 4 4 3 2 1 - - - - - 8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Beast Form (Large) 4 4 3 3 2 - - - - - 9th +4 +3 +3 +6 Natural armor +3 4 4 4 3 2 1 - - - - 10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Beast Form (4/day) 4 4 4 3 3 2 - - - - 11th +5 +3 +3 +7 DR 3/cold iron 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 - - - 12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Natural armor +4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 - - - 13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Beast Form (5/day) 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 - - 14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9 Beast Form (Flight) 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 - - 15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Natural armor +5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 - 16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 Beast Form (6/day) 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 - 17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 DR 5/cold iron 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Natural armor +6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Beast Form (7/day) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Beastly Body 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 --------------------------Spells Known--------------------------- Level 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st 4 2 - - - - - - - - 2nd 5 3 - - - - - - - - 3rd 5 3 2 - - - - - - - 4th 5 4 3 - - - - - - - 5th 5 4 3 2 - - - - - - 6th 5 4 4 3 - - - - - - 7th 5 5 4 3 2 - - - - - 8th 5 5 4 4 3 - - - - - 9th 5 5 5 4 3 2 - - - - 10th 5 5 5 4 4 3 - - - - 11th 6 5 5 5 4 3 2 - - - 12th 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 - - - 13th 6 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 - - 14th 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 - - 15th 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 - 16th 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 - 17th 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 18th 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 19th 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 20th 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Alignment:Any Chaotic. Hit Die: d6 Class Skills:The beast arcanist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int). Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4. Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier. Class Features All of the following are class features of the beast arcanist. Armor and Weapon Proficiency: Beast Arcanists are Proficient with bite, claw, club, dagger, gore, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield. Armor of any type interferes with a wizard’s movements, which can cause her spells with somatic components to fail. Spells: A beast arcanist casts arcane spells, which are drawn primarily from the beast arcanist spell list. He/she can cast any spell he/she knows without preparing it ahead of time, the way a wizard or a cleric must (see below). To learn or cast a spell, a beast arcanist must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a beast arcanist’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the beast arcanist’s Charisma modifier. Like other spellcasters, a beast arcanist can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His/her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Beast Arcanist. In addition, he/she receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score. A beast arcanist’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A beast arcanist begins play knowing four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of your choice. At each new beast arcanist level, he/she gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Beast Arcanist Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a beast arcanist knows is not affected by his Charisma score; the numbers on Table: Beast Arcanist Spells Known is fixed.) These new spells can be common spells chosen from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, or they can be unusual spells that the beast arcanist has gained some understanding of by study. The beast arcanist can’t use this method of spell acquisition to learn spells at a faster rate, however. Upon reaching 3rd level, and at every odd-numbered beast arcanist level after that (5th, 7th, and so on), a beast arcanist can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he/she already knows. In effect, the beast arcanist "loses" the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least two levels lower than the highest-level beast arcanist spell the beast arcanist can cast. A beast arcanist may swap only a single spell beast arcanist level, at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he/she gains new spells known for the level. Unlike a wizard or a cleric, a beast arcanist need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he/she knows at any time, assuming he/she has not yet used up his/her spells per day for that spell level. He/she does not have to decide ahead of time which spells he/she’ll cast. Beast Form (Su): At 1st level a beast arcanist gains the ability to change in to a medium magical beast-like creature baring two grotesque horns, with five, one inch long jet-black claws on each hand, ivory fangs sprout from his/her jaw, the beast’s canines hanging over an inch past its jaw, growing a course azure fur. This ability functions like the polymorph spell, except as noted here. The effect last 1 hour per beast arcanist level, or until he/she changes back. Changing form is a standard action and does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The beast arcanist can only speak draconic in this form. The beast arcanist can use this ability more times per day every 3 levels after 1st (2/day at 4th, 3/day at 7th, etc.) as noted on Table: Beast Arcanist. In addition, he/she gains darkvision out to 60ft. at 8th level gains the ability to grow to a large size beast, increasing the damage of the claw bite and gore attacks gained in this from, then at 14th level the beast form gains fur covered bat-like wings granting it a 40ft fly speed with average maneuverability. In beast from the beast arcanist gains two claw 1d6. At 4th level he/she gains a bite 1d6, and a gore 1d4 attack. In beast form they also gains a +2 natural armor, and a clerics base attack bonus. At 8th level his/her attack damages changes to claw 1d8, bite 2d6, and gore 1d6, and a +3 natural armor. Mage armor and Shield do not work on a beast arcanist in beast form if the spells are in effect when he/she changes they're despelled. Natural Armor (Ex): Every 3 levels a beast arcanist’s skin starts to stiffen and become tougher, giving it a +1 natural armor bonus to his/her armor class (this bonus increases to +2 at 6th level, +3 at 9th level, etc.) Damage Reduction (Ex): At 5th level a beast arcanist gains the ability to shrug of damage from any weapon or natural attack other than a cold iron weapon, subtract 1 from any damage the beast arcanist takes form any weapon or natural attack other than a cold iron. This reduction increases by 2 every 6 levels after 5th level. ( 3/cold iron at 11th level, and 5/cold iron at 17th.) Beastly Body: By 20th level a beast arcanist has morphed his/her body into a true representation of the animals of the beast lands enough times to effect him/her out side of beast form. He/she is forevermore treated as an outsider (native) rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the beast arcanist’s creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects. Additionally, the beast arcanist gains resistance to fire 10 and cold 10, which allows her to ignore the first 10 points of damage from any fire or cold type attack. Unlike other outsiders, the beast arcanist can still be brought back from the dead as if he/she were a member of his/her previous creature type.
Darcon_Firedrake 01-18-07, 08:57 PM	So what do you guys think? over or under powered?
frasmage 01-18-07, 09:16 PM	beast form is way too much to give at first level. I mean 4 natural attacks available at level one is certainly pushing it. I would put it to many 4-5 level, aroudn the time druids get wildshape.
Darcon_Firedrake 01-18-07, 09:35 PM	what if it gains only the claws at 1st level then Bite and gore at 4th?
hisnamehere 01-19-07, 09:04 AM	Heyya. Sorry this is being directed toward you, but I've run into so many in the past hour of surfing that I'm finally starting to get frustrated. Please include some fluffy introduction to your classes and prestige classes. Think of it as good advertising - lure your audience/consumer in with some flowery pretext boasting the post's excellence. As of right now, I just don't have time to sift thru your stats to find out what the class is all about. The flavor text will let your audience know not only what you are posting, but also the overall theme and intent of your class, putting them in a better position to analyze your work and consequently to give better/more appropriate feedback. Good gaming, hisnamehere P.S. Please, let's keep this on-topic. Anyone who wishes to comment on my commment, email me: hismamehere@hotmail.com, so that we don't clutter the OP's thread. Thanks. :D
Darcon_Firedrake 01-24-07, 12:58 AM	Fluff has been added
Fireclave 01-24-07, 01:51 AM	I reviewed this the first time you posted it. Link (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=11240503&postcount=2). Edit: Oh! Fluff! Didn't notice that at first. Let's see... Many beast arcanists clam the power of the beastlands flows through them. It’s true that many beast arcanists often have striking good looks, usually with a hint of chaotic tendencies that hint at a chaotic history. Not seeing the connection here. I can see connecting the Beastlands with the whole beast transformation theme, but what that doesn't explain their powerful arcane talents. A why chaotic? The Beastlands is a mildly good-aligned plane with no inclination toward chaos. And why would having a connection to the Beastlands give you good looks? All my previous statements and questions still stand.
Darcon_Firedrake 01-25-07, 12:06 AM	Ok well I'm not to in to the Planner stuff realy i just guessed that the Beastlands would fit with it being a beast and all, I think i might change it to more demonic based. Mage armor, and Shield (revised) Do not work on the Beast arcanist in beast form. If they are in effect when he/she turns beast form they're despelled. (This is because the beast arcanist gains DR and Natural Armor, and Yes it dose stak with the Beast form. I thought that the ability to speak only draconic made it appear more beastly but i will remove that so they CAN'T speak in Beast form. (thay may Raor to cast roar spells). And the Beast arcanist only has 2 claw attacks at 1st level gaining the Gore and bite at 4th.
Darcon_Firedrake 01-25-07, 12:14 AM	I am currently working on a spell list for the beast arcainst if any one has any suggestions i am open to them.
Fireclave 01-25-07, 02:44 AM	Mage armor, and Shield (revised) Do not work on the Beast arcanist in beast form. If they are in effect when he/she turns beast form they're despelled. (This is because the beast arcanist gains DR and Natural Armor, and Yes it dose stak with the Beast form. So you don't want Mage Armor and Shield to work with beast form due to balance reasons. Fine. But that still doesn't tell us the in-game justification for why these two particular spells wouldn't work. Unless the beast arcanist is some sort of auto abjuaration+conjuration disjunctioning curse, I don't see why they shouldn't work. Banning those two spells wouldn't do much anyway. Dragon Skin, for example, would be one of the first spells I would invest in, right after Scintilating Scales. And then get a Twillight Mithral Shield and Mithral buckler to bypass the quirky no Mage Armor or Shield restriction. As for a spell list...I dunno. I think I would need to know a bit more about the flavor and history of this class, exactly what they claim their power comes from, and how do they recieve that power. If you decide to keep beastlands flavor, perhaps make them an arcane druid? Though, because of their strong physical abilities, I would probably give spellcasting similiar to the hexblade. So really, they would be more like an arcane ranger. :twocents:
Darcon_Firedrake 01-25-07, 06:06 PM	ok, well if there are ways around the mage armor and shield restrictions i will alow them to work on the Beast arcanist, But i'm not going to put them on ist spell list.
benstundze 01-25-07, 06:53 PM	make a spell list. make it like ranger spell chart, or top off at 6th lvl spells then weeken down the anamal abilitys and we will have a much more balenced class ben