Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crunchy Frog 04-27-07, 03:33 PM	The shadowcaster class from the Tome of Magic uses a rather odd form of spellcasting that interacts strangely with prestige classes. The rules are that a shadowcaster can qualify for prestige classes with: - A caster level requirement (if arcane/divine is unspecified) - A "cast spells of level X" requirement (if arcane/divine is unspecified) - Specific reference to shadowcaster mysteries If arcane, divine, or a particular arcane or divine spell is specified, the shadowcaster doesn't qualify. Although it doesn't specifically say this, I interpret "can cast X different spells from a certain school" or "can cast X different spells with a [certain descriptor]" as something a shadowcaster can qualify for. I'm very interested in the shadowcaster because: - I intend to run a campaign involving the Plane of Shadow "one of these days", and - A shadowcaster with the Still Mystery feat can cast spells in armor with no penalty and no additional cost. I have gone through the books I have to find all prestige classes that can advance a shadowcaster's mystery-using abilities. Some of these have pose particular difficulties for shadowcasters; I will point out any major ones. Note: some of these difficulties can be gotten around by using the Creeping Darkness rule on pg. 115 of the ToM. This rule allows one level of sorc/wiz to be swapped for a level of shadowcaster every time you gain a level of shadowcaster. You can use this to pick up skills from the sorc/wiz lists. Note that you can't lose feats or class abilities (such as spellcasting) necessary to qualify for a prestige class. Tome of Magic Child of Night Master of Shadow Noctumancer Dungeon Master's Guide: Mystic Theurge Loremaster (MAJOR PROBLEM: only 8 Shadowcaster mysteries are divinations. To get 7 of them, a Shadowcaster must be level 15. Alternately, take a level of Wizard to get the extra divination spells, and switch it to Shadowcaster after hitting level 15.) Planar Handbook: Doomlord (Needs a +7 BAB; multiclass or wait until after level 14) Visionary Seeker Ardent Dilettante (Needs to multiclass into an arcane/divine class before reaching level 4, and once again before level 7.) Lords of Madness Topaz Guardian Weapons of Legacy Legacy Champion Complete Arcane Alienist (MAJOR PROBLEM: Shadowcasters only get two Conjuration (Summoning) spells, and they are 7th and 9th level. They don't qualify until after level 13, unless you take enough Wiz/Sorc levels to cast a 3rd level Summoning spell. Furthermore, major class features include two metamagic feats and extra spell slots for Summon Monster, which they can't use.) Elemental Savant (Can pick up spells of levels 2, 4, and 6 with the [Cold] descriptor by level 11. Alternately, take a level of Wizard to get the extra elemental spells, and switch it to Shadowcaster after hitting level 11.) Complete Divine Divine Oracle (Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks. Wait until after level 13, or pick it up with a level of Wizard and switch it back to Shadowcaster) Complete Adventurer Ollam (Knowledge (History) 10 ranks. Creeping Darkness is your friend unless you don't mind waiting until after level 17.) Eberron Campaign Setting Heir of Syberys Sharn, City of Towers Sharn Skymage (MAJOR PROBLEM: you must pick up flying from another source, and many abilities of this class are enhancements to a fly spell.) Magic of Eberron Impure Prince (Requires 8 ranks of Knowledge [Dungeoneering], plus either Favored Enemy (Aberrations) or the Gatekeeper Initiate feat, which is Druid only. Taking 1 level of Ranger covers this.) Renegade Mastermaker Dragonmarked Nosomatic Chirurgeon (Requires 8 ranks of Heal; multiclass or wait until after level 13) Five Nations Cyran Avenger (Requires 8 ranks of Survival; multiclass or wait until after level 13) Complete Scoundrel Fortune's Friend Magical Trickster Master of Masks (needs 8 ranks each of Bluff, Disguise, and Perform) Spellwarp Sniper (add 1 level of something with sneak attack/sudden strike) Uncanny Trickster Dragon #298 (pre-3.5) Gray Sage Dragon #314 Heartfire Fanner (10 ranks Diplomacy, 10 ranks Perform) Darkwater Knight (6 ranks each Knowledge (nature), Survival, and Swim. Only one mystery (5th level) has the [Water] descriptor; we need two more spells.) Dragon #321 Infused Spellcaster Dragon #333 Thrall of Fraz-Urb'luu (10 ranks Bluff, Knowledge (Religion), and either Forgery or Disguise) Dragon #357 Thrall of Demogorgon These are all of the books I have right now, and I have used this as an excuse to look through all of my old Dragon magazines. If you have any suggestions, I'll add them. Books that have no usable prestige classes: Manual of the Planes Races of Eberron Expanded Psionics Handbook Complete Psionic Heroes of Battle Tome of Battle Libris Mortis Magic of Incarnum Complete Mage Complete Warrior Dungeonscape Dragon Magic Heroes of Horror Dragon #287, 307, 310, 311, 312, 313, 315, 320, 324, 325, 328, 330, 337, 339, 341, 342, 345, 347, 348, 350, 352, 354, 355, 356, 2001 Annual
Drakken_Wolff 04-28-07, 08:44 AM	What about the Shadow Adept from the Player's Guide to Fearun. Or is that book out of the question also?
Crunchy Frog 04-28-07, 10:09 AM	If a Shadowcaster could qualify for it (i.e., it doesn't specify arcane/divine or require things Shadowcasters can't get), and some levels of it grant spellcasting progression, then tell me, and it goes on the list. I don't own any Forgotten Realms stuff, but I'm looking to make this list as complete as possible.
Crunchy Frog 04-28-07, 06:48 PM	It looks like the Shadow Adept requires 3rd level arcane or divine spells. My interpretation is that it won't work, since Shadowcasters don't use arcane or divine spells.
Drakken_Wolff 05-02-07, 11:38 PM	My bad, sorry.