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Diovid
2013-10-25, 02:57 PM
Scholar


"To the left!" Makquivin Alton shouted, his voice hoarse with exertion. "No, no! The left! I've studied this thing, and it's weak point is defiantly under its left arm! The left one! Ach, do I have to do everything myself?"

The scholar strode forward, unsheathing his blade. "D'kuva!" he shouted. "I know your secret name!" The horror fliched, giving Makquivin enough time to sink his blade in the beasts shoulder. The thing howled in agony. The scholar smiled, knowing exactly which nerve caused that pain. "Now back!" he shouted. "This species is quite volitile when wounded!"
With a thanks to D20ragon

GAME RULE INFORMATION
Scholars have the following game statistics.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6.
Starting Age: As cleric.
Starting Gold: As cleric.

Class Skills
The scholar's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually), Perform (Oratory) (Cha), Profession (Wis), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Truespeak (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha)

Skill Points at First Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier

Scholar
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Bookworm, Continued Learning, Insight (Tactics), Lore, Studious

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Mental Defenses (AC), Shared Understanding (+1)

3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|Efficient Alchemy (-10%)

4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Bonus Feat, Insight (Puissance)

5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Efficient Alchemy (-20%)

6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Mental Defenses (Will saves), Shared Understanding (+2)

7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Efficient Alchemy (-30%)

8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|Bonus Feat, Insight (Foe)

9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6|Efficient Alchemy (-40%)

10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Skill Mastery, Shared Understanding (+3)

11th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Efficient Alchemy (-50%)

12th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8|Bonus Feat, Insight (Dread Secret)

13th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8|Efficient Alchemy (-60%)

14th|
+7/+2|
+4|
+4|
+9|Intellectual Interaction, Shared Understanding (+4)

15th|
+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+9|Efficient Alchemy (-70%)

16th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10|Bonus Feat, Insight (Strengths)

17th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10|Efficient Alchemy (-80%)

18th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11|Mental Defenses (Initiative), Shared Understanding (+5)

19th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11|Efficient Alchemy (-90%)

20th|
+10/+5|
+6|
+6|
+12|Bonus Feat, Insight (Weaknesses)[/table]

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the scholar.

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: All simple weapons, no armor and no shields.

Studious
The scholar can use Craft (Alchemy) without being able to cast spells.

Furthermore, the scholar may use his intelligence modifier or his charisma modifier (whichever is higher) for Use Magic Device checks and his intelligence modifier or his wisdom modifier (whichever is higher) for Profession (Teacher) checks.

In addition all knowledge checks the scholar makes are treated as trained checks, even if he doesn’t have any ranks in the specific skill.

Bookworm (Ex)
At 1st level, the scholar gains Knowledge Devotion (Complete Champion) as a bonus feat even if he doesn’t qualify. For the purposes of this class feature, a creature against which the scholar is currently gaining the benefits of Knowledge Devotion is referred to as a Known creature.

At 5th level the scholar may replace the benefits of his Knowledge Devotion roll with the benefits of his Insight (Puissance) ability or, starting at 8th level, his Insight (Foe) ability.

For example, a Scholar of at least 8th level that would gain a +4 on attack rolls and damage rolls from Knowledge Devotion could instead gain a +4 insight bonus to AC and Saves or +4d6 insight bonus to their damage for the rest of the encounter.

The scholar cannot gain the same benefit twice (once from this class feature and once from Insight) against the same creature however.

At 9th level, the bonus from Knowledge Devotion increases to equal the scholar’s Continued Learning bonus if it would be lower.

At 13th level, the scholar may choose to change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion to one of his Insight Abilities or revert it as a Swift action. In addition, as a free action once per round, the scholar may increase the bonus from Knowledge Devotion by 2, to a maximum of his Continued Learning bonus.

At 17th level, the scholar may change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion as an immediate action. In addition, he may use Dread Secret against a Known creature as a Standard action at-will without expending uses of Insight.

Continued Learning (Ex)
At 1st level and every two levels after that the scholar gains a +1 bonus to Appraise, Decipher Script, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (The Planes), Profession (Teacher), Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks.

Insight (Ex)
Three times per day, a scholar can draw upon his expansive knowledge.

A scholar unlocks new insight abilities as his level increases and can also call upon his insight more often, gaining one additional daily use for every three scholar levels (4/day at 3rd level, 5/day at 6th level, and so forth).

Using insight requires a Knowledge (Arcana) or Knowledge (The Planes) check, depending on the type of the creature faced. A Knowledge (Arcana) check reveals secrets of constructs, dragons and magical beasts while Knowledge (The Planes) applies to outsiders and elementals. The DC of the check is 15 + the creature’s HD. Most of the scholar’s insight abilities increase in effectiveness if he succeeds on his Knowledge check by 10 or more. Insight can only be used once against any given creature.

The scholar’s insight can affect a single creature or all creatures of the same race, depending on the effect used. A target creature must be within 60 feet, and the scholar must be aware of the creature's presence, although he need not have a line of sight to it. The effects of insight last for 1 minute, unless stated otherwise.

The scholar gains these insight abilities:
Tactics: The scholar knows the general combat behaviors of creatures of that race, granting his allies a +1 bonus to attack rolls made against them. If the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 10 or more, then this bonus increases to +2, if the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 20 or more, then this bonus increases to +3 etc.

Puissance: Starting at 4th level, the scholar can use his insight to help his allies fight off the corrupting influence of other creatures. Allies within 60 feet of the scholar gain a +1 bonus on saving throws and AC against the affected creature's attacks and abilities. If the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 10 or more, then this bonus increases to +2, if the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 20 or more, then this bonus increases to +3 etc.

Foe: Starting at 8th level, a scholar can direct his allies to attack vital spots of his enemies. On a successful Knowledge check, he grants them a bonus to weapon damage rolls made against the target creatures equal to 1d6 points of damage. If the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 10 or more, then this bonus increases to 2d6, if the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 20 or more, then this bonus increases to 3d6 etc.

Dread Secret: By speaking aloud a dread secret of the target creature, a scholar of 12th level or higher can dazzle a target creature for 1 round. This ability can be used only against a single creature. If the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 10 or more, then the target is dazed for 1 round. If the scholar succeeds on his Knowledge check by 20 or more, then the target is stunned for 1 round (if the target is immune to being stunned but not immune to being dazed, such as most undead, then the scholar can choose to daze the target instead of stunning it). For every 10 the check is succeeded above 20, the creature is stunned an additional round.

Strengths: Starting at 16th level the scholar can learn about the power of beings he faces. With a successful Knowledge check, the scholar learns the general combat capabilities of his target (and only his target). This check confers knowledge of the target base attack bonus, Armor Class, combat-related feats (The DM is the final arbiter on what constitutes a combat related feat; the list of fighter bonus feats is recommended as a starting point.) plus any special attacks or options (which the DM should describe in brief). Note that the scholar’s player benefits from this knowledge as related, but obviously the character cannot relate the data to her allies verbatim. The player must roleplay any information he wishes his character to impart in the game.

Weaknesses: At 20th level, the scholar can draw upon his knowledge to learn a foe's (and only that foe’s) weakness in combat. A successful Knowledge check reveals the target's Hit Dice, damage reduction (including the means to overcome it, if any), saving throws plus any special weaknesses the foe might have. Again, the player must roleplay any information he wishes his character to impart within the game.

On Insight and Dark Knowledge:

The Insight ability strongly resembles the Archivist's Dark Knowledge ability but these are the differences:

1) Insight uses different knowledge skills and applies to different creatures.
2) The DC of Insight is higher.
3) The bonus Insight gives continues to increase for every 10 above the scholar succeeds on the check instead of capping at 20.
4) Foreknowledge and Puissance have been combined.
5) At 16th and 20th level the scholar gains two abilities stolen from the Urban Savant.



Lore (Ex)
This ability is identical to the bard's bardic knowledge class feature, using the scholar’s class level in place of the bard level.

Mental Defenses
Starting at 2nd level the scholar may add his intelligence modifier or his dexterity modifier (whichever is higher) to AC.

Starting at 6th level the scholar may add his intelligence modifier or his wisdom modifier (whichever is higher) to will saves. Furthermore, the scholar no longer automatically fails will saves on a roll of natural 1.

Starting at 18th level the scholar may add his intelligence modifier or his dexterity modifier (whichever is higher) to initiative checks.

Shared Understanding (Ex)
Starting at 2nd level the scholar imparts some of his wisdom on those around him. Allies with an int score of 3 or higher who are within 60 feet of the scholar and who can hear him receive a +1 insight bonus on Appraise, Craft (Alchemy), Decipher Script, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (The Planes), Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks. This bonus increases by 1 at 6th level and every 4 levels after that. The bonus of this ability does not affect the scholar.

Efficient Alchemy (Ex)
Starting at 3rd level when the scholar determines the cost of raw materials and the time required to create items using craft (alchemy), he may reduce the base price by 10%. This reduction increases by 10 at every two levels after 3rd.

Bonus Feats
At 4th level and every 4 levels after that the scholar gains one bonus feat without needing to meet prerequisites. The scholar may choose this feat from the following list: Appraise Magic Value (CAdv), Delay Potion (CM), Dreamtelling (HoH), Grenadier (PHB II), Mad Alchemist (PHB II), Magic Device Attunement (CM), Reckless Wand Wielder (CA), Steady Concentration (RoS), Words of Draconic Power (DM), Wandstrike (CA), Wise Speaker*.
*New feat, see below.

Instead of one of these bonus feats the scholar may choose to learn the Collector of Stories and Magical Appraisal skill tricks without needing to meet prerequisites and without having to spend skill points (See Complete Scoundrel).

Skill Mastery
At 10th level the scholar gains the Skill Mastery ability. When making Appraise, Craft (Alchemy), Decipher Script, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (The Planes), Profession (Teacher), Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks the scholar may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent her from doing so.

Intellectual Interaction (Ex)
At 14th level the scholar gains the Intellectual Interaction ability. When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with constructs, dragons or magical beasts the scholar may make a knowledge (arcana) check instead and use half the result of that check to determine the effect.

When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with outsiders and elementals the scholar may make a knowledge (the planes) check instead and use half the result of that check to determine the effect.


Epic Scholar

Hit Die
D6

Skill Points at Each Additional Level
6 + int modifier

The Epic Scholar
{table=head]Scholar Level|Special

21st|Bonus Feat

22nd|Shared Insight (+6)

23rd|Bonus Feat

24th|

25th|Bonus Feat

26th|Shared Insight (+7)

27th|Bonus Feat

28th|

29th|Bonus Feat

30th|Shared Insight (+8)

[/table]

Continued Learning
The bonus of Continued Learning increases by 1 at 21st level and every 2 levels after that.

Insight (Ex)
The scholar gains an additional daily use of insight at 21st level and every 3 levels after that.

Lore (Ex)
Add the scholar’s class level + Intelligence modifier to all lore checks, as normal.

Shared Understanding (Ex)
The bonus of Shared Understanding increases by 1 at 22nd level and every 4 levels after that.

Bonus Feats
The epic scholar gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic scholar bonus feats) at 21st level and every two levels after that.

Instead of choosing an epic bonus feat at those levels the scholar may choose to gain one of the following feats without needing to meet its prerequisites: Appraise Magic Value (CAdv), Delay Potion (CM), Dreamtelling (HoH), Grenadier (PHB II), Mad Alchemist (PHB II), Magic Device Attunement (CM), Reckless Wand Wielder (CA), Steady Concentration (RoS), Words of Draconic Power (DM), Wandstrike (CA), Wise Speaker*.
*New feat, see below.

Epic Scholar Bonus Feat List
Augmented Alchemy, Epic Alchemy*, Epic Insight*, Epic Interaction*, Epic Skill Focus, Epic Will, Great Intelligence, Legendary Alchemist*, Polyglot, Superior Insight*.
*New epic feats, see below.


Adaptation: Psionic Scholar
Replace Knowledge (Arcana) with Knowledge (Psionics), Spellcraft with Psicraft and Use Magic Device with Use Psionic Device as class skills and whenever they are mentioned in class abilities.

Change Insight to:

Using insight requires a Knowledge (Psionics) or Knowledge (The Planes) check, depending on the type of the creature faced. A Knowledge (Psionics) check reveals secrets of astral constructs and creatures with the psionics subtype while Knowledge (The Planes) applies to outsiders and elementals.

Change Intellectual Interaction to:

At 14th level the scholar gains the Intellectual Interaction ability. When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with astral constructs and creatures with the psionic subtype the scholar may make a knowledge (psionics) check instead and use half the result of that check to determine the effect.

When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with outsiders and elementals the scholar may make a knowledge (the planes) check instead and use half the result of that check to determine the effect.


New Feats

Alchemical Combatant [General]

Prerequisites:
Craft (Alchemy) 12 ranks, Mad Alchemist feat

Benefits
When attacking with a splash weapon, add your intelligence modifier to the weapon’s attack rolls instead of your dexterity modifier.


Wise Speaker [General]

Prerequisites
Perform (Oratory) 8, Truespeak 8, Insight (Puissance) ability

Benefits
The scholar’s continued learning and skill mastery abilities also apply to your Perform (Oratory) and Truespeak checks.

Furthermore, you may use your intelligence modifier or your charisma modifier (whichever is higher) for Perform (Oratory) checks.


New Epic Feats

Epic Alchemy [Epic]

Prerequisites
Insight (Weaknesses) ability, Craft (Alchemy) 23 ranks

Benefits
The scholar’s continued learning ability also applies to your craft (alchemy) checks.

Furthermore, when determining the cost of raw materials and the time required to create items using craft (alchemy) you may reduce the base price to 1%.


Epic Insight [Epic]

Prerequisites
Insight (Weaknesses) ability, Knowledge (Arcana) 30 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 30 ranks

Benefits
Insight can be used once per encounter against any given creature.

Furthermore, insight can be used an unlimited times per day.

In addition the effects of insight (with the exception of dread secret) last for the entire encounter.

Normal
Normally Insight can only be used once against a creature, normally Insight can be used only a limited number of times per day and normally insight (with the exception of dread secret) only lasts for 1 minute.


Epic Interaction [Epic]

Prerequisites
Insight (Weaknesses) ability, Knowledge (Arcana) 23 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 23 ranks

Benefits
The scholar’s intellectual interaction ability changes to the following:

When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with constructs, dragons or magical beasts the scholar may make a knowledge (arcana) check instead and use the result of that check to determine the effect.

When making a Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information or Sense Motive check in conjunction with outsiders and elementals the scholar may make a knowledge (the planes) check instead and use the result of that check to determine the effect.

Normal
Without this feat the Intellectual Interaction ability uses half the result of the check to determine its effect.


Legendary Alchemist [Epic]

Prerequisites:
Craft (Alchemy) 23 ranks, Alchemical Combatant feat.

Benefits
When attacking with a splash weapon, add your intelligence modifier to the weapon’s damage rolls.


Superior Insight [Epic]

Prerequisites
Insight (Weaknesses) ability, Knowledge (Arcana) 27 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 27 ranks

Benefit
The benefits of Insight (Tactics), Insight (Puissance) and Insight (Foe) are doubled. In addition, the duration of Insight (Dread Secret) is doubled.

Special
This feat can be taken multiple times. The first time the feat is taken it doubles, the second time it triples etc.


Changelog

October 26th
- Insight (Weaknesses) didn't appear in the table, fixed that.
- Added all knowledge skills as class skills.
- Added further abilities to the Mental Defenses ability.
- Changed his HD from d4 to d6.
- Removed craft (alchemy) from the continued learning ability, added the Efficient Alchemy ability instead.
- Added bonus feats.

October 26th
- Added the Bookworm ability.

October 28th
- Added epic progression, one additional general feat and a few epic feats.

Cheiromancer
2013-10-25, 04:01 PM
How would a low-level scholar contribute to defeating an encounter? Aside from maybe giving his allies a +1 to attack a few times per day, it looks like a wizard without spells.

JoshuaZ
2013-10-25, 04:31 PM
Is this intended as an NPC class?

As currently written this is T6 or the low end of T5. They can help out comrades in a few useful ways in combat but can't do anything else and won't be able to even do that that substantially.

At minimum, if you are going to do this, you should give it all knowledge skills not just a few. And they should (maybe at 3rd level?) be able to add their intelligence bonus or wisdom bonus (whichever is higher) to AC since otherwise they are the squishishest thing without mage armor ever.

If you are going to give them bonus feats as you suggest, the feats should include Skill Focus an Open Minded so they at least can do a job as a skill monkey, which they seem to sort of be approaching. It may make sense also to give them trap finding and give them Disable Device as a class skill.

This is only a start. They'd still need some other things to be worth playing.

Edit: Possible capstone:

Awesome by Analysis(ex): At 20th level, a scholar may substitute for a knowledge check for any skill check with a negative 2 penalty. They must have a plausible explanation for how that form of knowledge is relevant. Thus for example, they can instead of making a ride check, make a knowledge(history) check based on their substantial reading of the details of the history of horses in warfare.

(Yes, this would be not in the real world plausible. Yes it is based off the relevant TVTrope. That's why this is a capstone and is extraordinary. It would be cool.)

Brickroad
2013-10-25, 05:05 PM
I say take a page from Expertise and let the player pick new class skills as they go. If you are aiming for something that intentionally has no role in combat, but is relatively powerful, what about the ability to create Books of Inherent Ability? That remains knowledge-relevant without crossing over into magic, technically. Technically.

I don't know why but mundane classes spark strange thoughts in my mind, so I can't help finding the idea endearing, regardless. Now I can't stop imagining a campaign where the players are all underpowered niche-specific classes and have to avoid combat while accomplishing their goal.

Edit: Last point of advice, when I make "theme" classes a good rule of thumb is to have at least one defensive, one offensive, and two functional class features. If those don't flesh out enough to cover all 20 levels, sprinkle in bonus feats. High level features should dramatically expand the scope and avoid introducing new mechanics.

Diovid
2013-10-26, 01:33 AM
Alright, thanks for the advice. I made the following changes:

- Insight (Weaknesses) didn't appear in the table, fixed that.
- Added all knowledge skills as class skills.
- Added further abilities to the Mental Defenses ability.
- Changed his HD from d4 to d6.
- Removed craft (alchemy) from the continued learning ability, added the Efficient Alchemy ability instead.

Furthermore, I'd like to note that it's not really meant to be a powerhouse. Tier 4-ish maybe.

Edit:

I also added a few bonus feats.

Cheiromancer
2013-10-26, 07:48 AM
I know it's not a powerhouse, but I am having trouble seeing whether it would ever be useful. I.e., whether it is even a tier 5. Or whether it would ever be cool to play.

Take any of the standard adventuring party. We all know that wizards and clerics can do cool things, so look at the rogue. Even at low levels he can disarm a trap, open a lock, sneak past a sentry, etc.. Those are cool. Sneak attacking enemies, evading fireballs: also cool.

Fighters are often the subject of fixes and power-ups, but even a fighter built straight out of the PHB can do cool things. With great armor and hit points, a fighter can stand toe-to-toe with scary monsters. With power attack they do awesome damage; with cleave they can mow down multiple foes per round. In short, a low-level fighter (in an unoptimized group) can feel useful in a group and sometimes even awesome.

So what does a low level scholar do (up to 3rd level, say) to feel useful in a group? When do they get to be awesome? The Insight (Tactics) ability makes them maybe give allies a +1 to attack rolls. And that's about it. Frankly, it would be better to be a bard.

Amechra
2013-10-26, 01:36 PM
I'd say give them the equivalent of the Knowledge Power class feature from the Sage NPC class. (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=50.0)

It would greatly increase their "what I can do" abilities.

Heck, if you still want them to have a low-ish power level, but want them to be a bit more useful at low levels, give them Knowledge Devotion as a feat at 1st level; that can give them a +1 - +2 bonus on attack rolls against enemies that they succeed their knowledge check on.

Hell, I can see this class feature:

Badass Bookworm [Ex]: You don't have much practical experience in the field; however, you are so well studied you can make up for the difference.

At 1st level, you gain Knowledge Devotion as a bonus feat even if you do not qualify; for the purposes of this class' features, a creature that you are currently benefiting from Knowledge Devotion against is referred to as a Known creature.

At 5th level, your massive knowledge base expands; you may replace the benefits of your Knowledge Devotion roll with the benefits of one of your Insight Abilities instead.

For example, a Scholar of at least 8th level that would gain a +4 on attack rolls and damage rolls from Knowledge Devotion could instead gain a +4 to AC and Saves or +4d6 to their damage for the rest of the encounter.

At 9th level, the damage bonus from Knowledge Devotion increases to equal your Continued Learning bonus if it would be lower, and your critical threat range against Known creatures is increased by 1.

At 13th level, you may choose to change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion to one of your Insight Abilities or revert it as a Swift action. In addition, you may use Dread Secret against a Known creature as a Standard action at-will without expending uses of Insight.

At 17th level, you may change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion as an Immediate action; in addition, as a free action once per round, you may increase the bonus from Knowledge Devotion by 2, to a maximum of your Continued Learning bonus.

------------------------------

That would make them a bit more useful in combat, while staying pretty darn thematic.

Diovid
2013-10-26, 02:11 PM
I know it's not a powerhouse, but I am having trouble seeing whether it would ever be useful. I.e., whether it is even a tier 5. Or whether it would ever be cool to play.

So what does a low level scholar do (up to 3rd level, say) to feel useful in a group? When do they get to be awesome? The Insight (Tactics) ability makes them maybe give allies a +1 to attack rolls. And that's about it. Frankly, it would be better to be a bard.
Thinking about it I agree. I figured the scholar would get by using Use Magic Device at low levels since it's a class skill, would use his highest ability score (int), recieve a +1 bonus from Continued Learning and possibly more bonuses from synergy. However the Bard also has most of those benefits and more.

I'd say give them the equivalent of the Knowledge Power class feature from the Sage NPC class. (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=50.0)

It would greatly increase their "what I can do" abilities.
I know spellcasting is always a good option but it was something which I wanted to avoid.

Heck, if you still want them to have a low-ish power level, but want them to be a bit more useful at low levels, give them Knowledge Devotion as a feat at 1st level; that can give them a +1 - +2 bonus on attack rolls against enemies that they succeed their knowledge check on.

Hell, I can see this class feature:

Badass Bookworm [Ex]: You don't have much practical experience in the field; however, you are so well studied you can make up for the difference.

At 1st level, you gain Knowledge Devotion as a bonus feat even if you do not qualify; for the purposes of this class' features, a creature that you are currently benefiting from Knowledge Devotion against is referred to as a Known creature.

At 5th level, your massive knowledge base expands; you may replace the benefits of your Knowledge Devotion roll with the benefits of one of your Insight Abilities instead.

For example, a Scholar of at least 8th level that would gain a +4 on attack rolls and damage rolls from Knowledge Devotion could instead gain a +4 to AC and Saves or +4d6 to their damage for the rest of the encounter.

At 9th level, the damage bonus from Knowledge Devotion increases to equal your Continued Learning bonus if it would be lower, and your critical threat range against Known creatures is increased by 1.

At 13th level, you may choose to change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion to one of your Insight Abilities or revert it as a Swift action. In addition, you may use Dread Secret against a Known creature as a Standard action at-will without expending uses of Insight.

At 17th level, you may change the benefits of Knowledge Devotion as an Immediate action; in addition, as a free action once per round, you may increase the bonus from Knowledge Devotion by 2, to a maximum of your Continued Learning bonus.

------------------------------

That would make them a bit more useful in combat, while staying pretty darn thematic.
This however is something I like. I'll start by giving him Knowledge Devotion. I'll have to think about the rest.

Diovid
2013-10-27, 05:14 AM
Alright I added the Bookworm ability (which is a slightly reworked and reworded version of the ability Amechra suggested).

What do you guys think?

Diovid
2013-10-28, 03:24 PM
Added epic progression for the scholar, in addition to one general feat and a few epic feats.