The Arcane Artisan (NPC PrC)

[Iituem]

Prestige Class: The Arcane Artisan
Because sometimes NPCs specialise too.

The Arcane Artisan is a prestige class with NPCs in mind, although players could presumably take it as well. Magic may not be freely available to the masses, but once in a while the odd blacksmith ends up picking up a wizard's grimoire off the back of a wagon and figures out the rudiments of the art. Sooner or later, he ends up figuring ways of improving his trade with it, and the Arcane Artisan is born.

Hit Die: d4

Requirements: Craft (any) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 2 ranks

The Arcane Artisan gains no weapon or armour proficiencies. The Artisan's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Craft, Knowledge (all skills, taken indiviually), Profession, Spellcraft and ten other skills of the character's choosing (potentially including those normally restricted to other classes).

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier

The Arcane Artisan

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

1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+2|Book Magic

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+3|Arcane Alacrity

3rd|
+1|
+1|
+3|
+3|Brew Potion, Craft Wondrous Item

4th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|Arcane Ingenuity

5th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|Craft Magic Arms and Armour

6th|
+3|
+2|
+5|
+5|Minor Creation

7th|
+3|
+2|
+5|
+5|Fabricate

8th|
+4|
+2|
+6|
+6|Major Creation

9th|
+4|
+3|
+6|
+6|Craft Construct, Craft Rod

10th|
+5|
+3|
+7|
+7|True Creation[/table]

Class Features

Book Magic: An Arcane Artisan can learn spells by transcribing them into a grimoire as if he were a wizard. He has no ability to cast these spells however, instead learning them solely for the purpose of incorporating them into magic items. His Arcane Artisan class level counts as his caster level where it is important. If the Artisan already has levels in an arcane spellcaster class, he may use his spellcaster class level and his artisan class level as caster level for crafting magic items or obtaining additional Craft Item feats, but only his spellcaster level for casting spells or learning new spells. He can cast spells from wands and scrolls with a caster level equal to his Arcane Artisan level.

Arcane Techniques:

Arcane Alacrity: The Arcane Artisan uses limited magical techniques to significantly speed up the process of crafting. Although his techniques are still mundane, his magical methods accomplish them at a far greater rate than normal. Craft checks for items are measured in sp per day and gp per week (normal rate is cp per day, sp per week).

Arcane Ingenuity: The Arcane Artisan tailors a series of magical techniques to support his favoured crafts, granting him greater finesse in their practise. The Artisan receives a +2 insight bonus to three Crafts or Professions of his choice.

Minor Creation: As the spell cast by an 11th level wizard, three times per day.

Fabricate: As the spell cast by a 12th level wizard, five times per day.

Major Creation: As the spell cast by a 13th level wizard, three times per day.

True Creation: As the spell cast by a 15th level wizard, once per day.


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Funny, the ideas you have on a train in the middle of the day. At least I didn't do the Mushroom farmer prestige class.

[Matthew]

Interesting Prestige Class. Seems well balanced a fits a niche in D&D.

If I understand it correctly, it is currently possible for Experts and Commoners to enter this Class at Level 6, as well as for Adepts to enter it. I kind of understand Experts being able to become Arcane Artisans, but not Commoners.

I would probably have made being able to cast at least one level of Spells a prerequisite.

[Lord Iames Osari]

This is like a souped-up version of the Magewright NPC class from Eberron.

[Lapak]

I like this a lot. Consider at least the basic idea adopted!

[Iituem]

Experts are commoners with better opportunities to learn. The expert is the young brother whose parents scrimp and save to send him to learn to become an advocate in the city, the commoner is the older brother who stays at home and tends the farm, or the blacksmith who's never left the village in his life.

That said, the expert is probably far more likely to have access to the materials (books, arcane formulae etc) to actually learn the basics of arcane magic in the first place and obtain the class (you have to get those 2 ranks of spellcraft from somewhere, and if you're a commoner they're going to be cross-class).

[Matthew]

Not my in my view, but I suppose it's all a matter of perspective.