[Base] How to make a caster sane? Easy, Mad

[Phosphate]

The Gifted Apprentice

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A gifted apprentice is a person with a natural inclination towards magic that nevertheless studies to extend his powers through discipline.

Alignment: Any, although apprentices are rarely Evil at low levels.
Starting Gold: as wizard/2
Starting Age: Simple

The Gifted Apprentice

{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special |0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|+0|+0|+0|+2|Further Study|1|1|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3||2|2|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3||3|3|1|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

4th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Counterspell|4|4|2|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

5th|+2|+1|+1|+4||4|4|3|1|—|—|—|—|—|—

6th|+3|+2|+2|+5||4|4|4|2|—|—|—|—|—|—

7th|+3|+2|+2|+5||4|4|4|3|1|—|—|—|—|—

8th|+4|+2|+2|+6||4|4|4|4|2|—|—|—|—|—

9th|+4|+3|+3|+6|Efficient Learning|4|4|4|4|3|1|—|—|—|—

10th|+5|+3|+3|+7||4|4|4|4|4|2|—|—|—|—

11th|+5|+3|+3|+7||4|4|4|4|4|3|1|—|—|—

12th|+6/+1|+4|+4|+8||4|4|4|4|4|4|2|—|—|—

13th|+6/+1|+4|+4|+8||4|4|4|4|4|4|3|1|—|—

14th|+7/+2|+4|+4|+9|Graduate (+2 Int)|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|2|—|—

15th|+7/+2|+5|+5|+9||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|1|—

16th|+8/+3|+5|+5|+10||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|2|—

17th|+8/+3|+5|+5|+10||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|3|1

18th|+9/+4|+6|+6|+11||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|2

19th|+9/+4|+6|+6|+11||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4

20th|+10/+5|+6|+6|+12||4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4

[/table]

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Spells Known
{table]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|3|2|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

2nd|4|2|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

3rd|4|3|1|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

4th|5|3|2|—|—|—|—|—|—|—

5th|5|4|2|1|—|—|—|—|—|—

6th|6|4|3|2|—|—|—|—|—|—

7th|6|5|3|2|1|—|—|—|—|—

8th|7|5|4|3|2|—|—|—|—|—

9th|7|5|4|3|2|1|—|—|—|—

10th|8|5|4|4|3|2|—|—|—|—

11th|8|5|4|4|3|2|1|—|—|—

12th|9|5|4|4|4|3|2|—|—|—

13th|9|5|4|4|4|3|2|1|—|—

14th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|2|—|—

15th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|2|1|—

16th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|3|2|—

17th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|3|2|1

18th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|3|2|1

19th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|3|2|1

20th|9|5|4|4|4|3|3|3|2|1

[/table]

Class Features

Class Skills: Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Hit Die: d4

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: as wizard, but without quarterstaff


Spellcasting: An apprentice casts arcane spells, both prepared and spontaneous. The spontaneous spells are drawn from the sor/wiz spell list, while the prepared ones can be from any list as long as the apprentice scribbled them in his spellbook (however, if a spell that is on multiple spell lists is also on the sor/wiz spell list, it may ONLY be prepared at the level it has on that list).

To learn or cast a spontaneous spell, an apprentice must have a Constitution score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. To scribble and use a prepared spell, an apprentice must have a number of Spellcraft ranks equal to double the spell level, and a Wisdom score of at least 10 + spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an apprentice’s spell, regardless if prepared or spontaneous, is 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier.

The apprentice is limited in how many spells he can learn, as shown on the above spoilered table. Unlike a sorcerer, an apprentice CAN'T change his spells known list.

Like other spellcasters, an apprentice can cast only a certain number of spells per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on the table above. He does NOT receive bonus spells beyond that. These slots are used both for spontaneous casting and prepared casting.

Likewise, the number of spells he can prepare in a day is limited even more. He may only prepare a number of spells per day equal to either his class level or Int mod, whichever is LOWER.

An apprentice may only apply metamagic feats to prepared spells.


Further Study (Ex): At level 1, and every 3 levels thereafter, an apprentice may choose a Knowledge skill to become a class skill for them.

Counterspell: At level 4 an apprentice may use the counterspell action as a sorcerer of his level.

Efficient Learning: Beyond level 9 an apprentice will receive 2 more skill points when he levels up.

Graduate: A level 14 apprentice gains a permanent +2 bonus to his base Int score.

[Frog Dragon]

This guy is badly underpowered at the first two levels, though I can imagine that being able to cast any arcane spell could lead to abuses. Say hello to first level Haste! The MAD issues aren't that crippling even, since I can imagine that this guy would mostly use the spontaneous casting, with a few oddballs from the prepared casting. It'd be mostly sorcerer stats, with a little int on top.

Eventually, he becomes just as ridiculous as sorcerers and wizards in general, if not more (Trapsmith list says hello). At 5th level and onwards, this just exacerbates 15-minute workday.

I'm not sure why these guys have stat bonuses. Also, what exactly is the "counterspell" ability even adding to the class?

[Phosphate]

Say hello to first level Haste!

Um...what?! Haste is level 3.

Eventually, he becomes just as ridiculous as sorcerers and wizards in general, if not more (Trapsmith list says hello).

More? It has less spells, so I can't see how that works.

I'm not sure why these guys have stat bonuses. Also, what exactly is the "counterspell" ability even adding to the class?

Dunno, I might remove them or not, still thinking about it (it fills the flavor for an apprentice to develop his mental stats upon gaining experience). The counterspell is adding...the ability to counterspell . Unlike other spellcasters, early level apprentices can't counterspell at all. Or are you saying counterspell shouldn't exist at all?

[Sypher667]

Um...what?! Haste is level 3.

Not exactly.

The Trapsmith is a prestige class with its own Arcane spellcasting. One of its first level spells is haste.

[The Winter King]

Not only that, but many spellists have spells gained at earlier levels, balanced usually by either not getting to choose your spells or having a crappy spellist. but this guy, he can cherry pick his spells.

Also this class is not MAD. You only need 2 stats, Int and Con. Cha is for saves and most of the best spells are save-less. You want mad? make spells known based on Int, Spells/day on Con, and ability to cast spells on Cha.

This class also does not state where the prepped spells are coming from. Are they on top of your spontaneous slots or do they use them up?

Also this line "while the arcane ones can be from any list as long as the apprentice scribbled them in his spellbook" is confusing. He is an arcane caster, all of his spells are arcane, perhaps you meant prepared spells can be drawn from any arcane list?

Another problem is ability score boosts are not a very good class feature unless you have a good reason(turning into a monster, ect...) and is lazy.

Sorry if I seem a bit harsh.

Finally the spellcraft rank requirement is pointless. You only have about 5 skills, and will be optimizing Int. You will always have max spellcraft unless you are dumb. Not only that but you give a boost to skill points and Int in the class!

[Phosphate]

Not exactly.

The Trapsmith is a prestige class with its own Arcane spellcasting. One of its first level spells is haste.

Oh, darn. But there's an easy way to fix that loophole :D.
Done.

Not only that, but many spellists have spells gained at earlier levels, balanced usually by either not getting to choose your spells or having a crappy spellist. but this guy, he can cherry pick his spells.

Do you think it's fine as I've written it now?

You want mad? make spells known based on Int, Spells/day on Con, and ability to cast spells on Cha.

That actually makes a lot of sense :D. Will do (not exactly like that though).

This class also does not state where the prepped spells are coming from. Are they on top of your spontaneous slots or do they use them up?

They use them up. Sorry, should've been more specific.

Also this line "while the arcane ones can be from any list as long as the apprentice scribbled them in his spellbook" is confusing. He is an arcane caster, all of his spells are arcane, perhaps you meant prepared spells can be drawn from any arcane list?

Well, it was late and I was tired and etc :p...

Another problem is ability score boosts are not a very good class feature unless you have a good reason(turning into a monster, ect...) and is lazy.

Um, ok. I saw them being used extensively in some popular classes (Wyrd-blooded comes to mind). About the lazy...well, this is a non-gish spellcaster. He's supposed to have as little class features as possible. Meh, I'll just remove all of them except Graduate.

Finally the spellcraft rank requirement is pointless. You only have about 5 skills, and will be optimizing Int. You will always have max spellcraft unless you are dumb. Not only that but you give a boost to skill points and Int in the class!

It's there for flavor :)).