A "Gem Wizard" concept.

[tadkins]

Basically an arcane spellcaster with a love/affinity for gems, that works with them and incorporates them into spellcasting somehow. Kind of a weird idea but I wondered how it could be done.
A google search did bring up this feat for me.

I'm not entirely sure how good these would be though, as at face value metamagic rods just seem superior all around. Much less building a character based around making and using metamagic gems. That's just one potential idea I had for such a character though. I'm not entirely fixated on it for the concept. Thoughts/ideas?

[chaos_redefined]

Would you accept a psion, specifically a shaper? They have a default crystal flavour, which is easily refluffed as gems without anyone batting an eye. The other catch is that it's either 3.5 or DSP's work that you'd be using.

[PrismCat21]

Faerun has gem magic users. Here's a feat for you.
They also have rune magic that you could always refluff as gems.
Gems can be used just like potions using alternate item rules

[khadgar567]

or you have spheres of power wizard with gem magic drawback and skilled casting gemcutting.

[tadkins]

Thanks y'all so far, keep 'em coming. :)

Would you accept a psion, specifically a shaper? They have a default crystal flavour, which is easily refluffed as gems without anyone batting an eye. The other catch is that it's either 3.5 or DSP's work that you'd be using.

I'd like to keep it as an arcane spellcaster if possible (psion just doesn't really fit the image I'm thinking of) but other than that material from different sources are great. Just in case I want to use it in Pathfinder, or 3.5, or what have you.

[BWR]

Some spells from earlier editions that may be useful, either directly or as inspiration for other things:

Blastjewel
(Evocation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Casting Time: 1 action
Components: V, M
Range: touch
Duration: special
Target: 1 gem worth at least 500 gp
Saving throw: Reflex half
Spell resistance: no

You inscribe an invisible rune on a valuable gem, which cannot be set in jewelry or a wall or similar. At any later date you may mentally command the gem to explode, dealing 1d6/level (maximum 10d6) points of piercing damage from the shrapnel to all creatures in 20 feet. You may trigger the gem from any distance on the same planet.
Material Components: a gem worth at least 500 gp, which is consumed upon triggering the spell
Known to: dragons


Facet
(Transmutation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Components: V, M
Range: touch
Duration: Instantaneous
Target: 1 gem
Saving throw: Fortitude negates
Spell resistance: yes

You improve the value of a cut gem by removing imperfections, polishing it, fixing the cut, etc. The value of the gem doubles but it must make a Fortitude save or be destroyed in the process, and this save cannot be avoided in any way short of a wish or miracle. No gem can be enhanced beyond 25 000 gp in value.
Material Components: a jeweller's cloth
Note: Birthright


Janga's Jewel
(Divination)
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Casting Time: 1 action
Components: V, S, M
Range: touch
Duration: 24 hours
Target: 1 gem

You imbue the target gem with one use each of know alignment, discern lies, arrow of location and an prediction of one event in the next 10 minutes, which is accurate so long as no one acts on the information to prevent or alter the event.
Material Components: a gem worth at least 400 gp

Sand Gems
(Transmutation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, M
Range: touch
Duration: Instantaneous
Effect: 1 handful of sand

You transform a handful of sand to a crystalline gem of your choice, up to 1000 gp in value. You permanently lose 1 hit point which may not be avoided or regained by any means short of wish or miracle.
Material Components: handful of sand

Transmute Gem
(Transmutation)
Level: Clr/Or 3
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, DF
Range: touch
Duration: permanent
Target: one gem
Saving throw: special
Spell resistance: yes

You can alter a gem, increasing or decreasing attributes of it. This spell can either alter a gem while keeping the same gp cost of it or attempt to refine the gem to increase cost. If the GP value is stable, gains in one area come at the cost of loss in another. For instance, one could make a gem bigger, but it would lose clarity and purity. A purer gem would be reduced in size or alter shape to a less valuable cut. This effect, while permanent, does not require a saving throw.
If you attempt to increase the value of a gem, it must make a Fortitude save DC 15 to survive the process. You must make a Craft (jewelry) check.
DC price increae
15 25%
20 50%
25 100%
30 150%

In any case, a gem may only be subject to this spell once. Any further attempts destroy the gem to the point of worthlessness.
Granted by: dwarven deities


Triad Gem
(Transmutation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 9
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Components: V, S, M
Range: touch
Duration: special
Target: 1 ruby

You store up to three spells that cannot have a combined casting time or more than 1 minute in a specially prepared ruby that may be released as a standard action by concentration or breaking the gem. If you are the caster you may choose which spell to release, otherwise a randomly chosen spell is released on a randomly chosend target/area. You may release one spell at a time or up to three, releasing one per round in the order you choose. If not used, the ruby loses one spell per day.
Material Components: a ruby worth 500 gp
Note: known to Sammaster in FR

Vision Crystal
(Divination)
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Components: V, S, F
Range: touch
Duration: 1 minutes/level
Target: 1 object

You turn one clear or reflective object, e.g. a mirror, gem, crystal ball as a crystal ball. You can employ read magic, detect magic, comprehend languages, low-light vision, darkvision and any other detect effects through the focus.
Focus: the object to scry through

[Feantar]

Transmute Gem
(Transmutation)
Level: Clr/Or 3
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, DF
Range: touch
Duration: permanent
Target: one gem
Saving throw: special
Spell resistance: yes

You can alter a gem, increasing or decreasing attributes of it. This spell can either alter a gem while keeping the same gp cost of it or attempt to refine the gem to increase cost. If the GP value is stable, gains in one area come at the cost of loss in another. For instance, one could make a gem bigger, but it would lose clarity and purity. A purer gem would be reduced in size or alter shape to a less valuable cut. This effect, while permanent, does not require a saving throw.
If you attempt to increase the value of a gem, it must make a Fortitude save DC 15 to survive the process. You must make a Craft (jewelry) check.
DC price increae
15 25%
20 50%
25 100%
30 150%

In any case, a gem may only be subject to this spell once. Any further attempts destroy the gem to the point of worthlessness.
Granted by: dwarven deities

Where is this from? I just pictured an undead necromancer increasing their onyx gem's value.

[Mongoose19]

The oread has an alternate race trait called oread gem magic that let's you modify spells with gem stones. Kinda cool option on the race front if oread is allowed.

[grarrrg]

This idea is outrageous.
Truly, truly outrageous.

[BWR]

Where is this from? I just pictured an undead necromancer increasing their onyx gem's value.

Dragon Magazine Annual #3

I'm sure a necromancer could do so, but it would have to be one with a patron from the dwarven pantheon who is cool with undead.