Arcane Smith
Kurik Ironhammer, dwarven arcane smith
Arcane smiths are artificers and wizards who have dabbled in each other's crafts. Originally a small sect of potent magic-users within House Cannith, the secrets of this group have since spread out to the larger magical community, and it they not uncommon amongst those who seek arcane power through any medium. By blending the arts of wizardry with the slower methods of infusions and magical item creation, arcane smiths embody the principle of magic being the life's blood of the adventuring world. The most potent of these smiths learn the art of staff craft and learn to use the most potent of magic weapons against their foes while deepening their learning of esoteric arts of item creation.
Most start their careers as artificers and through their research pick up wizardry, but some find that they're arcane power blossoms through the force of their own personality and take up the call of sorcery. Rarely do bards or other arcane traditions take up the mantle of the arcane smith.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements:
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks, Use Magical Device 8 ranks
Feats: Magical Aptitude, any three item creation feats, any two metamagic feats
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 2nd level arcane spells and use 2nd level infusions.
Arcane Smith
| Level | BAB | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells per Day |
|---|
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Retain essence, arcane item creation | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Bonus item creation feat | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Arcane augment | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Bonus item creation feat | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Craft staff | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Metamagic spelltrigger (staves) | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 8th | +4 | +2 | +2 | +6 | Bonus item creation feat | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Staff mastery | +1 level of arcane spellcasting class / +1 level of infusion using class |
Class Skills: The arcane smith’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (engineering) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magical Device (Cha).
Skill Points per Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier
Class Features:
All of the following are features of the arcane smith prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Arcane smiths gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day: When a new arcane smith level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class and any one infusion using class he belonged to previously. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that he adds the level of arcane smith to the level of whatever other arcane spellcasting class and infusion using class the character has, and then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class or more than one infusion using class before he became a arcane smith, he must decide to which class he adds each level of arcane smith for the purpose of determining spells per day.
Retain Essence (Su): At 1st level, an arcane smith gains the ability to salvage XP from a magic item and use those points to create another magic item. This ability functions exactly like the 5th level artificer ability of the same name. If the arcane smith already possesses this ability, he may instead gain a bonus artisan feat (Exceptional Artisan, Extraordinary Artisan, or Legendary Artisan; Eberron Campaign Setting).
Arcane Item Creation (Su): The arcane smith can add levels of this class as well as levels he possesses in the wizard class or sorcerer class to his artificer level when creating magical items with his Item Creation class feature. These wizard or sorcerer levels count for the purposes of the item creation class feature as artificer levels. The character only adds his wizard level or sorcerer level to his artificer level when making items with arcane spells as a requirement.
Bonus Item Creation Feat: The arcane smith gains a bonus item creation feat of his choice that he qualifies for.
Arcane Augment (Su): At 3rd level, the arcane smith learns the ability to hasten his infusions by using arcane spell energy from spells he has yet to cast. This ability may be used on infusions that take 1 minute to infuse. The character spends an arcane spell of the same level or higher of the level of the infusion he is attempting to use. This infusion now has a casting time of one full round action. The arcane smith can do this a number of times per day equal to his primary arcane spellcasting ability modifier (wizards would use Intelligence; sorcerers would use Charisma, etc).
Craft Staff: The arcane smith gains craft staff as a bonus feat. If he already possesses this feat, he may instead select any metamagic feat for which he qualifies.
Metamagic Spell Trigger (Staves) (Su): The arcane smith is a master of magical combat, learning to apply his mastery of metamagical techniques to his skills with a staff, the instrument of the mightiest magi. Using this ability expends additional charges from the staff equal to the number of effective spell levels the metamagic feat would add to a spell. For example, the arcane smith could quicken a spell cast from a staff by spending 5 charges (4 additional charges). If the character is an artificer with this ability, he may instead opt for an item creation feat or metamagic feat.
Staff Mastery (Ex): Having learned to tap into the caged power within the staves he uses, the arcane smith is capable of coaxing more power from it, and he learns to do it with greater ease by increasing the drain on his staff. The character may improve the caster level of the staff that he uses by adding his Intelligence modifier to the effect of the spell. For example, an arcane smith (with a 16 Intelligence) using a staff of fire would add +3 to the caster level of the staff. Use of this ability drains an additional 1d4 charges from his staff. He may also take 10 on Use Magic Device checks when using staves.
RSS Feeds: 
[3.5] The architect of magic, the Arcane Smith [PrC]
