The Spellscripter [3.5 base class], Suggestions Welcome

[DrakebloodIV]

The Spellscripter

Desription- A Spellscripter, though similar to a mage or sorcerer, uses magic in a different fashion. Rather than preparing spells in their mind, they etch them onto different surfaces. This allows them to be much more durable in combat, wearing heavy armor.

Level	BaB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	Spell Level
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Spell Etching, Etching Style	1
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Meta Etching	1
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Etching Style	2
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Meta Etching	2
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4		3
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	Etching Style, Meta Etching	3
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5		4
8th	+6/+1	+6	+2	+6	Meta Etching	4
9th	+6/+1	+6	+3	+6	Etching Style	5
10th	+7/+2	+7	+3	+7	Meta Etching	5
11th	+8/+3	+7	+3	+7		6
12th	+9/+4	+8	+4	+8	Etching Style, Meta Etching	6
13th	+9/+4	+8	+4	+8		7
14th	+10/+5	+9	+4	+9	Meta Etching	7
15th	+11/+6/+1	+9	+5	+9	Etching Style	8
16th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Meta Etching	8
17th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10		9
18th	+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+11	Etching Style, Meta Etching	9
19th	+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+11		9
20th	+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	Meta Etching	9

Class abilities

Spell Etching-
When a Spellscripter Etches spells onto an object, there are several styles of Etchings which must be learned individually. Each one has different effects, as well as the forms of spells that a spellscripter can learn and the Meta etches that a Spellscripter gains every other level. Saves against etchings are calculated based on a Spellscripters Etching level plus their Int modifier. Spellscripters, like wizards, may study and scribe in a spellbook as many spells as will fit in that book. Etching normally takes a full round action per spell level and may be done in any armor.

Meta Etchings
Meta etchings are alternate forms of etchings which either take longer to cast or can only be etched with lower level spells, if it could be both the caster may echange one for the other on a 1 to 1 ratio. Some Meta Etchings may only be used with specific Etching Styles. Meta etchings take up additional space equal to the number of rounds added plus the number of levels required below max. Meta Etchings may also be bought with feats, but these do not count towards your total Meta Etchings.

Spoiler

Name	Requirements	Abilities	Time or max level	Styles
Empower	None	Variable Numeretic Effects increased by one half	+2 rounds or 2 levels below max	All
Enlarge	None	Spell Ranges are Doubled	+1 round or 1 level below max	All
Extend	None	Spell Durations are Doubled	+1 round or 1 level below max	All
Heighten	None	Increased Effective spell level	X levels below max	All
Maximize	None	All Variable Numeretic Effects are maximum	+3 rounds or 3 levels below max	All
Extra Trigger	An additional trigger may be put on the etching	+1 round
Unbound Trigger	One trigger on this etching may be changed to a trigger not allowed by the spell normally	+2 rounds
Quicketch	You may etch this spell as a swift action	4 levels below max	All
Arcing Etch	This meta etch causes a spell not to hit the person who activated the trigger, but to instead arc towards one target within 20 feet, this target is random	+2 rounds or 2 levels below max, or 3 of each to make the target chosen by the Spellscripter who etched the spell	all
Multi use	Spells cast using this meta etch can be repeated each time the trigger is activated up to a certain limit	+2 rounds or 2 levels per repetition	Any

More meta stuff to come, I just need to get a rough out there to begin editing other stuff

Etching Styles
A Spellscripter must learn to etch spells in different ways, with different triggers and on different objects. The materials used to etch spells may vary, but it generally costs more to etch spells designed to last longer. Etching space is the amount of space an object has to have spells put on it, higher level styles generally require scriptstones to hold their space for them. Spells take up etching space equal to their spell level plus level adjustments from metaetchings. Etching Styles may also be bought with Feats, but those do not count to your total Etching Styles.

A note on Etching Order

Spoiler

All Etches with the same Trigger are activated in reverse order of etching. But etches with different triggers can be activated separately.

Example: Steve the Spellscripter puts three different etches on his armor. Two are Hit activated and one is Block activated. From now on the two Hit activated ones will be called spells A and C, A was cast first and C was cast second. Spell B was cast in between, but thats irrelevant. Fred the Fighter (yes, Fred, feel the glory) attacks Steve three times, first hits, second hits and third is blocked. So the spellcasting order would be as such:

A
C
B

Hope that clarifies things

Etching Style List

Spoiler

Style Name	Triggers	Requirements	Effect & Modifications	Etching space
Weapon Etching	On successful attack/crit	None	Spell is released to the target of the attack, if an AoE spell it is centered around the target, if it would have a range that range is now touch, if it would have a Ref Saving throw that save is immediately failed by being hit by the attack. On a crit, a Spellscribe may choose to release all of their spells stored in a weapon, but those spells have the save requirements on them reduced by 1/2 the level of the spell	Max damage*Enchantment total
Armor Etching	On hit, crit or block	None	Spell is released with the person who made the attack as the target. If it would have a range that range is now touch, if it is an AoE spell it is centered around the Spellscripter	Armor Bonus*Enchantment total
Magic Etching	When a spell is cast	None	Spell is released with the target as either the Spellscripter or whomever cast the spell. A specific spell may be named, or a specific school, or a specification between divine and arcane casting or just a general 'if any spell is cast'	Total Spellscripter level
Enchantment, Lesser	Any trigger	At least 2 other Etchings	Spell is released as a normal spell, with the target being the person the Enchantment was put on	Infinite, but the Spellscripter must make a concentration check versus 10+the level of the spell being cast (any additional actions during the same round increase this check by 10). If multiple lesser enchantment spells are set off in the same round one must be let fail. Lesser Enchantments may only stay on the target for 24 hours before having to be reapplied.
Enchantment, Greater	Any trigger	At least 4 other Etchings	Spell is released as normal, but with as long a duration as the Spellscripter likes. The spellscripter may end any Greater Enchantment of theirs in effect at any time and may put triggers to end the spell on as well.	Etching space of the scryptsone used to channel it
Rune, Lesser	Any trigger	At least 2 other Etchings	Spell is released as normal, with whomever set off the trigger as the target.	Infinite, but the Spellscripter must make a concentration check versus 10+the level of the spell being cast (any additional actions during the same round increase this check by 10). If multiple lesser rune spells are set off in the same round one must be let fail.
Rune, Greater	Any trigger	At least 4 other Etchings	Spell is released as normal, if it has a duration that duration is instead as long as the spellscripter likes. The spellscripter may end any Greater Rune etching of theirs in effect at any time, and may add triggers to end the spell as well.	Etching space of the scryptstone used to channel it
Blood, Lesser	Any trigger, but recieves an additional trigger of 'if touched by a Good creature	At least 2 other Etchings, Evil Alignment	Spell is released as normal, but in order to etch this spell you must do damage to another spellcaster in a ritual.	HP of damage done to a spellcaster in a ritual spell
Blood, Greater	Any trigger, but recieves an additional trigger of 'if touched by a Good creature	At least 4 other Etchings, Evil allignment	Spell is released as normal, but with infinite duration. In order to perform this spell you must preform a ritual which deals ability damage to the targets spellcasting stat	Ability Damage done/2
Grenade	Contact or proximity to another creature	Spell activates as normal, with the landing point of the Scryptstone. The attack is treated like a grenade like weapon	Etching space of the scrypstone used to cast it

Spellscriper Spell List
When I get around to it, alright?

Scryptstones
Scryptstones are a form of magic item used to channel runes which the caster is not directly interacting with the rune. Unlike ordinary spells cast on other objects which require the caster to make a concentration check, spells cast with scryptstones effectively make the concentration check for the caster and channel spells for as long as the caster likes. However, if a scryptstone is taken more than 5 feet away from the caster and the casters other scryptsones the spell instantly dispelled. Some objects, like phylacetaries, may have scryptsones inserted into them, and the magic nature of those objects enhances the power of the scryptstone. While a Spellscripter may have more than one scriptstone in their posession, they may not use multiple scriptstones to cast a single spell.

Spoiler

Name	Scryptsone etching space	Cost	Additional components and effects
1st level scriptsone	1	1,000gp
2nd level scripstone	2	4,000gp
3rd level scriptstone	3	9,000gp
4th level scriptstone	4	16,000gp
5th level scripstone	5	25,000gp
6th level scriptstone	6	36,000gp
7th level scriptstone	7	49,000gp
8th level scriptstone	8	64,000gp
9th level scriptsone	9	81,000gp
Phlacetary scripstone	-	Cost of ordinary scriptstone +10%	This scriptstone gets an additional etching space in it and may be used to cast spells even when the Lichs soul is within the phylacetary
Brittle scryptsone	-	Cost of ordinary scriptsone /5	This scryptstone may only be used for a week total time, after that it shatters and any spells still on it immediately fail.
Aligned Scryptstone	-	Cost of ordinary scryptstone -5%	This scryptstone always has the trigger 'if touched by a <opposite alignment> character and may only be used by a character of the same alignment as it. This modification may be taken twice. One can also forfeit the price reduction to allow this scryptstone to do an extra 10% damage to <opposite alignment>

Questions, comments, and suggestions always welcome.

[Dragon Elite]

Wow... I'm no good with balance, but it sounds cool. Does the armor etching go before or after the attack deals damage?

[DrakebloodIV]

Originally Posted by Dragon Elite

Wow... I'm no good with balance, but it sounds cool. Does the armor etching go before or after the attack deals damage?

Hmm, the trigger goes off on a hit, crit or block. So I would assume that the spell would activate after the attack did what it did.

[Dragon Elite]

Phew... I was seeing some DR giving spell that went off before any attack. That would be bad.

[DrakebloodIV]

Originally Posted by Dragon Elite

Phew... I was seeing some DR giving spell that went off before any attack. That would be bad.

That would be amazing. That goes beyond cheese, a fine gouda if I say so myself. Although you could have a lot of triggered runes on their so that each time an attack lands another DR giving spell would activate afterword. Then you could totally OD on DR.

[Dragon Elite]

Or explosive runes on the armor. Or even Barkskin on the armor.

[DrakebloodIV]

Im not sure the Spellscripter will even have Explosive Runes. Cause there are other spells they could cast that would do that but better. Which is weird cause thats really the spell that inspired the class.

[Dragon Elite]

I just think you should start with maybe two etching styles. I would probably pick armor etching, then weapon etching.

[DrakebloodIV]

Originally Posted by Dragon Elite

I just think you should start with maybe two etching styles. I would probably pick armor etching, then weapon etching.

But by giving them only one it forces them to make a choice in style for the first couple levels, later they can etch both but in the beginning by only doing one creativity and skill are required to keep from being less than effective.

Also, do you guys think this class should have a reduced progression in comparison to a Wizard?

[olelia]

This is so far a very good read....I urge you to continue .