Earth Dreamer Base Class [3.5 PEACH]

jiriku · 06-05-2010, 01:20 AM

EARTH DREAMER

"Deep are the dreams of mountains, and the earth trembles with the power of their dreaming."

-- Races of Stone

This is an attempt to translate the earth dreamer prestige class from Races of Stone (pp 110-12) into a full 20-level base class. I started with earth dreamer, stole some mechanics from druid and beguiler, and then gave it a bunch of spells and powers related to situational awareness, steadfastness against blows, passage through the earth, mystical stone/soul mojo, and of course, smashing things with very large rocks!

Designer's Notes:

Spoiler

Change Log:

Spoiler

Adaptations:

Spoiler

GAME RULE INFORMATION
Earth dreamers have the following game statistics.

Abilities: Intelligence is the most important ability for an earth dreamer, as it determines how powerful a spell he can cast, how many spells he can cast per day, and how hard those spells are to resist. Constitution determines the effectiveness of some of the earth dreamer's secondary abilities, and an earth dreamer benefits from a high Dexterity score much as a sorcerer or wizard would.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	-0-	-1-	-2-	-3-	-4-	-5-	-6-	-7-	-8-	-9-
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Armored mage, earth sense, extra stability	5	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Earth companion	5	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3rd	+1	+3	+1	+3	Earth soul (30/10/1)	5	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4th	+2	+4	+1	+4		5	5	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5th	+2	+4	+1	+4	Earth dream	5	5	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
6th	+3	+5	+2	+5		5	5	5	3	-	-	-	-	-	-
7th	+3	+5	+2	+5	Earth soul (60/20/2)	5	5	5	4	-	-	-	-	-	-
8th	+4	+6	+2	+6		5	5	5	5	3	-	-	-	-	-
9th	+4	+6	+3	+6	Earth sight	5	5	5	5	4	-	-	-	-	-
10th	+5	+7	+3	+7		5	5	5	5	5	3	-	-	-	-
11th	+5	+7	+3	+7	Earth soul (90/40/4)	5	5	5	5	5	4	-	-	-	-
12th	+6/+1	+8	+4	+8	Earth glide	5	5	5	5	5	5	3	-	-	-
13th	+6/+1	+8	+4	+8		5	5	5	5	5	5	4	-	-	-
14th	+7/+2	+9	+4	+9	Earth elemental wild shape 1/day (large)	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	3	-	-
15th	+7/+2	+9	+5	+9	Earth soul (120/60/6)	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4	-	-
16th	+8/+3	+10	+5	+10		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	3	-
17th	+8/+3	+10	+5	+10	Earth elemental wild shape 2/day	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4	-
18th	+9/+4	+11	+6	+11		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	3
19th	+9/+4	+11	+6	+11	Earth soul (150/100/10)	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	Earth elemental wild shape 3/day (huge)	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5

CLASS SKILLS (2 + Int mod per level, x4 at 1st level)
An earth dreamer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).

"Let's get ready to RRRUMBLE!!!"

--Michael Buffer, WCW

CLASS FEATURES
Your spells and class features make you well-suited to a variety of roles, but you are best equipped for tasks involving ranged combat support, battlefield control, summoning earth creatures, and exploration of underground areas.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The earth dreamer gains proficiency with all simple weapons, and with all martial picks and hammers. He gains proficiency with light armor, but not with shields.

Spells: An earth dreamer casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the earth dreamer spell list (see below). When you gain access to a new level of spells, you automatically gain access to all the spells for that level on the earth dreamer's spell list. You can cast any spell you know without preparing it ahead of time. Essentially, your spell list is the same as your spells known list.

To cast an earth dreamer spell, you must have an Intelligence score of 10 + the spell's level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an earth dreamer's spell is 10 + the spell's level + the earth dreamer's Int mod. Like other spellcasters, and earth dreamer can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The base daily spell allotment is given in the table above. In addition, you receive bonus spells for a high Intelligence score.

An earth dreamer need not prepare spells in advance. You can cast any spell you know at any time, assuming you have not yet used up your spells per day for that level.

Armored Mage (Ex): Normally, armor of any type interferes with an arcane spellcaster's gestures, causing an arcane spell failure chance. However, an earth dreamer's limited focus and specialized training allow you to ignore the arcane spell failure chance for light armor. This training does not extend to shields, other forms of armor, or spells gained from other spellcasting classes.

Earth Sense: An earth dreamer gains Earth Sense as a bonus feat, provided he meets the prerequisites.

Extra Stability (Ex): An earth dreamer gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground). This benefit stacks with Stability gained from other sources, such as from being a dwarf or having four or more legs.

Earth Companion: Upon reaching 2nd level, the earth dreamer may perform a special incantation to call a small earth elemental as a familiar. The ritual requires rare dusts and pigments costing 100gp, and requires 24 hours of uninterrupted meditation. The elemental progresses as a familiar, as described in the Player's Handbook (pp. 52-53), except that the earth dreamer does not lose experience if his companion is killed, and he may replace a slain or dismissed familiar after waiting seven days.

Earth Soul (Ex): At 3rd level, an earth dreamer becomes more akin to the earth spirits that he studies. He gains darkvision 30 ft (or his existing darkvision improves by a like amount), tremorsense with a range of 10 feet and DR 1/adamantine.
At 7th level, his darkvision, tremorsense and damage reduction improve to 60 ft, 20 ft, and DR 2/adamantine, respectively. At 11th level, they improve to 90 ft, 40 ft, and DR 4/adamantine. At 15th level, they improve to 120 ft, 60 ft, and DR 6/adamantine. At 19th level, they improve to 150 ft, 100 ft, and DR 10/adamantine.

Earth Dream (Sp): By attuning himself to the earth dream, an earth dreamer of 5th level or higher can pull knowledge from the mountains. This ability works like the divination spell in many ways, allowing the earth dreamer to ask one question and receive a short, often cryptic answer. An earth dreamer's chance of receiving an answer is 70% + 2% per earth dreamer level, and the dream reveals only correct answers.

The earth dream ability can be used only to answer questions that are related in some way to the mountains. In general, the dreamer can get answers to questions about creatures, objects, and locations that are within 50 miles of a mountain, including underground or hidden locations. As with the augury and divination spells, multiple uses of this ability regarding the same topic by the same earth dreamer use the same dice result and reveal the same answer each time.

Using this ability takes 10 minutes, and the earth dreamer can use it once each day.

Earth Sight (Su): An earth dreamer of 9th level can see through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal to a range of 30 feet, as easily as if the substance weren't there. The earth dreamer can still see the stone or earth as a ghostly outline, so she can avoid walking into walls and can otherwise function normally.

Using this ability is a standard action. Each use lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the earth dreamer's Con modifier.

Earth Glide (Su): A 12th level earth dreamer may move through earth like an earth elemental, gliding through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. This burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or any other sign of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing an earth-gliding earth dreamer flings the dreamer back 30 feet, stunning him for 1 round unless he succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save.

Using this ability is a standard action. Each use lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the earth dreamer's Con modifier.

Earth Elemental Wild Shape (Su): At 14th level, an earth dreamer gains the ability to assume the form of a Small, Medium, or Large earth elemental once per day. He gains the elemental's racial bonuses to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution and natural armor, and gains Earth Mastery, Push, and Earth Glide as per the earth elemental description. He also gains the elemental's feats. He retains his own type and racial attributes, but gains the earth subtype. The effect lasts one hour per earth dreamer level, or until the earth dreamer changes back. Changing form is a standard action and doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity.

Upon changing to earth elemental form, the earth dreamer regains hit points (but nothing else) as if he had rested for the night. If slain in earth elemental form, he reverts to his normal shape (but remains dead).

The earth dreamer gains an additional use per day of this ability at 17th and 20th level. At 20th level, he may use this wild shape ability to assume the form of a huge earth elemental.

"If you cross a river enough and get soaking wet enough times,
pretty soon you learn how to step on the rocks. And somtimes there's
someone folowin' ya and ya gotta loosin' the stones."

--Stephen Tyler, Aerosmith

EARTH DREAMER SPELL LIST
The earth dreamer spell list appears below. All spells are notated with the name and page number of the sourcebook in which they appear.

0 Level: appraising touch (SC 15), arcane mark (PHB 201), detect magic (PHB 219), detect secret doors (PHB 220), detect snares and pits (PHB 220), know direction (PHB 246), pass without trace (PHB 259), prestidigitation (PHB 264), purify food and drink (PHB 267), read magic (PHB 269).

1st Level: climb walls (SC 47), ebon eyes (SC 77), endure elements (PHB 226), fist of stone (SC 94), foundation of stone (SC 99), guided path (CM2 106), hail of stone (SC 108), identify (PHB 243), impeding stones (City 66), magic stone (PHB 251), rapid burrowing (SC 166), resinous tar (PH2 115), sandblast (SC 180), shillelagh (PHB 278), summon desert ally I (SS 122), waste strider (SS 128).

2nd Level: barkskin (PHB 203), beastland ferocity (SC 25), burrow (SC 41), crystalline memories (PH2 100), darkvision (PHB 216), earth lock (SC 75), earthbind (SC 76), earthen grace (SC 76), earthen grasp (SC 76), earthfast (SC 76), easy climb (SC 76), glitterdust (PHB 236), halo of sand (SS 117), mountain stance (SC 144), saltray (SC 179), scimitar of sand (SS 120), soften earth and stone (PHB 280), spider climb (PHB 283), summon desert ally II (SS 122).

3rd Level: arcane sight (PHB 201), channel the earth dream, control sand (SS 112), crumble (SC 56), deeper darkvision (SC 62), dispel magic (PHB 223), earthbolt (CA 104), eradicate earth (SC 84), false gravity (SC 87), forestfold (SC 98), giant's wrath (SC 105), meld into stone (PHB 252), nature's rampart (SC 146), primal form (earth only) (SC 161), soul of the waste (SS 121), stone shape (PHB 284), stony grasp (SC 209), strength of stone (SC 211), summon desert ally III (SS 122), tremor (SC 223), tremorsense (SC 224), whispering sand (SS 128).

4th Level: blast of sand (SS 112), burrow, mass (SC 41), darkvision, mass (SC 59), fuse sand (SS 116), heart of earth (PH2 106), land womb (SC 130), lay of the land (SC 131), leomund's secure shelter (PHB 247), sandform (SS 119), sarcophagus of stone (SC 180), spike stones (PHB 283), stone sphere (SC 209), stoneskin (PHB 284), sudden stalagmite (SC 213), summon elementite swarm (earth only) (SC 214), summon desert ally IV (SS 123), wall of salt (SS 127), wall of sand (SC 235), wingbind (SC 240).

5th Level: break enchantment (PHB 207), call of stone (PH2 105), choking sands (SS 112), commune with nature (PHB 211), dream (PHB 225), flesh to salt (SS 116), hidden lodge (SC 113), indomitability (SC 121), magic jar (PHB 250), passwall (PHB 259), stone shape, greater (SC 208), summon desert ally V (SS 123), transmute sand to glass (SS 124), transmute sand to stone (SS 124), transmute stone to sand (SS 125), wall of stone (PHB 299), xorn movement (SC 244).

6th Level: aspect of the earth hunter (SC 16), awaken sand (111), bones of the earth (PH2 104), cometfall (SC 60), dispel magic, greater (PHB 223), dream sight (SC 74), find the path (PHB 230), flesh to stone (PHB 232), hardening (SC 109), mephit mob (earth subtype only) (SS 118), move earth (PHB 257), stone body (SC 207), stone tell (PHB 284), stone to flesh (PHB 285), stonehold (SC 209), summon greater elemental (earth only) (SC 214), summon desert ally VI (SS 123), true seeing (PHB 296), tunnel swallow (SC 225).

7th Level: arcane sight, greater (PHB 201), earthquake (PHB 225), elemental body (earth only) (SC 78), flesh to salt, mass (SS 116), giant size (CArc 109), glass strike (SC 106), great worm of the earth (PH2 106), heart of stone (SC 111), master earth (SC 139), maw of stone (SC 141), statue (PHB 284), summon desert ally VII (SS 123), wrack earth (PH2 128).

8th Level: bombardment (SC 37), desert binding (sand in the hourglass only) (SS 113), excavate (SC 85), repel metal or stone (PHB 271), summon desert ally VIII (SS 123), trap the soul (PHB 295).

9th Level: cast in stone (SC 43), elemental swarm (earth elementals only) (PHB 226), freedom (PHB 233), genius loci (earth only) (PH2 105), imprisonment (PHB 244), soul bind (PHB 281), summon elemental monolith (earth only) (SC 214), summon golem (PH2 126), summon desert ally IX (SS 123), undermaster (SC 227).

New Spells

Channel the Earth Dream
Transmutation [Earth]
Level: Earth dreamer 3
Components: S
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: 30 ft.
Target: Caster and allies within a 30-ft. radius burst
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Yes (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

With merely a forceful gesture, you briefly awaken the spirits of earth, sending them to aid and protect your nearby comrades.

Spoiler

Lix Lorn · 06-05-2010, 08:46 PM

I only skimmed through, but it looks cool to me!
One thing... Earthbound, does that stop you using Air magic for ANYTHING, or only from this class? I'm not so fond of blanket restrictions.

nonsi · 06-06-2010, 12:05 PM

That's one awsome class (with class)

Just 1 nitpicks: Having Flesh to Stone, it's only fitting to have Break Enchantment.

Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

jiriku · 06-07-2010, 08:40 AM

@ Lix Lorn: It's a blanket restriction. Hmm, I hadn't really considered the case of a multiclass character. Now that I think about it, I can see how a player might multi-class with another casting class and then take a +1 CL/+1 CL theurge class. The player wouldn't be wild about having earth dreamer shut down his air-related spells in the other class.

OK, you've convinced me. How about the following:

Earthbound: An earth dreamer's magic is bound in the earth. A single-class earth dreamer may never cast a spell with the air descriptor, and may not summon or call any creature with the air subtype, even if using a scroll, staff, wand, or other magical item. If the earth dreamer takes levels in another base class (but not prestige class) that offers the ability to cast spells or activate magic items with the air descriptor, this prohibition is removed.

Or do you think it would just be best to scrap the Earthbound restriction altogether?

@ nonsi: TYVM! :) After reading and thinking, I like break enchantment for this class too. It could easily be flavored as encouraging the target's natural stubbornness and resistance. Consider it added.

onthetown · 06-07-2010, 08:50 AM

"Spells: An earth dreamer casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the earth dreamer spell list (see below). When you gain access to a new level of spells, you automatically gain access to all the spells for that level on the earth dreamer's spell list. You can cast any spell you know without preparing it ahead of time. Essentially, your spell list is the same as your spells known list."

I'm a little confused about this. So the earth dreamer spells on the entire list are their spells known, or do you still have to pick and choose your spells known like other spontaneous casters?

Otherwise, this is a great class as far as I can see. It's interesting and provides a lot to work with. I've never seen the Earth Dreamer prestige class, but it makes me want to go buy Races of Stone now.

Lix Lorn · 06-07-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiriku

Earthbound: An earth dreamer's magic is bound in the earth. A single-class earth dreamer may never cast a spell with the air descriptor, and may not summon or call any creature with the air subtype, even if using a scroll, staff, wand, or other magical item. If the earth dreamer takes levels in another base class (but not prestige class) that offers the ability to cast spells or activate magic items with the air descriptor, this prohibition is removed.

How about:
Earthbound: An earth dreamer's magic is bound in the earth. An earth dreamer may never use spells per day or spells known gained from his earth dreamer levels to cast any spell with the air descriptor. When using scrolls, staffs, wands or other magical items that produce an effect with the air descriptor, you may not count your earth dreamer levels towards the caster level required to use it.

jiriku · 06-07-2010, 09:01 AM

You've got it. Entire spell list = spells known. This is the same mechanic used for the beguiler, warmage, and dread necromancer.

Its strength is that it is intuitive to use and is a forgiving mechanic for novice players. Its weakness is that unless the spell list is tightly restricted the class can become overly powerful, or the sheer number of options may make it difficult for novice players to decide what to do in time-sensitive situations.

I'm considering whether I might not pare back the spell list by 10-15%. I'm also planning (time permitting) to type up an Earth Dreamer Spellbook for my players which will collect all the spells into a single document (much tidier than referring to five books).

Edit @ Lix: Sold! But please don't ship me. :P

Lix Lorn · 06-07-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiriku

Edit @ Lix: Sold! But please don't ship me. :P

Glad to help.
Also: Too late.

nonsi · 06-08-2010, 02:15 PM

2 more nitpicks:

( 1 )
>>
An earth dreamer may never use spells per day or spells known gained from his earth dreamer levels to cast any spell with the air descriptor.
<<
Given this class doesn't have Advanced Learning, what's the point in this restriction ?
If you meant in case of a PrC that advances caster levels - this needs to be spelled out specifically.

( 2 )
a small hint:
==========
Earthquake
Evocation [Earth]
Level: Clr 8, Destruction 8, Drd 8, Earth 7

nonsi · 06-08-2010, 02:46 PM

One last thing.

Is there a chance you'll make parallel classes that dominate the other elements ?

Usually when I come up with an idea, I roll up my sleaves and get to the job myself, but seeing what a marvelous piece of work you did with the Earth Dreamer, I believe you'd top me with them.

Lix Lorn · 06-08-2010, 03:19 PM

Well, I'm considering a class built around flight, but how magical it will be is as yet undecided. XD

Admiral Squish · 06-08-2010, 04:57 PM

Hmm. I like it, but I see two things I'd change. It seems like wisdom would work better for a casting stat. And I'm not sure earthbound is at all needed. I mean, the only summon spell I see is summon desert ally and I don't have the creatures list for that off the top of my head, so I could be off, but none of your earth dreamer spells have the air type anyways. It DOES affect items, but I'm not sure that would be all that vital.

jiriku · 06-11-2010, 01:07 AM

Earthbound has received universal quizzical looks. It is now removed. Moving earthquake to 7th level - good catch. I also clarified and slightly modified Channel the Dream to better match my original intent.

I considered Wisdom as a casting stat, but stick with Int because a) it's tradition and b) in my campaign setting I'm intending to ban wizard and replace it with a number of Int-based casting classes with more focused spell lists. However, I could see myself writing a paragraph to cover adapting it to Wis-based casting. Heck, with a slightly different spell list it could even be called a divine caster. I sure threw in enough spells off the druid and cleric lists.

As mentioned above, this is a wizard-replacement. I'm planning an air-focused mage too, but inspiration hasn't struck me yet. I doubt I'll make a fire mage, as one can already do that quite well with my revised warmage and the energy substitution feat. A water mage I might do, but more than other casters, a water mage is a niche role and I'm not likely to do that soon.

I've also gotten a request to adapt the earth dreamer to create an earthbender class, drawing inspiration from Avatar: LOB. I'll be posting that in a few minutes, actually.

Edit: Aaand here it is.

Edit Edit: Incorporating some feedback received on the Storm Lord class, I've added the Elemental Lore class feature at level 1, which is like bardic knowledge for air stuff. I also moved Earth Friend back to level 2, and folded into it the ability to use Knowledge (nature) to identify any sort of earth creature. Additionally, I added minimum skill requirements in Knowledge (arcana) in order to be able to use Channel the Dream, sort of like the minimum skill requirements for using bardic music.

Also added Extra Stability at level 4.

Edit: 11/20/2011 Playtesting has shown my elemental classes to be overburdened with too many minor features that rarely see play. To streamline the class, I'm removing Channel the Dream, Earth Friend, and Elemental Lore. Earth Sight, Extra Stability, and Earth Elemental Wild Shape now come sooner. I'm also combining the darkvision, DR and tremorsense abilities into a single feature, Earth Soul. Several minor 1st level spells were moved down to 0th level to give the earth dreamer more versatility and options for 1st - 3rd level play. The Channel the Dream feature has been replaced with channel the earth dream, a new spell exclusive to this class.