[3.5e NPC PrC] The Mage's Assistant (PEACH)

[Welknair]

The Mage's Assistant

"Ooh, what does this do?"

-Jeffrey, Mage's Assistant

There's always an ingredient in the cellar, in the garden, or in the the attic. There's always a magic item to dust. There's always a library to reorganize. There's always new spells to test. Guess who gets the job? Mage's Assistants aren't Mage's Apprentices. Nowhere close. They aren't taught by their master, but rather serve them. However, hanging around Wizards for too long does cause some... interesting effects. And reading a bit in your spare time never hurts.

Becoming a Mage's Assistant
Mage's Assistants are usually sent off by poor families to bring in some money and hopefully learn a parlor trick or two to bring in some more. The only real criteria are to not get in the way too much and whatever is asked of you. The Master knows what he's doing. Most of the time.

Entry Requirements
Skills: Climb 1, Profession (Mage's Assistant) 6, Spellcraft 1
Special: Must serve an individual with at least one level in an Arcane spellcasting class.

Skill Points each level: 4+Intelligence Modifier
Class Skills: Balance, Climb, Concentration, Decipher Script, Hide, Knowledge (Arcana), Move Silently, Profession, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device

Hit Dice: d6

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special
1st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Accustomed +1, Minor Schooling
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+0	A Trick or Two
3rd	+1	+1	+3	+1	Accustomed +2, Evasion
4th	+2	+1	+4	+1	A Trick or Three
5th	+2	+1	+4	+1	Spell Comprehension

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Mage's Assistant gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Accustomed: When you work for a spellcaster, you get exposed to spells. A lot. After a while you just start getting used to the random spells and exploding magic items. This comes in the form of a bonus to all saves against spells and spell-like abilities.

Minor Schooling: Assistants are far less likely to get into trouble if they know what they're doing. Because of this, their Masters give them a bit of minor schooling. They add their Assistant level as a bonus to Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft.

A Trick or Two: Hanging out in a Wizard's tower every day, what are you going to do when you get bored? You certainly aren't going to go tell Master that you finished shining his collection of stuffed Otyughs. How about reading a book or two? Mage's Assistants eventually pick up on a couple of lower-level spells. When they attain this ability, they select two 0-level spells from the Wizard's spell list. They may now use each of these once per day as a spell-like ability with the save being based off of their Intelligence and their effective CL equal to their Assistant level. If they ever become a Wizard, levels in Wizard stack with levels in Assistant for determining the CL.

Evasion: Wizards like things that go boom and often try to create new ways to achieve this. This doesn't always go as planned. Being able to dodge Evocation is a good way to increase an Assistant's longevity. Assistants gain Evasion, as the Rogue ability of the same name, at 2nd level.

A Trick or Three: After much work, the Assistant has learned to cast a single first level spell from the Wizard spell list once per day at a CL equal to their Assistant level as a spell-like ability. If they ever become a Wizard, levels in Wizard stack with levels in Assistant for determining the CL.

Spell Comprehension: Assistants eventually build up enough knowledge of Wizard magic to cast Prepared spells just as a Wizard does. They gain two 0-level spell slots and a single 1st-level slot. These are in addition to the spells that they've mastered. The caster level of these spells is equal to their Assistant level.

Note: Spells and abilities from A Trick or Two, A Trick or Three, and Spell Comprehension are all subjected to Arcane Spell Failure due to armor.

And that's it. That's the last of my NPC PrCs. I realize that this class isn't near as good at casting as an Adept is, but it isn't meant to be a primary caster. It's meant to have a smattering of Arcane talents in addition to some much-needed magic survivability.

[LOTRfan]

Wow, you sure are posting a lot of these.

I enjoy this one the most, so far.

[Thugorp]

Yes this one is VERY good, the only 2 comments I have, are that 1. it needs weapon/armor proficiency. 2. have you thought about just giving them spell resistance for the accustomed ability?

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by Thugorp

Yes this one is VERY good, the only 2 comments I have, are that 1. it needs weapon/armor proficiency. 2. have you thought about just giving them spell resistance for the accustomed ability?

Actually, they used to have SR as the fifth ability, but then I actually thought of your campaign. As a PC the SR would be far more valuable and the lack of versatility far more hurtful. The +2 on all saves is hardly negligible however...

Edit: And SR is pretty obviously a supernatural power. I've been trying to keep these more or less mundane. And the "Master" would start getting pissed when the spell he's trying to test simply fails against his Assistant.

[Thugorp]

Wow, that is actually a really great reason not to give them that... I am also a bit touched that you thought of my campagin... Would you like to join? It would give you a chance to play test any or all of your classes and we are always looking for good role-players.

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by Thugorp

Wow, that is actually a really great reason not to give them that... I am also a bit touched that you thought of my campagin... Would you like to join? It would give you a chance to play test any or all of your classes and we are always looking for good role-players.

I was actually considering it. I haven't ever done a pbp before though...

[Thugorp]

Oh, well there's the best part, it's not a play by post, it's a campaign over skype! :-D

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by Thugorp

Oh, well there's the best part, it's not a play by post, it's a campaign over skype! :-D

Hmm. I have a couple of questions, though I think those would be better placed on the recruitment thread...

Oh, and I added proficiencies for all of these.

[DracoDei]

This seems to presume a lot poorer of a boss for the mage in question than I would generally expect PCs to be (even the Evil ones are generally much too interest in their NPCs loyalty to use them as test subjects I should think)... works pretty well for SOME foes though.

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by DracoDei

This seems to presume a lot poorer of a boss for the mage in question than I would generally expect PCs to be (even the Evil ones are generally much too interest in their NPCs loyalty to use them as test subjects I should think)... works pretty well for SOME foes though.

Are you referencing the amount of money that they'd get from the Profession skill? It isn't much, but then again the Assistant isn't much. They usually start out as plain-old commoners.

[Thugorp]

Originally Posted by Welknair

Hmm. I have a couple of questions, though I think those would be better placed on the recruitment thread...

Oh, and I added proficiencies for all of these.

Then I will add these to the playable Pr.C.s for my campaign! :-D

[DracoDei]

Originally Posted by Welknair

Are you referencing the amount of money that they'd get from the Profession skill? It isn't much, but then again the Assistant isn't much. They usually start out as plain-old commoners.

No, I am referring to the reasons you give for them needing evasion and bonuses to saves against spells.

Of course, that could easily be re-fluffed as protection against ACCIDENTS in the lab, rather than the ability to survive being used as the Fantasy equivalent of crash-test dummies.

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by DracoDei

No, I am referring to the reasons you give for them needing evasion and bonuses to saves against spells.

Of course, that could easily be re-fluffed as protection against ACCIDENTS in the lab, rather than the ability to survive being used as the Fantasy equivalent of crash-test dummies.

Oh, I thought that was implied. There aren't enough volunteers to go about intentionally fireballing your assistants. At least without abjurations, that is. I'll refluff a bit.

[Debihuman]

I think you've worded Evasion poorly. There is no such thing as being able to dodge Evocation. You dodge spells from the Evocation school. Then again is this ability useless against spells of other schools that fit the parameter? For example if he's ten feet from an Explosive Runes spell or attacked with an Incendiary Cloud can he use Dodge or not?

If it's only applicable to spells from the Evocation school you should state it clearly. If it's applicable to spells from all schools that fit the parameters, then you should state that clearly. As it stands, I can't tell one way or the the other.

Debby

[Welknair]

Originally Posted by Debihuman

I think you've worded Evasion poorly. There is no such thing as being able to dodge Evocation. You dodge spells from the Evocation school. Then again is this ability useless against spells of other schools that fit the parameter? For example if he's ten feet from an Explosive Runes spell or attacked with an Incendiary Cloud can he use Dodge or not?

If it's only applicable to spells from the Evocation school you should state it clearly. If it's applicable to spells from all schools that fit the parameters, then you should state that clearly. As it stands, I can't tell one way or the the other.

Debby

Clarified. It's a full-fledged Evasion.

[Debihuman]

Umm perhaps you just should have said:

"Being able to dodge spells is a good way to increase an Assistant's longevity. As the Rogue ability of the same name." That would have been a simpler.

Debby