Sunday, March 02, 2008

Rogue Caster

This prestige class brings together rogue and caster in two ways. First, the caster abilities are not the same as a sorcerer's, since the spellcasting relies upon dexterity rather than intelligence. Second, the caster is actually a rogue class. The spells are all geared toward enhancing rogue abilities in one form or another, for instance improved forgery, perfect appraisal, sleight of hand, walk on rope, etc. There are no direct damage spells in the rogue caster's arsenal.

Rogue casters have learned to hone their natural abilities for magic into spells that help them in their day -- ahem, night -- jobs. Only rogues may become rogue casters. NPC rogue casters usually lead lead solitary lives roaming the streets and backalleys. Some organize others into small-time criminal outfits, and the most successful run thieves' guilds. Some of these outfits and guilds even have legitimate fronts.

Hit Die: d6.

Requirements

To qualify to become a rogue caster, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Alignment: Any non-lawful
Skills: Use magical device +5, Spellcraft +4
Special: A character must have pulled off a moderate-sized heist using a magical device in order to discover the powers of the rogue caster.

Class Skills

Rogue Casters are intended to hone their Spellcraft and Knowledge: Arcana skills. These can then be exchanged on a case-by-case basis at a 2-for-1 cost using the Arcane Skill Bonus skill.

Class Features

Rogue Casters gain the ability to cast Rogue Caster Spells at the rate of one spell level per level of rogue caster, and can elect to use their dexterity bonuses the way sorcerers use intelligence. They gain access to all the spells up to their rogue caster level. In addition, the following skills are are available: Concentration, Knowledge: Arcana, Knowledge: Planes, Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device. They do not gain the ability to use magical devices as sorcerers; instead they still must make use magic device rolls as a rogue would.

Arcane Skill Bonus: At level three, the rogue caster can use half of their spellcraft and knowledge: arcana skills (rounded down) to boost a rogue skill in exchange for a 0th-level spell. These are equivalent to having the ability to cast 0th-level spells to boost these abilities, and they take a standard action and a verbal component to activate.

Rogue Caster Spells

Level 1: Improved Forgery, Improved Appraisal, Improved Balance, Pass Without Trace

Level 2: Invisibility, Sleight of Hand, Spider Climb

Level 3: Perfect Forgery, Perfect Appraisal, Perfect Balance

level 4: Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility

Level 5: Undetectability

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