Collegiate Arcanist

Despite the name of the class, any arcane spellcaster can expand her powers via this prestige class, not only arcanists. Most collegiate arcanists consider their studies to be a sacred duty and a tradition that spans the ages. As a collegiate arcanist learns the deeper meanings locked within the academy’s wisdom, she discovers true enlightenment.

Perhaps the most unusual facet of the collegiate arcanists’ magical techniques is their method of interpreting and using magic of a druidic nature as arcane power. This unusual combination allows the collegiate arcanist incredible versatility in her studies, for the secrets of druidic magic are normally beyond the ken of arcane spellcasters. Yet the collegiate arcanist does not merely copy the magic of the natural world-she expands upon it. She simultaneously respects the traditions from which this magic stems while exploring it in ways that druids, who view their magic as a result of their faith, rarely consider. This method of converting druidic spells to arcane spells is taxing to the mind, however, and since each collegiate arcanist must create her own such translations, the school has not made arcane versions of druidic spells available to all arcane spellcasters. In fact, most collegiate arcanists are opposed to such an endeavor, for as intrigued as they are by this magic, they respect its traditions and do not wish to see these secrets made freely available to those who may not share their respect.

Hit Die: d6.

Requirements

To qualify to become a collegiate arcanist, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Alignment: Any good.

Feats: Scholar, Spell Mastery.

Skills: Spellcraft 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks.

Spells: Ability to prepare 3rd-level arcane spells.

Class Skills

The collegiate arcanist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all) (Int), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Table: Collegiate Arcanist
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spells per Day
1st +0 +0 +0 +1 Aura of good, halcyon magic +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
2nd +1 +1 +1 +1 Superior spell mastery, virtuous spells +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
3rd +1 +1 +1 +2 Intoned recollection (1 minute), lasting goodness +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
4th +2 +1 +1 +2 Spontaneous spell Mastery (1/day) +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
5th +2 +2 +2 +3 Blessed warding +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
6th +3 +2 +2 +3 Immediate spell Mastery +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
7th +3 +2 +2 +4 Righteous contravention +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
8th +4 +3 +3 +4 Spontaneous spell Mastery (2/day) +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
9th +4 +3 +3 +5 Holy arcana, intoned recollection (full round) +1 level of arcane spellcasting class
10th +5 +3 +3 +5 Altruistic guardian, timeless body +1 level of arcane spellcasting class

Class Features

The following are class features of the collegiate arcanist prestige class.

Aura of Good (Ex)

A collegiate arcanist radiates an aura of good as if she were a cleric of a level equal to her class level (see the detect good spell).

Halcyon Magic (Su)

At each class level, a collegiate arcanist chooses a spell from the druid spell list and treats it as if it were on the spell list of one of her arcane spellcasting classes. A collegiate arcanist must choose a druid spell at least 2 levels lower than the highest-level spell she can currently cast. The spell’s type becomes arcane and its save DC functions as normal for the arcane spellcasting class list she adds it to. The collegiate arcanist automatically learns this spell, adding it to her spellbook or familiar as appropriate for the class of the spell list to which she added the spell.

Superior Spell Mastery (Ex)

At 2nd level, by spending a total of 24 hours studying over a maximum of 3 days, a collegiate arcanist can change the spells she has mastered with the Spell Mastery feat. She can choose a number of spells she knows up to her Intelligence modifier (which can have a maximum combined spell level equal to or less than her caster level) to be her Spell Mastery spells in place of the same number of spells she previously selected for her Spell Mastery feat.

Virtuous Spells (Su)

At 2nd level, a collegiate arcanist casts spells with the good descriptor at +1 caster level. To prepare a spell with the evil descriptor, she must use two spell slots of that spell level.

Intoned Recollection (Ex)

At 3rd level, by performing a special ritual lasting 1 minute, a collegiate arcanist can prepare a spell into an open arcane spell slot. The open spell slot must have purposefully been left empty at the beginning of the day when the collegiate arcanist prepared her spells. She must be able to read her spellbook or have mastered the spell with the Spell Mastery feat to prepare it with this ability. She doesn’t need to rest for 8 hours beforehand, but all other requirements of the preparation process still apply. At 9th level, she can do this as a full-round action, provided she has her spellbook in hand or has mastered the spell with the Spell Mastery feat. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Intelligence modifier.

Lasting Goodness (Su)

At 3rd level, all of a collegiate arcanist’s spells with the good descriptor have their durations extended by a number of rounds equal to her class level. A spell with a duration of concentration, instantaneous, or permanent isn’t affected by this ability.

Spontaneous Spell Mastery (Ex)

At 4th level, a collegiate arcanist can lose any prepared spell to cast a spell of the same spell level or lower that she has mastered with the Spell Mastery feat. She can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time per day at 8th level.

Blessed Warding (Sp)

At 5th level, a collegiate arcanist is under a constant protection from evil effect (CL equal to her class level). If this effect is dispelled, she can reactivate it as a swift action.

Immediate Spell Mastery (Sp)

At 6th level, once per day, a collegiate arcanist can cast any spell she has mastered with the Spell Mastery feat, even if she hasn’t prepared it that day. This spell is treated like any other spell cast by the collegiate arcanist, but can’t be modified by metamagic feats or other abilities.

Righteous Contravention (Su)

At 7th level, a collegiate arcanist gains a +2 bonus on checks to overcome the spell resistance of evil creatures or evil objects, and on checks to dispel spells cast by evil creatures, spells with the evil descriptor, or evil magic items.

Holy Arcana (Ex)

At 9th level, a collegiate arcanist expands her skill at translating divine magic into arcane spells. She adds all the bonus spells from the Good cleric domain to the spell list of one of her arcane spellcasting classes. These spells’ type becomes arcane and the save DCs function as normal for the arcane spellcasting class list she adds them to.

Altruistic Guardian (Su)

At 10th level, once per day when a spell or supernatural effect that allows spell resistance targets a collegiate arcanist’s allies or if they are within its area of effect, as an immediate action she can redirect the effects to herself. She can do this for a number of allies up to her Intelligence modifier, provided they are within 30 feet of her. The collegiate arcanist must attempt the appropriate saving throws for each ally, possibly attempting multiple saving throws against the same spell or effect. She takes all damage and suffers all conditions and other effects that her allies would have taken, possibly taking these multiple times. This protects allies only from damage and conditions they’d take at the time she spends the immediate action, not from any they might later suffer from a non-instantaneous spell or effect.

Timeless Body (Ex)

At 10th level, a collegiate arcanist no longer takes penalties for aging. This functions exactly like the druid ability of the same name.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Adventurer’s Guide © 2017, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Benjamin Bruck, John Compton, Crystal Frasier, Tim Hitchcock, Jenny Jarzabski, Isabelle Lee, Joe Pasini, Jessica Price, David Schwartz, and Josh Vogt.

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