Genius Scholar (Legendary Wizard Archetype)

Even with all of the unique facets of power that arcane magic provides, there are those who search for even more esoteric means of powers. Through study of things beyond, genius scholars have tapped into an alternative source of magic, wielding it as expertly as their similar brethren of the arcane.

Spellcasting

A genius scholar may combine spheres and talents to create magical effects. A genius scholar is considered a High-Caster and uses Intelligence as their casting ability modifier. (Note: all casters may select a casting tradition the first time they gain the casting class feature.

This replaces the legendary wizard’s cantrips and path of the mage class features.

Spell Pool

A genius scholar has a reservoir of energy they can call on to create truly wondrous effects, called a spell pool. This pool contains a number of spell points equal to their level + their casting ability modifier (minimum 1). This pool replenishes once per day after roughly 8 hours of rest.

Blended Training

A genius scholar gains their choice of a combat or magic talent at each class level. A genius scholar uses their casting ability modifier as their practitioner modifier.

Sphere Specialization

At 1st level, the genius scholar gains specialization in a sphere of their choice. These specializations can be selected from the combat sphere specializations available to the conscript, or from the magic sphere specializations available to the incanter. The genius scholar treats their conscript or incanter levels for the purpose of their specialization as equal to their genius scholar level.

This replaces the legendary wizard’s arcane school class feature.

Genius’ Flexibility

At 3rd level, the genius scholar can utilize their genius in a surge of sudden insight into their combat and magic spheres, temporarily gaining abilities they don’t normally possess. Once per day, as a free action, the genius scholar can grant themself the benefits of one combat talent or magic talent they don’t possess. This effect lasts for 1 minute. The genius scholar must possess the talent’s base sphere and meet any prerequisites for the talent, if it has prerequisites.

At 9th level, and again at 15th level, the genius scholar can use this ability an additional time each day. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack. If the genius scholar uses this ability again before the previous use’s duration has expired, it replaces the previous use.

This replaces the legendary wizard’s genius insight class feature.

Educated Metamagic

Instead of this ability’s normal effects that allow the legendary wizard to spontaneously apply metamagic to their spells, the genius scholar can use this ability to spontaneously apply metamagic to their magic sphere effects. The genius scholar can apply metamagic feats gained from this ability to their magic sphere effects a number of times per day equal to 1/4 their legendary wizard level + their intelligence modifier without an increase in the spell point cost of the sphere effect. If they apply the metamagic feat to a magic sphere that they specialize in, they also don’t increase its casting time.

This modifies the legendary wizard’s educated metamagic class feature.

Second Specialization

At 9th level, the genius scholar gains a second sphere specialization as their choice. For the purposes of determining the effects of this second specialization, they treat their conscript or incanter level as their genius scholar level -8.

This replaces the legendary wizard’s opposition breakthrough and secondary specialization class features.

Bonded Spellbook

If the genius scholar selected the spellbook as their bonded object, they gain an additional use of their genius’ flexibility ability each day at 11th level instead of the ability to prepare more spells. They gain an additional use of that ability at 17th level as well.

This modifies the legendary wizard’s bonded inspiration and bonded union class features, but does not count as doing so for the purposes of archetype compatibility.

Genius Scholar Arcane Discoveries: The following new arcane discoveries are available to the genius scholar in addition to their normal selection of arcane discoveries.

Extra Spheres

Benefit(s): You gain a bonus combat or magic sphere talent of your choice.

Special: You may select this discovery multiple times; its effects stack.

Surge of Genius

Prerequisite(s): Legendary Wizard 3rd.

Benefit(s): You gain an additional use of your genius’ flexibility ability each day.

Special: You may select this discovery multiple times; its effects stack.