Shadow Master

What are archetype packages?

Archetype packages are sets of class abilities characters may select in place of some of the normal abilities gained from a class. The concept was first introduced in the Genius Guide to Archer Archetypes, and the archetypes presented in this product are fully compatible with Archer Archetypes (though you certainly don’t need that book to use the new material in this product). While we went into a fair amount of detail on how and why we developed archetype packages in Archer Archetypes and don’t want to repeat ourselves too much, it’s important we cover the basics for people who are first encountering the concept here.

This book was written with the assumption that every class has at least one archetype package built into it which represents a standard set of powers that all members of the class receive (see below for details). It is designed with the premise that one can remove some of the standard abilities of a class and replace them with new options that, while different from what the core rulebook says, have no detrimental effect on the class’s mechanical balance or ability to fill it’s traditional role in an adventuring team.

An obvious example of an existing archetype package can be seen in the cleric, who gets to pick two domains. These are in addition to the cleric’s core abilities (and clerics have a broad range of options even without domains). Even if a player neglected to ever select those domains, the character would be able to perform the cleric’s core function and maintain the same role in a well-built team. However, over 20 levels these domains give the cleric access to nine spell slots, eighteen spells known, four special abilities, and in some cases up to two additional class skills or bonus feats.

In the context of this product, the cleric’s two domains represent a single archetype package—the Domain Servant. That package becomes just one option a cleric can take, with the new archetypes in this volume representing some alternative options. A player who wants to play a cleric that also has a smattering of arcane spells available to her (perhaps as a priest serving a deity of spells and magic) gives up the Domain Servant archetype package and gains one of the new arcane archetypes described in the following pages instead.

Using Arcane Archetypes

The most basic way to use archetype packages is to allow a character, when taking his first level of a new class, to simply swap the archetype package that is normally part of that class our in favor of one of the new packages from this volume. In other words, characters gain these new abilities by foregoing access to some of their class’s traditional abilities. This is limiting, but no more so than most of the other decisions one makes when creating a character. (A cleric, after all, cannot change domains after they’ve been selected, so why would one be allowed to pick a new archetype package a few levels later?)

Whenever new options are added to a campaign, though, it’s a good idea to consider ways to allow existing characters to gain access to them. In this case, that would mean finding a way to let characters swap out some of their long-time abilities in favor of a new archetype package. In our cleric example, a character who had already chosen two domains and used their abilities would give up those powers in favor of those from the new archetype.

This exchange is not entirely beyond logical explanation. If you consider archetypes as being similar to modern day occupations, it’s easy to justify a character learning new ones occasionally. As an optional rule, you may allow characters to change one archetype package whenever they gain an even-numbered class level. The GM may require a character to have a source of guidance in order to do this—a character with the desired archetype to act as teacher, a manual of instruction, or even divine inspiration. Upon taking a new archetype package, all abilities, feats, and skill ranks associated with the old archetype package are lost. (The skill ranks can be taken from whatever skills the player prefers when an old archetype is abandoned, and may add them in any configuration that falls within the standard rules for skill ranks when they are gained from a new package.)

While a character losing abilities and skills he once possessed may seem unrealistic, there’s no other mechanically balanced option to allow existing characters to gain archetypes. In the case of magic powers, it’s no great stretch to say that whatever energy once fueled them is now instead channeled into the new abilities. As for feats and skills, they can be explained as activities that require constant practice. They are not technically “lost” or “forgotten” when the character begins studying new areas of expertise, but the character falls out of practice and becomes unable to perform them sufficiently well, thus he may no longer use them in the game.

These answers may not cover every situation, but for most campaigns they should suffice to explain why a character’s abilities suddenly change. (If the campaign, GM, or players do not find these answers satisfactory, they should not use this optional rule. This will result in returning archetype packages to being options that may only be taken when a character first takes a level of a base class, which remains a balanced and viable way to handle these new alternative powers.)

The Shadow Master archetype package turns the class it is attached to into a consummate manipulator of the magic of shadow. Any spell can be twisted and converted into a shadow-spell—a quasi-real manifestation of the darkness. The shadow master must use this talent carefully, as once the nature of his shades of magic are known, they lose a great measure of their power. But the shadow master enjoys a flexibility unmatched by any other spellcaster, and risking penumbral figments sometimes failing to produce solid results is a price many shadow masters are happy to pay.

Shadow Masters are rarely well regarded by society. They often belong to secret societies that conceal their true nature behind some other, more acceptable arcane tradition. These societies generally maintain that their esoteric knowledge is misunderstood and too dangerous to fall into the hands of common spellcasters. They may use their abilities to protect their homelands, but insist on doing so in secret, lest others discover their shadowy powers. Other groups lurk in hidden bases and use shadow-spells to plot to take over their cultures, seeing themselves as the puppet masters pulling the strings of lesser beings.

Very few groups openly proclaim their abilities as Shadow Masters. Necromancers are often already so reviled they see no reason not to strike fear in their enemies with displays of umbral power. Clerics of gods of death, darkness, and trickery sometimes consider the Shadow Masters among them as particularly favored by their deity, though again such accolades are often kept from outsiders.

Restrictions: Spellcasters only

Shadow Power (Su)

Your spells work best in shadowy conditions. Targets in an area of bright light (though not normal light) or total darkness gain a +2 bonus to saving throws against your spells. Creatures in areas of dim light suffer a –1 penalty to saving throws against your spells.

Shadow Caller (Su)

Any time you cast a spell, you may decide to replace its normal effects with a shadow-spell, which emulates the effects of a spell of your choice. The shadow-spell must emulate a spell that is a lower level than the one it is replacing and must come from your class’s spell list, but it does not need to be a spell that you know and could cast ordinarily. You must meet all the shadow-spell’s prerequisites and components normally. Any creature that interacts with the shadow-spell can attempt a Will save to recognize its true nature. The Will save DC is 10 + level of the shadow-spell + your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier (whichever is highest).

Shadow-spells that deal damage have normal effects unless the affected creature disbelieves the spell by succeeding on its Will save. Each disbelieving creature takes only one-fifth (20%) damage from the attack. Shadow-spells can only restore 20% of the damage that a true healing or restoration spell would, regardless of any disbelief by the recipient. A summoned shadow-creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it’s recognized as quasi-real). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow-creature, however, its damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow-creature’s AC bonuses are just one-fifth as large. Creatures conjured with shadow-spells are only one-fifth (20%) as strong as the real things, though creatures who believe the shadow-spell to be real are affected by them at full strength.

If a spell has an effect other than damage, that effect is only 20% likely to occur. For example, shadow mage armor has only a 20% chance to grant you an armor bonus to AC, rolled when the spell is cast. If the spell functions, it functions for its full duration.

Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve, an affected creature also receives any save that the spell being simulated allows. In addition, any effect created by a shadow-spell allows spell resistance, even if the spell it is simulating does not. Shadow-objects or substances have normal effects except against those who disbelieve them. Against disbelievers, they are 20% likely to work. A creature that succeeds on its save perceives shadow-spells as transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms.

At 8th level, any time your shadow-spell would normally only be 20% as effective, it is instead 30% as effective. This increases to 40% at 12th level, 50% at 16th level, and 60% at 20th level.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Genius Guide To: Arcane Archetypes. Copyright 2010, Super Genius Games. Author: Owen K.C. Stephens

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