Penumbral Arcanist (Arcanist Archetype)

Whether given over to the contemplation of the endless blackness between the stars, from obscurant nebulae to consuming black holes, or to the lightless depths far below the planetary surface, some spellcasters seek power in the utter absence of light and the entropic end of all things.

Umbral Sorcery (Su)

At 1st level, you can expend 1 point from your arcane reservoir to add the darkness descriptor to a spell you prepare that affects an area. The effect created by that spell does not shed light, further all other sources of illumination within its area are reduced by one step for a number of rounds equal to the spell’s level. Multiple spells cast with this ability that affect the same area increase the duration of this decreased illumination within overlapping areas of effect but do not further decrease illumination. You cannot use this ability when casting a spell with the light descriptor.

This replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.

Arcanist Exploits

The following exploits are unique to penumbral arcanists:

Darkvision (Ex)

You gain darkvision 30 feet; if you already have darkvision, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet. You may select this exploit more than once. The effects stack.

Dark Scholar (Ex)

You may add any one of the following spells to your list of spells known, plus one additional spell every 2 levels thereafter:

1st-dancing darkness, shadowtrap; 2nd-dark whispers, darkness, darkvision, shadow anchor; 3rd-darkvision (communal), shadow mind; 4th-darkvision (greater), deeper darkness, masochistic shadow, shadow barbs, shadow projection, shadow step, shadowy haven; 5th-darkvault, vampiric shadow shield; 6th-shadow walk; 7th-hungry darkness.

In addition, you can prepare one additional spell per day of each level you can cast, provided the additional spells you prepare have the darkness descriptor. This can include spells you have prepared using umbral sorcery.

Greater Arcanist Exploits

The following greater exploits are unique to penumbral arcanists:

Shadow Fade (Su)

Creatures you summon (including with shadow conjuration) may fade into shadow as a move action, gaining total concealment (or concealment, against foes with darkvision). When using this ability, they may attempt Stealth checks to hide even if being directly observed. They may not use this ability in areas of bright light.

Summon Shadow (Sp)

You can expend 1 point from your arcane reservoir to summon a shadow to serve you for a number of minutes equal to your arcanist level. This shadow is treated as a monster summoned with a summon monster spell. If you use this ability when you already have a summoned shadow present, the previous shadow vanishes when the new shadow appears.

If you are at least 15th level, you can expend 3 points from your arcane reservoir to summon 1 greater shadow rather than a shadow.

If you are at least 19th level, you can expend 5 points from your arcane reservoir to summon a nightwing rather than a shadow.

Shadow Ascendant (Su)

You gain a +2 bonus on caster level checks and increase save DCs by 2 when you cast spells you cast with the darkness or shadow descriptor. Spells with the light descriptor cannot be used to counter or negate such spells and do not suppress their darkness in overlapping areas of effect unless their caster level exceeds yours.

Impenetrable Shadow (Su)

At 20th level, darkvision, low-light vision, divinations (including true seeing), and spells with the light descriptor (including searing light) cannot detect, penetrate, or function within the area of any darkness or shadow spell of equal or higher level that you cast, unless their caster level is higher than yours.

A mythic spell can function normally if the caster’s mythic tier is higher than yours.

This replaces magical supremacy.