Hermetic Thaumaturge (3.5e Alternate Class Feature)

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Hermetic Thaumaturge

Some uniquely-gifted alchemists learn the art of transmuting energy into matter and matter into energy. These alchemists pour away their focus from bombs and chemicals, to the finer art of magic. As a result, their alchemy has transcended fully to spellcasting. The earliest application of hermetic thaumaturgy is the transmutation of energy into elemental power, but the erudite alchemist soon finds their ability to be far less restrained.

Class: Alchemist

Level: 1st-20th

Replaces: Alchemy (Altered), Bombs, Mutagen, Throw Anything

Benefit: An hermetic thaumaturge gain access to the following class features:

Spellcasting: In addition to her ability to brew extract, an hermetic thaumaturge is able to cast arcane spells. An hermetic thaumaturge can prepare a number of spells equal to the extract per day on the alchemist table, she does not gain additional spell prepared if she has a high Intelligence score. The hermetic thaumaturge has a number of spell slots per day equal to the number of extract per day, with an additional slot at each level she can cast, and any bonus spell slot granted by a high Intelligence score. The hermetic thaumaturge prepares her spells from her formulae list, much like a wizard would prepare from her spellbook.

Unlike a wizard, her spells are not expended when they’re cast. Instead, she can cast any spell that she has prepared consuming a spell slot of the appropriate level, assuming she hasn’t yet used up her spell slots per day for that level. Additionally, instead of casting a spell she may spend 1 minute and a spell slot of that level to brew an extract. She does not need to have prepared the spell to brew an extract, instead drawing directly from her formulae list. An hermetic thaumaturge’s key spellcasting ability score is Intelligence.

Like a sorcerer, an hermetic thaumaturge can choose to apply any metamagic feats she knows to a prepared spell as she casts it, with the same increase in casting time (see Spontaneous Casting and Metamagic Feats). However, she may also prepare a spell with any metamagic feats she knows and cast it without increasing casting time like a wizard. She cannot combine these options—a spell prepared with metamagic feats cannot be further modified with another metamagic feat at the time of casting.

The hermetic thaumaturge still uses the alchemist spell list to determine which spell she can learn and prepare, but she also adds the following spell to her spell list. She cannot prepare spells not normally on the alchemist list as extract, including these spells:

1st–alchemical tinkering, break, burning disarm, magic weapon.
2nd–augury, chill metal, heat metal, knock, make whole, wood shape.
3rd–magic vestment, magic weapon, greater, stone shape, thaumaturgic circle.
4th–divination, gravity sphere, legend lore, life bubble, quicksilver, metal shape, rusting grasp.
5th–mass knock, passwall, subjective reality, transmute mud to rock, transmute rock to mud.
6th–disintegrate, limited wish, polymorph any object, reverse gravity.

This ability modifies the alchemist's ability to prepare extract. This does not modify any other benefits of the alchemy class feature.

Cantrips: An hermetic thaumaturge gains cantrip as a wizard of her class level. She may select her cantrip from sorcerer/wizard spell list.

Energy Reservoir: An hermetic thaumaturge has access to a reservoir of alchemical energy equal to half her level + her Intelligence bonus. This pool is refilled whenever the hermetic thaumaturge rests to regain her spells. This energy is used to power abilities which would normally require an arcane reservoir. Despite the similarity, points from an energy reservoir cannot be used for an arcanist exploit, and an arcane reservoir cannot be used for the hermetic thaumaturge’s abilities. The Extra Reservoir feat may be taken to expand the hermetic thaumaturge's energy reservoir.

In addition, the hermetic thaumaturge can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir as a free action whenever she casts an hermetic thaumaturge’s spell or prepares an extract. If she does, she can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell’s DC by 1. She can expend no more than 1 point from her reservoir on a given spell in this way.

This ability replaces mutagen and persistent mutagen. A cruorchymist can never gain the mutagen, cognatogen, or inspired cognatogen ability, even from a discovery or another class.

Energy Transmutation (Su): hermetic thaumaturge starts the game knowing one of the following exploits: acid jet, flame arc, holy water jet, ice missile or lightning lance. The hermetic thaumaturge uses her Intelligence instead of her Charisma to determine the DC and effect of her energy transmutation, including those gained through the alchemical thaumaturgy class feature. She may select whatever energy transmutation she has not selected at 1st level as alchemist discovery.

This ability replaces bomb.

Spell Focus: A 1st level hermetic thaumaturge gains Spell Focus (Transmutation) as a bonus feat.

This ability replaces throw anything.

Alchemical Thaumaturgy: Starting at 2nd level, an hermetic thaumaturge can select one of the following exploit as a discovery: dimensional slide, quick study or potent magic. At 11th level, she may select the following as well: burning flame, dancing electricity, hellfire ray, icy tomb or lingering acid. She must meet the prerequisite of the arcane exploit as normal.

This ability modifies the alchemist's discovery.

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