Matrix Caster (3.5e Class)

Author: Nuthenry2 (talk) Date Created: 19/4/2022 Status: complete but could use some minor tweaks Editing: Clarity edits only please

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A caster that's cast with a premade Spell Matrix

20 levels

"levels" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 20.

0 Poor Poor Poor Good Spontaneous Arcane Spellcasting, Spontaneous Divine Spellcasting, Alternate Magic, Psionics Full

Matrix Caster

Matrix Caster originally started out as a large group of people got stranded, with the need to survive the harsh landscape they went about trying to gain Strength, one of their attempts was to figure out wizardry from a tattered old spell book. Their answer was the humble spell matrix, a circuit of magically reactive reagents that twist, turn, pinches and manipulates any magic that flows through it. The first couple of prototypes were fairly crude, being just carved stone and pulped magical plant matter with the casters blood mixed in, but it worked.

Nowadays the technique is refined to the point where it could rival wizardry and with the knowledge being sold and bartered with traders and passersby to secure supplies, caused the knowledge to spread far and wide. Although some wizards refused to accept it proper magic as something so mechanical and calculated flies in the face of wizardry.

Making a Matrix Caster

A Matrix Caster is quite versatile unfortunately there's a few short comings, the first and most importantly is the Reliance on physical objects to casts spell, should these spell Matrices be misplaced, stolen or destroyed they will have to rely on their limited amount of engram matrices, replacing this will be quite expensive and time consuming. the other is that They spend so much of their time studying and crafting spell matrices that their quite weak in a direct fight as such They contributes the most to a party by staying in the rear and supporting them. Another thing of Interest is when a high-level matrix caster settles down in a location, there tends to be an influx of dragons into the area although this must be mere coincidence.

Abilities: Intelligence is a must As it determines the highest spell you can cast, the number of Engrams they can hold and crafting speed. Apart from that, Dexterity for survival is important.

Races: Any race can become a metrics caster But it's more common in those with strong knowledge on mathematics, geometry and calligraphy.

Alignment: Crafting Matrices requires precise work, those of a chaotic alignment will have a hard time crafting all of the needed Matrices to be effective.

Starting Gold: 5d4×10 gp

Starting Age: Complex

Table: The Matrix Caster

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	-
		Fort	Ref	Will		Spell Level	Spells Points
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Craft Spell Matrix, Battle Book, Engram Matrix, Scribe Scroll	1	2
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3		1	4
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Magic Crystallization	2	7
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4		2	11
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4		3	16
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5		3	24
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5		4	33
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6		4	44
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6		5	56
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Matrix Conversion	5	72
11th	+5	+3	+3	+7		6	88
12th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8		6	104
13th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8		7	120
14th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9		7	136
15th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9		8	152
16th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10		8	168
17th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10		9	184
18th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11		9	200
19th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11		9	216
20th	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Living Matrix	9	232
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Int), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha). Class Features All of the following are class features of the Matrix Caster. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Matrix Casters are proficient with all simple weapons and battle books. They are proficient with light armor, light shields and bucklers. Spells: A Matrix Caster casts arcane spells which are drawn primarily from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. Like other spellcasters, a Matrix Caster can cast only a certain number of spells per day. His base spell points are given on Table: The Matrix Caster. In addition, he receives bonus spell points per day if he has a high Intelligence score. A Matrix Caster has no known spells, instead he uses matrices (see below) but he counts as a spontaneous caster, The caster may also apply spontaneously metamagic as like a sorcerer when casting a spell matrix . Matrix Casters use the Spell Points System and may copy and inscribe spells into spell books. Craft Spell Matrix: A Matrix Caster can craft spell matrices, these are often in the form of a page that is covered with densely-packed arcane or divine magical runes. It contains the knowledge of a single arcane spell (chosen by the creator when the item is crafted). The bearer may use her spell slots or spell points to cast that spell as if it were one of her spells known. Spells cast this way do not require any verbal, somatic or material and focuses under 1gp. The cost to craft a Matrix is 500gp x (spell level squared, cantrips are x0.5) and (cost in gold Divided by 25) XP. in a day's work he can craft 1000gp + (Matrix Caster level and Intelligence bonus squared x10) gp. A Matrix Caster may craft a batch of matrices together. Spell matrices require a source of the spell to craft, this can be obtained by a spell book, scrolls, wands, starves, other matrices or research using Researching Spells (3.5e Variant Rule), this will record the spell to a spell book which then can be used to make a Spell matrix. Matrices may be crafted with metamagic if the crafter has the required metamagic feat or Metamagic rod, the cost is the total spell level after the metamagic is applied. Matrices may also be crafting in different forms if they possess the correct feats or (10 + spell level) ranks in a crafting skill. For example somebody skilled in glassblowing may create matrices in the form of inscribed glass beads, a shrine maiden with calligraphy could form them into charms, a tattoo artist can craft spell Matrices into their skin if they have a magic tattoo creation feat or if things like smartphones exist within the setting, they may make matrices in the form of programs or microchips. The cost to craft them is still the same and it's up to the DM whether such things make sense or can fit and work in the sitting. A Matrix Caster starts play with 3 cantrip level matrices and 2 spell level 1 matrices. With each new level a Matrix Caster also receives a free spell matrix of their choice up to the highest spell level they can cast. Non-Matrix Casters can use an Spell Matrices by emulating a class feature (DC 20) with the Use Magic Device skill Battle Book: A Matrix Caster can use a Battle Book (3.5e Equipment) as a binder for all of their spell matrices, which Can hold up to 100 spell levels. They are proficient with battle books. Engram Matrix: A Matrix Caster can permanently burn a matrix into their mind, this acts the same as a spell matrix, apart from it cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed. Crafting an engram is similar to crafting a spell matrix (having the same crafting time) except it costs 4x more then an matrix of the same time, engrams can be ‘Uncrafted’ and removed at the cost of 1/10th of the original engram cost. A Matrix Caster is limited to (Matrix Caster level + Intelligence Ability Score) spell levels. A Matrix Caster starts with an engram of ‘Read Magic’ already installed. Scribe Scroll: At 1st level, a Matrix Caster Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat. Magic Crystallization: At 3rd level, a Matrix Caster may turn their Spells Points pool into crafting materials. With 1 hour of concentration they may turn up to (Caster Level) of their maximum spell point pool each into 25gp and 1xp worth of materials to be used with crafting. the crafting materials will take 24 hours to fully crystallized and become usable for crafting and only after 24 hours of using the materials in crafting or destroying the materials will a Matrix Caster be able to restore their lost maximum spell point pool points. Matrix Conversion: At level 10 a Matrix Caster figures out how to convert spells from any other spell list into the arcane sorcerer/wizard spell list, Unfortunately this process is inefficient with arcane spells will cost a spell level higher to cast, divine spells costing two levels higher, psionic spell costing there levels higher and anything else vaguely supernatural costing four levels higher. Spells converted this way must be researched with the cost equal to the end result of the spell level. Living Matrix: At level 20 a Matrix Caster figures out how to encode their soul and mind into a living matrix, as such they are immune to any effect which would displace or trap their soul and mind control effects. Upon death of their physical body their soul and mind will be released and become a self-sustaining magic phenomenon, while in this state the Matrix Caster are limited to being able to only move at 5ft, cast engrams and move through non-magical obstacles. Should a living matrix be located in an anti magic zone they will be rendered unconscious and slowly drift out of the zone at a rate of 5ft per minute, should they be hit with the spell SRD:Mage's Disjunction or similar and fail the saving throw they will Parish. A Living Matrix my enter and possess any unoccupied body, over the course of 24 hours the body will alter it self to the Living Matrix soul, meaning it Str, Dex and Con will match their original body, things like species, sex and age of the body may or may not change, Although their new appearance will tend to become a blend of their old and new body. Epic Matrix Caster Table: The Epic Matrix Caster Hit Die: d4 Level Special Spell Points 21st Spell Level 10 241 22nd — 241 23rd — 241 24th — 241 25th Spell Level 11 262 26th — 262 27th — 262 28th — 262 29th Spell Level 12 285 30th — 285 4 + Int modifier skill points per level. Craft Spell Matrix: After level 20 a Matrix Caster will not gain any more free Spell Matrices, although they will still gain an bonus to crafting work done per day. Engram Matrix: After level 20 a Matrix Caster will continue to increase their engram limit with each level Spell Level and Spell points: A Matrix Caster gains the ability to cast a spell at level 10, This does not mean they can cost epic spells but only level 9 spells that been modified with metamagic or spell created with Matrix Conversion. Additionally they also receive a number of spell points equal to the cost to cast it. highest level of magic they can cast Increases every 4 level along with gaining the an equivalent amount of spell points. Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Base Classes