Changes

|status=Tentative Completion7 January 2014: Version 2.0

This is a trim arcane spellcaster designed to fit in between the [[SRD:Sorcerer|sorcerer]] and [[SRD:Wizard|wizard]] while gaining a few interesting features of its own. It doesn't (currently) gain a familiar, but it can regain its spell slots with less down time. Though, most Most of its spells will be weaker than counterpart casters of the same level, it . It can cast low level spells in high level slots for added effectiveness beyond [[SRD:Heighten Spell|heightening]] and eventually gains 10th level spell slots. As a magic-user gains levels, it can continually cast its lowest spells from select chosen schools.

A magic-user, with an hour of down-time, is ready to go as can refresh a primary arcane spell casterfew spells and keep going. Like the typical mage, he's weak with weapons and physical defenses. Almost everything he does, he uses his spells for. He isn't particularly skillful, but does possess a mix of charismatic and intelligent skills, allowing him to serve function as a diplomat and leader or a scholarand advisor. He's also slightly more robust than a sorcerer or wizard and can actually cast spells while holding a staff in both hands.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' A magic-user is proficient with [[SRD:Weapons|simple weapons]] (Reference: [[3.5e Mundane Weapons|homebrew weapons]]). These Simple weapons don't affect a magic-user's somatic components when held/wielded, counting as a "free hand" for spells with somatic components.

'''{{Anchor|Spells}}:''' A magic-user casts arcane spells which are drawn from the [[SRD:Sorcerer/Wizard Spell List|sorcerer/wizard spell list]] (Reference: [[3.5e Sorcerer/Wizard Spells|homebrew sorcerer/wizard spells]]). He may not learn spells from other lists, even if they are arcane. A magic-user may cast a spell he knows so long as he has a an appropriate slot available. He may At first level, he chooses to use either his [[SRD:Intelligence|Intelligence]] or [[SRD:Charisma|Charisma]] as his primary casting ability score, chosen at his first level.

:'''Regaining Spent Spells:''' So long as A magic-user, upon meditating for an hour, has a number of his spent spell slots restored equal to his primary casting modifier bonus (minimum 1), starting with the lowest slots restored first. Optionally, a magic-user is able to may meditate for 1 an hour while taking no other actions, he is able to regain any and restore a number of his spent spell slotsequal to 1/2 his primary casting modifier (minimum 1), restoring the slots of his choice.

:Similar to other spellcasters, a A magic-user can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level slot until he meditates to regain his spent slots. However, as he gains higher levels, he may cast spells from his lowest level slots an unlimited number of times provided that they are not from his focused a neglected school(s). His base spell allotment total is given on [[#Table: The Magic-User|Table: The Magic-User]]. He receives no bonus spells known or spells per day for a high primary casting ability score.

:'''Ingraining Spells:''' A magic-user's selection of spells is rather limited. The spells a magic-user learns are ingrained into his soul (or animating force), allowing him to function much like a wizard's spellbook with an amount of available spaces equal to his ECL × 10. A spell takes up 1 space per spell level (one space each for 0-level spells). A 1st level magic-user begins with knowing six 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the player's choice.

:A magic-user learns new spells in several three ways. At each new level, a magic-user level, he may learn 2 two new spells for any spell level he is able to cast. Alternatively, a magic-user may ingrain himself with a new spell from a spellbook or arcane spell scroll with a [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] skill check (DC 15 + spell level) while meditating, taking 10 minutes per spell level to do so. If the process is interrupted or the [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] check fails, it can be re-attempted after 24 hours. Lastly, a magic-user may learn an arcane practice through trial and error to produce a desired spell after having witnessed it cast, making effect with a [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] skill check (DC 25 + spell levelof the target spell)taking 1 hour per attempt, regardless of success. After success, another 8 hours is required to fully learn and ingrain the spell. If the [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] check spell to be learned has a costly material component or focus, it is successful, required for the ingraining attempt must be started within 1 hour, taking 10 minutes per spell level to complete while meditatingpractice.

:'''Focused & Neglected Schools:''' A magic-user focuses and temporarily neglects four spell schools of his choice. He must may not normally focus 1 cast spells from a neglected school and neglect two others , but may change his neglected schools after meditating. He may optionally focus an additional school at the cost of neglecting an additional school. He may not only cast spells from his a neglected schools. school if he has available slots in an [[SRD:Universal School#Unlimited Focus|UniversalUnlimited Focus]] spells as a special case are treated as though focusedspell level. The spell schools are [[SRD:Abjuration School|Abjuration]], [[SRD:Conjuration School|Conjuration]], [[SRD:Divination School|Divination]], [[SRD:Enchantment School|Enchantment]], [[SRD:Evocation School|Evocation]], [[SRD:Illusion School|Illusion]], [[SRD:Necromancy School|Necromancy]] and [[SRD:Transmutation School|Transmutation]]. The [[SRD:Universal School|Universal]] spell category cannot be neglected.

:His focused schools gain several benefits. Firstly, they may have metamagic effects applied without increasing casting time. They A magic-user may be cast spells from non-neglected schools without expending a slot from any of his [[#Unlimited Focus|Unlimited Focus]] spell levels, even if those levels are empty from casting other spells. Lastly, if a magicneglected-user first identifies a spell as it is cast with a [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] check (DC 15 + the spell's level) as a [[SRD:Free Actions|free action]], and that spell is of his focused school(s), he may attempt to [[SRD:Casting Spells#Counterspells|counterspell]] the spell as an [[SRD:Immediate Actions|immediate action]] rather than as a [[SRD:Standard Actions|readied standard action]]spells.

:'''Metamagic Spells:''' A If a magic-user may enhance his spells first identifies a spell as it is cast with a [[SRD:Metamagic FeatsSpellcraft Skill|metamagicSpellcraft]] effects, choosing when to apply these effects as check (DC 15 + the spell is cast. Like spontaneous casters ('s level) as a [[SRD:BardFree Actions|bardsfree action]] , and that spell is not of a neglected school, he may attempt to [[SRD:SorcererCasting Spells#Counterspells|sorcererscounterspell]]), a magic-user takes more time to cast spells with metamagic effects (unless the spell is of a focused school). If the spell's normal casting time is 1 as an [[SRD:Action TypesImmediate Actions|immediate action]], casting rather than as a metamagic version is a full-round [[SRD:Standard Actions|readied standard action. For spells with a longer casting time, it takes an extra full-round action to cast the spell]].

:'''Retraining Metamagic Spells:''A magic-user' s spells may have metamagic effects applied without increasing casting time. A magic-user may flush a spell from himself permanentlyenhance his spells with [[SRD:Metamagic Feats|metamagic]] effects, freeing up choosing when to apply these effects as the space it took, by meditating for 1 hour while taking no other actionsspell is cast.

:'''Spellcaster's PowerRetraining Spells:''' A magic-user casts spells differently than sorcerers or wizards. His spell's levels are instead treated as it's minimum spell-slot level from which it can be cast. He may cast spells from higher level slots where they are treated as spells of that level (similar to [[SRD:Heighten Spell|heightened spells]]). His spells are treated as the minimum level required to cast the flush a spell from that level (until he reaches 18th level and gains [[#Spellcaster's Power Up|Spellcaster's Power Up]]). Spells that normally have linearly-scaling limitations based on caster level have those limitations scaled and raised to himself permanently, freeing up the caster level the spell is cast atspace it took, by meditating uninterrupted for 1 hour while taking no other actions.

:''Spellcaster's Power:'' A magic-user casts spells differently than other spell casters. His spell's levels are treated as the minimum spell-slot level from which it can be cast. He may cast spells in higher level slots where they are treated as spells of that level (similar to [[SRD:Heighten Spell|heightened spells]]). His spells are treated as the minimum level required to cast the spell from that slot's level (until he reaches 18th level and gains [[#Spellcaster's Power Up|Spellcaster's Power Up]]). Spells that normally have linearly-scaling limitations based on caster level have those limitations scaled and raised to the caster level the spell is cast at. ::''Example:''' A ''[[SRD:Fireball|fireball]]'' is a 3rd level spell. For a magic-user, this is the minimum level slot the spell may be cast from. If he is a 16th level magic-user, he can cast the spell as an 8th level spell as if it where cast by a 15th level caster, dealing 15d6 damage with a Reflex save (DC 18 + his primary casting ability score modifier).

'''{{Anchor|Unlimited Focus}}:''' At 6th level, a magic-user is able to cast any 0-level spell from his focused school(s) as well as [[SRD:Universal School|Universal]] spells non-neglected schools without the cost expenditure of a spell slot, even when all slots have been . He may also cast by other spells of that levelfrom his neglected schools in these slots. At 10th level, he gains this ability for his 1st level spells. At 14th level, he gains this ability for his 2nd level spells. At 17th level, he gains this ability for his 3rd level spells and at 20th level, he gains this ability for his 4th level spells. This ability does not extend to casting gained from other sources.

This class is purposely designed to be sparse on flavor. Your character provides the flavor you want while the class provides the mechanics to back it up. Call him a shaman or a wizard, an eldritch enchanter or an occult incantator. Have him gain arcane inspiration from a powerful outsider patron, or from ancient tomes, or from a tribal ritual.  Do you find the above mechanics interesting but something is a little off? Check the variations and adaptations below and maybe you'll find what you're looking for there.

'''{{Anchor|Divine Magic-User}}:''' For an added twist, try this class as a divine caster instead. Simply swap out the references to arcane and divine spells above, grant remove [[SRD:Eschew Materials|Eschew Materials]] for light and medium armor proficiency and set the primary casting ability modifier to Wisdom. At early levels, they'll be able to fully heal the party between combat given some downtime. Since by default they can't turn undead, summon animals, wear platemail or turn into a tyrannosaurustyrannosaurs, a divine magic-user has to focus on providing support and make use of spells that become uncapped. '''{{Anchor|Slow Recharge Magic-User}}:''' If you feel that all spell slots recharged after an hour is too much for your game style, then try this instead: A magic-user, upon meditating for an hour, has a number of slots restored equal to his primary casting modifier bonus (minimum 1), starting with the lowest slots restored first. You may even want to try this out in survival-based games or if the character has been unable to rest properly or is fatigued. This adjustment may narrow down disparity if this class is used with high balance range characters in the party, though this is subject to play-style.

'''{{Anchor|Basic Magic-User}}:''' Confused by all that "minimum spell level" and "linearly-scaling limitations based on caster level" business? Get rid of it and use a the basic magic-user instead. A basic magic-user casts spells similarly to a spontaneous wizard with fewer known spells. For starters, he gains [[SRD:Heighten Spell|Heighten Spell]] at first level instead of [[SRD:Eschew Materials|Eschew Materials]]. He no longer gains the [[#Spellcaster's Power Up|Spellcaster's Power Up]] ability (and epic equivalent), instead gaining a bonus feat for which he meets the prerequisites at those levels. His spells "Spells" entry now reads as this:

'''{{Anchor|Basic Spells}}:''' A basic magic-user casts arcane spells which are drawn from the [[SRD:Sorcerer/Wizard Spell List|sorcerer/wizard spell list]] (Reference: [[3.5e Sorcerer/Wizard Spells|homebrew sorcerer/wizard spells]]). He may not learn spells from other lists, even if they are arcane. A basic magic-user may cast a spell he knows so long as he has a an appropriate slot available. He may At first level, he chooses to use either his [[SRD:Intelligence|Intelligence]] or [[SRD:Charisma|Charisma]] as his primary casting ability score, chosen at his first level.

:'''Regaining Spent Spells:''' So long as a basic magic-user is able to meditate for 1 hour 4 hours while taking no other actions, he is able to regain any spent spell slots.

:Similar to other spellcasters, a A basic magic-user can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level slot until he meditates to regain his spent slots. However, as he gains higher levels, he may cast spells from his lowest level slots an unlimited number of times provided that they are not from his neglected schools. His base spell allotment total is given on [[#Table: The Magic-User|Table: The Magic-User]]. He receives no bonus spells known or spells per day for a high primary casting ability score.

:'''Ingraining Spells:''' A basic magic-user's selection of spells is rather limited. The spells a basic magic-user learns are ingrained into his soul (or animating force), allowing him to function much like a wizard's spellbook with an amount of available spaces equal to his ECL × 10. A spell takes up 1 space per spell level (one space each for 0-level spells). A 1st level basic magic-user begins with knowing six 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the player's choice.

:A basic magic-user learns new spells in several three ways. At each new level, a basic magic-user level, he may learn 2 two new spells for any spell level he is able to cast. Alternatively, a basic magic-user may ingrain himself with a new spell from a spellbook or arcane spell scroll with a [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] skill check (DC 15 + spell level) while meditating, taking 10 minutes per spell level to do so. If the process is interrupted or the [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] check fails, it can be re-attempted after 24 hours. Lastly, a basic magic-user may learn an arcane practice through trial and error to produce a desired spell after having witnessed it cast, making effect with a [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] skill check (DC 25 + spell levelof the target spell)taking 1 hour per attempt, regardless of success. After success, another 8 hours is required to fully learn and ingrain the spell. If the [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] check spell to be learned has a costly material component or focus, it is successful, required for the ingraining attempt must be started within 1 hour, taking 10 minutes per spell level to complete while meditatingpractice.

:'''Neglected Schools:''' A basic magic-user temporarily neglects two four spell schools of his choice. He may not cast spells from a neglected school, but may change his neglected schools after meditating. [[SRD:Universal School|Universal]] category spells as a special case and may never be neglected. The schools are [[SRD:Abjuration School|Abjuration]], [[SRD:Conjuration School|Conjuration]], [[SRD:Divination School|Divination]], [[SRD:Enchantment School|Enchantment]], [[SRD:Evocation School|Evocation]], [[SRD:Illusion School|Illusion]], [[SRD:Necromancy School|Necromancy]] and [[SRD:Transmutation School|Transmutation]].

:'''Metamagic Spells:''A basic magic-user' s spells may have metamagic effects applied without increasing casting time. A basic magic-user may enhance his spells with [[SRD:Metamagic Feats|metamagic]] effects, choosing when to apply these effects as the spell is cast. Unlike other spontaneous casters ([[SRD:Bard|bards]] and [[SRD:Sorcerer|sorcerers]]), a basic magic-user does not take more time to cast spells with metamagic effects.

:'''Retraining Spells:''' A basic magic-user may flush a spell from himself permanently, freeing up the space it took, by meditating uninterrupted for 1 hour while taking no other actions.