View source for Battlecaster, Tome (3.5e Class)

===Making a Battlecaster===

Battlecasters can fulfill many roles for a party, depending on their selected spheres and domains. Their poor BAB makes recharging difficult, however, and they can be useless  for more than a couple rounds in combat.

'''Abilities:''' Battlecasters favor their mental stat (you get to pick it), and also favor one to-hit stat (either strength or dexterity). Constitution is always nice.

'''Races:''' Any race that has to deal with conflict and combat (read: all races) is suitable to become a battlecaster. Preferrably ones with a bonus to a mental stat.

'''Alignment:''' Any.

'''Starting Gold:''' As PHB Sorcerer

'''[[SRD:Race Descriptions#Starting Age|Starting Age]]:''' Moderate

{| class="zebra d20"
|+
<div>{{Anchor|Table: The Battlecaster}}</div>
Hit Die: d6
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level
! rowspan="2" | [[BAB|Base<br/>Attack Bonus]]
! colspan="3" | [[SRD:Saving Throw|Saving Throw]]s
! rowspan="2" | Special
! colspan="11" | [[#Spells|Spells per Day]]
|-
! [[SRD:Saving Throw#Fortitude|Fort]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Reflex|Ref]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Will|Will]]
! 1<sup>st</sup> || 2<sup>nd</sup> || 3<sup>rd</sup> || 4<sup>th</sup> || 5<sup>th</sup> || 6<sup>th</sup> || 7<sup>th</sup> || 8<sup>th</sup> || 9<sup>th</sup> || 10<sup>th</sup>
|-
|1st||class="left" | +0 || +0 || +2 || +2
| class="left" | First Sphere, Armored Caster
|1||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|2nd||class="left" | +1 || +0 || +3 || +3
| class="left" | Sphere Ability, Bonus Fighter Feat
|1||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|3rd||class="left" | +1 || +1 || +3 || +3
| class="left" | First Domain
|1||1||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|4th||class="left" | +2 || +1 || +4 || +4
| class="left" | Domain Ability, Bonus Magic Feat
|2||1|||—||—||—||—||—||—||-
|—|
|-
|5th||class="left" | +2 || +1 || +4 || +4
| class="left" | Second Sphere
|2||1||1||—||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|6th||class="left" | +3 || +2 || +5 || +5
| class="left" | Sphere Ability, Advanced Learning
|2||2||1||—||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|7th||class="left" | +3 || +2 || +5 || +5
| class="left" | Second Domain
|2||2||1||1||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|8th||class="left" | +4 || +2 || +6 || +6
| class="left" | Domain Ability, Bonus Fighter Feat
|3||2||2||1||—||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|9th||class="left" | +4 || +3 || +6 || +6
| class="left" | Third Sphere
|3||2||2||1||1||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|10th||class="left" | +5 || +3 || +7 || +7
| class="left" | Sphere Ability, Bonus Magic Feat
|3||3||2||2||1||—||—||—||—
|—
|-
|11th||class="left" | +5 || +3 || +7 || +7
| class="left" | Third Domain
|3||3||2||2||1||1||—||—||—
|—
|-
|12th||class="left" | +6/+1 || +4 || +8 || +8
| class="left" | Domain Ability, Advanced Learning
|W*||3||3||2||2||1||—||—||—
|—
|- class="noalt"
| colspan="42" class="skill" |
'''Class Skills ([[Skill Points::4]] + [[SRD:Intelligence|Int]] modifier per level, &times;4 at 1st level)'''<br/> 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Balance Skill|Balance}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Bluff Skill|Bluff}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Climb Skill|Climb}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration}} ([[SRD:Constitution|Con]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Craft Skill|Craft}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Decipher Script Skill|Decipher Script}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Diplomacy Skill|Diplomacy}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Escape Artist Skill|Escape Artist}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Forgery Skill|Forgery}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Gather Information Skill|Gather Information}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]),  
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Heal Skill|Heal}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]),   
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Jump Skill|Jump}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge (Arcana)}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Listen Skill|Listen}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]) 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Profession Skill|Profession}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]),  
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Search Skill|Search}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Sense Motive Skill|Sense Motive}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]),  
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Speak Language Skill|Speak Language}} (None), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Spot Skill|Spot}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Survival Skill|Survival}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Swim Skill|Swim}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Tumble Skill|Tumble}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]).
|}

*A "W" instead of a number of spells/day for spells of a certain minimum access level means that spells of the indicated minimum access level can be cast at-will.

====Class Features====

All of the following are class features of the battlecaster.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Battlecasters are proficient with all simple weapons and light armor. They are not proficient with any type of shield. Armor and shields interfere with a battlecaster's movements, which cause his spells with somatic compoments to fail occasionally.

'''{{Anchor|Spells}}:'''A battlecaster casts arcane spells which are drawn primarily from a spell list created by his chosen spheres and domains. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time, the way a wizard or a cleric must (see below). 

To learn or cast a spell, a battlecaster must have a score for one of his mental ability scores (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma: Pick one and stick with it) equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a sorcerer’s spell is 10 + (the first level a battlecaster gains access to his spell + 1)/2 + the modifier for the battlecaster's chosen mental ability score. Battlecasters do not gain extra spells per day for having a high mental ability score.

A battlecaster's selection of spells is extremely limited. He begins knowing one 0th-level spells and all the spells from one Sphere or Field that he chooses. At every level, a battlecaster learns one more 0th-level spell. Upon reaching 3rd level, 7th level, and 11th level, a battlecaster may choose a domain and add all the spells of that domain to his spell list. The minimum access level of a domain spell is its (spell level x 2) - 1. Upon reaching 5th level and 10th level, a battlecaster may choose a sphere or field and add the spells of that sphere or field to his spell list at their normal minimum access levels.

Unlike a wizard or cleric, a battlecaster need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, provided he has not used his his spell slots per day for that spell level. He does not have to decide ahead of time which spells he will cast.

A battlecaster can replenish his spell slots by making a successful attack. During a battlecaster's turn in which he does not use any spells, and makes an attack roll that deals at least 1 point of lethal damage, he can spend a swift action to end the durations of all spells he has cast that are still in effect and replenish three of his spell slots. These spell slots are usable after the end of the battlecaster's turn.

The battlecaster recieves 10th-level spell "slots". These do not allow the battlecaster to use epic spells, but instead allow them to cast spells from spheres that requires 19th level to access.

'''{{Anchor|Armored Casting}}:''' The battlecaster does not suffer penalties for casting spells in any armor he is proficient with.

'''{{Anchor|Sphere Ability}}:''' At levels 2, 6, and 10, a battlecaster gains the special ability of the sphere or field whose spells he added to his spell list most recently. If the sphere or field has abilities that upgrade based on basic, advanced, or expert access, the battlecaster gains all the abilities.

'''{{Anchor|Bonus Fighter Feat}}:''' At levels 2 and 8, a battlecaster gains a bonus feat. This must be a fighter bonus feat and the battlecaster must meet the prerequisites.

'''{{Anchor|Domain Ability}}:''' At levels 4, 10, and 12, a battlecaster gains the special ability of the domain whose spells he added to his spell list most recently.

'''{{Anchor|Bonus Magic Feat}}:''' At levels 4 and 10, a battlecaster gains a bonus feat. This must be a metamagic or item creation feat and the battlecaster must meet the prerequisites.

'''{{Anchor|Advanced Learning}}:''' At levels 6 and 12, a battlecaster can add a spell from any base class spell list to his spell list. The highest level spell a battlecaster can learn this way is equal to half his level, rounded up.
Allowed Alignments	Lawful Good +, Lawful Neutral +, Lawful Evil +, Neutral Good +, Neutral +, Neutral Evil +, Chaotic Good +, Chaotic Neutral + and Chaotic Evil +
Article Balance	Very High +
Author	For Valor +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Poor +
Class Ability Progression	Full +
Fortitude Save Progression	Poor +
Identifier	3.5e Class +
Length	12 +
Minimum Level	1 +
Rating	Unrated +
Reflex Save Progression	Good +
Skill	Balance +, Bluff +, Climb +, Concentration +, Craft +, Decipher Script +, Diplomacy +, Escape Artist +, Forgery +, Gather Information +, Heal +, Jump +, Knowledge (Arcana) +, Listen +, Profession +, Search +, Sense Motive +, Speak Language +, Spellcraft +, Spot +, Survival +, Swim + and Tumble +
Skill Points	4 +
Summary	A caster with a small spell list (decided by spheres and domains) and spell slots that replenish by attacking. +
Title	Battlecaster, Tome +
Will Save Progression	Good +