Shadow Prestige Class : Noctumancer
"Consider the power offered by magic, by the ability to manipulate reality. Imagine how much greater, then, the power available to he who can manipulate magic itself." - Eveneth Stillwater, lord of the Third House, Parliament of Shadows
Noctumancers bridge the gap between shadow and arcane magic. Those who succeed in becoming one of these elite not only gain a boost to their mystery user and arcane caster abilities, but are able to manipulate the mysteries and spells of others as no others can.
Given the requirements of the class, multiclass shadowcaster/sorcerers and shadowcaster/wizards make up almost the entirety of noctumancers. The rare shadowcaster/bard might be found, but virtually no other combination offers the proper abilities, and given the steep requirements of the prestige class, any additional multiclassing drastically slows (or even prevents) its acquisition.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Noctumancer, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks
- Shadowcasting: Able to cast 2nd-level mysteries
Spellcasting: Able to cast 2nd-level arcane spells
Class Skills
The noctumancer's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes), Profession, and Spellcraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
As a noctumancer, you excel at controlling all magics in the area around you.
Mysteries/Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new mysteries or spells per day and an increase in caster level (and mysteries or spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in both your mystery-using class and your arcane spellcasting class. You do not, however, gain any other benefits a character of these classes would have gained. If you had more than one mystery-using or arcane spellcasting class before becoming a noctumancer, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.
Capture Magic's Shadow (Su): At 1st level, when you successfully dispel a mystery or spell (such as with the mysteries shadows fade or unravel dweomer or the spells dispel magic or break enchantment), you can absorb its energy. You add one-half the level (round down, minimum 1) of the mystery or spell you dispelled to the caster level of any mystery or spell you cast in the next round. For instance, if you dispel a 4th-level spell, you add +2 to the caster level of the spell you cast in the next round. You cannot draw power from dispelling your own mysteries or spells.
Innate Counterspell (Su): Starting at 2nd level, you can attempt to counter a mystery or spell without using a readied action. Once per day, you can counter a spell as an immediate action, by expending a mystery use per day, a spell slot (if you prepare spells), or a spell use (if you are a spontaneous caster) as long as the mystery or spell expended is of the same level or higher as the mystery or spell to be countered.
At 7th level, when you successfully counter a mystery or spell using this ability, you retain some of the magical essence of the countered dweomer. You can choose to either gain one additional use of a mystery, regain an expended spell slot (if you prepare spells), or gain the use of an additional spell (if you are a spontaneous caster). The level of the mystery or spell you gain is equal to one-half the level of the mystery or spell you countered (rounded down, minimum 1).
You can use innate counterspell once per day at 2nd level, two times at 5th, and three times at 8th.
Eldritch Disruption (Su): At 6th level, you can use a standard action to disrupt the magical energies of a single target within 60 feet. That target must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + your noctumancer level + your Cha modifier) or take a -4 penalty to its caster level for any mysteries or spells it casts for 1 minute. You can use eldritch disruption three times per day.
Eldritch Vortex (Su): At 10th level, you can emit mystic energies in a 20-foot-radius burst around yourself. Any creature other than you within that area takes a -4 penalty to caster level for any mysteries, spells, or spell-like abilities it casts or uses. The vortex lasts 1 minute and can be used once per day.
Shadow's Persistence (Su): At 10th level, you gain temporary immunity to any mystery or spell captured or countered by means of your capture magic's shadow or innate counterspell ability. For 1 minute, you cannot be affected by any casting of that mystery or spell.
| Noctumancer | Hit Die: d4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Mysteries/Spells |
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Capture magic's shadow | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Innate counterspell 1/day | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 3rd | +1 | +3 | +1 | +3 | - | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 4th | +2 | +4 | +1 | +4 | - | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 5th | +2 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Innate counterspell 2/day | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 6th | +3 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Eldritch disruption | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 7th | +3 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Innate counterspell (retain power) | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 8th | +4 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Innate counterspell 3/day | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 9th | +4 | +6 | +3 | +6 | - | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 10th | +5 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Eldritch vortex, shadow's persistence | +1 level of existing mystery-using class/+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
Source: Tome of Magic