Be careful of your dreams. You never know what truths they might reveal.
--Alec Draes, Dreamwright
The Dreamwright is a wizard who learns to tap into a mysterious and powerful alternative source of power for their magic: the power of dreams. Nothing arcane is free on Athas, however, and dream magic is no exception. Drawing on the dreams of those around him can have dire consequences for the dreamers; even more frighteningly for some, dream magic used by the unskilled has the unfortunate side effect of producing Feyrs, creatures formed of living nightmare.
Dreamwrights are also keepers of knowledge and prophecy. They are masters of magic which reveals and obscures information. Many dreamwrights spend much of their time studying ancient and obscure tomes, searching for some insight into the causes of Athas' present situation and how it might be solved.
Although some Dreamwrights are solitary, disliking the company of other beings, it is rumoured that a number of them have gathered together in a secret college somewhere in Urik - directly under the nose of the Sorcerer-King Hamanu and the members of the Veiled Alliance, who both harbour suspicions about this new form of magic. Known to outsiders only as the Dreaming Eye, the group is extremely mysterious and entry into their ranks - even mere contact with them - is extremely difficult.
Hit Die: d4
Requirements
To become a Dreamwright, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Skills: Concentration 10 ranks, Decipher Script 10 ranks, Knowledge: Arcana 10 ranks, Literacy (at least 3 languages).
Feats: Spell Focus: Divination and Illusion.
Magic: Able to cast 3rd-level spells.
Special: Must have crafted a dream focus, requiring a Craft check DC 25 and 500 cp worth of raw materials. The secrets of the creation of dream focii must be found by intense magical research (the details of which should be left up to the DM) or by making contact and receiving the necessary information from a member of the Dreaming Eye or other Dreamwright. The DM should note that the Dreaming Eye accepts only preservers into their ranks.
Class Skills
The Dreamwright's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise, Bluff, Concentration, Decipher Script, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Knowledge (All), Literacy, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, and Spellcraft.
Skill points at each level: 4 + Int modifier.
Here are some of my thoughts.
Alignment- a non-good. For some reason I cannot see a good character powering their magic by leeching others dreams away.
I would also maybe reduce the aquisition of caster levels. The class has a lot of diverse abilities and by adding more caster levels it, in my mind, over powers this class. I would suggest limiting the +1 to caster levels to 5 or 6.
Also, If the Dreamwright can basically create a Feyr, I would think they would have some ability to control them- which is another reason I would make this class a non-good.
I hope this was helpful. I would like to see the other abilities too. :D
What are Feyrs?
See Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager. (The buggy-as-hell computer game)
They're basically nightmares given form. Or something like that.
See Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager. (The buggy-as-hell computer game)
They're basically nightmares given form. Or something like that.
They're also Forgotten Realms creatures if I'm not mistaken.
It also got rid of the larval feyr.
I like the idea of this class- and if I may say so I think Pennarin will be interested too.
Here are some of my thoughts.
Alignment- a non-good. For some reason I cannot see a good character powering their magic by leeching others dreams away.
As opposed to leaching the very life energy of the planet? ;) Honestly, I didn't want to impose alignment restrictions on them - why? Dreamwrights can be as diverse in their alignment as any other wizard can. Perhaps some see making use of something with no obvious physical properties as better than the continued destruction of the environment and ecology of a dying world.
I would also maybe reduce the aquisition of caster levels. The class has a lot of diverse abilities and by adding more caster levels it, in my mind, over powers this class. I would suggest limiting the +1 to caster levels to 5 or 6.
This I will think about, but I will reserve judgment until you (and others) can see the rest of the class features I had planned.
Also, If the Dreamwright can basically create a Feyr, I would think they would have some ability to control them- which is another reason I would make this class a non-good.
The creation of Feyrs is *not intentional*. The Dreamwright has no control over the newborn Feyr - the thing is trying to kill him, in fact! It was my intention that being hounded every step of his path to continuing power be part of the price the Dreamwright has to pay.
I hope this was helpful. I would like to see the other abilities too. :D
Any sort of feedback is helpful. I would like to show you those abilities, too. So I'll get cracking on that. :D
This concept is identical to something I've been toying with.
Really? Like, completely identical? Down to the college in Urik and all? Very cool - and also sort of creepy, but I'll overlook that :D. Also enheartening to know that someone highly involved in the design process likes the concept. Perhaps we could combine our ideas? Mine are a bit sketchy on the class features. Those shown on the current list are only a few of the possibilities I came up with.
Really? Like, completely identical? Down to the college in Urik and all? Very cool - and also sort of creepy, but I'll overlook that . Also enheartening to know that someone highly involved in the design process likes the concept. Perhaps we could combine our ideas? Mine are a bit sketchy on the class features. Those shown on the current list are only a few of the possibilities I came up with.
No, not down to the college in Urik. My plans were for a different campaign world than Athas, where dreams play a much larger role in the cosmology than on Athas - where dreams are barely mentioned. The following part is what I read which is similar - and what I meant by concept: "The Dreamwright is a wizard who learns to tap into a mysterious and powerful alternative source of power for their magic: the power of dreams. (...) Drawing on the dreams of those around him can have dire consequences for the dreamers; even more frighteningly for some, dream magic used by the unskilled has the unfortunate side effect of producing Feyrs, creatures formed of living nightmare."
Note the completion of the PRC and the added template. Both could use feedback. I'll eventually put up the other Dreamwright class abilities I was thinking about for consideration, but my next project is going to be information on the Mind's Eye, the secret Urik-based school of Dreamwrights.
Eternal Scream now has CR/LA adjustments calculated w/ Soldarin's. Feedback is still appreciated on any number of things.