Transcendent Scholar PrC - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 radnovius Jun 23, 2006 18:58:55	So I haven't gotten any feedback on this PrC posted in my archive, so I thought to start a separate thread for it since the other recent PrCs have gotten a good looking over. I've changed it a little from when it was first posted. New PrC for those pursuing advanced beinghood. Transcendent Scholar “Knowledge is the key to transcending this mortal coil.” – Seph, transcendent scholar The transcendent scholar is a spellcasting manifester obsessed with the study of advanced beings. His ultimate goal is the fusion of magic and psionics with his being to ascend to the status of advanced being. While any spellcaster/manifester combination may pursue this class, the single-minded obsession is most common among power-hungry defiler/psions of all races, noble preserver/psions, and focused dwarven earth cleric/psions. Hit Die: d4. Requirements To qualify to become a transcendent scholar, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Skills: Gather Information 5 ranks, Decipher Script 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcane or religion) 10 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 10 ranks, Psicraft 5 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks. Feats: Focused Skill User [Knowledge (arcane or religion), Knowledge (psionics), Spellcraft]. Spells: Able to cast 3rd-level spells. Psionics: Able to manifest 3rd-level powers. Other: Must be literate in at least one language. Class Skills The transcendent scholar’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Decipher Script (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (arcane) (Int), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Knowledge(the planes) (Int), Literacy (none), Psicraft (Int), and Spellcraft (Int). Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Transcendent scholars gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. Spells per Day/Powers Known: At first and third level the transcendent scholar gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if he had also gained a level in any one manifesting class he belonged to previously. At second and fourth level the transcendent scholar gains.new spells per day as if he had also attained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of either class would have gained (bonus metamagic, metapsionic, or item creation feats, psicrystal special abilities, and so on). This essentially means that when a transcendent scholar adds a level of spellcasting class or manifesting class, add the level to the base class level to determine spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level. If a character had more than one spellcasting class or more than one manifesting class before he became a transcendent scholar, he must decide to which class he adds at each level of transcendent scholar for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level. Ascendant Lore: The transcendent scholar has studied advanced beings. He gains +2 x his transcendent scholar level as a competency bonus to any check concerned with advanced beings using his class skills. Transcendent Focus: The transcendent scholar receives a +1 morale bonus on all checks directly related to their field of study or goal of becoming and advancing as an advanced being. This includes a skill bonus, an attack bonus, a damage bonus, or a saving throw bonus, or even a bonus to manifestation or spell save DCs. This bonus stacks with the bonus bestowed by the dwarven racial focus. Once the transcendent scholar reaches the 10th level of the Advanced being PrC, thereby satisfying this focus, he loses the benefit of the focus but gains a bonus psionic enchantment. Should a transcendent scholar die before completing his focus, he becomes the bane of whomever else would follow his course. He gains the dwarven banshee template with some modifications. His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class. He also gains ability drain for the key atribute of his base spellcasting class. Epiphany: The transcendent scholar gains 4 ranks in any one of his class skills. He may not exceed the maximum rank for his character level. Bonus Feats: The transcendent scholar gains a bonus metapsionic feat at third level and a bonus metamagic feat at fourth level. He may take any feat for which he meets the prerequisites. Transcendent Spellcrafting: The transcendent scholar adds his Knowledge (psionics) ranks to his Knowledge (arcane or religion) ranks and his Psicraft ranks to his Spellcraft ranks for all checks concerning the research and crafting of spells.
#2 Pennarin Jun 25, 2006 13:23:46	A few things to consider as you wish: The class skills are lacking key wizard skills like Bluff, Disguise, and Profession. Ascendant Lore: The transcendent scholar has studied advanced beings. He gains +2 x his transcendent scholar level as a competency bonus to any check concerned with advanced beings using his class skills. Make that a bonus to related Knowledge checks. It is a "Lore" ability after all. Transcendent Focus: [...] Once the transcendent scholar reaches the 10th level of the Advanced being PrC, thereby satisfying this focus, he loses the benefit of the focus but gains a bonus psionic enchantment. Here you say "Advanced being PrC", while it is not the name of your class. Check the rest of the text for similar misnaming. Also, if you receive a bonus psionic enchantment, it should be mentionned you receive it when gaining your first psionic enchantment. Transcendent Focus: [...] He gains the dwarven banshee template with some modifications. His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class. Better language here might help things along. Mention that you become an undead similar to a dwarven banshee. Mention that you use the dwarven banshee template with 'the following modifications:'. "His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class": aroo? Transcendent Spellcrafting You may end up having the same problem as I for the Aspirant, in that the bonuses are too high.
#3 radnovius Jun 26, 2006 0:36:42	Thanks for the input. I'm going to refer to the Transcendent Scholar as TS for brevity in typing. A few things to consider as you wish: The class skills are lacking key wizard skills like Bluff, Disguise, and Profession. Actually, I left these out purposefully. The TS is so focused on attaining knowledge, that everything else falls to the wayside to a certain degree. I might consider adding bluff and/or disguise. On the other hand I might base some additional class skills based on the PrC upon which the transcendent scholar is focused on becoming. Make that a bonus to related Knowledge checks. It is a "Lore" ability after all. Lore was the best I could come up with I may rename it. As it is it applies to the class skills: Decipher Script - The TS has studied extensively enough that he can start to recognize common words and symbols in writings pertaining to advanced beings. Gather Information - The TS knows what to ask and can sense the ring of truth in rumors around communities concerning the pursuit of his knowledge. Knowledges - This one is self explanatory. Psicraft/Spellcraft - The intensive study of the mechanics involved in becoming an advanced being makes designing and learning such spells simpler. Here you say "Advanced being PrC", while it is not the name of your class. Check the rest of the text for similar misnaming. Also, if you receive a bonus psionic enchantment, it should be mentionned you receive it when gaining your first psionic enchantment. I think you misunderstood me here. Basically the transcendent focus goes away once the PC has totally become the advanced being (reached level 10 of Dragon, Avangion, Elemental, etc.) At this time, the player gains an extra psionic enchantment. Better language here might help things along. Mention that you become an undead similar to a dwarven banshee. Mention that you use the dwarven banshee template with 'the following modifications:'. "His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class": aroo? Good suggestion, I'll do that. You may end up having the same problem as I for the Aspirant, in that the bonuses are too high. I was thinking about that as well. What I may do is apply a bonus of half his ranks in knowledge (psionics)/psicraft. This would kind of fall into line with the metapotency conceived for the Dragon PrC. On the other hand it isn't coupled with any increase in manifester or spellcrafter levels. Ascendent Lore provides a pretty hefty bonus, but it is relatively limitted in scope. I might knock it down to a bonus of just +TS-level instead of 2 x.
#4 squidfur- Jun 26, 2006 16:21:45	the reason that bluff and disguise are so important to a wizard, is that these skills apply to a wizards ability to keep his spellcasting on the down-low, and to keep a spellbook, in hidden format - respectively. Without these, the chances that a wizard will even survive long enough to take this PrC is greatly reduced...and if he can't survive, then what's the point?
#5 radnovius Jun 28, 2006 0:19:10	I understand the need for bluff and disguise for wizards and am not advocating taking them away from the wizard class. On the other hand, not everyone taking this PrC will have any arcane spellcasting ability. Characters who take this PrC will have to be at least 8th level (Wiz or Clr 3, Psion 3, Cereberemancer 2) just to meet the spellcasting/manifesting prereqs, and I think they'd need an additional level just to reach the 10 Spellcraft. The goal of the PrC is to give them an ability to catch up on knowledge/information gathering types of skills to help them progress to avanced being. Thus, they could devote more of their wizard skill points to survival based skills earlier on, and use the TS PrC to catch up in the information skills.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

radnovius

Jun 23, 2006 18:58:55

So I haven't gotten any feedback on this PrC posted in my archive, so I thought to start a separate thread for it since the other recent PrCs have gotten a good looking over. I've changed it a little from when it was first posted.

New PrC for those pursuing advanced beinghood.

Transcendent Scholar
“Knowledge is the key to transcending this mortal coil.” – Seph, transcendent scholar

The transcendent scholar is a spellcasting manifester obsessed with the study of advanced beings. His ultimate goal is the fusion of magic and psionics with his being to ascend to the status of advanced being. While any spellcaster/manifester combination may pursue this class, the single-minded obsession is most common among power-hungry defiler/psions of all races, noble preserver/psions, and focused dwarven earth cleric/psions.

Hit Die: d4.

Requirements
To qualify to become a transcendent scholar, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills: Gather Information 5 ranks, Decipher Script 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcane or religion) 10 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 10 ranks, Psicraft 5 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks.
Feats: Focused Skill User [Knowledge (arcane or religion), Knowledge (psionics), Spellcraft].
Spells: Able to cast 3rd-level spells.
Psionics: Able to manifest 3rd-level powers.
Other: Must be literate in at least one language.

Class Skills
The transcendent scholar’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Decipher Script (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (arcane) (Int), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Knowledge(the planes) (Int), Literacy (none), Psicraft (Int), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Transcendent scholars gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day/Powers Known: At first and third level the transcendent scholar gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if he had also gained a level in any one manifesting class he belonged to previously. At second and fourth level the transcendent scholar gains.new spells per day as if he had also attained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of either class would have gained (bonus metamagic, metapsionic, or item creation feats, psicrystal special abilities, and so on). This essentially means that when a transcendent scholar adds a level of spellcasting class or manifesting class, add the level to the base class level to determine spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class or more than one manifesting class before he became a transcendent scholar, he must decide to which class he adds at each level of transcendent scholar for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level.
Ascendant Lore: The transcendent scholar has studied advanced beings. He gains +2 x his transcendent scholar level as a competency bonus to any check concerned with advanced beings using his class skills.
Transcendent Focus: The transcendent scholar receives a +1 morale bonus on all checks directly related to their field of study or goal of becoming and advancing as an advanced being. This includes a skill bonus, an attack bonus, a damage bonus, or a saving throw bonus, or even a bonus to manifestation or spell save DCs. This bonus stacks with the bonus bestowed by the dwarven racial focus. Once the transcendent scholar reaches the 10th level of the Advanced being PrC, thereby satisfying this focus, he loses the benefit of the focus but gains a bonus psionic enchantment.
Should a transcendent scholar die before completing his focus, he becomes the bane of whomever else would follow his course. He gains the dwarven banshee template with some modifications. His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class. He also gains ability drain for the key atribute of his base spellcasting class.
Epiphany: The transcendent scholar gains 4 ranks in any one of his class skills. He may not exceed the maximum rank for his character level.
Bonus Feats: The transcendent scholar gains a bonus metapsionic feat at third level and a bonus metamagic feat at fourth level. He may take any feat for which he meets the prerequisites.
Transcendent Spellcrafting: The transcendent scholar adds his Knowledge (psionics) ranks to his Knowledge (arcane or religion) ranks and his Psicraft ranks to his Spellcraft ranks for all checks concerning the research and crafting of spells.

Pennarin

Jun 25, 2006 13:23:46

A few things to consider as you wish:

The class skills are lacking key wizard skills like Bluff, Disguise, and Profession.

Ascendant Lore: The transcendent scholar has studied advanced beings. He gains +2 x his transcendent scholar level as a competency bonus to any check concerned with advanced beings using his class skills.

Make that a bonus to related Knowledge checks. It is a "Lore" ability after all.

Transcendent Focus: [...] Once the transcendent scholar reaches the 10th level of the Advanced being PrC, thereby satisfying this focus, he loses the benefit of the focus but gains a bonus psionic enchantment.

Here you say "Advanced being PrC", while it is not the name of your class. Check the rest of the text for similar misnaming. Also, if you receive a bonus psionic enchantment, it should be mentionned you receive it when gaining your first psionic enchantment.

Transcendent Focus: [...] He gains the dwarven banshee template with some modifications. His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class.

Better language here might help things along. Mention that you become an undead similar to a dwarven banshee. Mention that you use the dwarven banshee template with 'the following modifications:'.

"His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class": aroo?

Transcendent Spellcrafting

You may end up having the same problem as I for the Aspirant, in that the bonuses are too high.

radnovius

Jun 26, 2006 0:36:42

Thanks for the input. I'm going to refer to the Transcendent Scholar as TS for brevity in typing.

A few things to consider as you wish:
The class skills are lacking key wizard skills like Bluff, Disguise, and Profession.

Actually, I left these out purposefully. The TS is so focused on attaining knowledge, that everything else falls to the wayside to a certain degree. I might consider adding bluff and/or disguise. On the other hand I might base some additional class skills based on the PrC upon which the transcendent scholar is focused on becoming.

Make that a bonus to related Knowledge checks. It is a "Lore" ability after all.

Lore was the best I could come up with I may rename it. As it is it applies to the class skills:
Decipher Script - The TS has studied extensively enough that he can start to recognize common words and symbols in writings pertaining to advanced beings.
Gather Information - The TS knows what to ask and can sense the ring of truth in rumors around communities concerning the pursuit of his knowledge.
Knowledges - This one is self explanatory.
Psicraft/Spellcraft - The intensive study of the mechanics involved in becoming an advanced being makes designing and learning such spells simpler.

Here you say "Advanced being PrC", while it is not the name of your class. Check the rest of the text for similar misnaming. Also, if you receive a bonus psionic enchantment, it should be mentionned you receive it when gaining your first psionic enchantment.

I think you misunderstood me here. Basically the transcendent focus goes away once the PC has totally become the advanced being (reached level 10 of Dragon, Avangion, Elemental, etc.) At this time, the player gains an extra psionic enchantment.

Better language here might help things along. Mention that you become an undead similar to a dwarven banshee. Mention that you use the dwarven banshee template with 'the following modifications:'.
"His focus changes to destroying all manifesters who share his base spell-casting class": aroo?

Good suggestion, I'll do that.

You may end up having the same problem as I for the Aspirant, in that the bonuses are too high.

I was thinking about that as well. What I may do is apply a bonus of half his ranks in knowledge (psionics)/psicraft. This would kind of fall into line with the metapotency conceived for the Dragon PrC. On the other hand it isn't coupled with any increase in manifester or spellcrafter levels. Ascendent Lore provides a pretty hefty bonus, but it is relatively limitted in scope. I might knock it down to a bonus of just +TS-level instead of 2 x.

squidfur-

Jun 26, 2006 16:21:45

the reason that bluff and disguise are so important to a wizard, is that these skills apply to a wizards ability to keep his spellcasting on the down-low, and to keep a spellbook, in hidden format - respectively. Without these, the chances that a wizard will even survive long enough to take this PrC is greatly reduced...and if he can't survive, then what's the point?

radnovius

Jun 28, 2006 0:19:10

I understand the need for bluff and disguise for wizards and am not advocating taking them away from the wizard class. On the other hand, not everyone taking this PrC will have any arcane spellcasting ability. Characters who take this PrC will have to be at least 8th level (Wiz or Clr 3, Psion 3, Cereberemancer 2) just to meet the spellcasting/manifesting prereqs, and I think they'd need an additional level just to reach the 10 Spellcraft. The goal of the PrC is to give them an ability to catch up on knowledge/information gathering types of skills to help them progress to avanced being. Thus, they could devote more of their wizard skill points to survival based skills earlier on, and use the TS PrC to catch up in the information skills.