Magic Eater
For generations defilers have been the scourge of Athas. To remedy this situation, the Veiled Alliance has secretly trained a cadre of warriors to eradicate the most dangerous of offenders, the magic eaters.
Almost all magic eaters are ex-slaves bought from the arenas. Those who have not proven themselves capable warriors are usually dismissed out of hand, though it is rumored that several bards and psions are counted among their ranks.
Hit Die: d10
I would recomened picking up Nyambe: Africian Adventures for any Dark Sun fan. It has tons of stuff that fit Dark Sun's flavor perfectly, in fact the flavor text of this class is almost verbatum from the book (got to love OGL content :D ) Simply substituing the word "defiler" for the evil wizards found in Nyambe
I am still skiming through the book and assuming I find any more content that is as useful to the game I am currently in as this I may post some more adaptations.
I may have some suggestions (and questions), for some of the magic eaters abilities, that just came into my mind while reading them.
1. Spell Eater
There have 2 suggestions, the are basically one:
a) A magic eater can choose the spell level he eats
b) A magic eater can use this ability once a number of rounds equal to the spell level eaten.
Reasons: I was bothered by two points of this ability. The first one was that a 1st level magic eater could eradicate the most powerfull "weapons" from a wizard, becoming a IMHO too dangerous character albeit his opponent's casting cappabilities. The second point was that I'm not a big fan of using having abilities that are purly limited in its usages by a dice (as the indicated 1d4).
If the ability would be changed as I suggested, than both of these points ballance the ability by itself, because a magic eater can still "eat" the highest level, but he wouldn't be able to it 3.that often, because if he would eat for example a 9th level spell, he would have to wait 9 rounds before "eating" other spells.
In addition, IMHO this would also emphasize the "eating" part, because, if you're going to eat burger with 1 pund of meat, you could eat sooner another burger than you would if you're going to eat a burger with 9 pound of meat.
2. Arcane Nourishment
Why does arcane lore grant a bonus on spellcraft checks? How would a magic eater benefit from having a higher bonus in that skill? I can't any benefit for using this skill, maybe a bonus on knowledge (arcane) would be better?
3. Effect Eater
Although, I like the "begins with the most recent spell cast"-idea, I don't like "This ability can be used once every 1d4 rounds.", as I allready mentioned in my spell eater comment. Don't have any other suggestion now, but I'm going to think it over.
4. Magic Devourer
You are refering to permanent magic items, that would heal the magic eater when using this ability, but I don't quite know what you mean with permanent magic items? For sure you don't mean, potions, staffs, wands, or scrolls, but, if I remember correctly some universal magic items loose their magic powers if they ares used.
5. Spell Devourer
Can a magic eater use his spell devourer ability while not being able to use his spell eater ability? Vice versa, can he use his spell eater ability while not being able to use his spell devourer ability?
In addition, I want to make a suggestion according my suggestions to the spell eater ability.
How about, that a magic eater can choose to use this ability instead of his spell eater ability. When doing so, he can "eat" 1d4+1 spells, choosing each spell level seperatly. In addition, a magic eater won't be able to use his spell eater or spell devourer ability for a number of round equal to the half the sum of all devoured spell levels.
For example: A magic eater rolls a 3 two for the number of spells devoured. He choosed to devoure two 9th level spells and one 4th level spell. He won't be able to use he spell eater or spell dovourer ability for the next 11 rounds.
6. The Veiled Alliance flavor part
Although I know, it's almost impposible to create ability only workable against defilers, but I don't know if the Veiled Alliance would train characters that could inflict damage to their own kind. What stopps a magic eater to use his ability against the veiled alliance?
p.s.:The spellresistance reffers to spell eater levels, but the class is called magic eater.
Excpet point 6, all I said has something to do with the mechanics, not with the class' flavour. So don't think, that I don't like this class, because I do, but there are just some points that could be better IMO.
3. Effect Eater
Although, I like the "begins with the most recent spell cast"-idea, I don't like "This ability can be used once every 1d4 rounds.", as I allready mentioned in my spell eater comment. Don't have any other suggestion now, but I'm going to think it over.
If this was limited to once a round as a full or move-equivalent action it would keep the ability in check.
1. Spell Eater
There have 2 suggestions, the are basically one:
*snip good suggestions*
Liked that advise and have incorporated it (more or less)
2. Arcane Nourishment
Why does arcane lore grant a bonus on spellcraft checks? How would a magic eater benefit from having a higher bonus in that skill? I can't any benefit for using this skill, maybe a bonus on knowledge (arcane) would be better?
Acctualy I origionaly meant for it to give a bonus to both and have updated it to reflect such:
Logic: 1 Know thy enemy
2: This was acctualy the most dificult part to redo from the origional source. The origional PRC was written for 3.0 and at these levels it was given the skill focus feat for free and could only apply it to spellcraft, knowledge (arcana), scry, and another skill unique to Nyambe. I tried to streamline it down to a simple +2 bonus to a pair of skills magic eaters would find usefull and give them a chance to do well with them without having to hurt thier other skill ranks or up thier skill points
4. Magic Devourer
You are refering to permanent magic items, that would heal the magic eater when using this ability, but I don't quite know what you mean with permanent magic items? For sure you don't mean, potions, staffs, wands, or scrolls, but, if I remember correctly some universal magic items loose their magic powers if they ares used.
That was almost a verbaitum copy/paste of the origional ability. I have reworded it a bit to make it more understandable.
5. Spell Devourer
*snip questions and suggestions*
Both abilities are rewritten now for clarity. Yes, one can be recharging and still use the other.
6. The Veiled Alliance flavor part
Although I know, it's almost impposible to create ability only workable against defilers, but I don't know if the Veiled Alliance would train characters that could inflict damage to their own kind. What stopps a magic eater to use his ability against the veiled alliance?
this is an omission, I forgot to add the alignment requirement. Other than that it is truely a roleplay constraint. I envision these as "enforcers" so to speak of the VA. It is also worth noteing that as strong as they are, they are still chosen by the VA leaders first and foremost. I believe they would be wise enough to choose only canidates that will be competant and loyal instead of one that can turn on them. Indeed if one did turn that would likely become and Ex-magic eater. (may add that to the rules in fact)
Acctualy I origionaly meant for it to give a bonus to both and have updated it to reflect such:
Logic: 1 Know thy enemy
2: This was acctualy the most dificult part to redo from the origional source. The origional PRC was written for 3.0 and at these levels it was given the skill focus feat for free and could only apply it to spellcraft, knowledge (arcana), scry, and another skill unique to Nyambe. I tried to streamline it down to a simple +2 bonus to a pair of skills magic eaters would find usefull and give them a chance to do well with them without having to hurt thier other skill ranks or up thier skill points
Well, it is my fault. I thought a spellcraft check would only tell the school of a casted spell, but you can in fact identify a spell that is being casted. For a PrC I designed, I allowed the PrC to identify, wether a casted spell is arcane or not, maybe you are interested in adding that too.
Both abilities are rewritten now for clarity. Yes, one can be recharging and still use the other.
I would have prefered, if the Spell Devourer ability would be a part of the Spell Eater ability.
this is an omission, I forgot to add the alignment requirement. Other than that it is truely a roleplay constraint. I envision these as "enforcers" so to speak of the VA. It is also worth noteing that as strong as they are, they are still chosen by the VA leaders first and foremost. I believe they would be wise enough to choose only canidates that will be competant and loyal instead of one that can turn on them. Indeed if one did turn that would likely become and Ex-magic eater. (may add that to the rules in fact)
I see, but the alignment requisite dosn't appeal to me. Why must a magic eater be good aligned? Why can't he be neutral aligned? Even the Veiled Alliance is not neccesserily good aligned, and I guess there could be many members that would have an evil alignment.
p.s.: You should change
Spell Resistance (Ex): All magic eaters gain spell resistance equal to 10 + (2x their spell eater level)
to
Spell Resistance (Ex): All magic eaters gain spell resistance equal to 10 + (2x their magic eater level)