Difference between revisions of "Flame Disciple"

Revision as of 10:14, 26 March 2012

Description: After years of study and practice, a sorcerer who begins to favor fire with a single-minded focus can discover ways to acquire its qualities and properties, culminating in the caster becoming half-elemental, himself. Once an elemental path is chosen, the transformation is permanent and may not be changed or undone.

Prerequisites: the ability to cast four arcane spells with the fire descriptor, one of which must be at least 3rd-level or greater offensive Fire spell. 7 ranks of Spellcraft, 5 ranks of Knowledge(Arcana), and 3 ranks of Knowledge(The Planes). Must not have an elemental creature type (wholly or partially).

Hit Dice: d6

Skill Points: 2+INT

Class Skills: Spot, Listen, Concentration, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (The Planes), Spellcraft

Soul Furnace (Sp) - For fire-based spells, the caster may sacrifice some of his or her own life-force to empower them. The caster may sacrifice up to one hit points per spell level as a free action when casting a spell, adding 1d4 fire damage for each hit point so sacrificed. This effect is limited to spell levels less than or equal to the disciple level, and may only be used on spells with the fire descriptor.

Comment

Is Soul Furnace applicable to Nova?

-- Slitherrr 22:36, 1 November 2010 (EDT)

No. Soul Furnace applies specifically to casting of spells. Nova is a supernatural ability fueled by spell slots, but *not* a spell. -gm

Fire Mastery - All spells cast by the Flame Disciple with the fire descriptor do additional fire damage equal to caster's Flame Disciple level.

Fire Resistance - The Flame Disciple develops flame resistance equal to five times his or her Disciple level. This does not stack with fire resistance from other sources.

Inner Fire - The caster's soul furnace has reached such intensity that he or she may ignite flammable materials with nothing but a touch as a standard action. If the item is in someone's possession or equipped my someone, then they are entitled to a reflex save to avoid the effect. If the item is magical, it is entitled to a save to avoid the effect. In both cases, the save is DC 10 + Flame Disciple Level + Caster Attribute Mod.

Comment

Should this be a reflex save, or a touch attack? The latter has a bit more precedence as a "Disarm (Grabbing Items)" action, and could be modeled on those rules (with modifiers to represent the fact that the FD only has to touch the object, not grab and pull it)

-- Slitherrr 22:36, 1 November 2010 (EDT)

Good question. Touch attack that triggers AoO might be closer to the truth, or even a sunder attack. If that doesn't make the ability too much more complex, I'd say that's a positive change. -gm

Resistant Familiar - If the caster has a familiar, it shares the caster's innate fire resistance if it is within 30 feet.

Elemental Familiar - If the caster has a familiar, that familiar gains the "Elemental (Fire)" template, Fire Immunity and Cold Vulnerability. Any natural attacks now deal +1 fire damage in addition to damage from any other sources. In addition, the familiar gains a fire breath weapon, once per day, with 15' range, dealing 1d4+1 points of damage for every point caster attribute bonus. The DC for this breath weapon is 15.

Elemental Traits:

1. Darkvision out to 60 feet.
2. Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, and stunning.
3. Not subject to critical hits or flanking.
4. Unlike most other living creatures, an elemental does not have a dual nature—its soul and body form one unit. When an elemental is slain, no soul is set loose. Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don’t work on an elemental. It takes a different magical effect, such as limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection, to restore it to life. (Ed Note: The soul is "burnt away" by the transformation.)
5. Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
6. Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) that it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Elementals not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Elementals are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
7. Elementals do not eat, sleep, or breathe.

Nova Channel (Sp) - The caster's mastery over her inner fire has reached such levels that the caster may us it to act as a conduit directly to the Elemental Plane of Fire, sacrificing spell castings to fuel a pyrotechnic blast from within the caster's own body. As a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity, the Flame Disciple may sacrifice a spell to generate a 20' radius ball of fire, centered on (and affecting) herself. The damage dealt by this blast is equal to 1d4 + Ability Modifier for every level of the sacrificed spell. A reflex saving throw, DC equal to casting a comparable level fire spell cast by the Flame Disciple, is allowed for half damage. The caster make a fortitude save, with a bonus equal to her attribute modifier, to suffer half damage. The Flame Disciple may not sacrifice a spell of a higher spell level than she has flame disciple levels.

Lingering Flames (Metamagic) - The caster becomes so in tune with fire type spells that he or she gains the ability to increase the duration of instantaneous spells. If the caster takes a full round action to cast a fire spell, its duration may be changed from "instantaneous" to any number of rounds of the caster's choosing. For every round the spell is extended, the spell's effective level is increased by one. If Soul Furnace is used in conjunction with this ability, the increased damage must be paid for *each round* the caster wishes to have increased damage.

Example: A Burning Hands (level 1) spell cast as a third level spell would burn from the casters fingertips for three rounds: The instantaneous duration, plus one round for each additional spell level. Any creature in the area of effect during the caster's turn, or entering into the area of effect on its own turn, takes the damage. (Much like Ice Storm of Fire Storm spells). Likewise, a fireball (level 3) cast as a fourth level spell would do exist for the round of casting plus one round.

Comment

The Soul Furnace question applies here, as well (to wit, does this apply to nova?). Also, does the caster have to maintain the spell in any way after the initial full round of cast?

-- Slitherrr 10:03, 2 November 2010 (EDT)

Nova has a duration of instantaneous. As hinted at above, since it us a supernatural ability instead of a spell, that means no metamagic feats, either, so the lingering flames ability also cannot be used on nova. -gm