Arcane Linguist (5e Subclass)

Arcane Linguist

by Vailoom

Wizard Subclass

There are Wizards whose interest lies in studying the formation of magic in its written form to learn how all the pieces of the spell work together. These wizard end up learning more spells than others, and being able to get more out of the spells from all families than gaining mastery in one School of magic. They also become the best at countering spells and dispelling them.

Memorization

At level 2, You can memorize spells. The spells you memorize don’t need to be in your spell book. In addition to that, during a short rest you can un-prepare a single spell and prepare a single spell you've memorized in its place. You can memorize a number of spells equal to half your wizard level, rounded down. At level 2, choose 1 spell to memorize. When you can memorize a new spell, you much choose one. You can also un-memorize up to 2 spells, and then memorize the same amount you un-memorized.

Recognition

You gain insight on spell components and spell formation. At level 2, you gain one extra spell and every time you level up. The only restriction is that the extra spell you learn has to share a School of magic as one of the other spell you learn. You also learn how to gain information about a spell from it components. If you see any components of a Cantrip, you know the name of the cantrip and the effects. You also can recognized wizard spell writing, like being able to tell if 2 spell scrolls are written by the same person or not.

At level 6, You start being able to determine information of the spell just by seeing the components as it is being cast.

If you see at least 1 component then you know that you know the spell, if you have it memorized or prepared.

If you see at least 2 components of a spell then you know what spell is, if it is one that you have memorized or prepared

At level 10, You can start figuring out information about spell you are not fully familiar with.

If you hear the Verbal Component of a spell you don’t know, then you learn what School of Magic it belongs too.

If you see the Somatic component of a spell you don’t know then you learn if it is intended to harm or not. Harm being damage, or status effects.

If you see the materials components of a spell you don’t know. You learn either what School of magic it is from or if it intent is to harm or not.

If you see them use an arcane focus, for any spell, then you learn the rough idea of where their magic originates. For example, for a druid the DM might say Nature, and for a wild sorcerer the DM might say wild.

You also gain more insight on all spells cast. If you see 50% or more components then you can tell what level the spell is in its lowest form. Seeing someone use an arcane focus does not count as seeing the material components.

At level 14 You can learn many thing from seeing the components from a spell. If you see all the components of any spell as it is being cast, then you learn the level of which the caster is casting it as. Seeing them use an arcane focus does count as seeing a material component but you can only roughly estimate the level.

Low= cantrip – level 3

Medium = level 4 – level 6

High = level 7 – level 9

Also seeing 50% or more of the component of a spell, then you learn if something is augmenting the spell but not what is augmenting it. Seeing them use an acrane focus does count as seeing a material component.

Seeing all of the components of a spell will tell you what is a augmenting the spell. Like Meta-magic, or A rod of the pack keeper.

Greater Counter

From your understanding of the formation of spells, you have learned how to counter and dispel magic better than others. At level 6, you learn both counterspell and dispel magic. You always have them prepared and they don’t count towards your prepared spell for the day. When you use them, if you have gained at least 2 pieces of information about the spell you want to counter (not including things augmenting the spell) you gain advantage on the skill check associated with the counterspell or dispel magic. Also If you learn what level they are casting the spell, your flat bonus become doubled. However if you only learn a rough idea of what level the spell is being cast at then your flat bonus is multiplied by 1.5.

Cantrip Flexibility

At level 10 you learn how to manipulate cantrips better. You learn 3 more cantrips, 1 of which has to wizard cantrip. With the last 2 cantrips, if you have other spell casters that you have been together with for 5 levels, then you can learn a cantrip from their list, if they have any. You also can learn cantrips from other class lists if you learn a spell from that list through a feat or ability such as magic initiate or Dragonmark (class is based off what stat is used). You also can make slight edits to cantrips as you cast them. You can increase the Damage dice to the next level, double the range or double the targets. You can only edit a cantrip a number of times a day equal to your Wisdom and intelligence modifiers and you can only edit one aspect per cast. These edits are not permanent.

Duel Cast

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Character Options → Subclasses