Cantripologist, Variant (3.5e Class)

Cantripologist

The cantripologist is a caster who didn't have time for school. A rebel against the conventional system, the cantripologist makes up for its lack of knowledge of higher level spells by casting multiple low level cantrips with metamagic effects.

Making a cantripologist

The cantripologist is an extremely flexible character, able to cast just the right spell for any situation. However his low health and lack of armor leave him in need of a melee combatant to distract any major enemy.

Abilities: Int is the most important attribute for a cantripologist as it is the casting stat. Con is good to cover a low hit point reserve. Dex is good if the cantripologist plans on doing any ranged combat. Wis for will saves and Str is a dump stat.

Races: Any non-elf may become a cantripologist. Elves have a haughty personality and would not deign to limit themselves to the weakest of spells. Gnomes and Fey tend to enjoy this class, however its abilities often overlap with their own. Humans, with their rampant ingenuity, function quite well as cantripologists.

Alignment: Any non-lawful. Becoming a cantripologist requires a certain capacity to deviate from traditional methods.

Starting Gold: 4d4×10 gp (100 gp).

Starting Age: Simple.

Table: The cantripologist

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Cantrips per Casting	Cantrips Per Day
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Cantrips, Cantrip Metamagic, Craft Spell, Bonus Metamagic Feat	2	6
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Innate Cantrip (1)	2	9
3rd	+2	+1	+1	+3	Bonus Metamagic Feat	4	13
4th	+3	+1	+1	+4		4	19
5th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Innate Cantrip (2)	6	26
6th	+4	+2	+2	+5		6	35
7th	+5	+2	+2	+5	Bonus Metamagic Feat	8	45
8th	+6/+1	+2	+2	+6	Innate Cantrip (3)	8	57
9th	+6/+1	+3	+3	+6	Bonus Metamagic Feat	10	70
10th	+7/+2	+3	+3	+7		10	85
11th	+8/+3	+3	+3	+7	Innate Cantrip (4)	12	101
12th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8		12	119
13th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8	Bonus Metamagic Feat	14	138
14th	+10/+5	+4	+4	+9	Innate Cantrip (5)	14	159
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+5	+9	Bonus Metamagic Feat	16	181
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10		16	205
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10	Innate Cantrip (6)	18	230
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+6	+11		18	257
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Bonus Metamagic Feat	20	285
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Innate Cantrip (7)	20	315
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy(Cha), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Listen (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spot (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Cantripologist.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Cantripologist is proficient with the quarterstaff, dagger, light crossbow, and heavy crossbow.

Spells: The Cantripologist's spell save DCs are Int based. He can cast a limited number of total spells each day and must prepare a list from which he may cast spontaneously each day.

Table: Cantripologist Daily Spells Known

Level	Spells Known
1st	6
2nd	7
3rd	8
4th	9
5th	10
6th	11
7th	12
8th	13
9th	14
10th	15
11th	16
12th	17
13th	18
14th	19
15th	20
16th	21
17th	22
18th	23
19th	24
20th	25

Bonus Cantrips per day due to high Int: A cantripologist receives bonus cantrips per day equal to his Int modifier × his cantripologist levels

Cantrips: A cantripologist may prepare spells known each day by meditating for an hour. The cantripologist may cast any cantrip spontaneously from his spells known that day. A cantripolosigt may cast a number of cantrips per round equal to his cantrips per casting statistic as a single spell of spell level equal to half the number of cantrips cast rounded down. If a single target would be forced to make multiple saves by the effects of a cantripologist's spell then they make a single save of of any type that would have been threatened of their choosing. The cantripologist may concentrate on a number of cantrips per action equal to his cantrips per casting statistic.

Cantrip Metamagic: A cantripologist may spontaneously add metamagic effects to his spells. Each metamagic effect added adds twice its spell level adjustment to the cantrip cost of that casting. The exception is in application of metamagic effects onto a single cantrip, wherein the base cost of the cantrip is treated as 0. Each metamagic effect affects all cantrips in the same casting.

Craft Spell: A cantripologist may craft new cantrips to add to his spellbook. This process consumes 250gp, 8gp of Ink, and 2gp of paper. This process takes three days, during which the cantripologist may act normally (e.g. travel, converse, engage in brief combat) so long as he has access to Ink and paper. This process does not require access to a library.

Innate Cantrip (Sp): At 5th level the cantripologist may cast any cantrip from his cantrips known that day as a spell like ability. This use does not subtract from the cantripologist's allotted cantrips per day. The cantripologist may apply metamagics to this ability as normal. The time required for this action is the same as the casting time of the cantrip. Every 6 levels after the 5th the cantripologist is able to cast 2 more cantrips per use of this ability

Bonus Metamagic Feat: The cantripologist gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of cantripologist bonus metamagic feats) as shown

Cantripologist Bonus Feat List: Empower Spell, Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Heighten Spell, Maximize Spell, Quicken Spell, Silent Spell, Still Spell, Widen Spell

Ex-cantripologist

A cantripologist who becomes lawful retains all cantripologist abilities but may no longer take levels in cantripologist.

Epic Cantripologist

Table: The Epic Cantripologist

Hit Die: d4

Level	Special
21st	Bonus Feat
22nd
23rd	Innate Cantrip (8)
24th
25th	Bonus Feat
26th
27th	Bonus Feat
28th
29th	Innate Cantrip (10)
30th
4 + Int modifier skill points per level.

Cantrips known: The cantripologist is able to remember one more cantrip per day every level after 20th.

Spell Levels per Casting: The spell levels per casting for a cantripologist increase by 2 every odd-numbered level after 20th.

Spell Levels per Day: The spell levels per day for a cantripologist increase by 1.5× the cantripologist's new level

Bonus Feats: The epic cantripologist gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic cantripologist bonus feats) as shown

Epic Cantripologist Bonus Feat List:Augmented Alchemy, Combat Casting, Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Epic Rod, Craft Epic Wondrous Item, Efficient Item Creation, Enhance Spell, Epic Spell Focus, Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Spellcasting, Forge Epic Ring, Ignore Material Components, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Heighten Spell, Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity, Intensify Spell, Multispell, Permanent Emanation, Scribe Epic Scroll, Spell Knowledge, Spell Mastery, Spell Focus, Spell Penetration Spell Stowaway, Spell Opportunity, Spontaneous Spell, Tenacious Magic. In addition to the feats on this list, the Cantripologist may select any metamagic feat not listed here.

Human Cantripologist Starting Package

Dignew Corta is a first level human cantripologist. Dignew was created by a 24 point buy system of character creation.

Strength - 8
Dexterity - 10
Constitution - 14
Intelligence - 16
Wisdom - 12
Charisma - 10

Weapons: heavy crossbow, daggers (2), quarterstaff

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Skill	Ranks	Ability	Armor Check Penalty
Concentration	4	Con	—
Spellcraft	4	Int	—
Diplomacy	4	Cha	—
Knowledge (Arcana)	4	Int	—
Knowledge (Religion)	4	Int	—
Knowledge (Nature)	4	Int	—
Listen	4	Wis	—
Profession	4	Int	—
Search	4	Int	—
Perform	4	Wis	—
Spot	4	Wis	—

Feat: Magical Aptitude

Bonus Feats: Quicken Spell

Gear: backpack, flint and steel, waterskin, bolts (20), bedroll, common lamp, oil (3 pints), trail rations (5 days worth), traveler's outfit (1), spell component pouch

Gold: 34 gp, 0 sp, 0 cp

Campaign Information

Playing a Cantripologist

Religion: Cantripologists are very accepting of all religions. They tend to favor gods which require little effort to worship, or gods who function in a notably different manner from most.

Other Classes: The cantripologist depends on having a melee combatant nearby to distract enemies.

Combat: The cantripologist can fulfill almost any role in combat, so long as it doesn't involve taking a hit.

Advancement: Most cantripologist's tend to stick with the class. However rogue, arcane trickster, and bard are common multiclassing choices.

Cantripologists in the World

“	Guess what I'm gonna do!	”
—Olly McOxen the Free, Gnome Cantripologist 16

Daily Life: Cantripologists function quite well performing any set of mundane tasks, most are not adventurers.

Notables: Hobbin Rood, famous for his war tactics, keeping entire battalions of soldiers away from small villages.

Organizations: Cantripologists are capable of functioning well on their own and have no need of any form of institution.

NPC Reactions: Most mistake cantripologists for low level wizards, but not for long. Once Identified most still regard the cantripologist as non-threatening though more creative classes are happy to examine the beneficial possibilities.

Cantripologist Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Arcana) can research cantripologists to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Arcana)

DC	Result
5	Cantripologist are masters of 0th level spells and never seem to run out.
10	A Cantripologist can cast multiple different cantrips at once, to entertaining effect.
15	Cantripologist are capable of creating new cantrips to accomplish just about any challenge they face
20	Name and location of a specific cantripologist

Adaptation: The cantripologist is a class made to taste. No two should ever be the same. If you want to alter some feature of the class, the best method is likely to create a new spell.

Sample Encounter: Under hot pursuit by a company of pirates the party begins experiencing odd problems about the ship. They soon discover these problems to be acts of sabotage, and the culprit is still on board.

Moraos Vergmun the Unwieldy is a saboteur working for a piratical company. The most notable detail about Moraos is that he is not; being of miniscule size due to the permanent effects of a reduce person.

Moraos will make use of his ring of the chameleon and quantum blip spell to avoid detection for as long as possible. If injured to less than half health, he may try to run and use cure minor wounds with his Innate Cantrip ability until is is ship shape. Typical sabotage may include create water and ray of frost

Moraos Vergmun

CR 10

	Male gnome cantripologist 10
	CE Tiny humanoid (gnome)
Init/Senses	+3/Listen +15, Spot +7
Languages	Common, Gnomish, Undercommon, Infernal, Celestial, Draconic
AC	22, touch 15, flat-footed 19 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +0 natural, +5 armor, +2 shield, +0 deflection)
hp	56 (10 HD)
Fort/Ref/Will	+6/+6/+9
Speed	20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee	dagger +8 (1d2/19-20) or
Melee	full attack action: dagger +8/+3 (1d6/19-20)
Base Atk/Grp	+7/-1
Combat Gear	+1 mithral chain shirt,+1 buckler, +1 heavy repeating crossbow, dagger
Abilities	Str 9, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 11
Feats	Quicken Spell, Weapon Proficiency:heavy repeating crossbow, Spell Penetration, Enlarge Spell, Empower Spell, Extend Spell
Skills	Bluff +5, Concentration +13, Decipher Script +5, Knowledge: Arcana +7, Listen +13, Search +4, Sense Motive +5, Spot +7, Use Magic Device +5
Possessions	combat gear plus Necklace of Adaptation, Ring of Mind Shielding, Ring of the Chameleon , Apprentice's ßlessed Book of Cantrips

Suplementary Spells

Quantum Blip (3.5e Spell), Pillar of Force (3.5e Spell)

EL 11:

--Umberandphos 12:16, 14 September 2011 (MDT)

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Base Classes