Shadowcaster (Dungeons & Dragons)
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| Base classes from Player's Handbook |
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Barbarian |
| Additional/Alternative base classes |
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Archivist |
| NPC Classes |
| Unearthed Arcana generic classes |
| Prestige classes |
In 3.5 edition Dungeons & Dragons the Shadowcaster is a spellcaster that draws power from the Plane of Shadow.
As presented in the Tome of Magic, members of this class foster a connection to the Plane of Shadow. This connection allows the shadowcaster many special abilities, such as darkvision, bonus feats, physical sustenance and "mysteries". Due to the manner in which their mysteries are used, the shadowcaster has been likened to the Warlock class.
No published race has shadowcaster as a favored class.
[edit] Shadowcaster Mysteries
Mystery use is tied to intelligence and charisma. Intelligence determines the level of mysteries each shadowcaster can use, and charisma determines how hard mysteries are to resist. Shadowcasters do not gain bonus mysteries or mysteries per day for high attribute scores. Mysteries never require verbal components, material components or foci. When casting a mystery a shadowcaster's shadow performs different gestures than the shadowcaster does, which can be a bit unsettling for onlookers.
Shadowcaster mysteries are separated into four broad categories: fundamentals, apprentice mysteries, initiate mysteries and master mysteries. Excepting fundamentals, these categories are further subdivided into paths. Mysteries function as spells, spell-like abilities or supernatural abilities, depending on the level of the shadowcaster and the category of the mystery (apprentice, initiate or master). Mysteries that function as spells are useable once per day, spell-like mysteries can be used twice per day, and supernatural mysteries can be used three times per day.
Fundamentals are the equivalent of level 0 spells. They are used as supernatural abilities.
Apprentice mysteries are the equivalent of level 1-3 spells. They begin as spells and ultimately become supernatural abilities.
Initiate mysteries are the equivalent of level 4-6 spells. They begin as spells and ultimately become spell-like abilities.
Master mysteries are the equivalent of level 7-9 spells. They are always used as spells.
Paths are a set of mysteries that are linked. Each path contains three mysteries of different levels. To learn a mystery in a given path you must first learn any lower-level mysteries in that path.
A shadowcaster's bonus feats are tied to the number of paths they know- the more paths they can use, the more bonus feats they accrue. This presents a shadowcaster with a choice: they can follow a path to completion, thus learning the most potent abilities on that path, or they can branch out, sacrificing raw power for feats.
[edit] Sustaining Shadow
As a shadowcaster increases in level they strengthen their bond to the Plane of Shadow. Aside from mystery use, this bond fulfills some of the shadowcaster's biological needs, lowering their need for food and sleep. Ultimately a shadowcaster's physiology is so radically altered that they become immune to poisons and disease and no longer need to eat, sleep or even breathe.
