Shadowcaster, Modified

[kilagan800]

The Shadowcaster class is found in D&D 3.5 edition Tome of Magic. I really like the concept, but felt it needed some modification for DDO, so I took some time changing a few things around. For the spells, I’m not after an entire spell list since I feel that any discussion would be more important at this time. I welcome discussion on this character class and the changes.

What brought this to mind was the Monk and the idea of playing a ninja, and also give the rogue assassin some love. The Shadowcaster could be the perfect caster to assist. I thought this would also be great to use as a multi-class as well.

All information is taken from Tome of Magic.

Shadowcasters---------
Shadowcaster features represent a growing mastery of shadow magic and a more personal connection to the Plane of Shadow. You are a master of arcane secrets far greater than any other -- at least you will be. You understand what others do not: All power stems from darkness. Shadowcasters tap into the Plane of Shadow when casting mysteries. They draw extra-planar shadows to them, for no shadow of the Material Plane is strong enough to displace the light. The shadowcaster can manipulate ambient lighting as a bard manipulates sound.

Simple weapon proficiency
- quarterstaff, crossbow
Cannot use armor or shields

Need high intelligence and charisma scores for spells/mysteries.
Like other casters, keep a high dexterity

The save DC of any spell/mystery is equal to 10+ your Cha modifier.


Shadowcaster Paths------------
When starting you character, you can choose either one of the three or custom.

1 Child of Night
2 Shadowblade
3 Master of Shadow
4 Custom


Child of Night focuses on necromancy spells, also touch and short ranged attacks.
-concealment
-hide bonus
-support the rogues
-prestige class: Noctumancer
Higher levels--------
-become incorporeal

Requirements-----------
Level 6
Noctumancer I
Spell Focus: Necromancy
Shadowcaster Energy of the Mystic I
Shadowcaster Intelligence I

Availability-----
Summon Shadow (1 Action Point)

Requirements-----------
Level 12
Noctumancer I
Noctumancer II
Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
Shadowcaster Energy of the Mystic II
Shadowcaster Intelligence II

Availability-----
Summon Dark Lion w/ Shadow Manipulation III (1 Action Point)

Requirements-----------
Level 18
Noctumancer I
Noctumancer II
Noctumancer III
Shadowcaster Energy of the Mystic III
Shadowcaster Intelligence III

Availability-----
Summon Greater Shadow Elemental w/Shadow Manipulation V (1 Action Point)


Shadowblade focuses on close combat; martial ability and the skills necessary to use them.
-concealment
-hide bonus
-stealth attacks
-support the rogues/fill in for rogues and possibly fighters. (not mechanical rogues)
Unseen Weapon:
-as a standard action you can wrap any melee weapon you wield in a layer of shifting shadows. This causes the weapon to darken, become less distinct, and leave a trail of shadow behind it as it moves. Your weapon must be in hand and in game for you to draw upon this power. The effect can be dismissed.


Master of Shadow focuses on shadow summoning. The shadow is a shadowcaster’s greatest weapon.
-build up a shadow summon with greater powers each level
-shadow summon flanks enemies
-focus on touch or ranged attacks
-focus on shadow-based illusions and shadow magic
-stands behind group to assist other characters

[kilagan800]

Mysteries------------
You do not cast spells as other classes do, but instead invoke mystical secrets called mysteries.

First Level:
Arrow of Dusk
Carpet of Shadow
Caul of Shadow
Life Fades
Night shield
Shadow Strider
Steel Shadows
Voice of Shadow

Second Level:
Black Fire
Dusk
Flesh Fails
Invisibility
Piercing Sight
Shadow Skin
Sight Eclipsed
Thoughts of Shadow


Third Level:
Clinging Darkness
Dancing Shadows
Killing Shadows
Shadow Bolt
Umbral Touch
Umbral Breath

Fourth Level:
Aura of Shade
Dusk, Greater
Bolster
Shadows Fade
Shadow Vision
Step Into Shadow

Fifth Level:
Curtain of Shadows
Dismissal
Languor
Pass Into Shadow
Unravel Dweomer

Sixth Level:
Banishment
Shadow Investiture
Shadow Storm
Shadow Walk
Shadows Fade, Greater
True Seeing

Seventh Level:
Life Fades, Greater
Ephemeral Image
Prison of Night
Dark Soul
Summon Umbral Servant
Umbral Worg
Umbral Gargoyle
Umbral Mephit
Mass Invisibility

Eighth Level:
Flesh Fails, Greater
Umbral Body
Tomb of Night
Soul Puppet
Shadow Plague

Ninth Level:
Ephemeral Storm
Consume Essence
Shadow Surge
Army of Shadow
Spell Descriptions------------

Arrow of Dusk (Level/School - 1st/Evocation)
Range: Medium
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
A Ranged Touch attack that deals 1-4 points of nonlethal damage to the target. If you score a critical hit, triple the damage.

Carpet of Shadow (Level/School - 1st/Conjuration)
Range: Close
Duration: 1 minute, 10 seconds
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You cloak the ground with an unseen and hard to traverse surface. The terrain becomes difficult and slows enemies within the area by half speed.

Caul of Shadow (Level/School - 1st/Abjuration)
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: 1 min per level
Faintly darkens your form, but does not provide hide checks or similar efforts. You gain a +4 shield bonus to AC.

Life Fades (Level/School - 1st/Necromancy)
Range: Touch
Target: Foe
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude Partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
Your touch deals 1-6 points of nonlethal damage per caster level, (max 5d6), and causes the enemy to become fatigued for 1-6 point penalty to strength. Fatigue does not stack with itself.

Night shield *

Shadow Strider
* Same as Expeditious Retreat

Steel Shadows (Level/School - 1st/Abjoration)
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Steel Shadows grants you a +3 armor bonus and a +3 shield bonus to AC. But without weight, armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, or speed reduction. The effect is not a force effect, and attacks from incorporeal creatures ignore it.

Voice of Shadow (Level/School - 1st/Enchanment/Necromancy)
Range: Close
Target: 1 creature
Duration: 6-24 sec
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
This mystery functions like the spell Command. A second function is a necromancy effect. Undead and constructs that fail their saving throws against this effect are dazed for 6-24 seconds

[kilagan800]

I understand that Turbine is backed up with new material for at least a couple years. But would the shadowcaster be too strong, too weak, or just not right for ddo? I posted it figuring it would be a lot different than what ddo has right now.

Thanks.

[R0cksteady]

Sounds really fun to play. It COULD be really powerful, but because of enhancements it wouldn't be too hard to balance.

[Calebro]

would the shadowcaster be too strong, too weak, or just not right for ddo?.

It was so weak in PnP that even the guy that designed the class admitted so (on the EnWorld forums) and made heavy modifications to the class which were never printed (but were instead introduced on said forums).
The class was all about flavor, and was extremely lacking in power. That's fine for a PnP game if that's your thing, but it wouldn't work in DDO.

[kilagan800]

Sounds really fun to play. It COULD be really powerful, but because of enhancements it wouldn't be too hard to balance.

I agree. I read quite a few times here about people playing shadow mages by combining a rogue and a wizard. However, this class will practically be both in one and a lot more party friendly than just some wizard stealthing around monsters with nothing to contribute to a group.

It was so weak in PnP that even the guy that designed the class admitted so (on the EnWorld forums) and made heavy modifications to the class which were never printed (but were instead introduced on said forums).
The class was all about flavor, and was extremely lacking in power. That's fine for a PnP game if that's your thing, but it wouldn't work in DDO.

Well, my op showed how turbine could easily modify it to make it relevent in ddo - being that a lot of its attributes already exist in the game. Also a shadowcaster is a great team player class and a group can benefit greatly from it. Look at the wizard, if ddo kept it as is then it would only cast three spells a day and be useless in a party let alone as a single player. I would totally understand if the shadowcaster wasn't right for ddo, (I know this is a long shot), but there are always changes made in every class, don't see how this would be any different.