The Potion Master
Hello again everyone, and welcome to Best in Class, home to exciting new archetypes, class features and—as I will be presenting today—prestige classes. Prestige classes are something that I think Pathfinder could use more of, especially when it comes to prestige classes that don’t necessarily focus on direct combat. I know that may sound boring to some people, but others of you will surely realize how important preparation can be.
The following prestige class was inspired by the first witch character I ever played, who had the Brew Potion feat. She was great at enabling the rest of the party to get through a fight, but brewing potions played next to no part in that (much to my annoyance). I find that, as it stands, potion creation is a much less lucrative use of one’s time than other forms of magical item creation. So, if you would like to have another real option during the weeks off in an adventure, have a look at the potion master.
New Prestige Class
Potion Master
Potion masters consider their practice both an art and a science. They are able to better translate their spellcasting ability into a medium that anyone can use. Many older spellcasters become potion masters due to the intellectual nature of the class.
Requirements
To qualify to become a potion master, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills: Craft (alchemy) 7 ranks.
Feats: Brew Potion, Skill Focus (Craft [alchemy]).
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 4th-level spells.
Class Skills
The potion master’s class skills are Craft (alchemy) (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Intelligence modifier.
Hit Die: d6.
Class Features
The following are class features of the potion master.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A potion master gains no proficiency with any weapons or armor.
Master Alchemist (Ex): Extended hours of practice in the ways of the cauldron give the potion master a +2 insight bonus to Craft (alchemy) and Spellcraft checks made for the purpose of creating or identifying potions.
Greater Potions (Ex): A potion master’s intuitive mastery of alchemical processes allows him to create potions that replicate more powerful spells than most potion brewers are capable of. Beginning at 1st level, a potion master gains the ability to brew potions that replicate 4th-level spells. At 4th level, the potion master gains the ability to brew potions that replicate 5th-level spells. Brewing potions that replicate spells of these levels functions identically to brewing potions that replicate lower-level spells. The cost to brew potions of these levels is indicated on the table, below.
Brew Batch (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, the potion master is able to create multiple potions in a single batch. He can make a number of potions equal to 1 + 1/2 his Intelligence modifier (rounded down; minimum 2). These potions must all replicate the same spell. The DC to brew these potions is increased by 3 for each potion made beyond the first. The potion master must pay the full cost for creating these potions, but the time to create them is treated as though he were only making one potion of this type. (For example, if a cleric wants to make 5 potions of cure serious wounds in one batch, he would need to succeed on a DC 17 Craft (alchemy) or Spellcraft check. This will cost him 1,875 gp in raw materials, but it only takes him 1 day to create the entire batch of five potions.)
Quick Brew (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a potion master is able to brew potions with astonishing speed. The time required to brew potions is half of what it would normally be.
Personal Potions (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, a potion master may create potions that replicate spells with a range of personal. The potion’s imbiber gains the spell’s benefit, even if the imbiber was not the one to brew the potion. Creating a potion of this sort increases the DC to create the potion by +5.
Frugal Brewing (Ex): Beginning at 5th level, the potion master is unmatched at cost-effective potion creation. He is able to stretch the ingredients of his potions, spending only half the normal amount when creating them (for example, if a cleric wants to make a batch of 5 cure serious wounds potions, it would only cost him 937 gp and 5 sp in materials).
Powerful Brew (Sp): Beginning at 5th level, the potion master can make potions at their full potency without increasing the cost. Any potion that the potion master brews uses her full caster level, rather than the minimum caster level to create the potion, without increasing the cost to make the potion.