Urban Arcanist
(Arcanist)
Urban Week continues here at Necromancers of the Northwest, as we continue to sing the praises of the city, a thriving hub of humanity and a living testament to the will of people to not just survive, but thrive, in an unforgiving world. As we celebrate the city, we ask, just what kinds of characters need a new archetype? You might be thinking of course about rogues and vigilantes; after all, these classes just seem more urban than others. But that’s just the thing: the basic version is urban enough that they don’t need an urban archetype. Since the urban ranger thing has been done to death, I decided to take a different approach, and examine my own experience with cities. I realized that without modern conveniences, I would be lost in the city; without my phone to find the most happening spots, taxis and buses to get about, and other comforts, I frankly wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time there. This week’s Best in Class features a new arcanist archetype, devoted to getting along in urban environments. Of course, she also gets some ability to draw upon the awesome might of the big city to fry her foes, just to keep the already urban-acclimated interested.
New Arcanist Archetype
Urban Arcanist
Urban arcanists are gifted users of arcane magic that specialize in utilizing their talents in cities. They have the ability to draw upon the big city for their power, as well as knowledge of several unique tricks and talents that allow them to easily navigate the largest of cities. Of course, relying on the energy of cities for their power and focusing on urban exploits means that they have less energy and time to focus on other magical talents.
Urban Exploits: An urban arcanist is able to draw upon the inherent magical energy of connection between people and the integration of places to more easily perform exploits while in an urban environment. An urban arcanist only has a maximum number of points in her arcane reservoir equal to 1/2 her level (minimum 1). While in an urban environment, she can draw upon the potential of the urban landscape. Effectively, this allows her to draw upon an urban reservoir that is inherent to a settlement in order to use her exploits. Settlements smaller than a small city have 3 points in an urban reservoir that the urban arcanist can draw upon; small cities have 10 points in an urban reservoir that can be drawn upon; large cities have 15 points in an urban reservoirs; and metropolises have 25 points in an urban reservoir. These points can be drawn upon as though they were part of the urban arcanist’s arcane reservoir to allow her to use her exploits. She cannot draw upon a number of points from an urban reservoir that exceeds her level + her Intelligence modifier each day. An urban arcanist’s urban reservoir refreshes each day at the same time her arcane reservoir does.
This ability modifies the arcane reservoir class feature.
Find the Way (Su): At 3rd level, while in an urban environment, the urban arcanist can draw upon her arcane might to find a specific place within the urban environment. By spending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, the urban arcanist can instantly discern the shortest route to any location she can name within the urban environment. She can name a specific location, such as an individual’s residence, or a general location, such as a bakery. If she names a specific location, she learns the most direct route to that location; if she names a generic destination, she learns the route to the nearest such place.
This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 3rd level.
Urban Energies (Su): At 7th level, while in an urban environment, the urban arcanist can call upon her connection to a city to unleash more powerful spells. The urban arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir; if she does, she treats the caster level of all spells she casts in the next 1 minute as 1 higher than it actually is. If she spends this point from her urban reservoir, her caster level is increased by 2, instead.
This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 7th level.
Urban Tracking (Su): At 11th level, the urban arcanist can attempt to locate and follow the movements of an individual within an urban environment. By spending 2 points from her arcane reservoir, the urban arcanist can name a single individual. If that individual is within the same urban environment as the urban arcanist, he must succeed on a Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the urban arcanist's level + the urban arcanist's Charisma modifier), or the urban arcanist learns his location and can view him as though with the spell scrying. This effect lasts so long as the target remains within the same urban environment as the urban arcanist, for up to 10 minutes per level. She can suppress or resume this ability as a swift action.
This ability replaces the exploit gained at 11th level.
Animate Buildings (Ex): At 19th level, the urban arcanist can use her magic to command the very city to fight for her. By spending 4 or more points from her arcane reservoir, she can animate a number of buildings equal to her Charisma modifier. For each building animated in this way, she must expend an additional 4 points from her arcane reservoir. Buildings animated in this way become Colossal animated objects with an additional number of construction points equal to the arcanist’s Charisma modifier for 1 minute. The animated buildings obey the urban arcanist’s spoken commands. The buildings are allowed a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the urban arcanist’s level + the urban arcanist’s Charisma modifier) to avoid being animated. Buildings with people in them make this save with the highest saving throw bonus among occupants.
This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 19th level.