Sutra Feats
Hello, everyone. A few weeks ago, a challenge was issued to third-party publishers of the Pathfinder system to make use of another third-party publisher’s material in their upcoming work. The reasoning behind the challenge was that the OGL allows for, and seems to envision, a wonderful world wherein third-party publishers all build upon and work with one another’s content to create a beautiful and intricate web of content for players which is interconnected, and where products from different publishers “play nice” with one another, but instead third-party publishers ignore each other and often produce several different approaches to the same thing, which wind up not only incompatible but in direct competition. Or something to that effect. The phrase “reinvent the wheel” came up. You can take a look at the challenge here.
We here at Necromancers of the Northwest thought that that was a cool idea, and wanted to support this vision of paradise, but were afraid that creating an actual product that was dependent on another company’s product would be received poorly, in that no one wants to buy a book only to find out they can’t use it without another, separate book (we also try pretty hard to avoid making books that require other books made by us, for the same reason. For example, even Marchen der Daemonwulf II and Spirit Warriors II, direct sequels to books we made, can be used without the original book, if necessary). So, we decided to devote a theme week of articles to it, instead, since articles are free, and you won’t feel cheated if you never get to use today’s content (or, at least, hopefully not too cheated).
We settled on a book called Sutra Magic by Rite Publishing, which produces a new approach to magic, in the form of oriental-themed sutras. As a result, every single article this week deals with sutra magic in some way, shape, or form.
So, where does that leave us for today’s article? Well, Sutra Magic contains a few feats (not the least of which is Sutra Magic, which grants access to casting sutras), but I was left feeling like there was a lot of room for some more utilitarian feats that could expand on how sutra magic works. So, today I’d like to fill that space with just that.
But first, several of the abilities included in the following archetypes reference concepts introduced in Sutra Magic by Rite Publishing. If you find yourself uncertain of what an “infernal creature” is, or what the different types of ofudas refer to, you’ll need to take a look at this book, which can be found here, for (at the time of this writing) $2.99.
Arcane Sutras (Sutra)
You have learned how to focus your arcane talent into the art of sutra casting.
Benefit: Choose an arcane spellcasting class. For the purposes of determining your sutra caster level, treat the chosen class as though it were a sutra caster class (your sutra caster level increases by 1 for each level you possess in the chosen class).
Normal: Normally, each level in an arcane spellcasting class only increases your sutra caster level by 1/2.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you gain this feat, it applies to a new arcane spellcasting class.
Extended Sutra (Sutra)
You are able to cast sutras that last longer than usual.
Benefit: When you gain this feat, choose a sutra you know that has a duration measured in time units. Whenever you cast the chosen sutra, the time unites are treated as one category higher than they would normally be (rounds become minutes, minutes become 10 minute increments, etc.). If the sutra would be measured in hours, this feat allows it to become measured in days, instead. This feat has no effect on sutras whose duration is not measured in time units.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you gain this feat, it applies to a new sutra.
Extra Sutra Casting (Sutra)
You have a great capacity for sutra casting.
Benefit: You can cast one additional sutra per day.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects stack.
Extra Sutra Known (Sutra)
A spiritual journey has led you to enlightenment in the form of a new sutra.
Benefit: When you gain this feat, choose a single sutra that you do not already know. You immediately learn that sutra. It does not count against the maximum number of sutras that you can know.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time you gain this feat, you may select a new sutra to learn.
Favored Sutra (Sutra)
You are exceptionally well-versed in casting a certain sutra.
Benefit: When you gain this feat, choose a single sutra that you know that has a casting time of 1 round or less. Once per day, you can cast the chosen sutra as a swift action, instead of the type of action that is normally required to cast that sutra.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you gain this feat, it applies to a new sutra.
Infernal Specialist (Sutra)
You are very familiar in overcoming the weaknesses of certain infernals.
Benefit: Choose a creature type or subtype that is considered to be infernal (aberration, fey, goblinoid, incorporeal, outsider, or undead). Whenever you cast a sutra that targets a creature of the chosen type or subtype, your sutra caster level for the purposes of that sutra is treated as 2 higher than it actually is.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you gain this feat, select a new creature type or subtype.
Unorthodox Sutra (Sutra)
You have learned how to channel your sutra casting in a different way than usual.
Benefit: Choose either Charisma or Intelligence. You use the chosen ability score, rather than Wisdom, to determine the number of sutras you can cast each day. Other aspects of sutra casting (including the number of sutras you can know, the saving throw DC of sutras you cast, etc.) are still dependent on your Wisdom score, as normal.
Normal: You may cast a number of sutras per day equal to your Wisdom modifier, plus one for every four levels you have in a sutra casting class.