Counter mage (3.5e Prestige Class)

Counter mage

“	I don't like that one try another	”
—lieric, human counter mage, the golden empire rebellion.

these mages use an arcane channeling device (a musical instrument is most common) and their incredible knowledge of spells counter enemy spells and eventually their very movement essentially shutting down the entire enemy battle field allowing your allies to make easy prey of the enemy. a counter mage will rarely move during combat constantly focussing on their enemies movements in order to better counter the enemy. their power comes from them manipulating the energy around them with their channelling device.

Becoming a Counter Mage

Bards usually choose this path after being fed up with other spell casters, an occasional wizard or rogue will pick this class to further their repertoire of combat styles. the major skills for a counter mage are intelligence and charisma.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	any
Base Attack Bonus:	+4
Skills:	7 ranks Perform, Knowledge (arcana)
Spellcasting:	at least one level of spontaneous arcane spell casting
Special:	bardic music counter song

Table: The <-class name->

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting or Manifesting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	basic counter song	+1 level of existing class level
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Dispel magic	+1 level of existing class level
3rd	+1	+1	+3	+3	impeding field	+1 level of existing class level
4th	+2	+1	+4	+4	complex counter song	+1 level of existing class level
5th	+2	+1	+4	+4	minor defensive field, multi focus	+1 level of existing class level
6th	+3	+2	+5	+5	dispel magic greater	+1 level of existing class level
7th	+3	+2	+5	+5	greater counter song	+1 level of existing class level
8th	+4	+2	+6	+6	greater impeding field	+1 level of existing class level
9th	+4	+3	+6	+6	counter casting	+1 level of existing class level
10th	+5	+3	+7	+7	superior counter song, major defensive field	+1 level of existing class level
Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level) Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Table: The Epic Counter mage

Level	Special
11th
12th	temporal field
13th	epic counter song
14th
15th	superior defensive field
16th
17th	greater temporal field
18th	perfect counter song
19th
20th	eternal focus

Class Features

all of the class features require the arcane channeling device without one they are useless

counter song (Ex): to activate a counter song is a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, you get counter mage lvl x2 songs a day. a counter song functions by creating a disruptive energy field in all directions causing the enemies magic to fail at casting. it takes great focus to counter multiple spells but it is not impossible a counter mage chooses which spells they decide to counter. while maintaining a song a counter mage cannot cast spells, make attacks, or summon field affects. when countering an enemy spell with the spell song a counter mage must perform a counterspell check (1d20 + counter mage level + Cha mod+ any bonus provided by the song) against the enemy's spell DC (11+ caster level+ spell level). if stuck while maintaining a counter song the mage must perform a concentration check DC= damage dealt

basic= costs a full round action to maintain, can only counter second level and lower spells. can only counter 1/2 Cha mod spells before it needs to be recast and can only counter one spell a round. 10' range.

complex= costs a standard action to maintain, can counter fourth level and lower spells. can only counter Cha mod spells before being reset. can counter 1/2 x int mod spells a round. range close. +5 bonus to counterspell checks

greater= costs a move action to maintain, can counter sixth level and lower spells. can counter 2x Cha songs before being reset. can counter int mod spells a round. range medium. +10 bonus to counterspell check

superior= costs a free action to maintain, can counter eighth level and lower spells. can counter Cha score number of spells before being reset. can counter 2x int mod spells a round. range long. +15 bonus to counterspell checks

epic= can counter epic level spells and lower. can counter any number of spells before being reset. can counter int score spells a round. range long. +20 bonus to counter spell checks

perfect= this mirrors the affects of an antimagic field range long around the counter mage but still requires that the caster maintain it. it affects only those the mage wishes to affect and

dispel magic (Sp): counter mages get the dispel magic spell as a spell like ability int mod times a day.

impeding field(Ex): as the counter mage gets better at manipulating the energy around them and they can now use it to create an area of difficult movement. this acts as the slow spell in a field close field around the mage. it costs a full round action to activate and can be maintained at the cost of a move action if you stop the affect will continue for another two rounds before losing its affect. everyone makes a will save every round that the field is sustained. creating this field provokes an attack of opportunity.

minor defensive field(Ex): as a full round action a counter mage can create a small field around themselves this field can be maintained at the cost of a standard action each round. it is a small purple field that prevents enemy attacks the field only takes up the square that the counter mage stands on. this field has an AC of 15 and 100 hp. this field prevents all attacks and magical affect from affecting the counter mage. this field cannot move and the mage cannot attack or cast spells outside the field either.

multifocus with this ability a counter mage has the ability to maintain any number of fields or songs so long as the do not share requirements. this ability cannot be used to create multiple songs.

greater dispel magic (Sp): counter mages get the greater dispel magic spell as a spell like ability int mod times a day. this replaces the dispel magic

greater impeding field(Ex): increase the range to medium. and now the counter mage has the ability to exclude int mod people from the affects of the field.

counter casting a counter mage can now cast spells while maintaining a counter song or field. however the mage can only cast spells 3 levels below their max caster level.

greater defensive field(Ex): the counter mage may now create a defensive field with AC 25 and 250 hp this field can be maintained as a free action and encompasses a ten foot by ten foot square. this field can be moved at a max speed of 10 ft. attacks and spells cannot be directed into or out of the field

temporal field(Ex): this creates a field around the caster that mirrors the time stop spell with the addition that it costs a standard action to maintain and while in this state they cannot cast spells

superior defensive field(Ex): you can now summon any number of fields that encompass 9 squares with a total hp of 900 and 50 AC each. max move speed is 20 ft.

temporal field(Ex): you can now encompass int mod allies with the same field they cannot attack or cast spells either.

eternal focus he can now maintain fields and songs with out having to maintain every round now you only have to maintain once every other round

Bonus Feats: <- any bonus feats gained in pre-epic levels->.

The epic counter mage gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic countermage feats) every <-# of levels-> levels after <-usually the last non epic level->.

Epic counter mage Bonus Feat List: Augmented Alchemy, Deafening Song, Epic Inspiration, Epic Leadership, Epic Reputation, Epic Skill Focus, Group Inspiration, Hindering Song, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity, Inspire Excellence, Lasting Inspiration, Master Staff, Master Wand, Music of the Gods, Permanent Emanation, Polyglot, Ranged Inspiration, Rapid Inspiration, Reactive Countersong, Spell Knowledge, Spell Stowaway, Spell Opportunity, Tenacious Magic.

Ex-counter mages

If a counter mage loses their channeling device they

Playing a Counter Mage

Combat: in the back countering opponents spells and movements.

Advancement:bards and sorcerers tend to choose this class due to its unusual take on spell defense but any one willing to learn the techniques can become

Resources: counter mages normally end up working for large empires as a professional defense unit or musicians for royal families. they rarely come in contact with others of the same profession but when they do its usually with professional sense of competition and scorn.

Counter Mages in the World

“

please at least try to be creative i'm getting bored of stopping the same spells

”

counter mages usually find themselves practicing and working hard often seeking a challenge to their abilities. and ever more often they wonder why they do so its as if they believe that by challenging themselves they can find some deep meaning behind their life.

NPC Reactions: most people view a counter mage as they would a normal musician/spellcaster with respect and admiration.

Counter Mage Lore

Characters with ranks in <-the appropriate skills-> can research <-insert prestige class name-> to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

DC	Result
11	.
16	.
21	.
26	.

Counter Mages in the Game

Adaptation:

EL whatever:

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