Metamage, Variant (3.5e Prestige Class)

Metamage 2.0

“	Let me show you what true power really is!	”
—Unknown Metamage

A Metamage is a normal spell caster that has an unusually strong grasp of the fundamentals of magic. As their skills and power increase they begin to question the strength of their spells. They begin to tinker and rework that which they have learned to go above and beyond, turning any spell into the ultimate form of itself... and then some. The worst thing that anyone encountering a Metamage could possibly do, is make them mad.

Becoming a Metamage

The Metamage is most commonly your typical, run of the mill sorcerer or wizard, though other classes have been known to dabble with the metamagic arts. There is however a slight difference, they have an almost insatiable appetite for power. They have learned that through devoted study and experimentation spells can be altered in unusual ways to increase their potency. A single glance to cause a man to burst into flames. A minor phrase to bury a small village in snow. An unspoken thought to bring the mightiest of foes to their demise. These individuals are born to become Metamages. Searching through ancient text and tome for fragments of spells and particular wordings to cause untold damages or perhaps, if they are feeling gracious, save thousands. One thing is for certain, a Metamage is a force to be reckoned with and not a foe to take lightly.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any.
Skills:	Spellcraft 15 ranks.
Feats:	Eschew Materials, Silent Spell, Still Spell and Any 1 other Metamagic Feat.
Spellcasting:	Must be able to cast 5th level arcane spells.

Table: The Metamage

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+0	+2	+2	Metamagic Bonus Feat	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
2nd	+2	+0	+2	+3	Meta Swap/Swift Meta, Metamagic Reduction	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+4	Metamagic Bonus Feat	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
4th	+3	+2	+4	+4		+1 level to existing spellcasting class
5th	+4	+2	+4	+5	Quicken Spell, Metamagic Reduction	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
6th	+4	+3	+5	+6	Metamagic Bonus Feat	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
7th	+5	+4	+6	+6	Persistent Spell	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
8th	+6	+4	+6	+7	Metamagic Reduction	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
9th	+6	+5	+7	+8	Metamagic Bonus Feat, Twin Spell	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
10th	+7	+6	+8	+8	Intensify Spell	+1 level to existing spellcasting class
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Gather Information (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually)(Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Table: The Epic Metamage

Level	Special
11th	Metamagic Reduction
12th	Metamagic Bonus Feat
13th
14th	Metamagic Reduction
15th	Metamagic Bonus Feat
16th
17th	Metamagic Reduction
18th	Metamagic Bonus Feat
19th
20th	Metamagic Reduction

Class Features

The Metamage mixes her raw power with the quick adaptations of metamagic, creating even more powerful spells to crush all opponents. All of the following are class features of the Metamage.

Spellcasting: At every level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Metamage, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Metamagic Bonus Feats: At 1st level, a Metamage gets a bonus metamagic feat. The Metamage gains an additional bonus metamagic feat at 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter (6th, 9th and so on). A Metamage must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including ability score and skill ranks, and may not take epic metamagic feats unless they are already a spell caster of epic level.

Meta Swap/ Swift Meta (Ex): This ability varies based on the type of spell caster the Metamage is. If she prepares spells, she may alter any metamagic feat(s) attached to a spell as she casts it, as long as the total level adjustment is no greater than what was previously prepared (a widened, empowered spell could become maximized and stilled, but not vice versa). If she casts spells spontaneously, enhancing a spell with a metamagic feat takes no longer than casting it normally (thus, she may now benefit from the Quicken Spell feat).

Metamagic Reduction (Ex): At 2nd level and every 3 levels thereafter (5th, 8th and so on) a Metamage acquires an increased understanding of the application of metamagics. Any metamagic feats applied to spells have their cost reduced by 1 at 2nd, 2 at 5th and so on to a maximum of 7 at 20th. No metamagic feat can have its cost reduced below 0 this way.

Quicken Spell: At 5th level the Metamage gains the Quicken Spell feat. If she already has this feat she may choose any new metamagic feat with a spell slot adjustment of 3 or less instead

Persistent Spell: At 7th level the Metamage gains the Persistent Spell feat regardless if she meets the prerequisites. If she already has this feat she may choose any new metamagic feat with a spell slot adjustment of 3 or less instead

Twin Spell: At 9th level the Metamage gains the Twin Spell feat. If she already has this feat she may choose any new metamagic feat with a spell slot adjustment of 3 or less instead

Intensify Spell: At 10th level the Metamage gains the Intensify Spell feat regardless if she meets the prerequisites. If she already has this feat she may choose any new metamagic feat instead.

Playing a Metamage

Combat: The Metamage, though powerful, is still a relatively frail individual. They would rather stand behind a line of defense and bombard the enemy with spells than put themselves in harms way on the foreline.

Advancement: Though advancing into a melee class could prove useful, the Metamage is more likely to continue her spell casting progression. She is too fixated on the pure power of her spells to care about much else.

Resources: Metamages are rarely able to rely on the aid of other spell casters. Wizards see their doings as twisted perversions of decades of hard research and most Sorcerers are fearful of being on the wrong end of a power that is barely being contained.

Metamages in the World

“	Personally, I think I cast it better.	”
—Jerome, Human Metamage

Metamages seek out any new adjustment that can be made to a spell. If someone is doing something with magic that has not been seen by many, a Metamage is sure to be at their door with a purse full of coin just to catch a glimpse at their research notes. This can also be a problem as not all who tinker with spells are favorable to sharing their hard work and sometimes neither side is able to utter those few special words again and the research is lost forever, or at least until another brave soul spends countless hours doing it all over again.

NPC Reactions: Most common folk react to Metamages just as they would to a sorcerer or wizard, because there is very little distinguishable at first glance. By the time they realize what they truly are it is often too late.

Metamage Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge(arcana) can research Metamages to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge(arcana)

DC	Result
11	Metamages are casters, frail and dangerous.
16	Metamages have done away with tradition, and at times, safety.
21	Specific known locations of currently practicing Metamages.
26	Specific Metamages within 2 days; their names, description, general level of ability, and past accomplishments.

Metamages in the Game

Wizards view sorcerers and warlocks as people who took the easy way out for their magic. Metamages view all other mage classes as people who settle for mediocrity. Their pride in their magic is only surpassed by their dedication.

Adaptation: This class fits fairly simply into any campaign so long as spell casting and metamagic is available

Sample Encounter: A town has had mysterious and very intrusive magical occurrences that quickly got on the whole towns nerves ever since a Metamage and his assistant moved into the dramatic abandoned tower on the hill north of town. A certain head scribe wants a certain group of adventurers to investigate under the radar, and wouldn't mind 'misplacing' some inventory to give them some incentive.

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