Shadok Mage (3.5e Prestige Class)

Shadow Mage

Arcane magic. Science to wizards, lifeblood to sorcerers. Just as wizards have many schools of magical practice, magic can be used in an enormous variety of ways. But occasionally an arcane mage will stumble across a very rare use of magic, one emphasizing the gifts of shadows. Shadow mages they call themselves, for their unique style of spellcasting is feared and for good reason. Though not evil at all, typically striving to prove that for fear of persecution, shadow mages dedicate themselves to their rare method of wielding magic.

Prerequisites

Alignment: Any

Special: Most have visited the Plane of Shadow

Table: The Shadow Mage

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day/Spells Known
1st	+0	+1	+1	+1	Shadow Sight, Shadow Spellcasting (Shadow Spell 2/day)	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
2nd	+1	+1	+1	+2		+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
3rd	+1	+2	+2	+3	Bend the Shadows +2	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
4th	+2	+2	+2	+4	Shadow Spellcasting (Shadow Spell 3/day)	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
5th	+2	+3	+3	+5	Greater Shadow Sight, Shadow Cloak	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
6th	+3	+3	+3	+6	Bend the Shadows +4, Shadow Spellcasting (Dark Focus)	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
7th	+3	+4	+4	+7		+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
8th	+4	+4	+4	+8	Shadow Spellcasting (Shadow Spell 4/day)	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
9th	+4	+5	+5	+9	Bend the Shadows +6, Shroud	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
10th	+5	+5	+5	+10	Shadow Spellcasting (Shadow Spell 5/day), Shadow Strike	+1 Arcane Spell-Casting class
Class Skills 4 + Int modifier per level)

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadow mages gain no new armor, weapon, or shield proficiencies. In fact, the obstructions of armor do not allow a shadow mage to focus well enough and as such hamper him drastically. When wearing armor of any kind, a shadow mage looses access to all supernatural and spell-like class features. Furthermore, he cannot focus strictly enough on his spellcasting and the shadow mage cannot make use of his shadow spellcasting while wearing armor.

Spells per Day: Whenever a new shadow mage level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character would have gained (metamagic or item creation feats, hit points beyond that from this prestige class, and so on), except for an increased level in effective spellcasting. If a character had more the one spell casting level before becoming a shadow mage, he or she must decide to which class they add the new Spellcasting level to for purposes of determining spells per day.

Shadowsight (Ex): The shadow mage gains a darkvision 60, or if he already possesses darkvision gains +30 feet to the listed distance instead.

Shadow Spellcasting (Su): The shadow mage well understands his spellcasting style is unique, and as such strives to make the most of it. At level one and at each level indicated thereafter by the above table, the shadow mage can use a Shadow Spell. A Shadow Spell is any spell the shadow mage can normally cast but is altered so the spell is cast as though under the effects of Silent Spell and Still Spell. Shadow Spell is identical to a combined Sudden Silent Spell and Sudden Still Spell. The twin effects cannot be split up.

Starting at 6th level, the shadow mage gains the ability to cast spells without need for material components. Whenever the shadow mage casts spells while in darkness or poorly-lit areas he can employ the darkness around him to substitute for material components in spells. The surrounding darkness and shadows can replace any material component of less than 100 gp value in the casting of the shadow mage's spells. A shadow mage gains +1 caster level with any spell cast through his Darkness Focus.

Bend the Shadows (Su): At 3rd level, the shadow mage learns the importance of remaining unseen and how to more easily accomplish this. He also learns how to bend shadows to his advantage in creating a forceful appearance about himself. The shadow mage gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Hide and Intimidate checks. This bonus increases by +2 every three levels thereafter.

Greater Shadowsight (Ex): The shadow mage can now see through any sort of darkness without hindrance, including magical darkness.

Shadow Cloak (Sp): At 5th level, the shadow mage can now encompass himself in darkness to provide protection. Once per day per two levels of shadow mage, he can activate an effect identical to that of the spells shadow mask and veil of shadows used together simultaneously as a sorcerer of his character level.

Shroud (Su): At 9th level, the shadow mage’s shadow cloak is now continuous and is a supernatural ability. He can suppress or activate this ability as a free action once per round.

Shadow Strike (Su): At 10th level the shadow mage has achieved the pinnacle of power with his unusual art. He may choose to cast spells as though originating from any shadow within 100 feet of him. For example, a shadow mage moving down a corridor sees an elongated shadow around the corner and chooses to cast magic missile. While he cannot from his position see his enemies, as they are around the corner, casting from that shadow allows him to strike at his foe. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to 4 + Shadow Mage’s Int modifier.

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