Stage Illusionist (3.5e Prestige Class)

Stage Illusionist

“	*Let me amuse and entertain! ...as I rob you blind...	”
—Aldemir, Stage Illusionist as he addressed a crowd of the king's court., Entry 1239 - Journal of Tennison, traveling observer.

A Stage Illusionist performs, sometimes the stage is an honest to goodness stage in front of crowds other times it is the stage of life in the middle of an adventure. They command magic but are both more and less than magic. Their talents allow them to take many roles in the world of high fantasy. They can perform for money, steal from the rich and give to the poor in their performances. They live the high life through their sleight of hand, but as most of their magic is illusion they are still greater thieves than mages.

Becoming a Stage Illusionist

When an illusionist tricks someone smarter, wiser, or stronger than themselves they have taken the first step in becoming a Stage Illusionist. When fooling one is too easy, they move on to fooling many, aiming forward at fooling all.

Entry Requirements

Alignment: None
Skills:	Bluff 5, Sleight of Hand 5, Perform 5.
Feats:	Spell Focus(Illusion), or Skill Focus (Perform) or Skill Focus (Bluff)
Attributes:	Chr 15
Spells:	Must be able to cast 3rd level illusion spells

Table: Stage Illusionist

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day/Spells Known
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Great Persona, Ventriloquist, (Sacrifice School)	+1 level of existing arcane class
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Double Hand, Double Speak	+1 level of existing arcane class
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Rigged Game	+1 level of existing arcane class
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Practiced	+1 level of existing arcane class
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Trivial Illusion, (Sacrifice School)	+1 level of existing arcane class
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Hide in Plainsight	+1 level of existing arcane class
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Illusion's Grip	+1 level of existing arcane class
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	Impossible Hands	+1 level of existing arcane class
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Striking Smoke	+1 level of existing arcane class
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Quicken Illusions, (Sacrifice School)	+1 level of existing arcane class
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Autohypnosis (Wis),Balance (Dex), Bluff (Chr), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Chr), Escape Artist (Dex),Forgery(Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (arcana/religion) (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Chr), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int) and Tumble (Dex). Class Features Stage Illusionists are masters of misdirection, as they become closer to the very fabric of illusion. Their craft is older than true magic and reaches back to a time when illusionist were mysterious and magic was only part of the show. Spells (Sp): When a new Stage Illusionist level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that he adds the level of Stage Illusions to the level of whatever other arcane spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class before he became a Stage Illusionist, he must decide to which class he adds each level of mystic theurge for the purpose of determining spells per day. The following spells are considered Illusion spells for the Stage Illusionist: Charm Animal, Darkness, Enthrall, Fog Cloud, Knock, Levitate, Major Creation, Minor Creation, Modify Memory, Obscuring Mist, Scare, Silence, Solid Fog, Suggestion, Summon Nature's Nature's Ally I. A Stage Illusion can add one known spell to his Stage Illusions act per level of Stage Illusionist. Spells added to the act, like the above spells, are considered illusion spells. Great Persona (Ex): At 1st level, a Stage Illusionist gains Great Persona. They seem larger than life, and their greatness increases with every act. A Stage Illusionist adds their level to bluff, perform, and sleight of hand checks. Additionally, by virtue of a Stage Illusionist's Great Persona they can 'put on a show' which increases the casting time of spell to a full round action, for each full round spent a Stage Illusions can +1 to the spell's DC. A Stage Illusionist can only put on a show one round per level of Stage Illusions. Putting on a show affects all spells a Stage Illusionist's illusion spells. Lastly, when putting on show, a Stage Illusionist's illusion spells cast are not lost when cast if the Stage Illusionist can make a perform check DC equal to 25 + 2* Spell level. A Stage Illusionist can make a performance once per casting, or once per round that the Illusionist is putting on a show. Ventriloquist (Su): At 1st level, a Stage Illusionist can use Ventriloquism as spell at will. Sacrifice School (Su): A Stage Illusionist commits to the art of Illusion, they are forced to give up their access to certain areas of magic. The must pick two schools of the following schools at 1st: Abjuration; Conjuration; Divination; Enchantment; Evocation; Necromancy; and Transmutation. A Stage Illusionist cannot give up the school of Illusion. They must have access to the school in order to give it up. Spells already known are not lost, but new spells in that school may not be learned. Again at 5th level, the Stage Illusionist must give up an additional school. Again at 10th level, the Stage Illusionist must give up an additional school. Double Hand (Ex): At 2nd level, a Stage Illusionist cloak or cape (or sheet like object) acts as an extension of their body. With a whip of the cloak the can perform anything they could with one hand, including sleight of hand or touch attacks, at a range of 10 feet. A Stage Illusionist can attack single target blinding them for 1 round with a hit if they succeed a touch attack (DC to save verse blindness is Reflex verse the Stage Illusionist's sleight of hand roll. If an opponent succeed more than 5 they grab the cloak). At 6th level the range extends to 15ft and the Stage Illusionist can perform anything they could with two hands. At 10th level the range extends to 20ft and the Stage Illusionist can perform any thing they could achieve if they were given a minute, such as rearrange a chess board. Double Speak (Ex): Also known as Illusionist Cant, a long ago language passed down and rediscovered by Illusionist of the old devotion. At 2nd level, a Stage Illusionist can speak to a group and deliver two different messages with the same words to any number of people. Other Illusionists can hear both messages. A sense motive check is only allowed if the Stage Illusionist uses this ability more than his level in rounds in front the the target. A sense motive check that exceeds the Stage Illusionist's bluff reveals only that the another party is getting a different message not what that message is. A Stage Illusionist is able to cast or perform skills while being observed without giving away their actual act. These spells are not silenced or stilled but masked. Rigged Game (Ex): At 3rd level, a Stage Illusionist gains the ability wait for the right time to perform sleight of hand or targeting a spell. As a move action, a Stage Illusionist can select a target. That target makes a saving throw or an opposed roll (such as sense motive). The Stage Illusionist is aware of the target's result and the target must take the result the next round if the Stage Illusionist decides to take the action. A Stage Illusionist can rig a game 1 time per day plus 1 per bonus intelligence modifier. A Stage Illusionist can't use a Rigged Game in conjunction with Putting on Show. Practiced (Sp): A Stage Illusionist tricks are more tricks than pure magical effect. At 4th level a Stage Illusionist's illusion spells affect creature types that are normally immune to illusions and can bypasses a creature's spell resistance if the Illusionist beats the target's sense motive with a bluff check. Trivial Illusion (Ex): At 5th level a Stage Illusionist manipulates the audience with each spell. A Stage Illusionist may convert any memorized spell into any equivalent Stage Illusionist's spell of the same level. A Stage Illusion can only convert spells which are ½ their Stage Illusionist level. A Stage Illusionist doesn't not have to have know the spell if the convert spell is an known illusion spell into an unknown illusion spell. Hide in Plainsight (Su): At 6th level, a Stage Illusionist gains the ability to hide in plain sight. Illusion's Grip (Su): At 7th level, a Stage Illusions can execute a performance with such finesses as to stun a members of the audience. As a full round action a Stage Illusionist make performance in connection with a spell which will stun targets with in 30 feet. Target with hit dice equal to or less than the spell are stunned for 1 round if they do not make a Will save DC equal to the performance roll. This has no effect upon mindless targets. Impossible Hands (Su): At 8th level, a Stage Illusionist, can perform a sleight of hand action as a swift actions once per round. They may make attacks with cape or cloak gain improved disarm, and improve steal. Striking Smoke (Sp): At 9th level, a Stage Illusionist frustrates logic. A Stage Illusionist can Shadow Step up 30 feet after a target attacks or targets the Illusionist with a spell. A Stage Illusionist can use this ability on a willing target. A Stage Illusions can use this ability one time per level of Stage Illusionist if they successfully bluff the attacker. Quicken Illusions (Sp): At 10th level a Stage Illusionist can an illusion spell equal to ½ their Stage Illusionist level once per round. Illusion spells casts in this manner have no level adjustment. Table: The Epic Stage Illusions Level Special 11th Bonus Epic Feat 12th 13th 14th 15th Bonus Epic Feat 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th Bonus Epic Feat Ex Illusionist Campaign Information Playing a Stage Illusionist Combat: A Stage Illusionist is not built for combat but they do gain abilities that make them capable in an hostile setting. They are powerful and veritable commanders of stealth. Advancement: Resources: A Stage Illusionist can set up a show anywhere, they can be outted illusionist or pretend to be something else while pulling the wool over eye's of others. Stage Illusionist in the World “ ” NPC Reactions: Stage Illusionist Lore Knights of Beauty are visible agents of a beauty. They are representatives that make it a purpose to be seen doing good, vocally exposing their belief and furthering their agenda. Characters with ranks in Knowledge Arcana can learn more Stage Illusionist. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs. DC Result 11 Stage Illusionist sacrifice more the greater they are. 16 Stage Illusionist single out individuals and make them remember differently. 21 Stage Illusionist cast Illusions quicker than should be possible. 26 Stage Illusionist can disappear and change reality. Stage Illusionist in the Game A Stage Illusionist will defy a single explanation, except when defining what they are not; they are not bumblers, they are not loud and abrasive, they are not what they seem. Sample Encounter: A public show has gathered a crowd, there is a man talking to the crowd who appears to be laughing at the antics of the performer, when he turns and talks to your crowd in a serious tone, " I am glad you have arrive heroes, there is much we have to discuss after this crowd is home feeding their fat bellies. The whole crowd continues laughing. Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Prestige Classes