General Prestige Class : Candle Caster
Flame holds a special attraction to some people. Simply burning, a candle is a work of art - a teardrop of fire clinging to the dark wick, itself shrouded in a column of wax that is both the flame's base and fuel: a wonder indeed. Secrets could be stored in that wax: secrets.., or spells.
Also called "spell chandlers," these specialists fill their time fashioning candles, both for aesthetics and for power.
The spells stored therein are revealed as the flame ignites and disperses the wax medium. Moreover, the wax itself shapes and molds stored spells so that they are enhanced by the burning flame.
Candle casters have quicker access to feat-like abilities that enhance the effects of their candle-stored spells, and so they are often wooed by adventuring companies who have realized the importance of consumable magic items in the dungeon depths.
NPC candle casters sometimes appear in places where magic is sold, attempting to sell their unfettered candles (which can be used by anyone) on an equal footing with potions. However, lighting a candle is more difficult than drinking a potion and takes longer to produce an effect, so unfettered candles are unlikely to ever reach the popularity that potions enjoy
Requirements
To qualify to become a Candle Caster, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Craft (Candlemaking) 6 ranks.
- Feats: Great Fortitude.
- Spells: Ability to cast spells of 3rd level or higher.
- Special: The candle caster must initially possess a supply of at least 100 tindertwigs.
Class Skills
The candle caster's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Knowledge, Profession, Search, and Spellcraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the candle caster prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A candle caster gains no additional proficiency in any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day: When a new candle caster level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had 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 of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, metamagic or item creation feats, hit points beyond those he receives from the prestige class, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a candle caster, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Scribe Candle: The candle caster can store spells in candles. Each candle holds one spell. Effectively the candle caster gains the Scribe Scroll feat using an alternative medium (see page 84 of the Player's Handbook). All rules, XP costs, and expenses that apply to Scribe Scroll also apply to this ability. A candle normally illuminates a 5-foot-radius and burns for 1 hour, but a scribed candle burns as noted below. A burning candle cannot be extinguished unless the candle caster wills it (although dispel magic still suppresses the effect as it would for any other magic item).
To have any chance of activating a stored spell, the candle caster must meet the usual requirements for successfully reading a scroll. The stored spell must be of a type she can cast and on her class list, and she must have the requisite ability score to cast the spell (for example, Intelligence 15 for a wizard casting a 5th-level spell). Even then, she must make a caster level check (DC = scribed candle's caster level +1) to cast the spell correctly If she fails, the spell is lost, and she must make a Wisdom check (DC 5) to avoid a mishap (see page 203 of the DUNGEON MASTER'S Guide).
Identify the Candle: To activate a prepared candle, the candle caster must first identify it. This requires a Spellcraft check against a DC of 15 + spell level. (If it is a candle she scribed, this step is unnecessary)
Light the Candle: lighting the candle is best done using a tindertwig. Doing so is a standard action, which is subject to disruption just as casting a spell would be. Lighting the candle by a slower method, such as flint and tinder or even a magnifying glass, is a full-round action under the best of circumstances, and definitely draws an attack of opportunity.
A candle caster can "light defensively" by making a successful Concentration check (DC 15). This preempts an attack of opportunity, but if she fails the check she does nor light the candle. Alternatively, the candle caster can suffer the attack of opportunity and if hit, attempt a Concentration check (DC 10 + points of damage taken) to light the candle anyway
Candle Effect: A successfully lit candle automatically activates the stored spell at the beginning of the candle caster's action in the next round (which does nor draw an attack of opportunity). It works exactly like a spell prepared and cast the normal way However, since she lit the candle during the previous round, the candle caster can take normal actions on the same round the candle's spell takes effect.
The flame of the burning candle mimics the triggered spell's duration. Thus, an instantaneous spell causes the candle to flare and burn out immediately while a candle scribed with a spell having a longer duration burns for that length of time. However, if the flame is extinguished before the spell expires, the spell's duration is cut short.
A scribed candle may incorporate any number of the special enhancements noted below, as long as their combined requirements do not make the spell take up a spell slot higher than the caster's normal maximum.
Extend Candle: At 2nd level, the candle caster can extend the duration of spells stored in a candle. Effectively she gains the Extend Spell metamagic feat (see page 82 of the Player's Handbook), but only when scribing candles. All the rules that apply to using Extend Spell also apply to extended candles, and the scribed spell takes up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
Unfettered Candle: At 3rd level, the candle caster learns how to store spells in candles that can be triggered by people other than herself. Effectively, she gains the Brew Potion feat using an alternative medium (see page 80 of the Player's Handbook). All rules, XP costs, and expenses that apply to Brew Potion also apply to this ability. Like a potion, only spells of 3rd level and lower can be scribed in an unfettered candle. Any creature who successfully lights the unfettered candle, following the procedure described above, is targeted by the candle's stored spell at the beginning of the creature's next turn in the round. An unfettered candle otherwise works exactly like a normally scribed candle.
Enlarge Candle: At 4th level, the candle caster can double the range of spells she stores in a candle. Effectively, she gains the Enlarge Spell metamagic feat (see page 82 of the Player's Handbook), but only when scribing candles. All the rules that apply to using Enlarge Spell also apply to enlarged candles, and the scribed spell takes up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
Dipped Candle: At 5th level, the candle caster refines her chandler's craft to the point where she can store two spells in the same candle. She must scribe each spell separately, paying full XP and gp costs for both, and must specify the order in which the spells take effect. The first spell is triggered normally by successfully lighting the scribed candle; when the duration of the first spell ends, the second power stored in the candle automatically triggers. If the first spell is suppressed by dispel magic, or the candle caster ends the effect voluntarily the second effect does not trigger but is not lost. The candle caster can trigger the second effect by relighting the candle. If the second spell requires a target, the candle caster can target the effect when it activated as if casting the spell normally as long as she is within 30 feet of the lit candle. Otherwise, the candle is the default center of effect. The two spells may be differentiated by color; for example, the top half of the candle is yellow while the bottom is blue.
Empower Candle: At 6th level, the candle caster can increase all variable, numeric effects of a spell she stores in a candle. Effectively, she gains the Empower Spell metamagic feat (see page 82 of the Player's Handbook), but only when scribing candles. All the rules that apply to using Empower Spell also apply to empowered candles, and the scribed spell takes up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell's actual level.
Quick light: At 7th level, the candle caster learns to activate her candles more quickly. The act of lighting the candle takes no less time, but the stored spell takes effect as soon as the candle is lit (nor on the candle caster's next turn).
Heighten Candle: Upon reaching 8th level, the candle caster can increase the effective level of a spell stored in a candle. Effectively, she gains the Heighten Spell metamagic feat (see page 82 of the Player's Handbook), but only when scribing candles. All the rules that apply to using Heighten Spell also apply to heightened candles, and the scribed spell takes up a spell slot at the new level.
Striped Candle: At 9th level, the candle caster further refines her ability to store two spells in the same candle. She must still scribe each spell separately, paying full XP and gp costs for both. Successfully lighting the scribed candle triggers both stored spells simultaneously, and the candle caster chooses any targets for both effects. The two spells may be differentiated by color; for example, the left half of the candle is green while the right is red.
Maximize Candle: At 10th level, the candle caster reaches the pinnacle of her craft, gaining the ability to maximize all variable, numeric effects of spells she stores in a candle. Effectively, she gains the Maximize Spell metamagic feat (see page 83 of the Player's Handbook), but only when scribing candles. All the rules that apply to using Maximize Spell also apply to maximized candles, and the scribed spell takes up a spell slot three levels higher than the spell's actual level.
| Candle Caster | Hit Die: d4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Scribe candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Extend candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Unfettered candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Enlarge candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Dipped candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Empower candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Quick light | +1 level of existing class |
| 8th | +4 | +2 | +2 | +6 | Heighten candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Striped candle | +1 level of existing class |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Maximize candle | +1 level of existing class |
Source: Tome and Blood