Faerûnian Prestige Class : Master Alchemist
The master alchemist is a spellcaster who specializes in producing potions and elixirs that reproduce the effects of spells of 4th level or higher. Even spellcasters who dabble in alchemy gain the ability to improve the rate at which they can produce potions, which for adventuring spellcasters can reduce the amount of time they must spend preparing for their next quest. At its highest levels, the alchemist prestige class allows spellcasters to create potions that reproduce some of the most powerful magical effects available.
All master alchemists need sufficient space in which to work, as well as the right equipment and raw materials. A sizable work table is the minimum space necessary to create alchemical substances and brew potions. Your Dungeon Master may also require that the character have an alchemist's lab. Finally, the character must provide the raw materials. These cost half the market price of the finished potion.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Master Alchemist, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Alchemy 10 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks.
- Feats: Brew Potion, Magic Artisan (potions), Skill Focus (Alchemy).
- Spellcasting: Ability to cast 4th-level arcane or divine spells.
Class Skills
The master alchemist's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Craft (alchemy), Knowledge (arcana), Profession, and SpellCraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the master alchemist prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Master alchemists gain no proficiency in any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day: A master alchemist's training focuses on magic. Thus, when a character gains a new level of master alchemist, she gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she added 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, and so on).
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a master alchemist, she must decide to which class she adds each level of master alchemist for purposes of determining spells per day when she adds the new level.
Brew 2/day: The master alchemist has perfected the art of brewing potions. As such, she can brew two potions (totaling no more than 1,000 gp market value) in one day (an 8-hour period) instead of one.
Brew Potion (4th): Beginning at 2nd level, the master alchemist's advanced study of alchemy and magic allows her to brew potions of 4th-level spells. The market price of such a potion is equal to 50 gp per spell level times the level of the caster.
Brew Potion (5th): As Brew Potion (4th), except that the master alchemist can brew potions of 5th-level spells.
Brew Potion (6th): As Brew Potion (4th), except that the master alchemist can brew potions of 6th-level spells.
Brew 3/day: As Brew 2/day, except that the master alchemist may brew three potions in one day.
Improved Identification: Beginning at 6th level, the master alchemist is so sure in her knowledge that she may use her Craft (alchemy) skill to identify potions and other such substances more quickly and simply than others. This master alchemist needs no alchemical equipment, spends no gp, and requires only 1 minute to identify such a substance. Add +10 to the normal DC required for identification. The master alchemist can't retry this improved identification (which means she can't take 20); if this identification fails, the master alchemist must use the normal identification rules as described under the Alchemy skill.
Brew Potion (7th): As Brew Potion (4th), except that the master alchemist can brew potions of 7th-level spells.
Brew Potion (8th): As Brew Potion (4th), except that the master alchemist can brew potions of 8th-level spells.
Brew 4/day: As Brew 2/day, except that the master ,alchemist may brew four potions in one day.
Brew Potion (9th): As Brew Potion (4th), except that the master alchemist can brew potions of 9th-level spells.
| Master Alchemist | Hit Die: d4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells per day |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Brew 2/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Brew Potion (4th) | +1 level of existing class |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Brew Potion (5th) | +1 level of existing class |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Brew Potion (6th) | +1 level of existing class |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Brew 3/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Improved identification | +1 level of existing class |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Brew Potion (7th) | +1 level of existing class' |
| 8th | +4 | +2 | +2 | +6 | Brew Potion (8th) | +1 level of existing class |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Brew 4/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Brew Potion (9th) | +1 level of existing class |
Source: Magic of Faerûn