Conversions: Wellspring of Change mage archetype

As (very) long-time readers may know, I have a certain fondness for the wild and weird world of Warhammer and its various offshoots. Admittedly I haven't played tabletop for about 15 years, what with moving house, country and occasionally continent, and also discovering that I was far more into the narrative and individual characters than a murderous tactical wargame really supported (hence my slide into RPGs). But I still find myself coming back to the ideas.

For reasons I'll get to another time, I ended up helping with a Khorne Berserker archetype for Pathfinder and began musing about how the flavour of the other Chaos Gods could be brought into the game.

Well, enough of that! While you're here, why don't I show you this mage archetype I happened to put together? The following is, I want to be absolutely clear, a homebrew archetype for Pathfinder that is in no way related to Games Workshop. Obviously.

Wellspring of Change (Arcanist, Sorcerer or Wizard Archetype)

The Wellspring of Change worships the Transforming Fire, a mysterious deity of secrets, fate, transformation, revelation, and above all, the arcane mysteries that underlie and entwine all of them. No matter what the source of her arcane talents may be, she finds overwhelming magical power in the worship of her deity; power to overcome rivals, unwind the spells of enemies, and become whoever or whatever she wishes in the quest to unlock ultimate knowledge of the universe. Whether that quest will raise her to immortality or damn her beyond the reach even of fiends is a secret whose answer only the Transforming Fire may know.

 

Table for Arcanist

						Spells Per Day
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Arcane reservoir, cantrips, mutable magic, wealth of magic	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	—	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Arcanist exploit, consume power	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	—	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Blue fire	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	—	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Arcanist exploit	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	—	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	—	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-
11th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-
12th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-
13th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-
14th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-
15th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-
16th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-
17th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1
18th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1
19th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1
20th	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Magical supremacy	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1

Table for Sorcerer

						Spells Per Day
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Arcane reservoir, cantrips, bloodline arcana, eschew materials, mutable magic, wealth of magic	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	—	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Bloodline power, consume power	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	—	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Blue fire	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	—	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Bloodline feat, bloodline spell	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	—	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Bloodline power, bloodline spell	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	—	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-
11th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-
12th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-
13th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Bloodline feat, bloodline spell	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-
14th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-
15th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9	Bloodline power, bloodline spell	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-
16th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-
17th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Arcanist exploit	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1
18th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1
19th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Bloodline feat, bloodline spell	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1
20th	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Bloodline power	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1

Table for Wizard

						Spells Per Day
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Arcane reservoir, arcane school, cantrips, mutable magic, wealth of magic	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	—	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Arcanist exploit, consume power	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	—	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Blue fire	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	—	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-	-
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	—	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-	-
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	—	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-	-
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	—	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-	-
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Bonus feat	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-	-
11th	+5	+3	+3	+7	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-	-
12th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-	-
13th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-	-
14th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-	-
15th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9	Bonus feat	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1	-
16th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1	-
17th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	2+1	1+1
18th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1	2+1
19th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	—	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	3+1	3+1
20th	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Bonus feat	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1	4+1

Deity

A wellspring of change must accept the Transforming Fire as her patron deity.

Alignment and Ethos

Followers of the Transforming Fire understand that progress and learning require constant change; the acceptance of new perspectives, new truths, and the transformation of the past self into the future. A wellspring of change can never be of lawful alignment. In addition, she cannot willingly destroy the knowledge of any magical secret.

Spellcasting

A wellspring of change masters magic through divine inspiration as well as study, allowing her to advance more quickly at the cost of raw power. She has the same number of spells per day as a cleric, including a domain spell slot which can only be used to prepare spells from her wealth of magic class feature. Her number of spells known or spells prepared does not change.

This alters spellcasting.

Arcane Reservoir (Su)

A wellspring of change gains an arcane reservoir as an arcanist of her class level.

This replaces a sorcerer’s 1st-level bloodline power, or the wizard’s arcane bond class feature.

Mutable Magic (Su)

A wellspring of change pursues the transformative secrets of her deity. When she expends 1 point from her arcane reservoir to increase the caster level of a transmutation spell, the caster level increases by 2 instead of 1. Whenever she expends 1 point from her arcane reservoir to increase a transmutation spell’s DC, it increases by 2 instead of 1. She can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to reroll a failed saving throw against a magical transmutation effect.

This replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level, the bonus class skill granted by a bloodline, or Scribe Scroll.

Wealth of Magic

A wellspring of change can invoke the tumultuous magic of her patron. She gains access to the 1st-level domain spells of the following domains: Chaos, Knowledge, Magic. These bonus spells are in addition to the number of spells given on Table: Spells Known or Spells Prepared, and she is always considered to have them prepared. These spells cannot be exchanged for different spells at higher levels. Every two levels thereafter, she gains the next level of domain spells.

Blue Fire (Su)

At 5th level, the wellspring of change must select the flame arc or lightning lance exploit. She unleashes blasts of roiling blue energy that sear and alter whatever they touch. If the exploit allows a saving throw, creatures that fail the saving throw don’t benefit from energy resistance against its damage, and even those with energy immunity suffer half damage. Blue fire is a transmutation effect, and bonuses on saving throws against transmutation apply as normal. Abilities that modify the base exploit apply to blue fire as normal.

This alters the arcanist exploit or wizard bonus feat gained at 5th level, or replaces the sorcerer bloodline spells gained at 3rd and 5th level.

Consume Power (Su)

A wellspring of change doesn’t gain the ability to convert her spells into arcane reservoir points. From 3rd level, when she resists a spell or spell-like ability through either a saving throw or spell resistance, she can consume its residual magic. Doing this adds a number of points to her arcane reservoir equal to half the level of the spell consumed. She cannot consume cantrips (0 level spells) in this way. Points gained in excess of the reservoir’s maximum are lost. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her class level.

This replaces an arcanist’s consume spells ability.

Gifts of the Transforming Fire

A wellspring of change can select any of the following feats in place of an arcanist exploit, bloodline feat or wizard bonus feat: Arcane Strike, Riving Strike, Arcane Blast, Arcane Shield, Reactive Arcane Shield. She adds her casting modifier (typically Intelligence or Charisma) to her class level to determine whether she meets the prerequisites of these feats.

A sorcerer wellspring of change can select an arcanist exploit in place of a bloodline power or bloodline spell, and she must do so at 11th and 17th levels. From 11th level she can select a greater exploit instead. She can select a bloodline power of a lower level in place of any bloodline power or spell (such as reinstating her missing 1st-level bloodline power).

A wizard wellspring of change can exchange her 1st-level arcane school powers for an arcanist exploit, gaining a second arcanist exploit at 5th level if she does so. She can exchange either her 6th or 8th-level arcane school power (but not both) for an arcanist exploit gained at 9th level, gaining additional exploits at 13th and 17th levels if she does so. She can also select an exploit in place of a wizard bonus feat.

The following unique exploits are available to a wellspring of change.

Blue Fire Mastery (Su)

As a swift action while casting a spell that deals acid, cold, electricity or fire damage, the wellspring of change can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to infuse it with blue fire. This modifies the spell as the blue fire class feature.

Interrogate Word (Su)

The wellspring of change can wrest secrets from the written word with her intellectual and magical prowess. She gains a bonus equal to half her class level on skill checks to detect written forgeries or discover hidden messages in writing, as well as to use another mage’s spellbook to prepare spells. By spending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, she can gain the benefits of authenticating gaze or mage’s perusal.

Riving Strike (Su)

The wellspring of change gains Riving Strike as a bonus feat. She must meet the prerequisites for this feat. When she affects a creature with Riving Strike, she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir as a free action to have the penalties last for a number of rounds equal to 1 + her casting modifier.

Evolving Magic (Su)

The wellspring of change gains a +2 bonus on caster level checks to dispel or counterspell and to the DC of attempts to identify, counter or dispel her own spells. If she selects the Counterspell exploit, when she successfully uses that exploit, she can choose to benefit from one additional ability that triggers on a successful counterspell, such as Countering Loophole.

Spell Mimic (Su)

The wellspring of change can temporarily grasp how to cast a spell after seeing it in use. She must identify the spell with a Spellcraft check as normal. If successful, she temporarily treats the spell as a spell known. If it is part of her spell list, she casts it at the same level it appears on her spell list; otherwise she uses the highest level at which it appears on other spell lists. In addition, she increases the effective spell level by 1 if it doesn’t appear on any spell lists with the same casting type as her (usually arcane), and if it doesn’t appear on any spell lists that offer 9th-level spells. For example, a typical wellspring of change could borrow a spell from the bard or psychic spell list at one level higher, and a spell from the paladin spell list at two levels higher. A wizard with this exploit can spontaneously convert a prepared spell into the mimicked spell, but this increases the casting time in the same way as a spontaneous caster using a metamagic feat.

Master Magic (Su)

The wellspring of change can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to duplicate the effects of magic aura or expend 2 points to duplicate aura alteration. If the wellspring of change uses spells known, she gains conjurer’s burden* and necromantic burden as bonus spells known. If she uses spells prepared, she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir and expend an appropriate spell slot to cast either spell providing she knows it, even if she doesn’t have it prepared. She must be at least 3rd level to select this exploit.

*this spell is presented in The Antipaladin’s Almanac.

Rule Magic (Su)

If the wellspring of change uses spells known, she gains alter summoned monster and control summoned creature as bonus spells known. If she uses spells prepared, she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir and expend an appropriate spell slot to cast either spell providing she knows it, even if she doesn’t have it prepared. When she gains the ability to cast 5th-level spells, she gains access to covetous aura in the same way. She must have the Master Magic exploit and be at least 7th level to select this exploit.

Feats

Metamorphic Spell (Metamagic)

You can unleash spells that grant your enemies the transformative blessings of your god.

Prerequisite(s): Worshipper of the Transforming Fire

Benefit(s): If a creature fails its saving throw and suffers damage from your spell, it suffers penalties as though sickened for a number of rounds equal to the spell’s level, as its body warps and writhes monstrously with the mutating energy of your spell. The mutations eventually fade and restore the creature to normal. If the creature is slain by the spell or while under the effects of this feat, its body transforms into an unrecognisable mutant over the following rounds. A metamorphic spell uses a spell slot 2 levels higher than normal.

Herald of Change

Your body is sanctified to the Transforming Fire, and no lesser power can alter it.

Prerequisite(s): Worshipper of the Transforming Fire

Benefit(s): You are immune to any polymorph effect unless you choose to accept it, unless it originates from a fellow worshipper or servant of the Transforming Fire of equal or greater hit dice, or from the Transforming Fire. You gain a +4 bonus on saving throws against transmutation effects, on any spell resistance you have when applied against transmutation effects, and on checks made to dispel or remove transmutation effects from yourself or others.

Blasphemous Secrets

You are heir to magical knowledge that others would prefer to keep from mortal minds.

Prerequisite(s): Worshipper of the Transforming Fire, Knowledge (arcana) 7 ranks

Benefit(s): When casting a language-dependent or telepathic spell, you can impart a fragment of forbidden knowledge to them. Doing so inflicts 1 point of Sanity damage to you, but increases the DC of the spell by 1. If the spell imposes the confused condition, Sanity damage or any form of madness, its caster level is also increased by 1. Any of the spell’s targets who fail their saving throw also suffer 1 Sanity damage.

Using this feat is liable to draw the attention of forces who wish to conceal this knowledge, such as the Order of the Eastern Star. Such creatures gain a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls against you if they are aware you have used this feat at any time.

 

Spells of the Transforming Fire

The following spells are available only to a Wellspring of Change, or at the GM's discretion, to other spellcasters who worship the Transforming Fire.

Inscrutable Conundrum

School divination [language-dependent, mind-affecting, sonic]; Level sorcerer/wizard 2 (Transforming Fire)

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V

Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)

Targets one creature

Duration instantaneous; see text

Saving Throw Will negates (see text); Spell Resistance no

You whisper one of the insane riddles taught by the Transforming Fire, magically conveying it to your target's ears. If the target fails its saving throw, it suffers a -2 penalty on attack rolls and a -4 penalty on initiative checks, Reflex saving throws, concentration checks and all Intelligence-based and Wisdom-based skill checks. An affected target continues to ponder the riddle for a maximum number of rounds equal to its Intelligence score. As a standard action each round, the target can attempt a new Will saving throw to realise the impossibility of the riddle and abandon its attempt, ending the spell. Deaf creatures, mindless creatures and those of Intelligence 2 or lower are immune to this spell. If using the sanity rules, the target suffers 1 Sanity damage whenever it fails a Will save to negate or end the spell.

Innumerable Aliases

School transmutation; Level sorcerer/wizard 3 (Transforming Fire)

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M (a piece of the creature whose form you plan to assume)

Range personal

Targets you

Duration 1 minute/level

This spell functions as alter self, except as follows. This spell provides you with a +10 bonus on Disguise checks to conceal your identity, but not on checks to impersonate anyone in particular. This spell distorts your appearance, voice and gear in the same way each time, essentially creating an alternate persona that can be recognized by those who have observed it before. You can maintain a number of alternate personas equal to your spellcasting ability score modifier (minimum 1); if you wish to establish a new persona, you must abandon an existing one. Each persona is associated with a name or title. Knowledge checks about one do not reveal information about the other, unless your true identity is revealed to the world at large. Any attempts to scry or otherwise locate you  work only if you are currently in the identity the creature is attempting to locate (or if the creature knows that the two identities are the same individual). Otherwise, the spell or effect has no effect, revealing nothing but darkness, as if the target were invalid or did not exist.

Fires of Change

School transmutation [chaos, fire]; Level sorcerer/wizard 5 (Transforming Fire)

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M (a chrysalis)

Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)

Area cylinder (20-ft. radius, 40 ft. high)

Duration instantaneous

Saving Throw Fortitude half (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)

A column of multi-hued flames envelops the area, searing flesh and warping bodies like wax. Creatures and unattended objects within the area suffer 1d8 damage per caster level (maximum 15d8). A Fortitude saving throw halves the damage. For every 5HD of creatures slain by the spell, a pink cackler is summoned that remains and serves you for 1 minute; creatures with fewer than 1 HD don't contribute to this total. Targets destroyed or slain by the spell are warped unrecognisably.

Arcane Superiority

School evocation; Level sorcerer/wizard 7 (Transforming Fire)

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M (ashes from a magic staff)

Range personal

Area 20-ft.-radius emanation centered on you

Targets you

Duration 1 round/level

Crackling pink, blue and white lightning arcs ceaselessly from you, gifting arcane power to your allies. Any arcane spell cast by a creature within the area gains a +2 enhancement bonus to the DC of any saving throws against the spell, or a +2 enhancement bonus on any attack roll required. In addition, it can be cast as if one of the following metamagic feats was applied to it (without increasing the spell level or casting time): Disruptive Spell, Ectoplasmic Spell, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Fleeting Spell, Intensified Spell, Lingering Spell, Piercing Spell, Reach Spell, Silent Spell, Still Spell or Vast Spell. The creature casting the spell decides which metamagic effect to apply. You can discharge this spell as an immediate action to counter a spell cast at a point or target within the affected radius, as though using greater dispel magic to counterspell with a readied action.