Quasi-Class: Deep Elementalist

[irongolem]

Blessed at birth by Krythog, the Deep Elementalist is an unusually adept spellcaster; able to shape elemental energy as though at will. Although blessed by a dwarven god, the Deep Elementalist is not always a dwarf, occasionally Elves and humans are blessed; perhaps by their own gods in jealousy.

The Deep Elementalist is able to change at will the type of damage inflicted by most elemental spells. Using his deep understanding of the elements, he has the ability to shrug off elemental damange for a short period of time per day.

Requirements:
On or before 21st character level:

• Must be lvl18 Wizard
  
• Must have Greater Focus in Evocation
  
• Must have Spell Focus Transmutation (not greater).
  
• Must have Spell Penetration
  

Benefits:
Is able to change the damage type of certain spells to Fire/Electrical/Acid/Cold based on their Wizard level.
Wiz Lvl:

• 21: Can change elements to Electric or Fire
  
• 28: Can change elements to Fire, Electric or Cold.
  
• 30: Can change elements to Fire, Electric, Cold or Acid
  
• 35: Gains a new ability, "Understand Elements" that grants 5% immunity to all elements for a period of time equal to 1-per-level/round. For every 5 levels above 35, this increases by another 5% to a maximum cap of 30%.
  Can be used 1 time per day per 10 levels, and (if I understand the game engine correctly), will stack with elemental shield.
  

Changed spells:
Lvl 2

• Combust
  
• Flame Weapon
  
• Gedlee's Electric Loop
  
• Melf's Acid Arrow
  

Lvl 3

• Fireball
  
• Flame Arrow
  
• Lightning Bolt
  
• Mestil's Acid Breath
  

Lvl 4

• Ice Storm
  
• Elemental Shield - lasts 1 turn instead of 1 round per level.
  

Lvl 5

• Ball Lightning
  
• Cone of Cold
  
• Firebrand
  

Lvl 6

• Acid Fog
  
• Chain Lightning
  

Lvl 7

• Delayed Blast Fireball
  

Lvl 8

• Incendiary Cloud
  

** I was thinking this could be sorcerer or wizard, but wanted to float the idea of the class first before modifications.

[FunkySwerve]

Very interesting. Not much of a sacrifice is made to gain the abilities though, none really if you want to be able to keen non-slashing weapons. It'd also be a huge PITA to script. Otherwise very nice.
Funky

[irongolem]

True about the sacrificing - that was one balance I was wondering about.
How about requiring energy resistance as a balance factor (not usual feats for a mage, and fits the elementalist style)?

[FunkySwerve]

Thats an interesting idea, too, something requiring use of those feats. I would probably reduce the number of spells affected and add other reqs as well. Switchable elemental shield would be interesting, or acid sheath, but I think both the variety of switchable spells and the number of elements they could switch to would have to come down. Maybe one element they could change most of those spells to (though I'm gussing most would take acid), or a couple spells they could switch to several elements. Also needs bigger penalties, either way.
Funky

[Yojimbo]

Limit to make some spells unusable and lock them to one element and they can gain immunity to that element and it makes all spells they can cast of that element and perhaps allow "neighbor" elements to be used with it but I do like some the ideas of this one and yes I see how old and dead this may be but hey I just browsing and saw it so

[aeortar]

The first problem I had with this class reading it were the requirements - quite a few wizards could be forced into this quasi-class without realising, for example, because all of the necessary feats are common. This also means that there's little penalty to obtaining the quasi-classes.

What about having all energy resistance feats as initial requirements for the quasi-class, and then having each epic resistance feat giving the power to switch a spell to that element? It could even be extended to have further epic energy resist feats provide a slight boost to an elements power. A few quick ideas for this: You could have the feats give a damage boost to the relevent elemental damage spell (if it's original element matched), and/or a boost (either the same or lesser) to other spells cast as if they're that element. Another alternative could be to have epic energy resistance feats provide +1 to the spells DC when cast as the relevent element, at the cost of evocation (and where relevant other spell schools) not providing a boost.

[uncanny]

I like the idea of the class.. kinda like a BFM when you get down to it.

Another alternative could be to have epic energy resistance feats provide +1 to the spells DC when cast as the relevent element, at the cost of evocation (and where relevant other spell schools) not providing a boost.

That would be quite expensive. Epic Focus grants an additional 2 DC on top of the 4 from Greater Focus. Effectively, adding in the Legendary focus you'd lose a total of about 7.

I'm not sure what would be a good limiter though. And, when I look at the BFM's requirements and free feats it might make sense to use energy feats to hamstring, but reward with a single useful feat. The problem is how to get them in. With a human, starting with full Int and Con at 16 (workable); you get the needed Fort save by lvl15 and have to wait for lvl18 to take your first energy resistance feat (you could take Great Fortitude to reduce this level to 12 or go dwarf and lose a starting feat).
How about the following. Note that as soon as the prereq's are fulfilled, the quasi-class is activated (as normal).
Required by lvl22:

• Energy Resist: 2 different energy resists.
  
• Specialist: Evo (HG Specialist). Locks two spell schools away. Please advise - is this viable with the spell list?
  

Granted on becoming a Deep Elementalist:

• Can change elements for spells (list as above?), by using the same simtool method as smiters.
  
• Gains +1 DC, and +1 levels (for purpose of spell power and spell penetration) for the selected spells, per energy resistance for a max of (wiz levels/15, or 4 if 60 wiz). This is only effective if the element chosen is one of the energy resisted elements. So if you have cold and fire, but are using energy electricity, then you are casting at regular levels.
  
• If the character has at least 3 energy resists, the character is granted access to Melf's Greater Arrow Storm as a lvl8 spell. This spell is just a suggestion, I'm not sure if it will work or what..
  

Melf's Greater Arrow Storm
Level: 8
School: Evocation
Restricted to Deep Elementalists. Does not split tears.
Damage dice,range/etc same as firebrand with the following exceptions:

• Lasts 1/3 round per caster level.
  
• Target 1 mob member per cl/4
  
• Damage given is 1/3 positive, 2/3 chosen element
  
• The affected target will keep taking damage each round, increasing by 4d6 per round.
  
• If the caster has all 5 energy resists, then target will be also have their resistance to the chosen element reduced by 5% per round.
  

Spell downsides:
Hitting healing critters with their favored element.
Only available to DE's that sacrifice many feats.