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Weapons Arcanist
About this class
To most, magic is either a fickle gift of the blood or a life’s work of dusty ink. To an Arcanist, these are simply two halves of a broken, volatile whole. One moment, they are calculating the specifics of a spell, and the next they are unleashing a volley of magic without a second thought. Their power is ever-shifting, beautiful, unpredictable, and devastating to anyone caught in the eye of their storm.
The Arcanist is a class without a fixed Spellcast trait. Instead, it switches frequently with features gained for each one. The two subclasses, Harmonist and Discordant, allow you to choose if you want to lean into making each Spellcast trait and it’s features stronger, or focus on swapping more often for better effects. They are a strong class, but can be unpredictable in what they can manage to do in any given moment. If they can line up their abilities with their situation, though, they will be devastating.
Domains
Arcana
Codex
Starting stats
Hope feature
Class features
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Resonance
You do not have a fixed Spellcast Trait from your subclass. Instead, it switches between surges of Knowledge and Instinct. You gain access to the features of your active surge. At the start of each session, and after a rest, choose:
- Surge of Logic: Your Spellcast trait is Knowledge
- Focused: You may re-roll 1s and 2s on your Hope die.
- Surge of Power: Your Spellcast trait is Instinct
- Nimble: Your evasion is increased by +1After you succeed at a Spellcast roll, your surge automatically switches. Additionally, you may mark a Stress to switch it at any time. You may only ever be under the effects of one surge at a time.
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Arcane Reach
All of your spells have their ranges increased by one step, to a max of Very Far range.
Class items
- Paper and ink
- A Kaleidoscope
Character questions
Background prompts
- There was a time your Resonance switched at the worst possible time. What was was it, who got hurt, and what did you learn from it?
- What is the reason you have access to such opposing forms of magic? Were you born this way, or did an external source have a say in the matter?
- The warring magics within you impact much of your life - in what way is this especially true?
Connection prompts
- What part of my magic do you prefer the most?
- You once asked me to do something for you. What was it? Did I succeed?
- There is one thing you cannot do, that I have asked of you. What is it?
Subclass cards
Printable via header menu
Harmonist
Foundation
State of Being: You have learned to better harness your surges, and improve their skills. Gain the additional features for each surge:
- Surge of Logic:
- Analyze: You may spend 1 Hope to analyze a target you can see. You learn either its Difficulty, Damage, marked HP, or marked Stress.
- Surge of Power:
- Protect: Mark a Stress to choose a number of targets up to your Instinct score to be safe from the effects of any spell you cast.
Balanced: When you succeed with Hope on a Spellcast roll, you may choose to remain in your current surge.
Harmonist
Specialization
Deep Connection: Your surges base features improve:
- Focused: You may now choose to re-roll numbers with values up to your knowledge score on your Hope die.
- Nimble: Your evasion increases by +2 instead of +1.
Harmonist
Mastery
Harmony: You have mastered each surge. Gain the following benefits while in each:
- Surge of Logic: When you fail on a Spellcast roll with Fear, you may spend 2 Hope to treat it as a success with Hope instead.
- Surge of Power: When you deal damage with a spell, you may mark any number of Stress to increase your proficiency by that much for this spell.
Discordant
Foundation
Flux: Whenever your Resonance switches, you may mark a Stress to roll 1d4 and trigger the corresponding effect:
- An ally within Very Close range gains the effects of your prior surge until you next make an Action Roll or your surges switch again.
- You vanish and reappear in a free space within Close range.
- You help an ally within Far range with their next Action roll, without spending Hope
- Choose a target within Very Close range and either make them temporarily Vulnerable or clear a temporary condition on them.
Oscillate: You may spend 1 Hope to switch your Resonance, instead of marking 1 Stress.
Discordant
Specialization
Order from Chaos: When you activate your Flux feature, you may choose which effect to trigger instead of rolling a dice.
Shifting Balance: While in a particular surge, the other surge's trait increases in modifier.
- While in the Surge of Logic, gain +1 to Instinct
- While in the Surge of Power, gain +1 to Knowledge
Discordant
Mastery
Discord: You no longer need to mark a Stress to trigger your Flux feature. Additionally, when using Order from Chaos, you may choose 2 effects to trigger, and mark 1 Stress each to trigger more. You may trigger an effect more than once.
Arcanist
To most, magic is either a fickle gift of the blood or a life’s work of dusty ink. To an Arcanist, these are simply two halves of a broken, volatile whole. One moment, they are calculating the specifics of a spell, and the next they are unleashing a volley of magic without a second thought. Their power is ever-shifting, beautiful, unpredictable, and devastating to anyone caught in the eye of their storm.
The Arcanist is a class without a fixed Spellcast trait. Instead, it switches frequently with features gained for each one. The two subclasses, Harmonist and Discordant, allow you to choose if you want to lean into making each Spellcast trait and it’s features stronger, or focus on swapping more often for better effects. They are a strong class, but can be unpredictable in what they can manage to do in any given moment. If they can line up their abilities with their situation, though, they will be devastating.
Domains
Arcana + Codex
Starting Evasion
11
Starting Hit Points
5
Class Items
- • Paper and ink
- • A Kaleidoscope
Arcanist’s Hope Feature
Focus the Surge : Spend 3 Hope to empower your next spellcast roll. Choose one of the following: Add 1d8 + Knowledge to the Spellcast Roll; Add d8 + Instinct to the spell's damage using your Proficiency
Class Features
Resonance
You do not have a fixed Spellcast Trait from your subclass. Instead, it switches between surges of Knowledge and Instinct. You gain access to the features of your active surge. At the start of each session, and after a rest, choose: - Surge of Logic: Your Spellcast trait is Knowledge - Focused: You may re-roll 1s and 2s on your Hope die. - Surge of Power: Your Spellcast trait is Instinct - Nimble: Your evasion is increased by +1 After you succeed at a Spellcast roll, your surge automatically switches. Additionally, you may mark a Stress to switch it at any time. You may only ever be under the effects of one surge at a time.
Arcane Reach
All of your spells have their ranges increased by one step, to a max of Very Far range.
Arcanist Subclasses
Choose either the Harmonist or Discordant subclass.
Harmonist
Play the Harmonist if you want to improve your Resonance surges, and make them stronger.
Foundation Features
State of Being: You have learned to better harness your surges, and improve their skills. Gain the additional features for each surge:
- Surge of Logic:
- Analyze: You may spend 1 Hope to analyze a target you can see. You learn either its Difficulty, Damage, marked HP, or marked Stress.
- Surge of Power:
- Protect: Mark a Stress to choose a number of targets up to your Instinct score to be safe from the effects of any spell you cast.
- Surge of Logic:
Balanced: When you succeed with Hope on a Spellcast roll, you may choose to remain in your current surge.
Specialization Feature
Deep Connection: Your surges base features improve:
- Focused: You may now choose to re-roll numbers with values up to your knowledge score on your Hope die.
- Nimble: Your evasion increases by +2 instead of +1.
Mastery Feature
Harmony: You have mastered each surge. Gain the following benefits while in each:
- Surge of Logic: When you fail on a Spellcast roll with Fear, you may spend 2 Hope to treat it as a success with Hope instead.
- Surge of Power: When you deal damage with a spell, you may mark any number of Stress to increase your proficiency by that much for this spell.
Discordant
Play the Discordant if you want to focus on swapping between your Resonance surges to gain special effects.
Foundation Features
Flux: Whenever your Resonance switches, you may mark a Stress to roll 1d4 and trigger the corresponding effect:
- An ally within Very Close range gains the effects of your prior surge until you next make an Action Roll or your surges switch again.
- You vanish and reappear in a free space within Close range.
- You help an ally within Far range with their next Action roll, without spending Hope
- Choose a target within Very Close range and either make them temporarily Vulnerable or clear a temporary condition on them.
Oscillate: You may spend 1 Hope to switch your Resonance, instead of marking 1 Stress.
Specialization Feature
Order from Chaos: When you activate your Flux feature, you may choose which effect to trigger instead of rolling a dice.
Shifting Balance: While in a particular surge, the other surge's trait increases in modifier.
- While in the Surge of Logic, gain +1 to Instinct
- While in the Surge of Power, gain +1 to Knowledge
Mastery Feature
Discord: You no longer need to mark a Stress to trigger your Flux feature. Additionally, when using Order from Chaos, you may choose 2 effects to trigger, and mark 1 Stress each to trigger more. You may trigger an effect more than once.
Background Questions
Answer any of the following, or create your own.
- • There was a time your Resonance switched at the worst possible time. What was was it, who got hurt, and what did you learn from it?
- • What is the reason you have access to such opposing forms of magic? Were you born this way, or did an external source have a say in the matter?
- • The warring magics within you impact much of your life - in what way is this especially true?
Connections
Ask one of the following, or improvise.
- • What part of my magic do you prefer the most?
- • You once asked me to do something for you. What was it? Did I succeed?
- • There is one thing you cannot do, that I have asked of you. What is it?
Discussion
Be thoughtful and kind.
Remember to be respectful. Comments are moderated and should add to the discussion.
