Incantatrix (Prestige Class)

Incantatrixes are the definitive practitioners of metamagic in

Faerûn, devoting themselves to the study of spells and techniques

that affect other spells. They deal with magic in its raw form,

shaping it according to their own

desires rather than any external

laws of magic. They can apply

their deep understanding of

metamagic to alter spells

their allies cast, spells they

cast from wands or staffs,

and even spells that have already

been cast.

Most incantatrixes were

pre viously skilled wizards or sorcerers,

although a few bards also

study this type of magic. Divine

spellcasters rarely adopt this

class—perhaps, as the incantatrixes

say, because their magic is

tinged with divine influence and

therefore less “pure” than arcane

magic. Most incantatrixes are

female; the rare males who

take up this class are known

as incantatars.

Incantatrix NPCs usually

act independently, but sometimes

they join together to solve

a common problem. Since they

dislike extraplanar intrusions on

the Material Plane, they see the

destruction of active portals to other

planes as their responsibility. Thus, an

incantatrix is usually a knowledgeable source of information

on functional portals in the area. Because incantatrixes have little

offensive combat magic that is effective against normal creatures,

they prefer to avoid combat or travel with companions who balance

their shortcomings.

Hit Die: d4.

Requirements

To qualify to become an incantatrix, a character must fulfill all

the following criteria.

Skills

Concentration 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks.

Feats

Iron Will, any one metamagic feat.

Spellcasting

Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells.

Special

The candidate cannot have abjuration as a prohibited school.

Class Skills

The incantatrix’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are

Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha),

Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Profession

(Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Chart

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the incantatrix

prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Incantatrixes gain no proficiency with any weapon, armor, or shield. Armor check penalties

for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb,

Escape A rtist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, and

Tumble, and double the normal armor check penalty applies to

Swim checks.

Spells per Day/Spells Known

When a new incantatrix level is

gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known,

if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in whatever arcane

spellcasting class granted her access to 3rd-level spells before

she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any

other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus

metamagic or item creation feats, bard or assassin abilities, and

so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. This

essentially means that she adds the level of incantatrix to the level

of whatever other arcane spellcasting class granted her access to

3rd-level spells, then determines spells per day, spells known, and

caster level accordingly.

If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class that

granted access to 3rd-level spells before she became an incantatrix,

she must decide to which class she adds each level of incantatrix

for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

Bonus Metamagic Feat: At 1st level, and again at 4th, 7th, and

10th level, the incantatrix may select any metamagic feat as a bonus

feat. She must meet any prerequisites for a feat in order to select it.

Focused Studies (Ex)

At 1st level, the incantatrix gives up a

school of magic so as to focus more on the remaining schools. She

must choose a school of magic other than abjuration or divination

as a prohibited school. This prohibited school is in addition to any

others already chosen due to school specialization. Thus, a specialized

wizard taking this prestige class has three prohibited schools

instead of two.

Cooperative Metamagic (Su)

At 2nd level, an incantatrix gains

the ability to apply any metamagic feat she possesses (except

Silent Spell, Still Spell, or Quicken Spell) to a spell being cast by

a willing allied spellcaster. The caster need not prepare the spell

in metamagic form or in a higher-level spell slot; the incantatrix

simply modifies the spell during the casting. Using this ability is

a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity, just like

casting a spell, though the incantatrix can use the Concentration

skill with this ability as though she were casting defensively. The

incantatrix must ready an action to use cooperative metamagic

when her ally begins casting and must be adjacent to the caster. The

incantatrix must make a Spellcraft check (DC 18 + [3 × modifi ed

spell level]) to succeed. “Modified spell level” is the level of the

spell slot that the spell would occupy if it were prepared with the

metamagic feat applied. Any spell level increases from metamagic

feats that the caster applied also count toward the modified spell

level. For example, if an incantatrix applies the Maximize Spell feat

to an ally’s chain lightning spell, the modified spell level is 9th (6th

for the spell, +1 for the Maximize Spell feat), and the DC is 18 +

(3 × 9) = 45. If she applies the same feat to an ally’s silent chain

lightning spell, the modified spell level is 10th and the Spellcraft

DC is 48. An incantatrix can use this ability a number of times per

day equal to 3 + her Int modifier.

Metamagic Effect (Su)

At 3rd level, an incantatrix can attempt

to apply a metamagic feat she possesses to a persistent spell effect

that is already in place. For example, she could use Extend Spell

to extend the duration of a wall of force or Maximize Spell to

maximize the damage dealt by a cloudkill. To use this ability, the

incantatrix must be adjacent to or within the spell effect and make

a successful Spellcraft check (DC 18 + × modified spell level.

“Modified spell level” is the level of the spell slot that the spell

would occupy if it were prepared with the metamagic feat applied.

Spell slot increases for metamagic feats that were applied to affect

the spell’s casting (such as Still Spell, Silent Spell, or Quicken Spell)

do not count toward the modified spell level, but adjustments for

metamagic that change the spell’s effect (such as Empower Spell,

Enlarge Spell, or Widen Spell) do count.

For example, applying the Extend Spell feat to a wall of fire

gives it a modified spell level of 5th (4th for the spell +1 for the

Extend Spell feat), so the DC would be 18 + (3 × 5) = 33. If the

wall of fire had been cast with the Silent Spell feat applied, the DC

is still 33, since that feat applies to the spell’s casting, not its effect.

On the other hand, extending an empowered wall of fire would give

it a modified spell level of 7th and a Spellcraft DC of 39.

An incantatrix can use this ability a number of times per day

equal to 3 + her Int modifier. Using this ability is a full-round

action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Metamagic Spell Trigger (Su)

At 5th level, an incantatrix gains

the ability to apply a metamagic feat she possesses to the effect of

a spell trigger item (generally a wand). Using metamagic spell trigger expends a number

of additional charges from the item equal to the number of effective

spell levels the metamagic feat would add to a spell. For

example, an incantatrix can use Quicken Spell to modify a spell

cast from a wand by spending 5 charges (1 + 4 additional charges

for the spell slot increase). Alternatively, she can apply Empower

Spell to the effect by spending 3 charges, or trigger it silently by

spending 2 charges. The Still Spell feat confers no benefit when

applied to a spell trigger item.

An incantatrix cannot use this ability when using a spell

trigger item that does not have charges, such as a strand of

prayer beads.

Seize Concentration (Su)

At 6th level, an incantatrix gains

the ability to wrest control of a spell that requires concentration

(such as implosion, major image, or summon swarm) from another

spellcaster within 30 feet. If the target spellcaster is willing, this

transfer of concentration occurs automatically. Otherwise, the

incantatrix and the target spellcaster make an opposed caster

level check. A divine spellcaster receives a +2 bonus on this check.

If the incantatrix wins, she gains control of the spell for as long

as she maintains concentration or until the original spell duration

expires. The spell functions as though the incantatrix were

the caster (even if it is a spell she cannot cast), except that any

variables determined when the spell was cast (including its caster

level) remain a s determined by the original caster. The original

spellcaster can be affected by his own spell, though he receives a

+2 circumstance bonus on any saving throw allowed against it. If

the incantatrix allows her concentration to lapse before the spell

duration expires, the original caster may reassert control over his

spell by making a successful caster level check (DC 15 + spell level).

If he fails to do so, no one controls the spell.

Instant Metamagic (Su)

Once per day, a 7th-level or higher

incantatrix can apply a single metamagic feat she possesses to a

spell without preparing it that way beforehand (if she prepares

spells) or increasing its casting time (if she does not prepare spells).

Thus, a wizard’s prepared spell works as if she had prepared it with

the metamagic feat, but it does not use a higher-level spell slot. A

sorcerer or bard’s spell is cast without adjusting its casting time, but

it works as if he had cast it with the metamagic feat. A 9th-level

incantatrix can use this power twice per day.

Snatch Spell (Su)

At 8th level, an incantatrix can attempt to

seize control over a persistent effect created by another spellcaster.

The effect must be one that does not depend on concentration but

still relies on or responds to the caster’s control (such as a summon

monster spell or spiritual weapon, but not a wall of fire or acid

fog). Furthermore, the effect (but not necessarily the spellcaster)

must be within 30 feet of the incantatrix. The target spellcaster

and the incantatrix make an opposed caster level check. A divine

spellcaster receives a +2 bonus on this check. If the incantatrix

wins, she gains control of the spell until its original duration

expires. The spell functions as though the incantatrix had cast

it, except that any variables determined when the spell was cast

(including its caster level) remain as determined by the caster. The

original caster can be affected by his own spell, though he receives

a +2 circumstance bonus on any saving throw allowed against it.

If the spell is dismissible and the incantatrix wishes to dismiss it,

she must make a second successful opposed caster level check to

do so. If she fails, the spell remains in effect and control reverts

to the original caster.

Improved Metamagic (Su)

At 10th level, an incantatrix has

mastered metamagic to such an extent that whenever she uses

a metamagic feat, the required increase in spell level (if any) is

reduced by one (minimum +1 spell level). For example, a wizard

incantatrix could prepare a quickened fireball as a 6th-level spell

instead of a 7th-level spell.

This benefit also applies to the incantatrix’s other class abilities.

Thus, the DC for using her metamagic effect or cooperative

metamagic ability is reduced appropriately for the metamagic feats

involved, and she spends fewer charges when using metamagic

spell trigger.