Doll Mage (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

A doll mage does not learn spells - she builds them in the form of tiny constructs. These dolls become both servants and carriers of her spells.

Magic Dolls (Ex)

A doll mage makes magical animated dolls. Except as described below, these function as familiars, with the base creature being a tiny animated object. Each magic doll has the Additional Movement (fly) and Exceptional Reach (giving it a reach of 5 ft.) construction abilities and begin with one additional construction point to spend.

Magic dolls are normally humanoid in shape, can speak, and can manipulate objects.

All magic dolls normally are in the same space as the doll mage, hovering about her or riding on her, only leaving her space if directly ordered. A magic doll in the doll mage's space has full cover (Meaning it normally does not trigger attacks of opportunity) and is immune to all area effects and need not make any Fly skill rolls to move along with the doll mage. If the doll mage teleports or is teleported, all magic dolls in her space teleport along with her.

Unlike other classes that have familiars, a doll mage has several magic dolls, beginning with one and gaining an additional doll at level 3, 9, 15, and 20. At the same levels, each doll gains an additional construction point to spend. All magic dolls have the same construction point abilities.

Destroyed dolls are replaced in the same way as normal familiars. Magic dolls must remain dolls; abilities that would permanently change them to not be dolls (such as the Improved Familiar feat) cause them to cease being familiars.

Doll Powers

Magic dolls gain powers as the doll mage advances in level. When a magic doll uses one of these powers to cast a spell, this uses up one of the doll mage's spells per day and the spell has the same effect as it would have if by cast by the doll mage herself.

At level 1, all magic dolls can cast cantrips (level zero wizard spells). Each day when preparing spells, the doll mage decides which doll knows which cantrip. These cantrips must be in the doll mage's spellbook.

At level 5, several dolls acting in concert can cast a spell. All spellcasting the dolls must be in the same space as the doll mage and the spell must be one the doll mage has prepared and not higher in spell level than the number of dolls casting it. Only one spell can be cast this way each round.

At level 10, a magic doll can sacrifice itself to intercept an attack aimed at the doll mage. Doing so destroys the doll. If this is an attack with a to-hit roll, it is automatically successful. If it is against an attack that grants a saving throw, the doll mage gains a +4 bonus on this saving throw and suffers no effect whatsoever on a successful save. Against an attack that requires neither an attack roll nor allows a saving throw, the doll mage is allowed a Reflex saving throw with a DC based on the level of spell or 1/2 the HD + Charisma bonus of a non-spell ability to negate the effect.

At level 20, the dolls can cast even when not in the same space as the doll mage, but each 100 ft. of distance between the doll mage and the spellcasting dolls reduces the maximum level of spell that can be cast by one. All the spellcasting dolls must be in the same square to cast a spell.

No Bloodline

A doll mage has no bloodline, and gains no bloodline arcana, spells, class skills, feats, or powers.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

• Bloodline arcana
• Bloodline spells
• Bloodline class skills
• Bloodline feats
• Bloodline powers

To Be Developed

• Wizard AT?
  • Doll-making craft
• Cantrip Casting
• Replacements for other aspects of the bloodline; skills, feats, etc.
• Further action economy considerations
  • Use Magic Device
• Communication
• Dolls Talk
• Counterspells
• Swarm attack
• Intercept attack
• Too many dolls at upper levels?
  • Limit on dolls around you?
  • Cantrips are not dolls
• Repair and replacement
• Kamikaze spells?
• Construction Flaws

Bloodline

A doll mage does not have a bloodline.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Bloodline