Difference between revisions of "Eldritch Knight (Apath)"

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{{Apath}}
 
{{Apath}}
 
''Fearsome warriors and spellcasters, eldritch knights are rare among magic-users in their ability to wade into battle alongside fighters, barbarians, and other martial classes. Those who must face eldritch knights in combat fear them greatly, for their versatility on the battlefield is tremendous; against heavily armed and armored opponents they may level crippling spells, while opposing spellcasters meet their ends on an eldritch knight's blade.''
 
''Fearsome warriors and spellcasters, eldritch knights are rare among magic-users in their ability to wade into battle alongside fighters, barbarians, and other martial classes. Those who must face eldritch knights in combat fear them greatly, for their versatility on the battlefield is tremendous; against heavily armed and armored opponents they may level crippling spells, while opposing spellcasters meet their ends on an eldritch knight's blade.''
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The eldritch knight is superficially similar to the magus, as both combine magic and arms. They differ in that the the eldritch knight is both a competent magic user and warrior, maintaining most of the strength of each role, while the magus blends magic and swordplay into a unified fighting technique but is weaker at each separate role.
  
 
== Class Information ==
 
== Class Information ==
This is a [[Merged Prestige Classes (Apath)|merged prestige class]].
+
This is a [[Hybrid Class (Apath) | hybrid]] [[Prestige Archetypes (Apath)|prestige archetype]], a combination of fighter and wizard.
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 +
'''Publisher:''' Purple Duck Games.
  
'''Prestige Class: ''' [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/core-rulebook/eldritch-knight Eldritch Knight ].   
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'''Prestige Class: ''' [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/core-rulebook/eldritch-knight Eldritch knight ].   
  
'''Build Classes: ''' fighter, wizard.   
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'''Build Classes: ''' [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter Fighter], [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard wizard].   
  
'''Role:''' Eldritch knights blend the abilities of fighting classes and spellcasters, hurling magic at the enemy one moment and hewing down their opponents with steel the next. They are just as comfortable fighting in the thick of combat as they are casting spells at foes while remaining safely behind their compatriots. Their versatility makes them valuable allies when the nature of an upcoming battle is unclear.
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'''Role:''' Eldritch knights master the abilities of both fighting and magic, hurling magic at the enemy one moment and hewing down their opponents with steel the next. They are just as comfortable in the thick of combat as they are casting spells at foes while remaining safely behind their compatriots. Their versatility makes them valuable allies.  
  
 
'''Alignment:''' Any.
 
'''Alignment:''' Any.
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== Class Abilities ==
 
== Class Abilities ==
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These are all the class abilities of the eldritch knight.
  
 
=== Class Skills ===
 
=== Class Skills ===
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'''Spells Gained at a New Level:''' Eldritch knights perform a certain amount of spell research between adventures. Each time a character attains a new eldritch knight level, he gains two spells of his choice to add to his spellbook. The two free spells must be of spell levels he can cast. If he has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, one of the two free spells must be from his specialty school.
 
'''Spells Gained at a New Level:''' Eldritch knights perform a certain amount of spell research between adventures. Each time a character attains a new eldritch knight level, he gains two spells of his choice to add to his spellbook. The two free spells must be of spell levels he can cast. If he has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, one of the two free spells must be from his specialty school.
  
=== Arcane Bond (Ex or Sp) ===
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=== Bonus Languages ===
At 1st level, eldritch knights form a powerful bond with an object or a creature. This bond can take one of two forms: a familiar or a bonded object. A familiar is a magical pet that enhances the eldritch knight's skills and senses and can aid him in magic, while a bonded object is an item an eldritch knight can use to cast additional spells or to serve as a magical item. Once an eldritch knight makes this choice, it is permanent and cannot be changed.
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An eldritch knight may select Draconic as one of the starting languages he learns because of high Intelligence.
 
 
This is the same as the wizard [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard#TOC-Arcane-Bond-Ex-or-Sp- arcane bond] ability, except that the eldritch knight has the arcane bond of a wizard of half his eldritch knight level.
 
 
 
=== Arcane School ===
 
An eldritch knight can choose to specialize in one school of magic, gaining additional spells and powers based on that school. This choice must be made at 1st level, and once made, it cannot be changed. This is the same as the wizard [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard#TOC-Arcane-School arcane school] ability. An eldritch knight has the arcane school abilities of a wizard of half his eldritch knight level.
 
  
 
=== Cantrips ===
 
=== Cantrips ===
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=== Diverse Training ===
 
=== Diverse Training ===
An eldritch knight counts as a fighter and wizard for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats. His character level for this purpose is not changed.
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Eldritch knight levels counts as a fighter and wizard levels for the purpose of meeting feat prerequisites.
 
 
=== Bonus Languages ===
 
An eldritch knight may substitute Draconic for one of the bonus languages available to the character because of his race.
 
  
=== Scribe Scroll ===
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=== Eldritch Ties ===
At 1st level, an eldritch knight gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat.
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At 1st level, eldritch knights develop a bond with magic similar to a wizard's. The eldritch knight chooses between an [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard#TOC-Arcane-Bond-Ex-or-Sp- arcane bond] and an [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard#TOC-Arcane-School arcane school]. Whichever option is chosen, it works just like the corresponding wizard class ability, counting eldritch knight levels as wizard levels. An eldritch knight that choose an arcane bond also gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat at first level.
  
 
=== Bonus Feats ===
 
=== Bonus Feats ===
At 4th level, and every four levels thereafter, an eldritch knight gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Combat Feats.
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At 3rd level, and every six levels thereafter, an eldritch knight gains a bonus feat in addition to those normally gained. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Combat Feats.
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=== Eldritch Discoveries ===
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At level 6 and 12, an elritch knight can select either a combat feat as a bonus feat or an arcane discovery (as the wizard class feature).
  
 
=== Spell Critical (Su) ===
 
=== Spell Critical (Su) ===
At 10th level, whenever an eldritch knight successfully confirms a critical hit, he can cast a spell as a swift action. The spell must include the target of the attack as one of its targets or in its area of effect. Casting this spell does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The caster must still meet all of the spell's components and must roll for arcane spell failure if necessary.
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At 18th level, whenever an eldritch knight successfully confirms a critical hit, he can cast a spell with a casting time of a standard action as a swift action. The spell must include the target of the attack as one of its targets or in its area of effect. Casting this spell does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The caster must still meet all of the spell's components and must roll for arcane spell failure if applicable.
  
 
== Table: Eldritch Knight ==
 
== Table: Eldritch Knight ==
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||0|||1st|||2nd|||3rd|||4th|||5th|||6th|||7th|||8th|||9th
 
||0|||1st|||2nd|||3rd|||4th|||5th|||6th|||7th|||8th|||9th
 
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| valign="top"| 1st || valign="top"| +0 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +0 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| Arcane bond, arcane school, cantrips, diverse training, Scribe Scroll. || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 1st || valign="top"| +0 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +0 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| Cantrips, diverse training, eldritch ties || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 3rd || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +1 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"|Bonus feat || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 4th || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +1 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 4th || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +1 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
|-
 
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| valign="top"| 5th || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +1 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 6th || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 6th || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"|Eldrich discovery || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 8th || valign="top"| +6/+1 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 8th || valign="top"| +6/+1 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +2 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 9th || valign="top"| +6/+1 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 9th || valign="top"| +6/+1 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"|Bonus feat    || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 10th || valign="top"| +7/+2 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| Spell critical || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 10th || valign="top"| +7/+2 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
|-
 
|-
 
| valign="top"| 11th || valign="top"| +8/+3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
| valign="top"| 11th || valign="top"| +8/+3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"| +3 || valign="top"| +7 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
|-
 
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| valign="top"| 12th || valign="top"| +9/+4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 12th || valign="top"| +9/+4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| Eldrich discovery || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 13th || valign="top"| +9/+4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
| valign="top"| 13th || valign="top"| +9/+4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +8 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 14th || valign="top"| +10/+5 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"| +4 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 15th || valign="top"| +11/+6/+1 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 15th || valign="top"| +11/+6/+1 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +9 || valign="top"|Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 16th || valign="top"| +12/+7/+2 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 16th || valign="top"| +12/+7/+2 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| — || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 17th || valign="top"| +12/+7/+2 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| —
 
| valign="top"| 17th || valign="top"| +12/+7/+2 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"| +5 || valign="top"| +10 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1 || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 18th || valign="top"| +13/+8/+3 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| —
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| valign="top"| 18th || valign="top"| +13/+8/+3 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"| Spell critical || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| —
 
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| valign="top"| 19th || valign="top"| +14/+9/+4 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1
 
| valign="top"| 19th || valign="top"| +14/+9/+4 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +11 || valign="top"|  || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2 || valign="top"| 1
 
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| valign="top"| 20th || valign="top"| +15/+10/+5 || valign="top"| +12 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +12 || valign="top"| Bonus feat || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2
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| valign="top"| 20th || valign="top"| +15/+10/+5 || valign="top"| +12 || valign="top"| +6 || valign="top"| +12 || valign="top"| || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 4 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 3 || valign="top"| 2
 
|}
 
|}
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{{ : Overcoming Arcane Spell Failure (Apath)}}
  
== Notes==
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== External Links ==
The eldritch knight is different from the magus in that magic and swordplay are still two different things, two different approaches instead of a unified whole as it is for the magus.
+
* [https://docs.google.com/document/d/10jQgMH85x_YuhgtOYMiEI7b3WyM08MXDbt-fNPRuZ6Y/edit Zolthux's Guide to the Eldritch Knight]
 
+
* [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xjPIOH8F8a0l74BdDF7Q23nCfZ-YX68Xr6JmmtznMw4/edit Treantmonk's Guide to Pathfinder Wizards: Being a God] - Core content control guide
=== Overcoming Arcane Spell Failure ===
+
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/5t2af1cwekhnrkj/BlockWiz.pdf Brewer's Guide to the Blockbuster Wizard] - Blaster guide
The bane of the eldritch knight is the chance of arcane spell failure suffered by all spells with somatic components. Here are some tips on overcoming this situation.
+
* [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13IZTV59ItNsK63RHQo2XGkjMKiU8LfRu5PCaE3R5lco/edit?pli=1 Professor Q's Guide to the Pathfinder Wizard] - Control guide. Nice familiar section.
 
+
{{ : Spellcaster Guides (Apath)}}
First, there are some spells that lack somatic components. These are few and far between, but might get you through the first levels if you want to gear up like a warrior.
+
<!-- OGL -->
 
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<noinclude>{{OGL}}</noinclude>
Like all spellcasters, an eldritch knight can use armor that has no or very low chance of arcane spell failure. The [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/armor/armored-kilt armored kilt], and if eastern armor is allowed the [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/armor/haramaki] is a good place to start, but once you can afford special materials,  darkleaf and mithral armor become highly desirable. There is also ''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mage-armor mage armor]'' the old  stand-by.
 
 
 
For shields, the same general rules apply, but remember that you can remove the shield for noncombat spellcasting. You can use many buffs and divinations regardless of what shield you wear. Perhaps the best trick of all is to not use a shield at lower levels, but go with a two-handed weapon instead. You need one hand free for somatic components, and that is easily accomplished with a two-handed weapon (it is a free action to shift grip from one to two hands and back). Once special materials become available shields become more attractive, but considering the free hand requirement only bucklers really work out. Or might give up your move actions for the [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-and-armor-accessories#TOC-Weapon-Cord weapon cord] and use your weapon hand.
 
 
 
There are also  feats for combining arcane spells and armor, [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/arcane-armor-training-combat Arcane Armor Training] and [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/arcane-armor-mastery-combat Arcane Armor Mastery].
 
 
 
With a mitral buckler, mithral breaatplate, and both arcane armor feats you can get an armor bonus of +7 with no arcane spell failure and an armor check penalty of only -2.
 
 
 
Finally, there is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/still-spell-metamagic---final Still Spell]. But it makes your spells more difficult to cast, and there is no metamagic rod for this.
 

Latest revision as of 14:36, 19 September 2016

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Unofficial rules compendium

Fearsome warriors and spellcasters, eldritch knights are rare among magic-users in their ability to wade into battle alongside fighters, barbarians, and other martial classes. Those who must face eldritch knights in combat fear them greatly, for their versatility on the battlefield is tremendous; against heavily armed and armored opponents they may level crippling spells, while opposing spellcasters meet their ends on an eldritch knight's blade.

The eldritch knight is superficially similar to the magus, as both combine magic and arms. They differ in that the the eldritch knight is both a competent magic user and warrior, maintaining most of the strength of each role, while the magus blends magic and swordplay into a unified fighting technique but is weaker at each separate role.

Class Information

This is a hybrid prestige archetype, a combination of fighter and wizard.

Publisher: Purple Duck Games.

Prestige Class: Eldritch knight .

Build Classes: Fighter, wizard.

Role: Eldritch knights master the abilities of both fighting and magic, hurling magic at the enemy one moment and hewing down their opponents with steel the next. They are just as comfortable in the thick of combat as they are casting spells at foes while remaining safely behind their compatriots. Their versatility makes them valuable allies.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Abilities

These are all the class abilities of the eldritch knight.

Class Skills

The eldritch knight's class skills are Appraise (Int), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks Per Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

An eldritch knight is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, light, and medium) and shields (including tower shields). Armor interferes with an eldritch knight's movements, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.

Spells

An eldritch knight casts arcane spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. An eldritch knight must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.

To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the eldritch knight must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an eldritch knight's spell is 10 + the spell level + the eldritch knight's Intelligence modifier.

An eldritch knight can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Eldritch knight. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).

An eldritch knight may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the eldritch knight decides which spells to prepare.

Starting Spells: An eldritch knight begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level wizard spells (except those from his opposed schools, if any; see Arcane Schools) plus three 1st-level spells of his choice. The eldritch knight also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to the spellbook. At any time, an eldritch knight can also add spells found in other spellbooks to his own (see Magic).

Spells Gained at a New Level: Eldritch knights perform a certain amount of spell research between adventures. Each time a character attains a new eldritch knight level, he gains two spells of his choice to add to his spellbook. The two free spells must be of spell levels he can cast. If he has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, one of the two free spells must be from his specialty school.

Bonus Languages

An eldritch knight may select Draconic as one of the starting languages he learns because of high Intelligence.

Cantrips

Eldritch knights can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Eldritch knight under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. An eldritch knight can prepare a cantrip from an opposition school, but it uses up two of his available slots (see below).

Diverse Training

Eldritch knight levels counts as a fighter and wizard levels for the purpose of meeting feat prerequisites.

Eldritch Ties

At 1st level, eldritch knights develop a bond with magic similar to a wizard's. The eldritch knight chooses between an arcane bond and an arcane school. Whichever option is chosen, it works just like the corresponding wizard class ability, counting eldritch knight levels as wizard levels. An eldritch knight that choose an arcane bond also gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat at first level.

Bonus Feats

At 3rd level, and every six levels thereafter, an eldritch knight gains a bonus feat in addition to those normally gained. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Combat Feats.

Eldritch Discoveries

At level 6 and 12, an elritch knight can select either a combat feat as a bonus feat or an arcane discovery (as the wizard class feature).

Spell Critical (Su)

At 18th level, whenever an eldritch knight successfully confirms a critical hit, he can cast a spell with a casting time of a standard action as a swift action. The spell must include the target of the attack as one of its targets or in its area of effect. Casting this spell does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The caster must still meet all of the spell's components and must roll for arcane spell failure if applicable.

Table: Eldritch Knight

Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spells per Day
0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Cantrips, diverse training, eldritch ties 1 1
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 2 1
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Bonus feat 3 1
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 4 2
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 4 2 1
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Eldrich discovery 4 3 2
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 4 3 2 1
8th +6/+1 +6 +2 +6 4 3 3 2
9th +6/+1 +6 +3 +6 Bonus feat 4 4 3 2 1
10th +7/+2 +7 +3 +7 4 4 3 3 2
11th +8/+3 +7 +3 +7 4 4 4 3 2 1
12th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 Eldrich discovery 4 4 4 3 3 2
13th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
14th +10/+5 +9 +4 +9 4 4 4 4 3 3 2
15th +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +9 Bonus feat 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
16th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2
17th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
18th +13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +11 Spell critical 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2
19th +14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +11 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 1
20th +15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +12 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2

Notes: Overcoming Arcane Spell Failure

Eldritch knights and eldritch hunters have a problem in that both casts powerful arcane spells and wears armor. Some ways around this problem are listed here.

  • Spells Without Somatic Components: There are a few of these, and you could make it your specialty to dig them out and use them. Unfortunately, the spell tables do not mention components, so finding them is a hassle. Here is a short list of candidates:
    Cantrips: Flare, Light
  1. Feather Fall, Hold Portal, True Strike, Ventriloquism
  2. Blindness/deafness, Blur, Knock
  3. Displacement, Suggestion, Tongues
  4. Dimension Door, Geas (lesser), Shout
  5. Contact Other Plane, Teleport
  6. Geas/Quest, Suggestion (Mass)
  7. Phase Door, Power Word Blind, Teleport (Greater), Teleport Object,
  8. Charm Monster (Mass), Irresistible Dance, Power Word Stun, Shout (Greater)
  9. Mage’s Disjunction, Power Word Kill, Prismatic Sphere, Teleportation Circle, Time Stop, Wail of the Banshee
  • Mithral Buckler: Using a mithral buckler gives an armor bonus of +1, gives another spot to add enhancement bonuses to armor, and still has a free hand you can shift your weapon to when you need a free hand to cast spells. It has no chance of spell failure and no armor check penalty, but prevents you from using two-handed weapons.
  • Armored Kilt:: An armored kilt offers one point of armor with no penalties whatsoever. This is an option early on, before you can afford special materials, but mage armor is generally better.
  • Darkleaf Leather Armor: Using darkleaf cloth leather armor, you have an armor bonus of +2 without arcane spell failure, and that is before enchantment bonuses to armor.
  • Mithral Chain Shirt Using a mithral chain shirt, and with Arcane Armor Training, you have an armor bonus of +4 without arcane spell failure.
  • Mithral Breastplate Using a mithral breastplate, and with both Arcane Armor Training and Arcane Armor Mastery, you have an armor bonus of +7 without arcane spell failure.
  • Mithral Full Plate: If you are ready to accept 5% spell failure, mithral full plate gives an armor bonus of +9.
  • Free Hand Remember that you need a free hand for somatic components. A light or heavy shield means you have to drop or sheathe your weapon when casting a spell. Your best option is to use a two-handed weapon or a one-handed weapon with a buckler. It is a free action to shift the grip on the weapon from one to two hands and from hand to hand, staff-wielding spellcasters do this all the time. A weapon cord lets you release and then pick up your weapon, but spending move actions redrawing the weapon cuts down on your full attacks. The ultimate solution is the glove of storing, but it is expensive and occupies a valuable item slot.
  • Metamagic Still Spell is an option, but it reduces your spellcasting ability and unlike a normal spellcaster you do not want to hold a metamagic rod in your hand when fighting. Note that Quicken Spell is no help at all against arcane spell failure.


External Links

Spellcasting Guides


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