Matrix Mage (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

A spontaneous wizard creates and uses magical matrices, and then channels energy through these matrices to cast spells in a way similar to a sorcerer.

Class Features

This archetype has all normal class features, except as noted.

Spell Matrix

A spontaneous wizard creates spell matrices instead of preparing spells as a normal wizard does. Once placed in a matrix, a spell can be cast again and again until the spontaneous wizard runs out of spells per day for that level.

All spell matrices from the day before are destroyed when the spontaneous wizard begins to prepare spells, the process must start over from nothing with each spell preparation. When preparing spells, a spontaneous wizard creates one spell matrix for free for each level of spells she can cast. Additional spell matrices of a certain level uses up one of the spontaneous wizard's spells per day for the level. The spontaneous wizard thus has to constantly weigh the number of matrices against the number of spells she wishes to cast in a day.

During the day, the spontaneous wizard can use any of her spell matrices to cast the spell therein, expending one of his spells per day to do so much like a sorcerer does. She can also create additional spell matrices, much like a normal wizard can save spell slots to prepare new spells during the day.

Spell matrices are magical constructs that must be placed inside physical objects, usually crystals or fetishes worn as pendants. Other options include placing the matrices in scrolls, embroidery, runes marked on sticks or cards, or as body paint. As a further option, a spontaneous wizard can use his arcane bond to place some or all spell matrices in a a familiar or bonded object. Whatever option is used, the matrix must be within 30 ft. and either touching or visible to the wizard to be used, or he must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell's level. Unless the matrix object is also a bonded object or magic item, it does not take up an item slot.

A spontaneous wizard with an arcane school must create a matrix of one spell of her school of each level of spell she can cast each day. Creating a matrix of a spell of an opposition school costs nothing extra, but casting it uses up two spells per day of the level.

Metamagic

If a spontaneous wizard knows any metamagic feats, she applies them to her spells when she creates spell matrices for the day. For example, a spontaneous wizard might choose to create a matrix for empowered fireball by using a 5th-level spell slot. Any time she uses fireball during the ensuing day, she must use a 5th-level spell slot to cast it, and it is always empowered. A spontaneous wizard could use a 3rd-level spell slot and a 5th-level spell slot to create matrices for fireball and empowered fireball if she wanted to have both spells available to her in a day. A spontaneous wizard cannot choose to alter her spells with metamagic feats on the fly, as other spontaneous casters do. Spontaneous wizard using metamagic feats do not have an increased casting time as sorcerers do.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

• Arcane school