Expanded Thaumaturge

[Flights of Fantasy]

I've come to like this class so much that I came up with an additional five levels for the PrC:

- Class Feats
6: Enhanced Summoning
7: Bonus Summoning Feat
8: Epic Spell Focus (Conjuration)
9: Bonus Summoning Feat
10: Improved Planar Cohort

Enhanced Summoning
Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 6
Specifics: A Thaumaturge's summons gain +1 bonus resistance against any attempts to dispel or banish for every class level taken after 5.
Use: Automatic

Bonus Summoning Feat
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 7
Specifics: Once at level 7 and again at level 9, a Thaumaturge may select a bonus feat from a limited list of feats.
Use: Automatic

Improved Planar Cohort
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 10
Specifics: Planar Cohort can now function with the Gate spell but not Epic Gate. Epic Gate now has its duration doubled, as if the Extend Spell feat had been applied to it.
Use: Automatic

Bonus Feat List:

Beckon the Frozen

Beckon the Scorched
Type of Feat: Spellcasting
Prerequisite: Augment Summoning, Spell Focus (Conjuration)
Specifics: Creatures you summon are infused with fire energy and have the fire subtype. When you summon a creature using any summon spell, the summoned creature gains the fire subtype (100% fire immunity, 50% cold vulnerability, and its natural attacks deal an additional 1d6 points of fire damage. (Can't be taken if Beckon the Frozen has already been acquired.)
Affected Spells: Animate Dead, Create Undead, Epic Gate, Gate, Glass Doppleganger, Greater Create Undead, Greater Planar Binding, Lesser Planar Binding, Mordenkainen’s Sword, Palemaster's Animate Dead, Palemaster's Summon Undead, Planar Ally, Planar Binding, Shadow Simulacrum, Summon Creature I-IX, Summon Fiendish Servant, The Dead Walk
Use: Automatic

Augment Summoning II
Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 7
Specifics: Each creature you conjure with any summon spell gains a +4 enhancement bonus to Dexterity and an extra Hit Point per HD of the summon for the duration of the spell that summoned it.
Use: Automatic

Augment Swarm
Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 7
Specifics: Whenever casting a spell that summons a swarm of creatures, the summoner will always summon the maximum number of creatures like a cleric with the proper domain.
Use: Automatic

Unlimited Swarm
Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 9
Specifics: Whenever casting a spell that summons a swarm of creatures, any limits on the duration are now removed. The full caster level of the summoner is now applied to the duration.
Use: Automatic

Improved Summoning
Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisites: Thaumaturgist 9
Specifics: Each creature you conjure with any summon spell gains a +2 increase in their HD for the duration of the spell that summoned it.
Use: Automatic

[taintedseraphim]

Yes. This. Please!

[Valefort]

Not a chance, this is completely OP.

[metaquad4]

How is it OP, Valefort? I can't see the summons here ever being close to considered OP. There are a few things that are OP on BG. . .Thaumaturge in its current state doesn't come close. This add-on to the PRC is decent, but the potential of summons has a fairly low ceiling. They stop being useful. Times when thaumaturge is actually useful includes:

Facing a noob with a trash build or low level character in PvP.
Pre-Level 20 General PvE Content.
An event where a DM throws only lower-level mobs at you.

I can't say anyone has taken the time to buff+summon (buffs would be the only way for it to even remotely stand a chance) a summoned creature in naga runs, boss fights, hell runs, or any of the other harder PvE content. This add-on wouldn't change any of that, so I don't really see the issue.

[mrm3ntalist]

How is it OP, Valefort? I can't see the summons here ever being close to considered OP. There are a few things that are OP on BG. . .Thaumaturge in its current state doesn't come close. This add-on to the PRC is decent, but the potential of summons has a fairly low ceiling. They stop being useful. Times when thaumaturge is actually useful includes:

Facing a noob with a trash build or low level character in PvP.
Pre-Level 20 General PvE Content.
An event where a DM throws only lower-level mobs at you.

I can't say anyone has taken the time to buff+summon (buffs would be the only way for it to even remotely stand a chance) a summoned creature in naga runs, boss fights, hell runs, or any of the other harder PvE content. This add-on wouldn't change any of that, so I don't really see the issue.

We dont plan to make summons solo the nagas for you, even though it is a close as ever with the current implementation of the Thaumaturge.

Summons are more that fine in their current state. So is the Thaumaturge PRC

[Hawke]

While I like the idea of augmenting Thaumaturge, the OP is very powerful.

But there are some points of value that might not be considered overpowered.

- Class Feats
6: Enhanced Summoning
7: Bonus Summoning Feat
8: Epic Spell Focus (Conjuration)
9: Bonus Summoning Feat
10: Improved Planar Cohort


Enhanced Summoning does not seem like it is too bad. +5 vs Dispel checks seems fairly reasonable.

Bonus Summoning Feat? Probably not. I think that this might be a bit overpowered granting free feats.

Epic Spell Focus .... same as above.

Improved Planar Cohort - I think the 2 HD with all the changes in place might be much, but a +1 HD might be prudent for 10 levels in a class.




Now with the Bonus feats, The +4 to Dex is interesting, I am not sure about adding more HP, but maybe instead of the HP (since Con is already given out) maybe a +4 enhancement for weapon. Since most casters have a +5 greater magic weapon. all it would do is save a spell at -1 enhancement level. So it is a quality of life adjustment.

Beckon the Scorched might be something worth looking into.... or creating a feat for each main elemental plane. Won't be too overpowered than beckon the frozen.... Fire Elemental doing d6 cold damage and the default fire damage is pretty gnarly.

[Flights of Fantasy]

Improved Planar Cohort - I think the 2 HD with all the changes in place might be much, but a +1 HD might be prudent for 10 levels in a class.

I think you meant Improved Summoning, which is a bonus feat that could only be taken on Thamaturge 9. Improved Planar Cohort would just allow the feat to function on the Gate spell. It wouldn't work on Epic Gate but it would grant the feat an auto extend.

[Hawke]

Naw I do mean adding 1 HD at 10 thaum. It's pretty strong and it would allow for others who are not red wizards to be on their level with having 10 total levels of a process to get it.

Extend on gate is ok right now. Making gate a planar cohort is way too strong. Gate rocks out without buffs now.

Keep in mind those mysterious tomes with a summons name is out there as well.

Like I said, I am all for improving thaumaturge, but it can't be at the expense of power to upset the balance.


Valefort has made the decision clear, but maybe some compromise could be made in the future. Remember, they are working on a dozen different projects at the same time, to include polymorph/wildshape.

[Flights of Fantasy]

Was looking through my post history and came upon this. I'm still interested in seeing this class expanded with some additional levels and thought I'd give it a bump. Open to my original suggestion being adjusted as they were by Hawke.

[Rhifox]

We're not really interested in expanding the class, I'm afraid. Thaumaturge is balanced as a 5-level class. It is already a very strong class that is very easy to enter.