Rune Caster – a New Character Class
Sample file
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
THE RUNE CASTER
WHAT IS A RUNE CASTER? WHY PLAY A RUNE CASTER AND NOT A A rune caster is a master of arcane spells, but WIZARD? rather than relying on a spellbook, the rune In certain campaigns your pointy hat caster uses magical symbols known as runes. In bookworm wizard might not fit thematically, addition the rune caster is much more for instance in a Viking campaign. In these dependent on ritual spellcasting. situations the rune caster might be a better option. WHAT IS A RUNE? A rune is a magical symbol that allows the rune CREATING A RUNE CASTER caster to cast one or more cantrips or spells. Creating a rune caster character requires a The rune caster carries these runes around and backstory where your character came into uses them as an arcane focus for spell casting. contact with the arcane. This contact awoke an Often the rune caster will use these runes in interest, causing your character to study the rituals for casting spells. arcane afterwards. It is often the case that the study of arcane lore is forbidden and your character had to do it in secret. Perhaps the predominant religion considers such studies heresy. Whatever the case, your character feels strong and confident enough now to use the abilities.
The Rune Caster Proficiency Runes Runes - Spells Slots per Spell Level - Level bonus Features Known Attuned 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st +2 Rune casting, Ritual casting 3 1 2 ------2nd +2 Rune recovery 3 1 3 ------3th +2 Portent 4 2 4 2 ------4th +2 Ability score improvement 4 2 4 3 ------5th +3 5 3 4 3 2 ------6th +3 Sculpt Spell 5 3 4 3 3 ------7th +3 6 3 4 3 3 1 - - - - - 8th +3 Ability score improvement 6 3 4 3 3 2 - - - - - 9th +4 7 4 4 3 3 3 1 - - - - 10th +4 Third eye 7 4 4 3 3 3 2 - - - - 11th +4 8 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 - - - 12th +4 Ability score improvement 8 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 - - - 13th +5 9 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 - - 14th +5 Spell resistance 9 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 - - 15th +5 10 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 - 16th +5 Ability score improvement 10 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 - 17th +6 11 6 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 18thSample +6 Spell Mastery 11 6 4 3 3 3 file3 1 1 1 1 19th +6 Ability score improvement 12 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 20th +6 Ritual Caster 12 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
SPELLCASTING QUICK BUILD As a student of arcane magic, you have a You can make a rune caster quickly by collection of runes. Each rune contains a following these suggestions. First, Intelligence number of cantrips and spells. See chapter 10 should be your highest ability score, followed for the general rules of spellcasting and the list by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose of runes later in this document to see which the sage background. Third, choose the Magic runes contains what spells. Rune, Shield Rune and Fire Element Rune as known runes. Fourth attune to the Fire Element KNOWN RUNE COLLECTION Rune. The rune caster table shows how many runes you know. When the number increases you CLASS FEATURES select a new rune of your choice to add to your As a Rune Caster, you gain the following class collection of known runes. At 1st level, your features. collection of known runes contains 3 runes of your choice. HIT POINTS Hit Dice: 1d6 per rune master level ATTUNING TO RUNES Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution The Rune Caster table also shows how many modifier runes you can attune to. You can only attune to Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your known runes. You can change your list of Constitution modifier per rune master level attuned runes when you finish a short or a long after 1st rest.
CASTING SPELLS PROFICIENCIES You can cast a spell from an attuned rune using Armor: light, shield a spell slot equal to or higher than the spells Weapons: Simple weapons, shortsword and level. The Rune Caster table shows how many longsword spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st Tools: choose herbalism kit or poisoner’s kit level and higher. You regain all expended spell Saving Throws: Wisdom and Intelligence slots when you finish a long rest. Skills: Choose two from Arcana, History, Medicine, Nature and Religion RITUAL CASTING You can cast all the spells on all your known EQUIPMENT runes as rituals requiring no spell slot, even if you start with the following equipment, in the spell doesn’t have the ritual tag. You cannot addition to the equipment granted by your cast spells as rituals if the spell is higher than background: half your rune caster level rounded up. (a) quarterstaff, (b) dagger, (c) sickle, (d) spear, (e) shortsword or (f) longsword SPELLCASTING ABILITY a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) a sling Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your and 20 sling bullets spells, since you learn your spells through a priest’s pack, (b) a scholars pack, or (c) an dedicated study and memorization. You use Sampleyour Intelligence whenever file a spell refers to explorer’s pack A collection of runes your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
saving throw DC for a rune caster spell you cast SCULPT SPELLS and when making an attack roll with one. Beginning at 6th level, you can create pockets of Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus relative safety within the effects of your spells. + your Intelligence modifier When you cast a spell that affects other Spell attack modifier = your proficiency creatures that you can see, you can choose a bonus + your intelligence modifier number of them equal to 1 + the spell’s level. The chosen creatures automatically succeed on SPELLCASTING FOCUS their saving throws against the spell, and they You use runes as an arcane focuses (found in take no damage if they would normally take chapter 5) for your spells. half damage on a successful save.
THE THIRD EYE RUNE RECOVERY Starting at 10th level, you can use your action Starting at 2nd level, you have learned to regain to increase your powers of perception. When some of your magical energy by studying your you do so, choose one of the following benefits, runes. Once per day when you finish a short which last until you are incapacitated or you rest, you can choose expended spell slots to take a short or long rest. You can’t use the recover. The spell slots can have a combined feature again until you finish a rest. level that is equal to or less than half your rune Darkvision. You gain darkvision out to a caster level (rounded up), and none of the slots range of 60 feet, as described in chapter 8. can be 6th level or higher. Ethereal Sight. You can see into the PORTENT Ethereal Plane within 60 feet of you. Greater Comprehension. You can read any Starting at 3rd level, glimpses of the future language. begin to press in on your awareness. When you See Invisibility. You can see invisible finish a long rest, roll two d20s and record the creatures and objects within 10 feet of you that numbers rolled. You can replace any attack roll, are within line of sight. saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see with one of these SPELL RESISTANCE foretelling rolls. You must choose to do so Starting at 14th level, you have advantage on before the roll, and you can replace a roll in this saving throws against spells. Furthermore, you way only once per turn. have resistance against the damage of spells. Each foretelling roll can be used only once. When you finish a long rest, you lose any SPELL MASTERY unused foretelling rolls. At 18th level, you have achieved such mastery ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT over certain spells that you can cast them at will. Choose a 1st-level spell and a 2nd-level When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, spell that are in your known runes. You can 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one cast those spells at their lowest level without ability score of your choice by 2, or you can expending a spell slot. If you want to cast either increase two ability s cores of your choice by 1. spell at a higher level, you must expend a spell As normal, you can’t increase an ability score Sampleslot as normal. You do notfile have to be attuned to above 20 using this feature. the runes.
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
By spending 8 hours in a ritual, you can Beast Rune has the following spells: exchange one or both of the spells you chose 1 Find Familiar for different spells of the same levels. 2 Spider Climb, Web 3 Phantom Steed RITUAL CASTER 4 Edvard’s Black Tentacles, Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound At 20th level you can cast all wizard spells with 5 Hold Monster the ritual tag, as a ritual. You can do this even if 8 Dominate Monster the spell doesn’t appear on any of your known runes. Charm has the following spells: 0 Friends RUNES 1 Charm Person 2 Suggestion The runes that you add to your rune collection 3 Fear as you gain levels reflect the arcane research 4 Confusion you conduct on your own, as well as 5 Dream, Modify Memory intellectual breakthroughs you have had about 6 Mass Suggestion the nature of the multiverse. 8 Antipathy/Sympathy
MAKING RUNES Control Rune has the following spells: You need spend 1 day making each rune. You 1 Sleep, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter make a rune if you want to make a backup copy 2 Crown of Madness, Hold Person of your rune collection or learn a new rune. If 5 Dominate Person, Geas, Planar Binding 6 Eyebite, Otto’s Irresistible Dance you lose your rune collection, you can use the 8 Feeblemind, Power Word Stun same procedure to transcribe the runes that 9 Imprisonment you know into a new rune collection. Conjuration Rune has the following spells: HE UNES PPEARANCE T R ’ A 1 Illusory Script, Tenser’s Floating Disk Your rune collection is a unique compilation of 4 Fabricate runes, with its own decorative flourishes. The 5 Bigby’s Hand, Creation runes can be edged into a stone, carved into 6 Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere bones, embossed into a clay tablet, burnt into 7 Mordenkainen’s Sword, Simulacrum wood or stamped to metal sheaths. 8 Demiplane
THE RUNES Death Rune has the following spells: 3 Animate Dead, Feign Death There are 24 runes. They each contain a 4 Phantasmal Killer number spells. The runes contain the spells as 6 Circle of Death, Create Undead follows 7 Finger of Death 9 Power Word Kill Air Element Rune has the following spells: 1 Feather Fall, Fog Cloud Divination Rune has the following spells: 2 Cloud of Daggers, Gust of Wind 0 True Strike 3 Gaseous Form, Stinking Cloud 2 Detect Thoughts, Locate Object 4 CSampleonjure Minor Elementals (air elementals only) 3 Clairvoyance file 5 Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Conjure Elemental (air 4 Arcane Eye, Locate Creature elemental only) 5 Contact Other Plane, Scrying 9 Foresight
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
Earth Element Rune has the following Light Rune has the following spells: spells: 0 Dancing Lights, Light 4 Conjure Minor Elemental (earth 1 Color Spray elementals only), Stone Shape, Stoneskin 2 Continual Flame, Darkness 5 Conjure Elemental (earth elemental only) , 6 Sunbeam Passwall, Wall of Stone 7 Prismatic Spray 6 Flesh to Stone, Move Earth 8 Sunburst 9 Prismatic Wall Evocation Rune has the following spells: 0 Shocking Grasp Magic Rune has the following spells: 1 Chromatic Orb, Magic Missile 0 Mage Hand 2 Shatter 1 Detect Magic, Identify, Unseen Servant 3 Hypnotic Pattern 2 Magic Weapon 5 Wall of Force 3 Counter Spell, Dispel Magic 6 Disintegrate 8 Antimagic Field 7 Reverse Gravity 9 Time Stop, Wish
Fire Element Rune has the following spells: Movement Rune has the following spells: 0 Fire Bolt 1 Expeditious Retreat, Jump, Longstrider 1 Burning Hands 2 Levitate 2 Flaming Sphere, Scorching Ray 3 Fly, Haste, Slow 3 Fireball 5 Telekinesis 4 Conjure Minor Elemental (fire elementals 6 Arcane Gate only), Wall of Fire 7 Etherealness 5 Conjure Elemental (fire elemental only) 9 Astral Projection 7 Delayed Blast Fireball Necromancy Rune has the following spells: Illusion Rune has the following spells: 0 Chill Touch, Poison Spray 0 Minor Illusion 1 False Life, Ray of Sickness, Witch Bolt 1 Silent Image 2 Gentle Repose, Ray of Enfeeblement 2 Nystul’s Magic Aura, Magic Mouth, 3 Bestow Curse, Vampiric Touch Phantasmal Force 4 Blight 3 Major Image 8 Clone 4 Hallucinatory Terrain 5 Seeming Protection Rune has the following spells: 6 Programmed Illusion 1 Protection from Evil and Good 7 Mirage Arcane, Project Image 2 Blur, Mirror Image, Rope Trick 9 Weird 3 Leomund’s Tiny Hut, Nondetection, Remove Curse Knowledge Rune has the following spells: 4 Leomund’s Secret Chest 0 Message 7 Force Cage, Mordenkainen’s Magnificent 1 Comprehend Languages Mansion, Sequester 3 Sending, Tongues 5 Legend Lore, Rary’s Telepathic Bond Senses Rune has the following spells: 8 Telepathy 2 Blindness/Deafness, Darkvision, Sample Invisibility, See invisibility file 4 Greater Invisibility 5 Mislead 6 True Seeing
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
Shield Rune has the following spells: Warding Rune has the following spells: 1 Mage Armor, Shield 0 Blade Ward 3 Magic Circle, Protection from Energy 1 Alarm 4 Fire Shield, Mordenkainen’s Private Sanctum, 2 Arcane Lock Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere 3 Glyph of Warding 6 Globe of Invulnerability 6 Contingency, Guards and Wards 8 Mind Blank 7 Symbol
Teleportation Rune has the following Water Element Rune has the following spells: spells: 2 Misty Step 0 Acid splash 3 Blink 2 Melf’s Acid Arrow 4 Banishment, Dimension Door 3 Sleet Storm, Water Breathing 5 Teleportation Circle 4 Conjure Minor Elementals (water elementals 6 Drawmij’s Instant Summons only), Control Water, Ice Storm 7 Plane Shift, Teleport 5 Conjure Elemental (water elemental only) 8 Maze 6 Wall of Ice 9 Gate Weather Rune has the following spells: Transmutation Rune has the following 0 Ray of Frost spells: 1 Thunder Wave 0 Mending, Prestidigitation 3 Lightning Bolt 1 Disguise Self 6 Chain Lightning 2 Alter Self, Enlarge/Reduce, Knock 8 Control Weather, Incendiary Cloud 4 Polymorph 9 Meteor Swarm 5 Animate Object s 6 Magic Jar 9 Shapechange, True Polymorph
Sample file
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
Sample file
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
letters according to the name. However there DESIGNER’S NOTE were too many overlaps, war / weather / water, battle / beast, animal / air, earth / DESIGN GOALS elemental / evocation etc. So I decided to abandon the alphabet based runes all together I have played a few Norse campaigns. The in favor of a new category system. Norse flavor of Vikings and barbarians fighting giants and strange beasts always seemed at THE SYMBOLS odds with your regular pointed hat, long beard Symbols stylized random runes inspired by the and cloaked bookworm wizard. To remedy this Elder Futhark, the symbols for elements, and I designed a rune casting class that fits better the symbols for the schools of magic. with the Viking theme than your regular wizard does. READING/WRITING/ACTIVATING RUNES While making the rune master class I had a vision of prince Gulnar from the series ”Robin The rules in the Northern Reaches Gazetteer of Sherwood”, a sort of mad bone rattling mage. contain rules for writing, reading, activating I also thought of a wise-man, hermit, druid, and casting runes. The idea of this is oracle, peace loving shaman. I wanted to make tantalizing, but I remember how many times I a class that could fit this image and replace the had to read the rules to understand them. So I normal wizard. decided to keep it simple. You spend a day creating the rune and then you can activate it THE PROCESS using either a spell slot or a ritual. My experience with rune casting comes from FILLING THE RUNES playing a cleric in the Northern Reaches of the Mystara campaign setting. Here the runes are I had two choices here. Either I could design and add-on to the cleric class. They allow you the runes from scratch or I could fill them with to step away from the rigid Vancian magic of existing wizard spells. The risk of breaking the earlier editions. Most of the runes are crap but game or missing out on important spell effects there are a handful of interesting ones. I were too great when starting from scratch. wanted to make a class that was based on Besides it would introduce a ton of new spell runes rather than having them as an add-on. like effects that the player would have to be familiar with. THE RUNES Filling the categories with spells I tried the approach the give each category one cantrip I started out with the Elder Futhark Runic and one spell for each spell level one through alphabet and its meaning, but came to the nine, or at least have exactly ten spells in each conclusion that it didn’t fit. Many of the runes category. It didn’t work. wouldn’t have any useful spells and there were I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t some problems with the EULA of the Dungeon necessary either. There will always be some Masters Guild. runes that are more important to know than Next up was the giant runes from Storm others. King’s Thunder. They had the same problems Originally I came up with 15 categories, but with some runes being virtually useless, I felt that the categories were too big. If you overlappingSample (e.g. stein/haug) or missing. file just wanted one spell you would get too many Then I tried the normal alphabet, naming junk spells. I split many of the categories and each letter and dividing spells among the came up with a few more so now there are 24.
Rune Caster – A New Character Class
Some of the categories would have a from runes that they came across on their tendency to be too big, so I moved spells to journeys. Like a teleport rune near a destroyed others; this is why some spells would fit bridge or a light rune in a dark hall. I decided equally well or better in another rune. not to. It would add a new layer of complexity of reading, activating and writing runes. SCALING Besides the adventure would have to take this The wizard scale linearly: At every level the into account or the DM has to put these extra wizard learns two spells and can memorize one runes into the adventure. more spell. At level 20 the wizard can If you like, consider adding spells for memorize approximately 25 spells. reading and activating unknown runes in the The cleric scale faster at lower levels due to magic rune and making the magic rune domain spells. So a level 10 cleric has direct mandatory as a known rune. access to approximately 25 spells, and at level 20 approximately 35 spells. The rune caster on the other hand gains spells in small chunks. At level 10 the rune caster has access to approximately 30 spells and a level 20 rune caster has access to approximately 55 spells. Most of these spells are “junk” spells that will never see use It was a tough act to balance known and attuned runes. On one hand I would like the rune caster to be as versatile as the wizard but that would provide access to too many spells. After some playtesting I came up with the numbers found in the table, but feel free to change them to better suit you campaign.
PLAYTESTING Playtesting the class, I found that it works like something in between a warlock and a wizard.
CASTING OTHER EXISTING RUNESSample file I toyed with the idea of allowing the rune caster to cast spells
Rune Caster – A New Character Class