Alienists deal with powers and entities from mind-numbingly remote reaches of space and time. For them, magic is the triumph of the mind over the rude boundaries of dimension, space, and often sanity. With knowledge and determination, the peel back the veil of reality, exposing themselves to the maddened entities which exist in the timeless void between planes. Unspeakable beings whisper terrifying secrets to those who dare to communicate with them. These secrets were not meant for mortals, but the alienist plunges into the depths of chaos and madness that would scour a weaker mind.Alienists, though rare, occasionally gather in secluded groups to enact obscure rituals, often weakening the very fabric of reality in the process. Many alienists can be found haunting libraries in larger cities, skulking and mumbling among stacks of rare (and dangerous) volumes.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
In order to qualify to become an Alienist, a character must meet the following criteria.
Alignment: Any Chaotic.Skills: Knowledge (the planes) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Spellcasting: Ability to cast one summoning spell of 3rd level or higher.
Special: The character must have made contact with an alienist or an entity from the Far Realms.
Class Skills
The Alienist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis). See Chapter 4 of the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spellcasting 1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Familiar Abilities, Summon Entity +1 caster level 2 +1 +0 +0 +3 Insanity +1 caster level 3 +1 +1 +1 +3 Otherworldly Vision +1 caster level 4 +2 +1 +1 +4 Unharnessed Power (+1) +1 caster level 5 +2 +1 +1 +4 Pseudonatural Familiar +1 caster level 6 +3 +2 +2 +5 Otherworldly Stamina +1 caster level 7 +3 +2 +2 +5 Timeless Body +1 caster level 8 +4 +2 +2 +6 Unharnessed Power (+2) +1 caster level 9 +4 +3 +3 +6 Otherworldly Mind +1 caster level 10 +5 +3 +3 +7 Unnatural Transcendence +1 caster level
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Alienist prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An alienist gains no new weapon or armor proficiency.
Spellcasting: A alienist continues training with magic. Thus, at every level, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if she had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class she belonged to prior to adding this prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that level would have gained (improved familiar abilities, metamagic or item creation feats, etc).
Familiar Abilities: Levels of alienist stack with levels of any class that provides access to a familiar. This ability does not grant an alienist a familiar if she did not already possess one.
Summon Entity (Su): Whenever an alienist would use a summon spell to summon a creature, she instead summons a pseudonatural version of that creature. This adds the “Pseudonatural Creature” template to the summoned creature. Alienists lose the ability to summon non-pseudonatural creatures.
Insanity (Su): An alienist’s mind grows increasingly warped as she siphons more and more power from the Far Realms. Beginning at 2nd level, she gains an Insanity Score equal to half her class level. For spellcasting (determining bonus spells and DCs), she adds her Insanity score to her Intelligence or Charisma score (as appropriate). However, the alienist subtracts her Insanity score from her Wisdom score to determine her effective Wisdom score.Once per day, the alienist can see and act with the clarity of pure madness. She uses her Insanity score as a positive rather than a negative modifier on a single roll involving Wisdom. She must declare that she is using this ability before she make her roll.
Should the alienist also possess the granted power of the Madness domain, her alienist levels stack with levels of the class which granted her the madness domain for the purposes of determining her Insanity Score, and she may see with the clarity of madness twice per day.
Otherworldly Vision (Su): At 3rd level, the alienist’s eyes undergo variable, disturbing changes, such as pupils which seem to be dividing in half, or eyes bleached a pale white. These changes do not hinder the alienist; rather, she gains low-light vision and darkvision to a range of 60 feet. Should the alienist already possess darkvision, her darkvision range extends 60 feet.
Unharnessed Power (Su): At 4th level, the alienist learns to siphon greater power from the Far Realms, increasing the power of the creatures she is able to summon. Whenever the alienist casts a summon spell, she may select creatures from a summon list one level higher than her spell would normally allow.At 8th level, the alienist may select creatures from summon lists up to two levels higher than her summon spell would normally allow.
Pseudonatural Familiar (Su): Beginning at 5th level, an alienist’s familiar, if any, gains the “Pseudonatural Creature” template. This ability does not replace the familiar – the familiar has been taking on pseudonatural aspects as the alienist advanced in levels, and those characteristics become fully functional at this point. From now on, the alienist’s newly summoned familiars have the “Pseudonatural Creature” template.
Otherworldly Stamina (Su): By 6th level, the alienist’s body has been thoroughly saturated with the energies of the Far Realms. She no longer requires food or water to survive, and ceases to excrete waste entirely. She loses any need for sleep, and may recover and prepare spells after only a few hours of quiet contemplation of the Far Realms. The alienist may survive indefinitely without air, and suffers no penalty for being exposed to the vacuum of space. She becomes immune to the sickened and stunned conditions, and has a 25% chance of stabilizing each round she spends unconscious and bleeding.
Timeless Body (Su): Upon reaching 7th level, the alienist stops aging. She no longer takes ability penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. Ability score bonuses from aging still accrue, and any penalties the alienist may have already taken remain in place.
Otherworldly Mind (Su): An alienist of 9th level or higher has surpassed sanity and madness, and mentally distances herself from reality. She becomes immune to morale bonuses and penalties, fear effects, and mind-affecting spells or abilities. Any creature attempting to make mental contact with the alienist must attempt a Will saving throw (DC 10 + the alienist’s class level + her Charisma modifier) or suffer the effects of an insanity spell, cast at a level equal to the alienist’s character level.
Unnatural Transcendence (Su): A 10th level alienist transcends her mortal form and becomes...something else. Her type changes to Outsider, and she gains damage reduction 10/magic, as well as acid and electricity resistance 10. In addition, the alienist undergoes an unsettling physical transformation, possibly growing a tentacle or gaping mouth somewhere on her body. She gains a +4 deformity bonus on any Intimidate check she makes.
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