View source for Raycaster (3.5e Class)

====Class Features====

All of the following are class features of the Raycaster.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Raycasters are proficient with all simple weapons.  Raycasters are proficient with light armor but not shields.  A raycaster can cast raycaster spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a raycaster wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass raycaster still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes. 

'''{{Anchor|Spells}}:''' A raycaster casts arcane spells which are drawn from the raycaster spell list. A raycaster must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time like a [[wizard]].  A raycaster may prepare and cast any spell on the raycaster spell list, provided that she can cast spells of that level, but she must choose which spells to prepare during her daily meditation.  Meditating on spells takes 1 hour as a [[cleric]].

To retrieve or cast a spell, a raycaster must have a mental ability score (chosen via Variable Casting) of at least 10 + the spell level (10 for 0-level spells, or 11 for 1st-level spells, and so on). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a raycaster's spell is 10 + the spell level + the raycaster's chosen ability modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a raycaster can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table 1—5: The raycaster. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high chosen mental ability score.

Raycasters know all "ray" and "line" spells from any spell list, as well as the following spells:

0&mdash;''[[SRD:Acid Splash|acid splash]]'', ''[[SRD:Arcane Mark|arcane mark]]'', ''[[SRD:Detect Magic|detect magic]]'', ''[[SRD:Light|light]]'', ''launch bolt''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''launch item''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Ki Push/Mage Push (3.5e Spell)|mage push]]'', ''[[SRD:Read Magic|read magic]]'', ''[[SRD:Resistance|resistance]]''

1st&mdash;''blessed aim''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Entropic Shield|entropic shield]]'', ''focusing chant''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Gazer Laser (3.5e Spell)|gazer laser]]'', ''guided shot''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''guiding light''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Half Shot (3.5e Spell)|half shot]]'', ''hawkeye''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Ice Crystal Phalanx (3.5e Spell)|ice crystal phalanx]]'', ''ice dagger''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''lesser orb of acid''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''lesser orb of cold''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''lesser orb of electricity''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''lesser orb of fire''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''low-light vision''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''luminous gaze''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Magic Missile|magic missile]]'', ''nimbus of light''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Produce Flame|produce flame]]'', ''[[Quickwind Shield (3.5e Spell)|quickwind shield]]'', ''[[Sparklers (3.5e Spell)|sparklers]]'', ''[[Sting Dart (3.5e Spell)|sting dart]]'', ''thunderhead''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:True Strike|true strike]]''

2nd&mdash;''[[SRD:Acid Arrow|acid arrow]]'', ''aiming at the target''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''battering ram''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''blinding spittle''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Cure Light Magic Missile (3.5e Spell)|cure light magic missile]]'', ''electric loop''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''embrace the wild''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Force Bit (3.5e Spell)|force bit]]'', ''[[SRD:Levitate|levitate]]'', ''listening lorecall''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Magic Option (3.5e Spell)|magic option]]'', ''[[Malbolt (3.5e Spell)|malbolt]]'', ''[[Poison Needle (3.5e Spell)|poison needle]]'', ''[[SRD:Protection from Arrows|protection from arrows]]'', ''splinterbolt''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''tactical precision''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Trailing Arcane Mark (3.5e Spell)|trailing arcane mark]]''

3rd&mdash;''[[Alhazarde Lance (3.5e Spell)|alhazarde lance]]'', ''[[Arcane Bane (3.5e Spell)|arcane bane]]'', ''blindsight''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''chain missile''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Chaos Beam Blossom (3.5e Spell)|chaos beam blossom]]'', ''circle dance''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''darkfire''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Dispel Magic|dispel magic]]'', ''[[SRD:Fly|fly]]'', ''[[Gnawing Maggots (3.5e Spell)|gnawing maggots]]'', ''hailstones''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Icarus Wings (3.5e Spell)|icarus wings]]'', ''[[Magic Hovermissile (3.5e Spell)|magic hovermissile]]'', ''[[Magic Missile Battery (3.5e Spell)|magic missile battery]]'', ''[[Magic Volley (3.5e Spell)|magic volley]]'', ''[[Mantis Shrimp Spear (3.5e Spell)|mantis shrimp spear]]'', ''[[Piercing Evocation (3.5e Spell)|piercing evocation]]'', ''[[Pogonip Bomb (3.5e Spell)|pogonip bomb]]'', ''reverse arrows''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[See Through Fog (3.5e Spell)|see through fog]]'', ''[[Spell Shield (3.5e Spell)|spell shield]]''

4th&mdash;''assay spell resistance''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''energy spheres''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''force missiles''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''greater blindsight''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Magic Missile Sentry (3.5e Spell)|magic missile sentry]]'', ''moon bolt''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of acid''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of cold''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of electricity''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of fire''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of force''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''orb of sound''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''ray deflection''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''spell enhancer''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Spicule Barrage (3.5e Spell)|spicule barrage]]'', ''vortex of teeth''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[White Chains of Corpora (3.5e Spell)|white chains of corpora]]''

5th&mdash;''[[Bloodied Chains of Pyrrhos (3.5e Spell)|bloodied chains of pyrrhos]]'', ''[[Denial (3.5e Spell)|denial]]'', ''[[Inversion Scope (3.5e Spell)|inversion scope]]'', ''[[Mining Beam (3.5e Spell)|mining beam]]'', ''moonbow''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Overland Flight|overland flight]]'', ''[[Project Magic (3.5e Spell)|project magic]]'', ''shard storm''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Spell Dampen (3.5e Spell)|spell dampen]]'', ''[[SRD:Spell Resistance|spell resistance]]'', ''[[SRD:True Seeing|true seeing]]'', ''viscid glob''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Vulcan Bomb (3.5e Spell)|vulcan bomb]]'', ''wind tunnel''<sup>SpC</sup>

6th&mdash;''[[SRD:Antimagic Field|antimagic field]]'', ''[[Belladone's Death Curse of Snakes (3.5e Spell)|belladone's death curse of snakes]]'', ''[[Black Chains of Durance (3.5e Spell)|black chains of durance]]'', ''[[SRD:Chain Lightning|chain lightning]]'', ''[[SRD:Greater Dispel Magic|greater dispel magic]]'', ''ruby ray of reversal''<sup>SpC</sup>, 

7th&mdash;''[[Drillbee Infestation (3.5e Spell)|drillbee infestation]]'', ''[[Item Morph (3.5e Spell)|item morph]]'', ''[[SRD:Prismatic Spray|prismatic spray]]'', ''[[SRD:Spell Turning|spell turning]]''

8th&mdash;''[[Golden Chains of Kronos (3.5e Spell)|golden chains of kronos]]'', ''lightning ring''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''prismatic eye''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Protection from Spells|protection from spells]]'', ''stormrage''<sup>SpC</sup>

9th&mdash;''absorption''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[SRD:Mage's Disjunction|mage's disjunction]]'', ''[[Magic Missile Maelstrom (3.5e Spell)|magic missile maelstrom]]'', ''[[Meteoric Mortar (3.5e Spell)|meteoric mortar]]'', ''[[SRD:Meteor Swarm|meteor swarm]]'', ''reaving dispel''<sup>SpC</sup>, ''[[Solar Catapult (3.5e Spell)|solar catapult]]''

'''{{Anchor|Cantrips}}:''' Raycasters learn a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, as noted on Table: Raycaster Spells Known under “Spells Known.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume any slots and may be used again.

'''{{Anchor|Longshot}}:''' Raycasters are master of ray and line spells.  They may increase the range of these spells by 10 ft.  At 3rd and every odd level thereafter the range increases by +10 ft.  They can always choose to decrease the range of their spell down to the standard distance.

'''''{{Anchor|Point Ray}}'' {{Sp}}:''' Raycasters gain a simple blast ability they may use at will as a standard action, dealing 1d6 points of magic damage + 1 point per class level out to a range of 50 ft (not including the benefits of Longshot).  They may enhance themselves to apply weapon enhancements to this spell-like ability like it was a manufactured ranged weapon.  It counts as a spell level equal to 1/2 your class level (minimum 1st).

The raycaster can spontaneously convert spell slots into a stronger point ray blast.  As a free action they consume a spell slot and gain +2d6 damage per level of the spell consumed to their point ray attack (maximum +18d6 at 9th level spells).

'''{{Anchor|Variable Casting}}:''' Raycasters can choose to base their spellcasting off of [[Intelligence]], [[Wisdom]], or [[Charisma]], and gain minor benefits based on the ability score selected.  Once chosen this ability cannot be changed.

''{{Anchor|Intelligence}}:'' You are a master of ballistics, and may fire your ray spells along ballistic curves like they were arrows.  You may have a miss chance from concealment for shooting over an obstruction.  You need vertical clearance equal to half the horizontal distance covered.

''{{Anchor|Wisdom}}:'' You are the master of sniping, and make headshots more often than most.  Your ray spells gain a 19-20/x2 critical, and do not suffer any miss chance for firing into a grapple.

''{{Anchor|Charisma}}:'' You are the master of the arcane, and your rays carry intense force.  Your rays have mass and you may perform combat maneuvers with your rays as if it were a one-handed weapon when within your normal reach, or further beyond if you have the ability to use these maneuvers on ranged attacks.  You gain a bonus feat at 2nd for any Improved X combat maneuver feats such as [[SRD:Improved Disarm|Improved Disarm]].

'''{{Anchor|Arcane Expansion}}:''' Raycasters are very good at their job, but do learn the occasional spell outside of their specialization.  At 2nd level the raycaster adds any one 1st level spell from any list of another class with 9th level spells (such as cleric, druid, or sorcerer/wizards).  It becomes a spell known, and needs not be a ray or line.  They gain an additional spell at 4th and every odd level beyond up to their highesgt spell level known.

'''{{Anchor|Close Quarters Shooting}} {{Ex}}:''' The 2nd level raycaster can fight in melee if they must, making point blank shots into the enemy.  They no longer provoke for making ranged touch attacks in melee range, though they still need to cast defensively to avoid provoking.  Their Point Ray ability no longer provokes for casting and does not need to be cast defensively.

'''{{Anchor|Precise Shot}}:''' A raycaster gains [[SRD:Precise Shot|Precise Shot]] as a bonus feat at 3rd level.

'''{{Anchor|Reflexive Ray}} {{Ex}}:''' A 4th level raycaster can make snap shots with their rays.  They threaten out to their normal reach, and they may take an immediate action on an attack of opportunity to fire any ray spell of 1 standard action or less.

'''{{Anchor|Bonus Feat}}:''' At 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level, a raycaster gains a bonus feat. At each such opportunity, she can choose a metamagic feat, any feat which applies to ranged attacks such as [[SRD:Far Shot|Far Shot]], or [[SRD:Spell Mastery|Spell Mastery]]. The raycaster must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including caster level minimums. 

'''{{Anchor|Penetrating Shot}}:''' The 6th level raycaster can spend a full attack action to cast any standard action or less ray or line spell and modify it to breach through resistances.  The spell ignores a number of points of damage reduction, energy resistance, hardness, and spell resistance equal to your level when augmented in this way.  In addition rays and lines penetrate barriers as per ''[[SRD:Lightning Bolt|lightning bolt]]'', continuing on if they deal enough damage to breach until they reach the intended target or the extent of the spell range.

'''{{Anchor|Chain Shot}}:''' The 8th level raycaster may cleave with their ray spells.  If they successfully down a creature with one of their ray spells they may "cleave" and make another attack against a creature within 10 ft once per round.

'''{{Anchor|Improved Penetrating Shot}}:''' At 12th level the raycaster's Penetrating Shot ability improves.  They may now roll twice on spell resistance checks and take the better on any line or ray spells.

'''{{Anchor|Twist Shot}}:''' The 14th level raycaster begins to learn how to curve their shots.  If they miss with a ray spell, they may attempt to make the attack roll against any creatures beyond their missed target in a straight line.  Line spells may be curved, shifting up to 5 ft off center from the beam to avoid or hit certain creatures or objects.  They can shift in any direction any number of times, but only 5 ft away from the original path of the beam.

'''{{Anchor|Improved Chain Shot}}:''' The 16th level raycaster's Chain Shot ability improves.  They may now use it any number of times per round.

'''{{Anchor|Deadeye}} {{Su}}:''' The 18th level raycaster never misses if they know what square they are aiming for.  They ignore all concealment, even total concealment, and may ignore the miss chance from ''[[SRD:Blink|blink]]'' provided they aim in the correct square.

'''{{Anchor|Omega Beam}}:''' At 20th level, the raycaster may make any ray spell they cast as an omega beam 1/day, the beam zig zagging through reality and even through time and space to strike its target.  The spell never misses though you do not roll and thus cannot critical hit.  It ignores all spell resistance, damage reduction, and energy resistance but saves and immunities still apply.  You may also delay its effect up to 1 week, apply a contingency in which it strikes (as per ''[[SRD:Contingency|contingency]]''), or dismiss a contingent omega beam in waiting.  The target is aware of the contingency and may take steps to negate or otherwise prevent the ray from taking effect.  Beyond that nothing short of divine intervention will prevent the ray from striking at its appointed time.  You may only have one omega beam in contingency at one time.  Activating a contingent omega beam is a free action.
Article Balance	Very High +
Author	Eiji-kun +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Poor +
Class Ability	Prepared Arcane Spellcasting +
Class Ability Progression	Full +
Fortitude Save Progression	Poor +
Identifier	3.5e Class +
Length	20 +
Minimum Level	0 +
Rating	Undiscussed +
Reflex Save Progression	Good +
Skill	Balance +, Concentration +, Craft +, Hide +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Move Silently +, Profession +, Search +, Spellcraft +, Spot +, Tumble + and Use Magic Device +
Skill Points	4 +
Summary	A spellcaster who focuses on rays and line attacks. Accuracy is the key, and you shall show laser is not difficult. +
Title	Raycaster +
Will Save Progression	Good +