Eldritch Weaver (3.5e Prestige Class)
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Eldritch Weaver
| “ | Laser is not difficult. | ” |
| —Marisa Kirisame, Human Eldritch Weaver, Marisa's lesson of how to "Spark" | ||
The power of a warlock channels raw magical energy via the forces of fiendish, fey, or other supernatural bloods. While a warlock knows many tricks, all know the power of the eldritch blast. Some choose to focus on this primal base power and craft it from a simple direct weapon, and transform it into a weapon of mass destruction.
Becoming a Eldritch Weaver
Eldritch Weavers have realized the mechanics behind their eldritch beam, the release of power from their internal endless flows of energy within themselves and within the very frabric of the universe. No longer limited to firing beams from their own body, they can tear energy out of the air at many points, carving base mathmatical geometery into the universe's natural magical fault lines, allowing magic to bleed forth. They give up their damage reduction, fiendish resilence, and other powers in sake for more control over their eldritch beams. By preparing "spell cards" with pre-engraved symbols, they can cause their eldritch beams to spread in shapes stronger their any eldritch shape or essence. While they cannot spam such abilities continously, they can refresh its energy merely by focusing.
| Skills: | Knowledge Arcana 8, Spellcraft 8. |
|---|---|
| Feats: | Scribe Scroll. |
| Spellcasting: | Arcane caster level 5th. |
| Special: | 3d6 eldritch blast, two blast shapes. |
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | Spellcasting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Least Spell Card, Spell Cards Prepared (3) | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Least Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Evasion, Least Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Lesser Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Bonus Option (+1d6), Focusing Shot, Lesser Spell Card, Spell Cards Prepared (4) | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Homing Shot, Lesser Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Greater Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Improved Evasion, Greater Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +6 | Greater Spell Card | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Bonus Option (+2d6), Final Spell Card, Spell Cards Prepared (5) | +1 arcane spellcaster level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Special |
|---|---|
| 11th | +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 12th | Final Spell Card, +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 13th | +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 14th | Final Spell Card, +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 15th | Bonus Option (+3d6), Spell Cards Prepared (6), +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 16th | Final Spell Card, +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 17th | +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 18th | Final Spell Card, +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 19th | +1 arcane spellcaster level |
| 20th | Bonus Option (+4d6), Final Spell Card, Spell Cards Prepared (7), +1 arcane spellcaster level |
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Eldritch Weaver
Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new invocations and an increase in caster level as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming an eldritch weaver, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining caster level, and invocations known.
Upon reaching 4th level, and at every even-numbered eldritch weaver level after that (6th, 8th, and so on), an eldritch weaver can choose to learn a new spell card in place of one he already knows. In effect, the eldritch weaver "loses" the old spell card in exchange for the new one. The new spell card’s level (least, lesser, greater, or final) must be the same as that of the spell card being exchanged, and it must be at least one levels lower than the highest-level eldritch weaver spell card the eldritch weaver can cast. An eldritch weaver may swap only a single spell card at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell card at the same time that she gains new spell cards known for the level.
Spell Cards and Spell Cards Prepared: Eldritch Weavers continue to gain eldritch blast damage and invocations as normal, but they also can prepare specific magical effects, typically on small strips of paper called 'spell cards', allowing for incredible curtains of energetic magic bullets that fill the skies with sparkling bolts. At each level, the eldritch weaver gains a new spell card known, either from the least, lesser, greater, or final choices presented below. Preparing which spell cards are being used takes 15 minutes of meditation. At 1st level you may prepare up to 3 spell cards at once (they may be the same spell card) before he must refresh their energy to use them again. Refreshing your spell cards is a full-round action which provokes attacks of opportunity. Using spell cards are part of the typical somatic components of a warlock's invocations. Many spell cards duplicate the effects of shapes or essences, and do not stack with them. At level 5 and every 5 levels afterward, the eldritch weaver gains an additional spell card they can prepare at once.
Least Spell Cards (Sp): At 1st level and beyond you may select from the least spell card lists.
Rainstorm (Sp): You fire rapid shots of energy at high speed, offering the chance of greater damage, or potential misfire from the resulting scatter. Roll a d6, if between 1, 2, or 3 your eldritch blast damage is reduced by 3d6, 2d6, or 1d6 respectively. If the result is a 4, 5, or 6, you instead gain 1d6, 2d6, or 3d6 additional damage. This is an 2nd level eldritch essence.
Eruption (Sp): You focus your eldritch blast into a ball of energy and throw it, blossoming into a flurry of energy spraying in all directions on impact. You can aim your eldritch blast anywhere within Medium range (100 ft. + 10 ft. per caster level), exploding in a 20 ft. radius burst, with a Reflex save for half damage (DC 13 + your Charisma modifier). This is an 3rd level eldritch shape.
Blood Seeker (Sp): No amount of hiding prevents your eldritch blasts from finding their target, curving around corners if needed to hit. This ability is attracted to life energy, and does not work on creatures without a Constitution score (undead and most constructs). You ignore the miss chance from all concealment and from any cover short of total cover, making the touch attack as normal. This is an 2nd level eldritch shape.
Raptor Punch (Sp): By building up pressure on your eldritch blast, you release it in a powerful short range burst able to knock people away. As a full attack action you make a melee touch attack, dealing twice your eldritch blast damage, and performing a special bull rush using your Charisma modifier instead of your Strength modifier. Unlike a normal bull rush you do not travel with your opponent. This is a 2nd level eldritch shape.
Curtain Fire (Sp): You release so many bullets in such a wide area, your opponents have no chance to escape. However, it dilutes the power of your eldritch blast. You may deal half of your normal eldritch blast damage in a 15 ft. cone area, no save. This is a 2nd level eldritch shape.
Lesser Spell Cards (Sp): At 4th level and beyond you may select from the lesser spell card lists. You may also choose to select a least spell card if you desire.
Heaven Driller (Sp): Rotating your eldritch blast at high speed, you drill through your opponent's defenses. You make a normal touch attack, but bypass a number of your opponent's AC from deflection, sacred, profane and force-granted effects (such as mage armor, or shield spells) up to 1/2 your class levels. The enemy retains any bonuses related to their body moving out of the way however, such as Dexterity bonuses and a monk's bonuses to AC. This is a 5th level eldritch essence.
Bright Fall (Sp): Instead of firing your beam from your hands you draw it out of the air itself, letting it rain like meteors upon your enemies. You transform your eldritch blast into a cylinder shaped area 20 ft. radius wide and 40 ft. tall, with a Reflex save for half damage (DC 16 + your Charisma modifier). This is a 6th level eldritch shape.
Jormungand (Sp): Your eldritch blast coils at a thought, allowing you to dance it across the skies and strike at your enemies. You may make a ranged touch attack against all enemies you can reach in 60 ft. of movement (with a fly speed of good). By concentrating as a standard action, your eldritch blast continues to persist, and you may move it like a snake across the battlefield, hitting all you can in 60 ft. of movement each round. You may only strike each enemy only once per round and you much succeed on the ranged touch attack for each as normal This is a 5th level eldritch shape.
Glowing Barrier (Sp): You project your eldritch blast into a wall shape of crackling violet energy. It is an opaque sheet of energy up to 5-ft. square/level shaped however you like and you may pass through it unharmed. You may have only one such wall up at a time (though you are free to use your eldritch blasts), and it lasts for 1 minute or until you use another Glowing Barrier. The wall blocks line of sight, but not line of effect, and deals your eldritch blast damage to anyone passing through, with a DC 16 + your Charisma Reflex save for half. This is a 6th level eldritch shape.
Bolt Hornet (Sp): You transform your eldritch blast into a javelin of energy, which not only injures your opponents but may pin them to the wall. If there is a wall, tree, etc. within 5 ft. of your enemy, when your opponent is hit and takes damage they must also succeed on an opposed grapple check (size modifiers still apply), using your Charisma modifier in place of your Strength modifier. If successful your opponent must make an Escape Artist check DC 15 as a standard action to become free. This is a 5th level eldritch essence.
Greater Spell Cards (Sp): At 7th level and beyond you may select from the greater spell card lists. You may also choose to select a least or lesser spell card if you desire.
Mana Buster (Sp): You may choose to store up your energy for a tremendous blast all at once. As a standard action you hold your attack. On the following round your eldritch blast deals 250% of its normal damage. If you hold it for an additional round, the damage becomes 400%. You cannot charge your beam stronger than 2 rounds, and while you can withhold the shot, doing so is difficult, forcing a DC 15 Concentration check, with an additional +5 DC each round, to avoid the supercharged eldritch blast exploding in your hand and injuring yourself. This is a 8th level eldritch essence.
Starburst (Sp): You fire your eldritch blast and on impact with the enemy, it explodes into a beautiful, deadly blossom of energy. Your eldritch blast gains a distance of 250 ft. and upon striking the opponent, it explodes, dealing your eldritch blast damage again to your target and any opponents within a 20 ft. radius, assuming you would have hit their touch AC with your original roll. Because it is a series of bolts and not an explosion, you are able to avoid your allies. Also, if you have learned Starburst and also know Eldritch Spear, your Eldritch Spear essence has its range extended to 500 ft. for as long as you have Starburst prepared. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Frozen Memory (Sp): Your fire your eldritch blast, but the image of the beam does not fade as you release your grip from it, crackling there in mid-air. Your eldritch blast shots continue to persist for 4 rounds after you have fired them, and anyone who remains in the 5 ft. squares they occupy takes your eldritch blast damage, with a (DC 19 + your Charisma modifier) Reflex save to negate and pass through safely. Using this, it is possible to build a cage of up to four "walls" at once around your opponents, forcing them to move where you want. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Ring Shell (Sp): You release your eldritch blast into an orbiting ring of destruction around your body. Anyone within 5 ft. of you must succeed on a (DC 19 + your Charisma modifier) Reflex save, or take your eldritch blast damage, save negates. An opponent only takes this damage once per round. The shield lasts for 5 rounds, and you may only have one such shield up at a time. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Double Curse (Sp): You fire your eldritch blast, and faster striking your opponent it seems to deflect off, hanging omniously in the air before coming around for a second attack! Your attack repeats again the next round, so long as your opponent is within 30 ft. of their last position, with all the same attack options as before with no effort from you. This is a 8th level eldritch shape.
Final Spell Cards (Sp): At 10th level and every two levels beyond you may select from the final spell card lists. You may also choose to select a greater, least, or lesser spell card if you desire. Unlike normal spell cards, all final spell cards last for 1 full round, render the warlock immune to spells for the duration (absorbing 1 hp per spell level) as they are channeling magical energy as a ridiculous rate, and the final card may only be used 1/encounter no matter how many times it is refreshed.
Master Spark (Sp): You fire a tremendous beam with all of your heart! All opponents in a 90 ft. cone take four times your normal eldritch blast damage and are blinded for 3 rounds from the glare. They may make a (DC 19 + your Charisma modifier) Fortitude save to halve the damage and negate the blindness. Because if lasts for 1 full round, anyone stepping into the affected area is subject to the damage and blindness. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Starstorm (Sp): Tearing energy out of the cosmos, you draw down four powerful bursts of magical might. You may make four touch attacks, dealing your eldritch blast damage. Regardless if they hit or not, the bolts expand into shining towers of energy, dealing half of your eldritch blast damage to any targets in a 20 ft. radius of impact, with a (DC 19 + your Charisma modifier) Reflex save to halve that damage again. Because it lasts for 1 full round, anyone stepping into the affected area is subject to the secondary damage. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Dimensional Rip (Sp): Your blasts strikes the opponent so hard, they don't simply get pushed back, but they get thrown out of the universe entirely! When you strike with your eldritch blast, they take four times your normal eldritch blast damage, and the energy persists as it turns into a gateway to the astral plane, sucking anything within a 10 ft. radius nearby into it to be lost forever. The DC is 19 + your Charisma modifier Will save, and the initial target takes a -3 penalty to its save. Regardless of the result the portal remains for 1 full round before vanishing. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Lumina (Sp): You turn your body into a portal to the font of power which grants you endless energy, turning yourself and the surrounding 20 ft. radius around you into a blazing star of energy. For the entire round anyone in the area takes four times your normal eldritch blast damage, and must make a Fortitude save or be dazed from the shock of energy. The saving throw is DC 19 + your Charisma, and negates the dazing but not the damage. Because it lasts for 1 full round, anyone stepping into the affected area is subject to the dazing and damage. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Destruction Rains from the Heavens (Sp): You fire a single beam into the sky, and it begins to rain, not water, but searing blazing death! You may make a ranged touch attack and strike at all opponents within a 60 ft. radius around you, dealing three times your eldritch blast damage. Because it lasts for 1 full round you may attack anyone who steps into the area while you are attacking with this ability as well, though each person can only be targeted once per casting. This is a 9th level eldritch shape.
Evasion (Ex): At 3rd level or higher if an eldritch weaver makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if an eldritch weaver is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless eldritch weaver does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Bonus Options (Su): At 5th level an eldritch weaver's arcane energies manifest as a small floating spiritual object, which can appear as nearly anything from a floating amulet, a ball of light, or even a small creature. It is immaterial and cannot interact with the world, it only serves as an additional channel point in which to fire its own smaller eldritch blasts. In effect, it adds an additional 1d6 damage to your eldritch blasts. They are also used for the special attack options of focused shot and homing shot. At 10th level and every 5 levels beyond, you gain an additional bonus option.
Focused Shot: By staying still and focusing on your attacks, you can make your eldritch blast more accurate, using your option as a focus point. By taking a full round action (or adding another full round if your attack already takes 1 or more rounds), your attack gains a critical threat range of either 20/x4 or 18-20/x2 at your choice before you make the attack roll.
Homing Shot: You may assign your bonus options to attack an opponent you're not focused upon, leaving you to your own devices. Select a target within 60 ft. as a free action, each round instead of improving your own attacks your options attack another target, dealing 1d6 damage per option. They use your attack roll to determine if they hit and you may select up to as many targets as you have options.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 9th level, a eldritch weaver 's evasion ability improves. She still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, but henceforth she takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless eldritch weaver does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Campaign Information
Playing a Eldritch Weaver
Combat: As the warlock, so to the eldritch weaver. However, beyond any invoking, charming, item crafting, or other tricks a warlock may possess a eldritch weaver is an archer, a blaster, a being which fights at range showering his opponents in d6s. No longer tied down to a simple touch attack once a round, a eldritch weaver can play the part of blaster and battlefield controler, confident never to run out of energy even when all her spell cards have been expended.
Advancement: Any classes available to warlocks make fine classes for an eldritch weaver, perhaps especially the hellfire warlockFiendish Codex II who expand the power of the eldritch blast even further.
Resources: Warlocks are loners, so eldritch weavers cannot find much help among their kind. When meeting another eldritch weaver, rivalries may develop to which weaver can fill the sky with more energy, as for all of its destructive power, there is a certain beauty to the sharming gridwork of blasts they throw.
Eldritch Weavers in the World
| “ | Stop flying around and stay still so I can hit you you stupid red-white thing! | ” |
| —Cirno, Enemy Unseele Eldritch Weaver | ||
NPC Reactions: Warlocks are terrifying things, untrusted and diabolical. The idea of a warlock who has taken their most obvious and flashy weapon and made it even more spectalucar is one surely to scare most commoners. Who wants a being who not only can fry you where you stand, but also the entire town in one fell swoop? As such, most eldritch weavers keep their power under wraps.
Eldritch Weaver Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge Arcana can research eldritch weavers to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.
| DC | Result |
|---|---|
| 10 | Eldritch Weavers are warlocks who have taken their eldritch blasts to new heights, enabling powerful shapes and damage. |
| 15 | Using pre-written cards, an eldritch weaver can produce her effects, all while dodging the attacks of others with ease. |
| 20 | High level eldritch weavers can even produce blasts so powerful, they absorb the magic being cast at them to fuel the endless torrents of power they produce. |
| 30 | Those who reach this level of success can research particular eldritch weavers, their whereabouts, legends, and behaviors. |
Eldritch Weavers in the Game
Adaptation: With it's strong ties to the concept a weave of magical energy, it can quickly be reflavored into a class dealing with The Weave in Faerun lore.
Sample Encounter: The land has been covered with a strange red mist which blots out the sun and allowing all sorts of night monsters to roam free. The mist is coming from the mansion by the lake, long said to be abandoned. Whoever is creating the mist has employed several strange warlocks who demolish anyone too curious in a torrent of blasts. Will anyone see the sun again?
EL 15:Uldra[[SMW::offFB| ]]
| Female UldraFB Warlock 5/Eldritch Weaver 10 | |
| CN Small Fey | |
| Init/Senses | +7/Darvision 120 ft., Low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0 |
| Languages | Common, Sylven |
| AC | 21, touch 16, flat-footed 16 (+5 armor, +1 deflection, +3 dex, +2 force shield) |
| Miss Chance | 20% vs ranged (Entropic Warding) |
| hp | 108 (14d6+50 HD); Damage Reduction 1/cold iron |
| Resist | Cold Resistance 5 |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +6/+7/+11 |
| Speed | 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (good) (Fell Flight) |
| Melee | Eldritch Glaive +8 touch (9d6 + 1d6 option + 1 cold, 20/x2), reach |
| Ranged | Eldritch Blast +12 ranged touch (9d6 + 1d6 option, 20/x2), 90 ft. range |
| Base Atk/Grp | +9/+9 |
| Special Actions | Bonus Option (+1d6), Eldritch Blast (7d6+2d6 item), Focused Shot, Frosty Touch, Homing Shot, Spell-like Abilities |
| Abilities | Str 8, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 25 |
| SQ | Deceive Item, Improved Evasion |
| Feats | Improved Initiative, Scribe Scroll, Ability Focus (Eldritch Blast), Flyby Attack, Quicken Spell-like Ability (Eldritch Blast) |
| Skills | Concentration +21, Knowledge Arcana +7, Knowledge Nature +1, Spellcraft +16 |
| Possessions | 400g, Bracers of Strength +2, Cloak of Charisma +4, Greater Chasuble of Fell Power, Horizon Goggles, Mithril Chain Shirt +1, Ring of Force Shield, Ring of Protection +1 |
Invocations Known (Sp): Eldritch Glaive, Eldritch Spear, Entropic Warding, Fell Flight, Hellrime Blast (DC 23), Walk Unseen, Chilling Tentacles, Eldritch Cone (DC 24), Hindering Blast (DC 23)
Spell Cards Known (Sp): (Prepare up to 4)-Curtain Fire, Eruption (DC 22), Rainstorm, Bolt Hornet, Bright Fall (DC 25), Heaven Driller, Frozen Memory, Ring Shell (DC 28), Starburst (DC 28)
Cirno is the "Ice Fairy" of the area of Gensokyo. While not much to the surrounding big names in the area, compared to power of average fey where she comes from, one can certainly say she is exceptionally strong for her kind. However she has a childish personality and she is sometimes considered stupid. She seemingly has been assigned to guard the mist-producing mansion by the lake, but in truth she is simply messing around "for the lulz".
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