Loremaster

(As found in The Dungeon Master's Guide, core rulebook II)

Loremasters are spellcasters who concentrate on knowledge, valuing lore and secrets over gold. They uncover secrets that they then use to better themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually. Characters without at least one level of wizard, sorcerer, cleric or druid gain little benefit to becoming a loremaster. Paladins, rangers, and bards might gain some benefit, but overall, it would be minor.

Loremasters sometimes gather in secluded cabals but are more likely to be located as an order attached to a university, a library, or some other source of information. They're likely to earn extra money as sages and information brokers, pouring their wages in their own research. A loremaster might also adopt a position as a wise one in the community, or even as its leader, drawing upon her knowledge to help others.

Hit Die :d4

Requirements:

To qualify to become a loremaster, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Spellcasting: Ability to cast seven different divinations, one of which must be 3rd level or higher.

Two Knowledge Skills (Any Type): 10 ranks in each

Feats: Any three metamagic or item creation feats, plus Skill Focus (Knowledge [any individual Knowledge Skill]).

Class Skills

The loremaster's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Alchemy (Int), Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int, Exclusive Skill), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animals (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (All skills taken individually) (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int), Speak Language, Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha, Exclusive Skill).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4+ Int modifier

Class Features: All the following are class features of the loremaster prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Loremasters gain no proficiency in any weapon or armor. Note that the armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket and Tumble.

Spells per Day: A loremaster continues training in magic as well as her field of research. Thus, when a new loremaster level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, metamagic or item creation feats, and so on). This essentially means that she adds the level of loremaster to the level of some other spellcasting class the character has, the determines spells per day and caster level accordingly. For example, if Gremda, an 8th level wizard, gains a level in loremaster, she gains new spells as if she had risen to 9th level in wizard, but uses the other loremaster aspects of level progression such as attack bonus and save bonus. If she next gains a level of wizard, making her a 9th level/1st level loremaster, she gains and casts spells as if she had risen to 10th level wizard. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a loremaster, she must decide to which class she adds each level of loremaster for purposes of determining spells per day when she adds the new level.

Secret: In their studies, loremasters stumble upon all sorts of applicable knowledge and secrets. At 1st level and every two levels afterward (3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th levels), the loremaster chooses one secret from the loremaster secrets. Her level plus Intelligence modifier determines which secrets she can choose. She can't choose the same secret twice.

Lore: Loremasters gather knowledge. At 2nd level, they gain the ability to know legends or information regarding various topics, just like a bard can can with bardic knowledge. The loremaster adds her level and her intelligence modifier to knowledge check.

Bonus Languages: Loremasters, in their laborious studies, learn new languages in order to access more knowledge. The loremaster can choose any new language at 4th and 8th level.

Greater Lore: At 6th level, a loremaster gains the ability to identify magic items, as the spell, as an extraordinary ability. She may do this once per item examined.

True Lore: At 10th level, once per day a loremaster can use her knowledge to gain the affects of legend lore spell or an analyze dweomer spell. True lore is an extraordinary ability.