The Cantrip Caster [prestige]

[TheGeometer]

THE CANTRIP CASTER

Sure, anyone can take an Acid Splash to the face. But how about fifty?

-Jarl, a Cantrip Caster

Some mages never have the raw talent or motivation to learn anything beyond the cantrips. Others never stop studying cantrips by choice, learning about them to the extent that they can manipulate them as well as a Remnant Mage can with her remnants. They do this by mixing traditional arcane magic with remnant magic. By applying knowledge from one type of magic to the other, they can perform truly unique feats.

BECOMING A CANTRIP CASTER
Cantrip Casters often start out in an arcane class such as Sorcerer or Wizard, but then begin to dabble in remnant magic. The realization that combining these two forms of magic can increase their power encourages them to follow the teachings of other members of this prestige class.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks
Spellcasting: 3 levels in an arcane spellcasting class (remnant casting cannot count toward this requirement)
Remnant Casting: 3 levels in an arcane remnant casting class
Special: Able to cast at least 3 cantrips

Class Skills
The Cantrip Caster's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Knowledge (all skills, taken individually), Profession, Speak Language, Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device.
Skills Points at Each  Level 2 + int

Hit Dice: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Casting
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Learn Cantrip	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class +1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Complementary Casting (CL)	+1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	--	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Learn Cantrip	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class +1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Break Spell	+1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Complementary Casting (DC)	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Learn Cantrip	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class +1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	--	+1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Build Spell	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Advanced Cantrip Study	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class +1 level of existing arcane remnant casting class

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The Cantrip Caster gains no new proficiency with any weapons or armor.

Casting: At each level except 2nd, 5th, and 8th, the Cantrip Caster gains new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She also gains more RP per round, more learned remnants, and an increase in caster level (and RP per day, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in an arcane remnant casting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level, except at levels 3, 6, and 9. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of either of those classes would have gained. If she had more than one arcane spellcasting class or more than one arcane remnant casting class before becoming a Cantrip Caster, she must decide to which classes to add each level (as appropriate) for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster levels, spells known, RP/turn, and RP/day.

Learn Cantrip: At 1st level and every 3 levels afterward, the Cantrip Caster learns a new cantrip, but rather than adding it to her spells known or her spellbook, she adds it to the list of known remnants for one of her arcane remnant casting classes. The cantrip chosen must be on the class list of one of her arcane spellcasting classes, and it cannot have a casting time of longer than 1 full round. The cantrip becomes converted into a remnant in most respects: its casting time changes to a free action, it loses all components besides verbal and somatic, and it no longer has an arcane spell failure chance due to armor. The Cantrip Caster can cast it for 3 RP, an amount that cannot be reduced by any means, including the Remnant Mage's Practiced Remnant ability.

At 10th level, the Cantrip Caster gains another cantrip to cast as a remnant, as normal, but this new ability costs only 2 RP, rather than 3. This applies only to the cantrip chosen at level 10.

Complementary Casting: At 2nd level, the Cantrip Caster learns to combine spells and remnants in new ways. Whenever she casts a spell followed by one or more remnants of the same school in a single turn, those remnants gain +1 to their effective CL. If she instead casts a spell after remnants of the same school in the same turn, the spell gains +1 to its effective CL.

At 6th level, this bonus applies to the DC of the spell or remnants in addition to CL.

Break Spell: By 5th level, the Cantrip Caster can take one of her spells apart into spell remnants. This functions as a much more limited version of the Remnant Mage's Convert Spell ability: she may take a move action to lose a spell slot or a prepared spell and gain 1 RP per spell level expended to use the next time she casts one or more remnants. She may not add the RP from more than one spell to any given round of remnant casting.

Build Spell: By 9th level, the Cantrip Caster can assemble her spell remnants into more powerful spells for later use. As a standard action, she may expend any amount of RP to restore one of her expended spell slots or to recall one of the spells her had previously cast that day. The spell or slot regained cannot exceed 1/3 the number of RP spent in this way. The amount of RP to which the Cantrip Caster has access per turn is reduced by half this expended amount for the remainder of the day.

PLAYING A CANTRIP CASTER

 Combat: Cantrip Casters use the combined power of spellcasting and remnant casting to deliver a barrage of magic. Unlike other dual-progression prestige classes like the Mystic Theurge, which mainly grant versatility and more power per day, this prestige class offers almost twice as much power and versatility in every turn. Characters with levels in it can draw on this to hurt enemies, control battle, or help allies twice as easily or to multitask and accomplish more varied effects in the span of a single round.
 Advancement: Characters that take this prestige class have very few options if they want to maintain the power of both their spellcasting and their remnant casting. In this case, there is no better option than to stick with this prestige class as long as possible. If they are willing to allow one type of casting to be below the other to grant minor bonuses while the other casting provides most of the power, then it might be easier to deviate from this prestige class and explore other options.
Resources: This class has access to all of the best aspects of arcane magic and arcane remnant magic. It enables a character to save its spells for serious situations while using remnants for simpler cases, or for reserving spells for situational needs and bringing out remnants for more general circumstances.

CANTRIP CASTERS IN THE WORLD
Jarl? A powerful mage? I've never even seen him cast Feather Fall!

-Zorius, a Wizard

Daily Life: Cantrip Casters are as varied in routine as they are in origin. Those who began as Wizards or Remnant Mages will study constantly, while those who were first Sorcerers, Bards, Magicians, or Spellknights will tend to seek more adventure.
 Notables: Veria the Wise is the only Cantrip Caster who was well-known outside of remnant casters. She never cast a single spell after she graduated from her wizarding school, but she was nevertheless able to rightfully convince her peers that she was an incredibly talented mage. She claimed that her magic was not worth using for anything less than preventing the end of reality. Oberos the Cruel is less well-known for the cantrips he employed than for the deadly force for which he wielded them. Most wizards are skeptical that he could have achieved his infamy while casting mainly 0th level spells. Like most Cantrip Casters, he was greatly underestimated.
 Organizations: Cantrip Casters are a ragtag bunch, not tied to any specific organization. Many are in the League of Alborard, some in the Shadowed Order of the Magicians, and very few in minor wizarding organizations.

THE EPIC CANTRIP CASTER

Hit Die: d4
Skills Points at Each Level: 2 + int
Casting: The Epic Cantrip Caster continues advancing spellcasting and remnant casting at every level higher than 10th.
Learn Cantrip: The Epic Cantrip Caster learns another cantrip every 3 levels higher than 10th. Every 4th cantrip learned in such a way is cast for only 2 RP rather than 3.
Bonus Feats: The Epic Cantrip Caster gains a Bonus Feat every 5 levels higher than 10th.