Ritual Mage [PrC]

[sirpercival]

Ritual Mage

Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 8 ranks or Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 3rd level arcane or divine spells
Special: Ability to cast a minor ritual

HD: d6

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Rituals	Special	Spellcasting
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	1	Ritual casting (minor, least), share ritual	--
2	+1	+0	+0	+3	2	Spelltouched ritual	+1 level of existing class
3	+1	+1	+1	+3	3	--	+1 level of existing class
4	+2	+1	+1	+4	3	Ritual casting (lesser)	--
5	+2	+1	+1	+4	4	Spellfused ritual	+1 level of existing class
6	+3	+2	+2	+5	5	--	+1 level of existing class
7	+3	+2	+2	+5	6	Ritual casting (greater)	--
8	+4	+2	+2	+6	6	--	+1 level of existing class
9	+4	+3	+3	+6	7	--	+1 level of existing class
10	+5	+3	+3	+7	8	Spellbound ritual	+1 level of existing class

Skills: The Ritual Mage's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill points per level: 2 + Int

Class Features

   Weapon and Armor Proficiency: You gain no new proficiency in weapons, armor, or shields.

   Ritual casting: You gain the ability to cast rituals, which are magical effects similar to a spells.  You can cast a ritual at any time, any number of times per day; after casting, the ritual remains "charged" until you decide to discharge it with an act of will (as a free action, unless otherwise specified), at which point the ritual takes effect.  In this way, a you can store up ritual charges until they are needed.  A ritual that is not discharged within 24 hours of its casting fades away with no effect.  The duration of your ritual effects is equal to 1 round per class level, and the caster level of your rituals is equal to your class level.
   Rituals come in five flavors: minor, least, lesser, greater, and advanced.  Casting any ritual requires you to draw a diagram on a flat, solid surface with a piece of chalk or charcoal; it also requires a drop of your blood (which deals 1 point of damage for any ritual stronger than a minor ritual), and chanted words (a ritual cannot be cast while under the effect of a silence spell, for example).  The length of time it takes to cast a ritual depends on its strength: a minor ritual takes 1 minute, a least ritual takes 5 minutes, a lesser ritual takes 10 minutes, a greater ritual takes 15 minutes, and an advanced ritual takes 30 minutes to cast.  Rituals cannot be counterspelled and are not subject to spell resistance, though they may be dispelled; you may charge the same ritual more than once.
   You begin by knowing every general minor ritual; you can have a number of minor rituals equal to your spellcasting ability modifier charged at any one time.  You also learn how to cast least rituals, and you know every general least ritual, as well as the least rituals on your class list, below.  At 4th level, you learn to cast lesser rituals, and at 7th level you learn to cast greater rituals, learning all general and class rituals of the appropriate grade when you gain access to them.
   For rituals stronger than minor, you can have a number of them charged at any time as shown on the table above, and you gain bonus ritual charges equal to half of your spellcasting ability modifier, rounded down.  When you reach 4th level and gain access to lesser rituals, you cannot cast a lesser ritual unless you have at least one more least ritual than lesser rituals already charged.  For example, a 4th-level ritual mage with one least ritual and one lesser ritual charged must cast a second least ritual before casting a second lesser ritual.  At 7th level, when you learn how to cast greater rituals, you cannot cast a greater ritual unless you have at least one more least ritual and one more lesser ritual than greater rituals already charged.  For example, a 7th-level ritual mage with one each least, lesser, and greater rituals charged could not cast another greater ritual until she cast at least one more least and one more lesser ritual.

   Spellcasting: At each level except 1st, 4th, and 7th, you gain new spells per day and spells known as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class you belonged to before adding this prestige class. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained, except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a ritual mage, you must decide to which class you add the new level for purposes of determining spells per day and spells known.

   Share ritual: Your animal companion, familiar, or special mount (if applicable) gains the benefit of any ritual you discharge, as long as it is within 5 feet of you when you discharge it.  The ritual's effect ends when the duration (determined by your class level) expires, as normal.

   Spelltouched ritual: At 2nd level, whenever you discharge a ritual, you may sacrifice a spell slot or prepared spell.  If you do so, the duration of the ritual's effect increases by a number of rounds equal to twice the spell's level (0th-level spells grant 1 additional round).

   Spellfused ritual: Beginning at 5th level, your blending of rituals and spells has become more pronounced.  At any time, you may sacrifice spell slots or prepared spells as a free action to automatically trigger a ritual effect that you know, but do not have charged.  You must sacrifice 2 total spell levels to trigger a least ritual, 5 total spell levels for a lesser ritual, and 8 total spell levels for a greater ritual; these levels may be sacrificed in any combination (but you may not sacrifice 0th-level spells or spell slots for this purpose).  For example, a 5th-level wizard/5th-level ritual mage could sacrifice two 1st-level prepared spells or one 2nd-level prepared spell to trigger a least ritual he knows.

   Spellbound ritual: At 10th level, you have blended your knowledge of rituals and spellcasting completely.  As a free action you can discharge a number of rituals to regain a prepared spell or spell slot that you just cast.  You must discharge a number of rituals equal to 1 + the level of the spell to be regained; the discharged rituals have no effect, and are simply lost.  You must discharge at least one least ritual to regain a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, at least one lesser ritual to regain a spell slot of 4th level or higher, at least one greater ritual to regain a spell slot of 6th level or higher, and at least one advanced ritual to regain a spell slot of 8th level or higher.

[sirpercival]

Ritual Mage Ritual List

(click to show/hide)

Metamagic Ritual, Least
   You can apply a metamagic feat you know to a spell as you are casting it, without adjusting the casting time or the level of the spell.  You choose the metamagic feat, which must have a spell level increase of +1 or less, when you cast the ritual.  This ritual ends after you have done so once, regardless of the remaining duration of the effect.

Ritual of Abjuration, Least
   Whenever you cast an abjuration spell, you gain a +4 deflection bonus to AC for one round.

Ritual of Conjuration, Least
   Whenever you cast a conjuration spell, you may immediately teleport up to twice your base land speed in any direction, in 5 foot increments.  You may not end your movement in an occupied square.

Ritual of Divination, Least
   Whenever you cast a divination spell, you gain a +10 insight bonus on your next attack roll.

Ritual of Enchantment, Least
   Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, you gain a +5 insight bonus to Charisma-based skill checks for 1 round.

Ritual of Evocation, Least
   Whenever you cast an evocation spell that deals energy damage, 50% of that damage is untyped arcane damage and thus not subject to energy resistance or immunity.

Ritual of Illusion, Least
   Whenever you cast an illusion spell, you gain the benefit of the mirror image spell for 1 round.

Ritual of Necromancy, Least
   Whenever you cast a necromancy spell, you gain 10 temporary hit points (as per the false life spell) for 1 round.

Ritual of Potency, Least
   The DC of every spell you cast is increased by 1.

Ritual of Tenacity, Least
   The DC to dispel each of your spells (or to counterspell with a dispel magic effect) is increased by 2.

Ritual of Transmutation, Least
   Whenever you cast a transmutation spell, you gain a +4 insight bonus to the ability score of your choice for 1 round.

(click to show/hide)

Metamagic Ritual, Lesser
   You can apply a metamagic feat you know to a spell as you are casting it, without adjusting the casting time or the level of the spell.  You choose the metamagic feat, which must have a spell level increase of +3 or less, when you cast the ritual.  This ritual ends after you have done so once, regardless of the remaining duration of the effect.

Ritual of Abjuration, Lesser
   Whenever you cast an abjuration spell, you gain a +6 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 bonus to dispel checks for one round.

Ritual of Conjuration, Lesser
   Whenever you cast a conjuration spell, you may immediately teleport up to twice your base land speed in any direction, in 5 foot increments.  You may not end your movement in an occupied square.  In addition, whenever you cast a conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (calling) spell, you may discharge one of your charged rituals to grant the summoned or called creatures the benefit of that ritual.

Ritual of Divination, Lesser
   Whenever you cast a divination spell, you gain a +20 insight bonus on your next attack roll, and a +4 insight bonus to AC for 1 round.

Ritual of Enchantment, Lesser
   Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, you gain a +10 insight bonus to Charisma-based skill checks for 1 round, and for 1 round any creature who tries to attack you must make a Will save (DC equal to the DC of the enchantment spell) to do so.

Ritual of Evocation, Lesser
   Whenever you cast an evocation spell that deals energy damage, 75% of that damage is untyped arcane damage and thus not subject to energy resistance or immunity, and you deal +2 damage per die.

Ritual of Illusion, Lesser
   Whenever you cast an illusion spell, you gain the benefit of the mirror image spell for 1 round, which cannot be defeated by true seeing.  In addition, anyone who successfully disbelieves one of your illusions must make a Fort save (same DC as the illusion spell) or be blinded for 1 round.

Ritual of Necromancy, Lesser
   Whenever you cast a necromancy spell, you gain 20 temporary hit points (as per the false life spell) for 1 round; in addition, you are continually under the effect of a death ward spell.

Ritual of Potency, Lesser
   The DC of every spell you cast is increased by 2, and you get a +2 bonus on caster level checks to defeat spell resistance.

Ritual of Tenacity, Lesser
   The DC to dispel each of your spells (or to counterspell with a dispel magic effect) is increased by 4, and you may cast spells of 1st level or lower inside an antimagic field or dead magic zone.  This ritual can be discharged inside an antimagic field or dead magic zone.

Ritual of Transmutation, Lesser
   Whenever you cast a transmutation spell, for 1 round you gain a +6 insight bonus to the ability score of your choice and are immune to critical hits.

(click to show/hide)

Metamagic Ritual, Greater
   You can apply a metamagic feat you know to a spell as you are casting it, without adjusting the casting time or the level of the spell.  You choose the metamagic feat, which must have a spell level increase of +4 or less, when you cast the ritual.  This ritual ends after you have done so once, regardless of the remaining duration of the effect.

Ritual of Abjuration, Greater
   Whenever you cast an abjuration spell, you gain a +10 deflection bonus to AC and a +8 bonus to dispel checks for one round.  In addition, for the duration of this ritual you are constantly surrounded by a magic circle effect against creatures of the opposite alignment (for example, a lawful good ritual mage would be protected by magic circle against evil and a magic circle against chaos).

Ritual of Conjuration, Greater
   Whenever you cast a conjuration spell, you may immediately teleport up to three times your base land speed in any direction, in 5 foot increments (you may not end your movement in an occupied square).  In addition, whenever you cast a conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (calling) spell, you may discharge one of your charged rituals to grant the summoned or called creatures the benefit of that ritual.  Finally, once per round as a swift action, you may conjure positive energy at a target of your choice within 60 feet; this cures 5d6 points of damage for living targets, and inflicts 5d6 damage to undead targets.  An undead target may attempt a Reflex save for half damage.

Ritual of Divination, Greater
   Whenever you cast a divination spell, you gain a +30 insight bonus on your next attack roll, a +6 insight bonus to AC for 1 round, and you can choose to change your initiative count as if you had refocused.

Ritual of Enchantment, Greater
   Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, you gain a +15 insight bonus to Charisma-based skill checks for 1 round, and for 2 rounds any creature who tries to attack you must make a Will save (DC equal to the DC of the enchantment spell) to do so.  In addition, when you cast a mind-affecting spell, you may make a Spellcraft check (DC 25 + spell level) to remove the mind-affecting descriptor (making it possible to affect creatures immune to mind-affecting effects).  If you fail the check, the spell works as normal.

Ritual of Evocation, Greater
   Whenever you cast an evocation spell that deals energy damage, 100% of that damage is untyped arcane damage and thus not subject to energy resistance or immunity, and you deal +4 damage per die.  In addition, you are continuously affected by bigby's interposing hand, with a caster level equal to your CL for evocation spells.

Ritual of Illusion, Greater
   Whenever you cast an illusion spell, you gain the benefit of the mirror image spell for 1 round, which cannot be defeated by true seeing.  In addition, anyone who successfully disbelieves one of your illusions must make a Fort save (same DC as the illusion spell) or be blinded for 1d4 rounds, and the quasiireality of any shadow conjuration or evocation spell increases by 10% (this ritual cannot increase the reality of such spells above 100%).

Ritual of Necromancy, Greater
   Whenever you cast a necromancy spell, you gain 30 temporary hit points (as per the false life spell) for 1 round; in addition, you are continually under the effect of a death ward spell, and you may cause any target who fails a save against a necromancy spell you cast to gain 1d4 negative levels (no save).

Ritual of Potency, Greater
   The DC of every spell you cast is increased by 4, you get a +4 bonus on caster level checks to defeat spell resistance, and whenever a creature fails a save against one of your spells, they are shaken for a number of rounds equal to your caster level.

Ritual of Tenacity, Greater
   The DC to dispel each of your spells (or to counterspell with a dispel magic effect) is increased by 8, you may cast spells of 3rd level or lower inside an antimagic field or dead magic zone, and whenever anyone employs a divination spell, spell-like ability, or magic item that could detect the magical aura of one of your spells, they must make a successful level check (DC 11 + your caster level) to succeed. Similarly, anyone attempting to reveal the effects of one of your spells via a divination spell must make a caster level check to succeed. They may check only once for each divination spell used, no matter how many of your spell effects are operating in that area.  This ritual may be discharged inside an antimagic field or dead magic zone.

Ritual of Transmutation, Greater
   Whenever you cast a transmutation spell, for 1 round you gain a +8 insight bonus to the ability score of your choice and are immune to critical hits.  In addition, when you discharge this ritual you can animate a single object up to Huge size within 30 feet, as per the animate object spell.  The object remains animated for the duration of this ritual effect.

[Garryl]

   Ritual casting: ...
   You begin by knowing every general minor ritual; you can have a number of minor rituals equal to your spellcasting ability modifier charged at any one time.  ...

   Spellbound ritual: At 10th level, you have blended your knowledge of rituals and spellcasting completely.  As a free action you can discharge a number of rituals to regain a prepared spell or spell slot that you just cast.  You must discharge a number of rituals equal to 1 + the level of the spell to be regained; the discharged rituals have no effect, and are simply lost.

Out of combat, you can effectively cast spells without spending slots by adding 1+level minutes to the cast time. Just thought you ought to know.

I don't recall this class originally having minor rituals. Did that change in the recent edits?

[sirpercival]

Yes, I added that in most recently.  I'll edit spellbound to make it more reasonable -- minors can be used for 0-1, least for 2-3, lesser for 4-5, and greaters for 6+.

EDIT: Actually, I made it work even better.  And you can't regain 8ths or 9ths unless you take levels in a class that gives you advanced rituals.

[Garryl]

Least Abjuration ritual is strictly outclassed by Least Deflection (a general ritual), just thought you should know.

Edit: Greater Necromancy should only give the negative levels on non-harmless spells (or just only on ones you choose), since there are actually a couple of buffing Necromancy spells that would not want that effect.

Greater Evocation should not be trapping you in a resilient sphere (can't move it, can't cast out of it, lolwut?)