Casting
The sphere arcanist may combine spheres and talents to create magical effects. The sphere arcanist is considered a High-Caster. (Note: All casters gain 2 bonus talents and a casting tradition the first time they gain the casting class feature.)
This replaces the spells class feature.
Spell Pool
The sphere arcanist gains a small reservoir of energy she can call on to create truly wondrous effects, called a spell pool. This pool contains a number of spell points equal to her class level + her casting ability modifier. This pool replenishes once per day after roughly 8 hours of rest.
Arcane Reservoir
A sphere arcanist gains an arcane reservoir as normal, and may spend arcane points to increase the DC or caster level of sphere effects just as with spells.
Magic Talents
A sphere arcanist gains a magic talent at 2nd level and every 2 levels thereafter.
Moldable Talents
A sphere arcanist gains a magic talent at every odd level. However, unlike most talents, a sphere arcanist is able to change these particular talents as she desires. Whenever the sphere arcanist rests to regain spell points, she may change any and all of the moldable talents, losing the previous ones and gaining new spheres and new talents in their place. Only moldable talents can be changed in this way; magic talents gained at even levels, as part of levels taken in other classes, as part of the 2 bonus talents all casters gain when they first gain the casting class feature, or gained from taking the Extra Magic Talent feat are not eligible to be changed in this fashion.
Consume Spells
As a move action, a sphere arcanist may consume one spell point to add three arcane points to her arcane reservoir. Points gained in excess of the reservoir’s maximum are lost.
This alters the consume spells class feature.
Arcanist Exploits
The following arcanist exploits behave differently when taken by a sphere arcanist:
Consume Magic Items (Su)
This exploit behaves the same as written, except when consuming a magic item created through the Spheres of Power system, the sphere arcanist gains a number of points for her arcane reservoir equal to 1/4th of the item’s caster level. Spell engines are consumed as if they were implements.
Counterspell (Su)
As an immediate action, the sphere arcanist may spend a point from her arcane reservoir to attempt a Spellcraft check to identify a spell or sphere effect as it is being cast. If the effect is successfully identified, she may spend 1 spell point to attempt to counter the spell, as the Counterspell feat. This arcanist exploit cannot benefit from feats that augment counterspelling, such as Improved Counterspell, Greater Counterspell, or Counterspell Mastery.
Counter Drain (Su)
This exploit behaves the same as written, except when countering a sphere effect, the sphere arcanist gains a number of arcane points equal to the number of spell points spent as part of the countered sphere effect.
Greater Counterspell (Su)
When using the counterspell exploit, the arcanist may spend a second spell point to gain a +5 bonus to her dispel check. She must possess the counterspell exploit to select this greater exploit.
Quick Study (Ex)
As a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, the sphere arcanist may spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to change one of her moldable talents to a different magic talent.
Resistance Drain (Su)
This exploit behaves the same as written, except when used on a sphere effect, it grants the target a number of temporary arcane points equal to the number of spell points spent as part of the resisted sphere effect.
Suffering Knowledge (Su)
This exploit behaves the same as written, except when the sphere arcanist is targeted by an enemy sphere ability, when the sphere arcanist fails a saving throw against a sphere ability cast by an enemy, as an immediate action she can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to gain the ability to recreate that sphere effect for a number of rounds equal to the sphere arcanist’s casting ability modifier (minimum 1). The sphere effect costs as many spell points and possesses as many magic talents as it did when the sphere arcanist failed her saving throw, but the caster level is determined by the sphere arcanist herself.
Magical Supremacy (Su)
At 20th level, the sphere arcanist may spend arcane points instead of spell points when creating sphere effects. She may spend 3 points from her arcane reservoir in place of a spell point when creating a sphere effect.
New Exploits
Encyclopedic Preparation (Ex) [Spheres of Guile]
The arcanist gains Improved Planning as a bonus feat even if she does not meet the prerequisites.
Expanded Readiness [plan] (Ex) [Spheres of Guile]
When using the quick study exploit, the arcanist may spend a plan to swap out one additional spell, as if she had used quick study an additional time. This exploit counts as a [plan] talent toward the number of plans the arcanist can prepare and to meet prerequisites. The arcanist must have quick study to choose this exploit. This exploit may be taken a second time at 9th level and a third time at 17th level.
Overcome Fault (Ex) [Alienist HB]
Whenever the arcanist uses a magic talent, she may spend an arcane pool point to ignore any one drawback associated with her casting tradition (if a drawback counts as more than one, the arcanist must spend additional arcane pool points equal to the number of drawbacks it counts as). When she does so, she does not benefit from any drawback feats tied to that drawback. The arcanist may spend multiple points on a single effect to ignore multiple drawbacks.
Well Of Shifting Radiance (requires Light sphere) (Su) [BaP]
As long as the arcanist has at least 1 point in her arcane reservoir, she may cause herself to glow, or suppress or reactivate any glows she placed on herself, as a free action. The arcanist may only cause herself to glow with this exploit once per round and must use a separate standard action to cause a glow effect she places on herself with this exploit to shed bright light.
As a move action, the arcanist may spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to choose one glow effect within her Light sphere casting range that she created. The chosen glow ends on the creature or object it is attached to and its effects are transferred to another target creature or object within your Light sphere casting range, causing that target to to glow with the original glow’s remaining duration and (light) talents. An unwilling target may attempt a Will save to prevent the glow effect from being transferred to them. If an unwilling target succeeds at its saving throw, the glow stays attached to its original target. The arcanist cannot transfer glows created with Dancing Lights onto creatures or objects.
Wild Secret (Ex) [Alienist HB]
The arcanist can select a wild magic feat as a bonus feat. She must meet the prerequisites of this feat. Each day when she regains spell points, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to exchange this bonus feat for another wild magic feat as long as she meets the prerequisites of the new feat.
New Greater Exploits
The following greater exploits are available to the arcanist class:
Integrate Knowledge (Ex) [Alienist HB]
(requires quick study and either eidetic arcana or suffering knowledge)
When the arcanist uses quick study to exchange one of her moldable talents for a talent she may currently replicate through eidetic arcana or suffering knowledge, she may do so as a move action rather than a full-round action).
Magical Contingency (Su) [Spheres of Guile]
This exploit functions as the magical contingency mastermind trick, save that the arcanist may use it in conjunction with a spell effect she can create with her arcanist abilities as an alternative to using it with an item. If she takes this exploit a second time, she may instead have this exploit function as the planned magical contingency mastermind trick.
Scholar Of Arcane (Ex) [BaP]
The arcanist can select a feat that has a magic sphere as a prerequisite as a bonus feat. She must meet the prerequisites of this feat. Each day when she regains spell points, the arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to exchange this bonus feat for another feat that has a magic sphere as a prerequisite, as long as she meets the prerequisites of the new feat.
U: Part of Ultimate Spheres of Power and does not need to be bought separately from that book