Bomber Mage (Wizard/Alchemist)

A bomber mage strives to fuse the consistent techniques of his arcane spellcasting with the volatile science of creating bombs. Unlike the alchemist, the bomber mage uses the arcane energies at his disposable to modify and enhance the effects of these explosive devices and increase the power of their detonation. In addition to his arcane bombs, the bomber mage also employs the use of extracts to enhance his arcane capabilities. The bomber mage is essentially a primary spellcaster that can support his allies in combat with ranged incendiaries or with spell effects through extracts, should he exhaust his complement of his spells, or require different tactics to defeat his foe. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Wizard.

Secondary Class: Alchemist.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d6.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The bomber mage may select three alchemist skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal wizard class skills. The bomber mage gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The bomber mage is proficient with all simple weapons, but not with any armor or shields. Armor interferes with an bomber mage’s movements, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.

Spellcasting: The bomber mage casts arcane spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. A bomber mage must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time. The bomber mage does not cast cantrips and gains the detect magic and read magic cantrips and places them in his spellbook as 1st-level spells. He also receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score. A bomber mage otherwise learns, prepares, and casts spells as a wizard of equal level. In addition, a bomber mage of 3rd level or higher gains the ability to create extracts (see Extracts), using his bomber mage level as his caster level. For the purpose of these extracts, a bomber mage considers any spell in his spellbook as a formulae.

Alchemy (Su): At 1st level, a bomber mage gains the alchemist’s ability to create mundane alchemical substances such as alchemist’s fire and smokesticks. When using Craft (alchemy) to create an alchemical item, a bomber mage gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on the Craft (alchemy) check. In addition, a bomber mage can use Craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using detect magic. He must hold the potion for 1 round to make such a check. This ability and extracts replace cantrips.

Arcane School: This is exactly like the wizard ability of the same name, except that the bomber mage must select the Incendiary School at 1st level.

Extracts: Beginning at 3rd level, a bomber mage learns to fashion magical potion-like extracts in which to store his spell effects, like an alchemist. While studying his spellbook, a bomber mage decides which spells to memorize as spells and which to prepare as extracts. Like an alchemist, when a bomber mage creates an extract, he infuses the concoction with a tiny fraction of his own magical power, binding the effects to the creator. At 3rd level, a bomber mage can create extracts from his 1st-level spells. Every three levels thereafter, a bomber mage can create extracts from each subsequent level of spells, up to a maximum of 6th–level spells at 18th level.

Creating extracts consumes raw materials, but the cost of these materials is insignificant—comparable to the valueless material components of most spells. If a spell normally has a costly material component, that component is expended during the consumption of that particular extract. Extracts cannot be made from spells that have focus requirements (bomber mage extracts that duplicate divine spells never have a divine focus requirement). A bomber mage can prepare an extract of any spell he has in his spellbook. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a bomber mage’s extract is 10 + the extract level + the bomber mage's Intelligence modifier.

Unlike other wizards, a bomber mage can learn spells from an alchemist’s formula book that are on the sorcerer/wizard spell list and copy them into his spellbook as spells. A bomber mage does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them. A bomber mage’s extracts otherwise function like an alchemist’s extracts.

Bonus Feats: This is exactly like the wizard ability of the same name, except the bomber mage gains a bonus feat at 6th, 12th, and 18th level. In addition, whenever a bomber mage chooses a bonus feat, he may select the Bomb Discovery feat or an alchemist discovery that he qualifies for instead.

Metabombs (Sp): At 9th level, whenever a bomber mage infuses an arcane bomb with a spell, he can apply any single metamagic feat he knows to enhance the bombs effect. He can apply any of the following metamagic feats to his arcane bombs: Burning Spell, Concussive Spell, Dazing Spell, Disruptive Spell, Enlarge Spell, Flaring Spell, Intensified Spell (maximum 10d6), Rime Spell, Sickening Spell, Thundering Spell. Adding a metamagic feat to an arcane bomb expends a prepared spell with a level equal to the infused spell plus the level increase of the metamagic feat. The bomber mage may only apply a metamagic feat with an effect similar to his bomb. For example, a 12th level bomber mage wants to use the Flaring Spell metamagic feat on his bomb, which only affects spells with the electricity, fire, or light descriptor. He prepares a fire bomb and infuses it with a 2nd–level spell (+4d6 damage). When he uses the bomb, he applies Flaring Spell to the bomb as a free action and expends a 3rd–level spell (2nd–level infused spell plus the feats +1 level increase). If the bomb attack is successful, the target takes 5d6+6 points of fire damage plus the dazzling effect of the feat. A bomber mage can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Intelligence modifier. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 10th level.

Table: Bomber Mage