Dust Mage (Pixie, Arcanist Archetype)

A dust mage is a master of creating mundane alchemical substances, but is restricted to flash powder, itching powder, and sneezing powder. When using Craft (alchemy) to create one of these alchemical items, a dust mage gains a competence bonus equal to her arcanist level on the Craft (alchemy) check. The dust mage can use Craft (alchemy) to identify magical dusts and powders as if using detect magic. She must hold the dust or powder for 1 round to make such a check. This ability replaces consume spells.Pixie Dust (Su)

At 1st level, a dust mage can use her arcane reservoir to create magical powders. She can create a number of doses of flash powder, itching powder, or sneezing powder equal to her Intelligence modifier by spending 1 point from her arcane reservoir and 1 minute of work. These powders immediately become inert if the leave the dust mage’s possession, reactivating as soon as they return to her keeping.

Alternatively, a dust mage can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to create a single use of pixie dust, infusing the powder with a tiny fraction of her own magical power—this enables her to create powerful effects, but also binds the effects to the creator. Once created, a use of pixie dust remains potent until used and only one use can be created in this way at a time.

In order to create a use of pixie dust, the dust mage must use a small pouch containing an ounce of powdered reagent—the dust mage can create this reagent from small amounts of chemicals from an alchemy lab, and these supplies can be readily refilled in the same manner as a spellcaster's component pouch. A dust mage can create a number of reagent pouches per day equal to her level + her Intelligence modifier, and most create them at the start of the day—once created, a reagent pouch remains usable by the dust mage for years.

Whenever a dust mage creates a use of pixie dust, the reagent pouch is infused with one of the following spells at the time of creation: charm person, hypnotism, sleep. Each time she creates a use of pixie dust, she can select which spell to infuse it with. At 4th level, a dust mage adds daze monster, hideous laughter, and lesser confusion to the list of spells she can infuse into her dust.

Pixie dust can be thrown at an enemy as a splash weapon, or sprinkled on the dust mage’s weapons. Drawing the components of, creating, and either throwing or applying the dust to a weapon requires a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Thrown pixie dust pouches have a range of 20 feet and use the Throw Splash Weapon special attack to determine who is affected by the dust. On a direct hit, pixie dust affects the target for a number of rounds equal to the dust mage’s Intelligence modifier (minimum 1), regardless of the spells actual duration. Pixie dust deals no splash damage, but the splash target is affected by the dust’s effect for 1 round. Those caught in the splash area can attempt a Will save to negate the dust effect. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the dust mage's level + the dust mage's Intelligence modifier.

Dust mages can learn to create new types of dusts as they level up. A dust mage cannot normally pass out her pixie dust for allies to use, as the dust becomes inert if used or carried by anyone else (but see the Infused Dust exploit). This ability replaces the arcane exploit gained at 1st level.

Arcanist Exploits

This is exactly like the arcanist ability of the same name, except that the dust mage can choose the new Infused Dust arcanist exploit restricted to the Dust Mage racial archetype.

Improved Pixie Dust (Su)

At 7th level, a dust mage adds deep slumber, hold person, and suggestion to the list of spells she can infuse into her dust. At 10th level, a dust mage adds charm monster, confusion, and fear to the list of spells she can infuse into her dust. This ability replaces the arcane exploit gained at 7th level.

Greater Pixie Dust (Su)

At 13th level, a dust mage adds dominate person, hold monster, and modify memory to the list of spells she can infuse into her dusts. At 16th level, a dust mage adds insanity and serenity to the list of spells she can infuse into her dusts. This ability replaces the arcane exploit gained at 13th level.

Grand Pixie Dust (Su)

At 19th level, a dust mage adds euphoric tranquility and irresistible dance to the list of spells she can infuse into her dusts. This ability replaces the arcane exploit gained at 19th level.

Table: Dust Mage