Beneath the expanses of the multiverse lies an infinite realm of nothingness. A vast gulf of entropy, all planes are connected to and shaped by the null space between realms, a place defined not by its existence but lack thereof. Reaching into this boundary between creation and destruction is usually beyond mortal ability, but it is possible to breach it. Whether born from a desire to mold the world as they see fit, planar experimentation gone awry, or even an otherworldly presence within their soul, a rare few can grasp the darkness between worlds. Called shapers, these warriors manipulate the void to control the battlefield, unleashing planar force that consumes all that would stand in their way.
Role: A shaper is an arcane warrior that uses reality-bending magic to hinder their foes and protect their allies. They work best in the thick of a fight, unleashing entropic distortions to ravage opponents while warping space to defend themselves.
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: d10
Starting Age: Trained
Starting Wealth: 5d6 × 10 gp (average 175 gp). In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.
CLASS SKILLS: The shaper’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks Per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
CLASS FEATURES[]
| Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Quintessence, Shaper's Insight, Void | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Distortion, Eldritch Sight | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Entropic Guard | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Arcane Warrior, Distortion | 0 | — | — | — |
| 5th | +5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Bonus Feat | 1 | — | — | — |
| 6th | +6/+1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Distortion | 1 | — | — | — |
| 7th | +7/+2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Improved Void | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 8th | +8/+3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | Distortion | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 9th | +9/+4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | Instability | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| 10th | +10/+5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | Distortion | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | 7 | 3 | 7 | Bonus Feat | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | 8 | 4 | 8 | Distortion | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | 8 | 4 | 8 | Improved Eldritch Sight | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | 9 | 4 | 9 | Distortion | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | 9 | 5 | 9 | Greater Void | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 16th | +16/+11/+6/+1 | 10 | 5 | 10 | Distortion | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 17th | +17/+12/+7/+2 | 10 | 5 | 10 | Bonus Feat | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 18th | +18/+13/+8/+3 | 11 | 6 | 11 | Distortion | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 19th | +19/+14/+9/+4 | 11 | 6 | 11 | Improved Instability | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20th | +20/+15/+10/+5 | 12 | 6 | 12 | True Shaper | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
All of the following are class features of the shaper.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency[]
Shapers are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields). A shaper can cast shaper spells while wearing armor and using a shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. A multiclass shaper still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Quintessence (Su)[]
A shaper has power over the void, the null-space between planes that all of existence rests upon. Controlling the quintessence of the void allows her to reshape reality to her whims, molding both arcane energies and disruptive surges of entropy.
The shaper’s quintessence pool has a maximum amount equal to twice her shaper level + her Intelligence modifier (minimum 1), refreshing at the start of each day after gaining 8 hours of rest. Quintessence is primarily used to fuel her void ability, though the shaper can learn new methods of utilizing her quintessence through her distortion feature (see below).
Shaper’s Insight (Ex)[]
A shaper can add half her level to Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), and Spellcraft checks she makes (minimum +1) and can make such checks untrained.
Void (Su)[]
All shapers learn to disrupt the planar structure around them, exposing it to the entropic energies of the void to draw in nearby foes and drain their strength.
The shaper can spend 1 point of quintessence as a move action to open the void. She must spend 1 point of quintessence at the start of each turn the void is open: the void remains in effect until closed as a free action on the shaper’s turn or if the shaper starts her turn with no quintessence remaining, whichever comes first. The void also closes early if the shaper is knocked unconscious or killed.
The void pulls at the space within 10 feet of the shaper; she can make the radius of her void smaller than this, but the radius must be an increment of 5 feet. The area of the void moves with her as she does, affecting any enemies that enter into the area.
Enemies within the void’s area takes a -1 penalty to attack rolls as the void disrupts space, interfering with attacks. The planar disruption can even consume magic: enemies in the area take a -1 penalty on concentration checks and must make a concentration check to cast (DC 10 + the shaper’s level + her Intelligence modifier) or lose the spell as the void drains the magic of its potency. Treat this as if casting defensively; a foe that is already casting defensively doesn’t need to make a second check, but uses either the normal concentration DC or the one for the shaper’s void, whichever is higher.
The penalty to attack rolls and concentration checks increases to -2 at 7th level and to -3 at 15th level. The shaper is immune to the effects of her own void, but not the void of another shaper. The penalties applied from multiple shapers’ voids do not stack (apply only the highest penalty).
Distortion[]
Starting at 2nd level, the shaper gains further control over the base quintessence of reality, unlocking new powers and infusing her body with null energies. The shaper gains one distortion of her choice, plus an additional distortion every two levels gained thereafter, to a total of nine distortions at 18th level.
The shaper must meet the requirements of a distortion she selects, if any, and cannot select the same distortion more than once. If a distortion calls for a saving throw, the save DC is equal to 10 + 1/2 the shaper’s level + her Intelligence modifier, unless otherwise noted. Certain distortions can modify the effects of the shaper’s void ability and are marked with an asterisk (*); these distortions do not stack. Only one such distortion can be applied to the void, chosen upon opening the void.
A full list of shaper distortions can be found here.
Eldritch Sight (Su)[]
Also at 2nd level, the shaper’s understanding of the fundamentals of reality allows her to perceive magical and supernatural alterations around her. She has the constant effect of detect magic, as the spell, though it does not require concentration and has a range of 30 feet. She can suppress or reactivate this ability as a free action.
Entropic Guard (Su)[]
Starting at 3rd level, the shaper can add her Intelligence modifier (minimum +0) to her touch AC. This cannot cause her touch AC to exceed her normal AC.
Spellcasting[]
Beginning at 4th level, a shaper gains the ability to cast a small number of arcane spells, which are drawn from the shaper spell list. A shaper must choose and prepare her spells in advance.
To prepare or cast a spell, a shaper must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a shaper’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the shaper’s Intelligence modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a shaper can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Shaper. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score (see the Ability Scores section in Chapter 1 of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook). When Table: Shaper indicates that the shaper gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, she gains only the bonus spells she would be entitled to based on her Intelligence score for that spell level.
A shaper may know any number of spells. She must choose and prepare her spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying her spellbook. While studying, the shaper decides which spells to prepare.
Spellbooks[]
A shaper must study her spellbook each day to prepare her spells. She cannot prepare any spell not recorded in her spellbook. Upon reaching 4th level, the shaper gains a spellbook containing three 1st-level shaper spells of her choice. The shaper also selects a number of additional 1st-level shaper spells equal to her Intelligence modifier to add to her spellbook. At each new shaper level, she gains two new shaper spells of any spell level or levels that she can cast (based on her new shaper level) for her spellbook. At any time, a shaper can also add spells found in other spellbooks to her own.
A shaper can learn spells from a wizard’s spellbook, just as a wizard can from a shaper’s spellbook. The spells learned must be on the shaper spell list, as normal. An alchemist can learn formulae from a shaper’s spellbook, if the spells are also on the alchemist spell list. A shaper cannot learn spells from an alchemist.
Arcane Warrior (Ex)[]
At 4th level, a shaper can use a hand holding a shield or weapon she is wielding to fulfill the somatic components of shaper spells she casts. She must be proficient with the weapon or shield to do so.
Bonus Feat[]
At 5th level, and every six levels thereafter, the shaper receives a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat feats. She must meet the prerequisites of these feats as normal.
Improved Void (Su)[]
At 7th level, the shaper’s void grows in strength. She may now open the void as a swift action, and the maximum radius of the void increases to 15 feet. Enemies in the area of the void have their movement speeds reduced by half, to a minimum speed of 5 feet.
Instability (Ex)[]
Starting at 9th level, the shaper’s magics fluctuate with unpredictable entropy, making them more difficult to suppress by traditional means. She adds her Intelligence modifier to the DC to counter, dispel, or remove her shaper spells or spell-like abilities (such as by dispel magic or break enchantment).
Improved Eldritch Sight (Su)[]
At 13th level, the shaper’s eldritch sight improves. She now has the constant benefit of arcane sight to a range of 30 feet. She can suppress or reactivate this ability as a free action.
Greater Void (Su)[]
At 15th level, the shaper’s void becomes even more potent. The maximum radius of the void increases to 20 feet. Additionally, the pull of the void prevents even extra-dimensional forms of escape, affecting the area of the void as a dimensional lock spell.
Improved Instability (Ex)[]
At 19th level, a shaper’s void, distortions, and spells are unaffected by antimagic fields, dead magic areas, and similar effects. They can be countered or dispelled, as usual (such as by dispel magic).
True Shaper (Su)[]
At 20th level, the shaper has become a master of the void, able to bend reality to her whims. At the start of each day when the shaper regains her quintessence, she may select any combination of two distortions. These distortions can be ones she already knows, but if so they must be distortions that require spending quintessence to use.
If she selects a distortion she didn’t already know, she gains it as an additional distortion known for the next 24 hours, losing access to it once she regains quintessence the next day (at which point she can choose it again).
If she selects a distortion she already knows that requires spending quintessence, she reduces the cost by half (rounded down), to a minimum of 0. If this reduces the cost to zero, she can use that distortion at-will so long as she has at least 1 quintessence remaining. This benefit lasts until the shaper regains quintessence the following day, at which point she loses the benefit unless she selects it again with this ability.
Favored Class Bonuses[]
- Aasimar: Add +1/2 to the shaper’s level for the purpose of determining the effects of one distortion.
- Catfolk: Add +1/2 to the bonus provided by the shaper’s insight class feature.
- Changeling: Gain 1/6 of a new distortion.
- Dhampir: Add +1/2 point of negative energy damage to shaper spells and distortions that deal negative energy damage.
- Drow: Choose any two combat maneuvers. Add +1/3 to the shaper’s CMB when attempting these maneuvers (maximum bonus of +4).
- Duergar: Increase the range of both the shaper’s eldritch sight and improved eldritch sight by 5 feet (max +60 feet).
- Dwarf: Add 1/3 to the effective caster level of shaper abjuration spells, but only to determine duration.
- Elf: Add one spell from the shaper spell list to the shaper’s spellbook. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the shaper can cast.
- Fetchling: Increase the range of both the shaper’s eldritch sight and improved eldritch sight by 5 feet (max +60 feet).
- Gillmen: Add +1 to the shaper’s CMD when resisting two combat maneuvers of the character’s choice.
- Gnome: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks made to cast shaper spells.
- Goblin: Increase the shaper’s quintessence pool by +1/2 point.
- Grippli: Increase the touch AC bonus provided by the shaper’s entropic guard by +1/3.
- Half-Elf: Gain 1/6 of a new distortion.
- Half-Orc: The shaper gains 1/2 point of DR/– against nonlethal damage (maximum DR 10/–).
- Halfling: Increase the shaper’s quintessence pool by +1/2 point.
- Hobgoblin: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks made to cast shaper spells.
- Human: Add one spell from the shaper spell list to the shaper’s spellbook. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the shaper can cast.
- Ifrit: Add +1/2 to the shaper’s level for the purpose of determining the effects of one distortion.
- Kitsune: Increase the shaper’s quintessence pool by +1/2 point.
- Kobold: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks made to cast shaper spells.
- Merfolk: Gain 1/6 of a new distortion.
- Nagaji: Add +1 to the shaper’s CMD when resisting two combat maneuvers of the character’s choice.
- Orc: Choose any two combat maneuvers. Add +1/3 to the shaper’s CMB when attempting these maneuvers (maximum bonus of +4).
- Oread: Add +1 to the shaper’s CMD when resisting two combat maneuvers of the character’s choice.
- Ratfolk: Add +5 feet to the range of one distortion that has a listed range. It cannot be one with a range of “touch” or one that alters the effects of the void.
- Samsaran: Increase the range of the shaper’s eldritch sight and improved eldritch sight by 5 feet (max +60 feet).
- Strix: Increase the shaper’s quintessence pool by +1/2 point.
- Suli: Gain 1/6 of a new distortion.
- Svirfneblin: Increase the range of the shaper’s eldritch sight and improved eldritch sight by 5 feet (max +60 feet).
- Sylph: Increase the touch AC bonus provided by the shaper’s entropic guard by +1/3.
- Tengu: Choose any two combat maneuvers. Add +1/3 to the shaper’s CMB when attempting these maneuvers (maximum bonus of +4).
- Tiefling: Increase the touch AC bonus provided by the shaper’s entropic guard by +1/3 (max +4).
- Undine: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks made to cast shaper spells.
- Vanara: Add +1/2 to the shaper’s level for the purpose of determining the effects of one distortion.
- Vishkanya: Add +1 to the shaper’s CMD when resisting two combat maneuvers of the character’s choice.
- Wayang: Add a +1/4 bonus to weapon damage rolls that the shaper makes against opponents that are within dim light or darkness.