[Fantasy Craft] Class Conversion Exercise - Beguiler (Specialty)

[Khaalis]

I took a look at another old class that was pretty popular from the 3X generation, the Beguiler. What it really boiled down to wasn't even enough unique characteristics to make it a feet tree, so I tried this specialty (and it's tricks) instead.  However, since we don't have many spellcasting tricks other than "metamagic" to go on, I am not sure if these work well or not.


BEGUILER
   A master of illusion, shadow and surprise, you are a specialist at catching others unawares with your spells.
   Requirement: Sorcery campaign quality
•   Attribute Training: +2 Charisma
•   Bonus Feat: Hidden Spells
•   Cloaked Casting: You gain the Cloaked Casting Trick.
•   Double Boost: You may spend and roll 2 action dice to boost Charisma-based skill checks.
•   Surprise Casting: You gain the Surprise Casting Trick.


Cloaked Casting (Sorcery Spellcasting Trick): When casting a spell that grants a saving throw, any flat-footed targets increase the save DC by +2.

Surprise Casting (Sorcery Spellcasting Trick): The target must also resist a Feint action with the Spellcasting check as the DC.


Thoughts, suggestions?

[aegis]

I'd replace the +2 Charisma with +1 to lower of Dexterity or Charisma. Hidden Spell is a sound choice. One trick is enough, I would say, Cloaked Casting being my favorite. Double Boost is for Talents. That makes it 3 points. You could add one or two 2-points abilities, like Paired Skills (Spellcasting/Prestidigitation), and Beguiling, even if it's just for the name ...

BEGUILER
   A master of illusion, shadow and surprise, you are a specialist at catching others unawares with your spells.
   Requirement: Sorcery campaign quality
•   Bonus Feat: Hidden Spells
•   Attribute Training: The lower of your Dexterity or Charisma increases by 1.
•   Beguiling: blah
•   Cloaked Casting: You gain the Cloaked Casting Trick.
•   Paired Skills: When you gain 1 or more ranks in the Spellcasting Skill, you gain an equal number of ranks in the Prestidigitation Skill. You may not increase your Prestidigitation Skill beyond its maximum rank.

[Khaalis]

Yeah, I looked at Beguiling right off, but it just didn't seem to fit the concept. So with your recommendations and some other changes... how about this?

BEGUILER
   A master of illusion, shadow and surprise, you are a specialist at catching others unawares with your spells.
   Requirement: Sorcery campaign quality
•   Bonus Feat: Hidden Spells (1)
•   Attribute Training: The lower of your Dexterity or Charisma increases by 2 (your choice if a tie). Apply this bonus after any modifiers from your Species or Talent.(2)
•   Cloaked Casting: You gain the Cloaked Casting Trick. (1)
•   Origin Skill: Choose 1 additional Origin skill.
•   Paired Skills: When you gain 1 or more ranks in the Spellcasting Skill, you gain an equal number of ranks in the Prestidigitation Skill. You may not increase your Prestidigitation Skill beyond its maximum rank. (2)

Adding an extra origin skill would allow a mage a better selection of roguish skills to fill this concept out?

The other option I would throw out there would be...
•   Naturally Sneaky: You gain 1 rank in Sneak and a +1 morale bonus to all Sneak checks. Apply this bonus rank before spending skill points.

Thoughts?

[aegis]

Attribute Training: The lower of your Dexterity or Charisma increases by 2 (your choice if a tie). Apply this bonus after any modifiers from your Species or Talent.(2)

Attribute Training should stay at +1 in my opinion. Specialties are not meant for attribute bumping. I like the rest, including ...

The other option I would through out there would be...
•   Naturally Sneaky: You gain 1 rank in Sneak and a +1 morale bonus to all Sneak checks. Apply this bonus rank before spending skill points.

Absolutely! If the Beguiler shouldn't need a mage's pouch to cast spells, you can also give him Nothing in my Sleeve.

[Khaalis]

Nothing in my Sleeve.

  I don't have this one on my spreadhseet. Did I miss this one? Where is it from?

[Krensky]

It's in the wiki.

When I wrote up the Contractor Specialty it was an unnamed 1 point benefit. I called it Pact, and Morg suggested Nothing Up My Sleeve.

[Khaalis]

Ok then, I think we have a winner.

BEGUILER
   A master of illusion, shadow and surprise, you are a specialist at catching others unawares with your spells.
   Requirement: Sorcery campaign quality
•   Bonus Feat: Hidden Spells
•   Attribute Training: The lower of your Dexterity or Charisma increases by 1 (your choice if a tie). Apply this bonus after any modifiers from your Species or Talent.
•   Cloaked Casting: You gain the Cloaked Casting Trick.
•   Naturally Sneaky: You gain 1 rank in Sneak and a +1 morale bonus to all Sneak checks. Apply this bonus rank before spending skill points.
•   Nothing up my Sleeve: You may make Spellcasting checks as if you have mage's pouch.
•   Paired Skills: When you gain 1 or more ranks in the Spellcasting Skill, you gain an equal number of ranks in the Prestidigitation Skill. You may not increase your Prestidigitation Skill beyond its maximum rank.

Cloaked Casting (Sorcery Spellcasting Trick): When casting a spell that grants a saving throw, any flat-footed targets increase the save DC by +2.

[Morgenstern]

Smooth.

[aegis]

You should put it on the database, Khaalis! 

[Khaalis]

You should put it on the database, Khaalis! 

Already done.