Arcane Star: Magus Archetype

The godess Desna has named many champions across the ages, but her arcane stars are among her most gifted. Through their bond with the Godess of Fortune, the arcane stars are able to blend their own innate magic, the essense of Desna's favor, and a unique ranged fighting style. The result result is a starknife wielding magi who relies on raw magical talent and a great deal of luck to protect them and their allies as they travel the world in an effort to experience all Golarion has to offer.

Code of Conduct An arcane star must be of chaotic good alignment and must not have levels in another class. She loses all class features (except proficiencies) if she ever willingly commits an evil act or takes a level in a different class. As one of Desna’s chosen, an arcane star must strive to adhere to Desna’s principles. She acts quickly and is guided by her intuitions, and if this leads to a negative outcome she takes responsibility while laboring to repair the harm that she has caused. She sees differences as an opportunity for learning, and accepts others who espouse friendship, regardless of race or religion. She abhors those who prey on the sleeping (hags, spellcasters who cast nightmare, etc.), and works to protect the dreamscape and innocent sleeping denizens of the material plane. Associates: While she may adventure with good or neutral allies, an arcane star avoids working with evil characters or with anyone who consistently offends the teachings of Desna. While it is uncommon, an arcane star can ally with evil associates so long as she their common goals will results in a greater good. An arcane star should seek an atonement spell periodically during such an unusual alliance and should end the alliance immediately should she feel it is doing more harm than good. An arcane star may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts who are chaotic good.

Class Skills

An arcane star adds Acrobatics, Bluff, Diplomacy, and all Perform skills to her list of class skills and removes Craft, Intimidate, and Profession from her list of class skills. This ability alters the magus’s class skill list.

Ex-Arcane Stars

An arcane star who ceases to be chaotic good, who willfully commits an evil act, who violates Desna’s code of conduct, or takes a level in a different class, loses all magus spells and class features (but not weapon proficiencies). She may not progress any further in levels as an arcane star. She regains her abilities and advancement potential if she atones for her violations (see atonement) or retrains out of the offending class as appropriate.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

An arcane star is proficient in simple weapons and starknives. An arcane star is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored.

This ability alters the magus’ weapon and armor proficiency.

Spell Casting

An arcane star casts arcane spells drawn from the magus spell list. She can cast any spell she knows without preparing it ahead of time. To learn or cast a spell, an arcane star must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell’s level. The DC for a saving throw against an arcane star’s spell is 10 + the spell’s level + the arcane star’s Charisma modifier. An arcane star can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is the same as a bard of the same level. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Charisma score.

An arcane star’s selection of spells is limited. She has the same number of spells known as a bard of the same level and can choose new spells to replace old ones at 5th level and every 3 arcane star levels after that, just as a bard does. See the bard for more information on swapping spells known. This ability replaces the magus’ spells class feature.

Unlikely Defense (Ex)

At 1st level, while an arcane star is not wearing armor and is wielding a starknife, she gains the unlikely defense ability. She adds adds 1 point of Charisma bonus (if any) per arcane star class level as a dodge bonus to her Armor Class. If an arcane star is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied her Dexterity bonus, she also loses this bonus.

Weapon Focus (Ex)

At 1st level, an arcane star gains Weapon Focus (Starknife) as a bonus feat.

Arcane Pool (Su)

An arcane star’s arcane pool is equal to 1/2 her magus level (minimum 1) + her Charisma modifier. The arcane star’s choices of weapon special abilities to apply with arcane pool at 5th level include called, distance, heart-piercing but not dancing or vorpal.

Additionally, any magus class feature or spell from the magus spell list that normally uses a calculation based on Intelligence is instead based on Charisma for an arcane star. For example, an arcane star with the arcane accuracy magus arcana grants herself an insight bonus on attacks equal to her Charisma bonus, not her Intelligence bonus. This has no effect on the arcane star’s skills or skill points. This ability modifies arcane pool.

Ranged Spell Combat (Ex)

Instead of a light or one-handed melee weapon, an arcane star must use a starknife during spell combat. These attacks can be either melee or ranged attacks. This ability modifies spell combat.