The academician focuses his studies on researching carbuncle, being able to summon one to his side and making it a more powerful companion than even the mighty summoners. This focus however, means that they never truly master the art of balancing their light and dark magic in perfect harmony.
The academician is an archetype of the scholar class, available only to elvaan scholars.
Archetype Main Ability Scores:
The academician mainly focuses on DEX for combat and INT and WIS for their class features and spells.
Archetype Feature Replacements:
1st – Limit Breaks (From Dusk Til Dawn and Tabula Rasa), Grimoire, Light Arts/Dark Arts. 2nd – Scholar Exploit. 3rd – Light Arts: Penury, Dark Arts: Parsimony. 7th – Light Arts: Accession, Dark Arts: Manifestation. 11th – Light Arts: Celerity, Dark Arts: Alacrity. 15th – Light Arts: Rapture, Dark Arts: Ebullience.
Limit Breaks (Su)
At 1st level, the academician receives the Limit Breaks (Perfected Research and Starstorm).
Perfected Research (Su): This Limit Break increases the power of the academician’s carbuncle. For the duration of 1 round + 1 round per four scholar levels after 1st, the carbuncle gains a 2/- DR and +2 enhancement bonus to Strength and Dexterity. These bonuses increase by said amount per four scholar levels after 1st. This limit break requires only a swift action.
Starstorm (Su): This Limit Break allows the academician to summon several small comets to rain down on his enemies. This deals 2d6 points of damage (half fire, half earth) + an additional 2d6 points of damage (half fire, half earth) per four scholar levels after 1st, to all enemies in a 60-ft.-cylinder high, 20-ft.-radius, with a Reflex save (DC 10 + half of the scholar’s level + his Intelligence or Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher) for half damage. This limit break has a range of 100 feet.
These abilities replace the scholar’s standard Limit Breaks.
Grimoire (Su)
Beginning of 1st level, books and tomes become deadly weapons in the hands of an academician. Functioning only in the hands of an academician, a book or tome read by an academician deals 1d4 + Intelligence modifier points of shadow damage or 1d4 + Wisdom modifier points of holy damage, chosen at the time the attack is made. The academician must make a ranged touch attack that has a range of 25 feet + 5 feet per two scholar levels.
This ability modifies grimoire.
Ruby Carbuncle (Su)
At 1st level, an academician begins play with the ability to summon to his side his faithful companion, Carbuncle. This counts as an avatar from the summoner class feature. The academician uses his scholar level for his summoner level to determine the statistics of Carbuncle.
This ability replaces light arts/dark arts and a scholar exploit gained at 2nd level.
Ruby Resilience (Su)
At 3rd level, the academician’s carbuncle generates a small magical force field around itself, gaining damage reduction 2/-. At 6th level and every three scholar levels thereafter, the carbuncle increases its damage reduction by 2.
This ability replaces light arts: penury and dark arts: parsimony.
Obsidian Carbuncle (Su)
At 7th level, the academician’s carbuncle gains an elemental resistance to Earth, Fire, Ice, Lighting, Water, and Wind equal to 5 + the carbuncle’s Charisma modifier.
This ability replaces light arts: accession and dark arts: manifestation.
Obsidian Assistance (Su)
At 11th level, Carbuncle is able to cast Hastega like the spell. This is a spell-like ability and consumes 6 MP from the academician.
This ability replaces light arts: celerity and dark arts: alacrity.
Moonstone Carbuncle (Su)
At 15th level, the academician reaches the pinnacle of carbuncle research, increasing its abilities beyond that of any other carbuncle. The carbuncle gains the following advancements:
Size: Small; Reach: 5 ft; AC: +2 natural armor; Attack: bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4); Ability Scores: Dex +2, Con +2, Wis +2 Cha +4
This ability replaces light arts: rapture and dark arts: ebullience.
