Races of Wild

CHAPTER 5PRESTIGECLASSES108Shadowdancer (Dungeon Master’s Guide): As naturalrogues, halflings are sometimes drawn to the hidden arts ofthe shadowdancer.Spellsword (Complete Warrior): Like the bladesinger, thespellsword masters both spell and blade. Both elves andhalflings are drawn to this prestige class.Sublime Chord (Complete Arcane): Elf bards are oftendrawn to this prestige class, which permits a bard to achieveunrivalled heights of magical power.Wild Mage (Complete Arcane): The masters of chaoticmagic, wild mages are often elves or halflings.ARCANE HIEROPHANT“There’s nothing unnatural about magic. Magic ebbs and flowsthrough the very earth where you stand, the air that your breathe,and the water that you drink. A fire has some magic of its own,as I’m sure you’ll agree when it warms you on a cold day or cooksyour food.”—Altherion Duniiloli, arcane hierophantArcane hierophants wield a blending of arcane magic anddivine magic with a heavy emphasis on nature and theelements. Though they possess the learning and disciplinecommonly associated with wizards, they also have practicalknowledge of the natural world commonly associated withdruids. Like druids, they can change shape into animaland elemental forms, but they also can wield powerfularcane spells.BECOMING ANARCANE HIEROPHANTMulticlassing as a wizard/druid provides the quickest pathto becoming an arcane hierophant, though you can meet thearcane spellcasting requirements as a bard or sorcerer andthe divine spellcasting requirements as a relatively high-levelranger. You’ll need druid or ranger levels to meet the classfeature requirements. Intelligence or Wisdom (either onecan govern your spellcasting) is a key ability for you. A highDexterity score can prove helpful to you in combat, both toimprove your Armor Class and to help you beat the oppositionto the punch with a quick spell.Entry RequirementsAlignment: Any nonlawful.Base Attack Bonus: +4.Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 8ranks.Spells: Ability to cast 2nd-level arcane spells and 2nd-leveldivine spells.Special: Trackless step class feature.CLASS FEATURESAs they advance in level, arcane hierophants improve theirspellcasting abilities. They also learn how to change shape,and they develop powers that allow them to use plants andanimals as weapons and tools.Weapon and Armor Proficiency: You gain no proficiencyin any weapons or armor. You abide by the same armor restrictionsthat druids do, and you lose your divine spellcastingability and supernatural or spell-like class abilities if youwear prohibited armor or carry a prohibited shield.Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new spells perday and an increase in caster level (and spells known, ifapplicable) as if you had also gained a level in an arcanespellcasting class and a level in a divine spellcasting class towhich you belonged before adding the prestige class level.You do not, however, gain any other class feature a characterof that class would have gained. If you had more than onearcane spellcasting class or more than one divine spellcastingclass before becoming an arcane hierophant, you mustdecide to which class to add each level for the purpose ofdetermining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.Ignore Arcane Spell Failure: When casting an arcanespell, you ignore the arcane spell failure chance for anynonmetallic light or medium armor (padded, leather, or hidearmor). You learn to cast arcane spells while wearing the typesof armor that druids favor.Wild Shape (Su): If you do not already possess the ability,you gain no new ability to wild shape. However, you addyour arcane hierophant level to your druid level and gainthe wild shape ability of a druid of the resulting level. Forexample, a character who is a 3rd-level wizard/3rd-leveldruid/4th-level arcane hierophant has the wild shape abilityof a 7th-level druid. If you are not a druid, (for example, ifyou entered the class as a wizard/ranger), you do not gain theability to wild shape.Companion Familiar: Upon becoming an arcanehierophant, you must dismiss your familiar, if you have one.(You do not risk losing XP for doing so.) You may retain anyone animal companion you already possess. You add yourarcane hierophant class level to your druid or ranger levelfor purposes of determining your animal companion’s bonusHit Dice, natural armor adjustment, and Strength/Dexterityadjustment (see the sidebar The Druid’s Animal Companion,page 36 of the Player’s Handbook). For example, a characterwho is a 4th-level druid/3rd-level wizard/4th-level arcanehierophant has the animal companion of an 8th-level druid(+4 bonus HD, +4 natural armor, and +2 Strength/Dexterityadjustment, or an animal companion chosen from the 4thlevelor 7th-level lists).In addition, your animal companion (if any) gains manyof the abilities that a familiar would normally possess.You add your arcane hierophant class level to your arcanespellcasting class level, and determine the Intelligencebonus and special abilities of your animal companionaccordingly (see the sidebar Familiars, page 53 of thePlayer’s Handbook). For example, a 4th-level druid/3rd-levelwizard/4th-level arcane hierophant has a familiar companionequal to that of a 7th-level wizard and 8th-level druid(Intelligence 9, alertness, improved evasion, share spells,empathic link, deliver touch spells, speak with master,speak with animals of its kind, devotion).