Astronomer (Character Kit)

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==Astronomer==
Description: The Astronomer is a student of the Known Spheres. He studies the spheres, the stars, the phlogiston, and the worlds of space, seeking the underlying key to the mystery of creation.
In his travels, the Astronomer gains many insights into the workings of the spheres. He may be a driven seeker of hidden wisdom or a spaceborne tourist, sampling the pleasures of every world he visits.
Role: The Astronomer is a source of information. His studies and travels give his insight into the nature of the planets and the crystal spheres, and his breadth of experience makes him a valued travel companion. Like any scholar, however, the Astronomer is sometimes perceived as an ineffectual bystander. This is by no means universally true.
Of all the types of specialty mages, abjurers and invokers are the most common Astronomers. Abjurers use their protective magic to enable them to explore where others would be instantly slain, while invokers delight in the act of creation, which explains their fascination with crystal spheres. Transmuters and illusionists seek to change the nature of reality, either actually or temporarily, and thus are not generally interested in the wonders of space. There are a few necromancer-Astronomers, but these tend to be obsessed with the dead worlds that litter the Known Spheres, and are especially fascinated with the few burned-out and dead spheres. To abandon the Astronomer kit, a mage need only declare that he no longer wishes to pursue the wonders of space. He immediately loses all benefits of the kit, as his expertise is maintained through constant study and contemplation of the spheres. The hindrances of the kit are also lost immediately.
Secondary Skills: Scribe.
Weapon Proficiencies:
* Required: Dagger or staff.
Nonweapon Proficiencies:
* Bonus: Navigation (Phlogiston), Planetology.
* Recommended: (Wizard) Ancient History, Astrology, Ancient Languages, Reading/Writing.
Equipment: Astronomers may purchase their equipment as normal.
Special Benefits: Astronomers develop an encyclopedic knowledge of Known Space. With a successful intelligence check, an Astronomer can identify the sphere he is in and relate something of its physical characteristics and history. (The Astronomer must spend one hour studying the configuration of the planets and sphere before making the check.) This is especially useful should the ship become lost (see the Navigation (Phlogiston) proficiency) or should the Astronomer become involved in sudden planar travel.
The DM may assign a bonus or penalty to this roll depending on how heavily traveled and distinctive the sphere is. For example, an Astronomer in Greyspace—with its dark central body and distinctive planetary configuration—might receive a +3 on the Intelligence check to identify the sphere. On the other hand, a sphere that is considerably outside the boundaries of the Known Spheres and has not been visited by humans or demihumans in centuries (if ever) might cause the Astronomer to suffer a -5 on his Intelligence check.
A failed roll indicates that the Astronomer cannot identify the sphere. A roll of 20 exactly causes the Astronomer to misidentify the sphere.
Special Hindrances: Astronomers are fascinated with space, but they tend to be disdainful of groundlings. This disdain is difficult to hide, causing them to suffer a -3 on reaction rolls when encountering groundlings.
Wealth Options: Astronomers receive the normal starting wealth for a character of their class.
Races: Of the demihuman races, elves and half-elves are most likely to be Astronomers. As gnomes can only be illusionists, they will not pursue this kit.
The nonhumans races that can be mages are not interested in something as abstruse as the configurations of the Known Spheres. Rastipedes are too interested in commerce and social interaction to take on the solitary study of space, while the scro and xixchil are too pragmatic to pursue such a course.
Category:Character Kit
Category:Character Kit CSH