Basic Archetype: Scribe (Rune Magic)

*This section details a generic “scribe” archetype that can be applied to any character that has the spells class feature. Use this in combination with the general rules for rune magic and any class-specific rules to convert your class to a runic scribe.*

### **Rune Magic**

This character’s arcane power comes through their understanding of scripts, an esoteric form of magic that involves the creation and empowering of mystic symbols called “runes”.

Their scribe type (either major, intermediate, or lesser) is determined by the highest level of spell the class could cast originally (see Scribe Types, above). If they are a lesser scribe, they do not gain this feature until reaching 4th level in their class. This determines the number of runic scripts the character can learn and prepare each day, as well as how many scripts they can use (see Scribe Types). Refer to the scripts known table for their matching scribe type to determine how many scripts they learn (and what level), as appropriate for their level, those tables being **Table: Scripts Known (Major)**, **Table: Scripts Known (Intermediate)**, or **Table: Scripts Known (Lesser)**. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against their script is 10 + the script’s level + whichever ability score the character would have used to determine the DCs of their spells (Intelligence for wizards, Wisdom for clerics, and so on). They use the matching script list for their class.

Unlike a typical spellcaster that has spell slots each day, this character can cast each script they prepare a number of times each day based on the level of the script, as shown in the appropriate table based on their scribe type, those being **Table: Castings per Script (Major**), **Table: Castings per Script (Intermediate)**, or **Table: Castings per Script (Lesser)**. In addition, they receive bonus scripts per day if they have a high casting ability score (see Casting a Script). For example, a wizard gains additional casting per day for having a high Intelligence score, while a cleric gains additional castings for having a high Wisdom score. These extra castings can be applied to any script they have prepared of the appropriate level.

The character must choose and prepare their scripts ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and scribing their runes. While scribing, the character decides which scripts to prepare. Once a script is written, it remains prepared until they choose to replace it.

This ability replaces the character’s spell class feature. They do not gain their normal spell abilities and cannot activate spell trigger or spell completion items from their original spell list unless they use Use Magic Device to do so.

### **Fundamentals**

All scribes learn a number of fundamentals, scripts that are so simple that they require little effort to cast. The character learns a number of fundamentals based upon their scribe type. A major scribe begins play with three fundamentals of their choice, while an intermediate scribe gains only two. A lesser scribe learns only one fundamental, and only gains it at 4th level. They continue to learn more fundamentals as they advance, as shown on their matching table under “Fundamentals Known” (see Scribe Types), those tables being **Table: Scripts Known (Major)**, **Table: Scripts Known (Intermediate)**, and **Table: Scripts Known (Lesser)**. Unlike other runic scripts, a fundamental can be cast an unlimited number of times per day. While fundamentals can be overloaded like any other runic scripts, the magic is too weak to generate much energy: casting a fundamental does not grant the character any runic charges.

This replaces the character’s cantrips, orisons, or knacks class feature, if the character had those features. A scribe that did not have one of these features (such as paladins and rangers) instead gains it at 4th level without replacing an existing ability.