Scholar

*These military tacticians often served as high-ranking officers in allied forces across the lands and seas. Extensive knowledge of ancient martial theory granted them the ability to wield dual schools of magic, between which they would alternate depending on the situation at hand. If a situation requires an unusual approach, they have no trouble developing and creating alterations to both their plans… and their magics.*

**Role:** Scholars are military tacticians often served as high-ranking officers in allied forces across Vana’diel. Extensive knowledge of ancient martial theory granted them the ability to wield dual schools of magic, between which they would alternate depending on the situation at hand.

**Alignment:** Any

**Hit Die:** d6

**Parent Classes:** Black Mage and White Mage.

**Starting Wealth:** 2d6 × 10 gil (average 70 gil.) In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gil or less.

**Class Skills**

The scholar’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

**Skill Points Per Level:** 4 + Int modifier

***Class Main Ability Scores:***

The scholar mainly focuses on DEX for combat and INT and WIS for their class features and spells.

## Class Features

All of the following are class features of the scholar.

### Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Scholars are proficient with the dagger, sling, power rod, power staff, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield. Heavier armor interferes with a scholar’s movements, which can cause her spells with somatic components to fail.

### Limit Breaks (Su)

At 1st level, the scholar receives the Limit Breaks (From Dusk Til Dawn and Tabula Rasa).

*From Dusk Til Dawn (Su):* This Limit Break allows the scholar to use any White Mage Limit Break while under Light Arts and any Black Mage Limit Break while under Dark Arts. If a limit break has a duration, it lasts for 1 round + 1 round per four scholar levels after 1st. Action required for this limit break is copied from the limit break the scholar has chosen.

*Tabula Rasa (Su):* This Limit Break allows the scholar to use both Light Arts and Dark Arts with all the bonuses but without penalties for a duration of 1 round + 1 round per four scholar levels after 1st. This limit break requires only a swift action.

### Spells

A scholar casts black magic and white magic spells which are drawn from the black mage and white mage spell lists. A scholar begins play with 2 1st level black magic spells and 2 1st level white magic spells of her choice. The scholar also selects a number of additional 1st-level black magic spells equal to her Intelligence modifier and a number of additional 1st-level white magic spells equal to her Wisdom modifier to add to her list of spells. Each time a character attains a new scholar level, she gains two black magic and two white magic spells of her choice to add to her list of spells. These free spells must be of spell levels she can cast. Like most mages, a scholar can find or purchase scrolls with spells to add to her repertoire.

To learn or cast a black magic spell, the scholar must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Int 11 for 1st-level spells, Int 12 for 2nd-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a scholar’s black magic spell is 10 + the spell level + the scholar’s Intelligence modifier. In addition, a scholar gains additional MP for having a high attribute (Intelligence).

To learn or cast a white magic spell, the scholar must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Wis 11 for 1st-level spells, Wis 12 for 2nd-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a scholar’s white magic spell is 10 + the spell level + the scholar’s Wisdom modifier. In addition, a scholar gains additional MP for having a high attribute (Wisdom).

### Spell Proficiency (Ex)

Scholars are considered to have the Precise Shot feat while casting spells, using class features that require ranged touch or using any magical items that require ranged touch.

### Cantrips

Scholars learn a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume MP and may be used again. Scholars begin with 2 0-level spells from either the black mage or white mage spell list and gain an additional 0-level spell every four levels after 1st level.

### Grimoire (Su)

At 1st level, a scholar can form a supernatural bond with a book or tome to treat it as their bonded grimoire. When in the hands of the scholar the grimoire is treated as a weapon, he deals 1d4 + Intelligence modifier points of shadow damage while under Dark Arts and 1d4 + Wisdom modifier points of holy damage while under Light Arts (as per the Dark Arts / Light Arts class Feature). The scholar must make a ranged touch attack that has a range of 25 feet + 5 feet per two scholar levels.

She is considered proficient with the book, takes no improvised weapon penalty, and gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with the book (as if it was masterwork), additionally it can be enchanted as a magic weapon.

She can replace his bonded tome with another book at any time, though he must perform a 24-hour binding ritual to attune himself to the new book.

### Scholarly Focus (Su or Ex)

At 1st level, a scholar chooses either further study into the weaving of magic or to form a bond with a sprite familiar. Once chosen, this option cannot be changed. Archetypes that refer to Arcane hypothesis or Sprite Familiar instead refer to this ability for replacements.

* A complete list of scholarly foci can be found here: Scholarly Foci

### Light Arts/Dark Arts (Su)

Starting at 1st level, as a standard action, a scholar can activate or deactivate the Light Arts or Dark Arts. She may only use Light Arts or Dark Arts abilities while in the Light/Dark Arts. While in either Light/Dark Arts, she gains the bonuses as dictated in the “Bonuses” column of the following table, but she also has penalties when casting spells associated with the opposite art. The bonus/penalty from this ability applies only to spells that she casts as a scholar, not to those she might have by virtue of levels in another class. This is indicated in the “Penalties” column of the following table:

## Table: Light Arts/Dark Arts Bonuses

 Dark Arts

At 7th level, a scholar can switch between Light Arts and Dark Arts as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a scholar can switch between Light Arts and Dark Arts as a swift action.

### Arcane Reservoir (Su)

Beginning of 2nd level, a scholar has an innate pool of magical energy that she can draw upon to fuel her scholar exploits and enhance her spells. The scholar’s arcane reservoir can hold a maximum amount of magical energy equal to 3 + the scholar’s level. Each day, after resting 8 hours, the scholar’s arcane reservoir fills with raw magical energy, gaining a number of points equal to 3 + half of her scholar’s level. She can also regain these points through the consume MP class feature and some scholar exploits. The arcane reservoir can never hold more points than the maximum amount noted above; points gained in excess of this total are lost.

Points from the scholar reservoir are used to fuel many of the scholar’s powers. In addition, the scholar can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir as a free action whenever she casts a spell. If she does, she can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell’s DC by 1. She can expend no more than 1 point from her reservoir on a given spell in this way.

### Scholar Exploits

By bending and sometimes even breaking the rules of magic, the scholar learns to exploit gaps and exceptions in the laws of magic. Some of these exploits allow her to break down various forms of magic, adding their essence to her arcane reservoir. At 2nd level and every 2 levels thereafter, the scholar learns a new scholar exploit selected from the following list. A scholar exploit cannot be selected more than once. Once a scholar exploit has been selected, it cannot be changed. Most scholar exploits require the scholar to expend points from her arcane reservoir to function. Unless otherwise noted, the saving throw DC for a scholar exploit is equal to 10 + half of the scholar’s level + her Intelligence or Wisdom (whichever is higher) modifier.

* A complete list of scholar exploits can be found here: Scholar Exploits

### Light Arts: Penury (Su)

At 3rd level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may reduce the MP cost of her next White Magic spell to 0. This MP reduction is applied after any metamagic cost increases. Additional metamagic cannot be applied after this cost reduction.

### Dark Arts: Parsimony (Su)

Also at 3rd level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may reduce the MP cost of her next Black Magic spell to 0. This MP reduction is applied after any metamagic cost increases. Additional metamagic cannot be applied after this cost reduction.

### Clear Mind (Ex)

At 5th level, a scholar can regain her MP quicker. The scholar must be relaxed and must be free from overt distractions, such as combat raging nearby or other loud noises. For example, she could be riding in the back of a carriage and benefit from this ability. The scholar does not gain this recovery if she is asleep or unconscious. The scholar regains 1 MP per hour. This increases by 1 for every five scholar levels after 5th.

### Consume MP (Su)

At 5th level, a scholar can expend MP up to the maximum she can spend as a move action. Doing this adds a number of points to her arcane reservoir equal to MP consumed. Points gained in excess of the reservoir’s maximum are lost.

### Refined Knowledge (Ex)

At 6th level, the scholar can tap into her expanded knowledge about her enemies. Whenever the scholar rolls a Knowledge skill check to identify a creature, she may roll twice and takes the better result. If the scholar has Knowledge skill unlock at 20 ranks, she, instead, rolls thrice and takes the better result.

### Light Arts: Accession (Su)

At 7th level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may double the duration of her next Enhancing White Magic spell.

### Dark Arts: Manifestation (Su)

Also at 7th level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may double the duration of her next Enfeebling Black Magic spell.

### Eldritch Surge (Su)

At 9th level, a scholar can, as a swift action, pour more power into her spells and abilities. She can add 2 to the caster level and DC of a spell, or increase her effective scholar level by 2 when using a scholar exploit. She becomes fatigued upon using this ability. If she is already fatigued, she becomes exhausted. If she’s already exhausted, or something would prevent her from becoming fatigued or exhausted, she cannot use this ability. This ability does not stack with spending points from her arcane reservoir to increase the spell’s caster level or DC (as the arcane reservoir class feature).

### Sublimation (Su)

At 10th level, 3 times per day, as a swift action, a scholar may activate this ability which lasts 1 round per scholar level. Each round, the scholar is drained of 4 HPs and gains 1 MP. Once activated, it cannot be stopped and either runs its course, or the caster falls unconscious, which cancels this ability.

### Light Arts: Celerity (Su)

At 11th level, 3 times per day, a scholar may cast a White Magic spell as a swift action.

### Dark Arts: Alacrity (Su)

Also at 11th level, 3 times per day, a scholar may cast a Black Magic spell as a swift action.

### Advanced Scholar Exploits

At 12th level and every 2 levels thereafter, a scholar can choose one of the following advanced scholar exploits in place of a scholar exploit.

* A complete list of advanced scholar exploits can be found here: Advanced Scholar Exploits

### Improved Surge (Su)

At 13th level, a scholar can use her eldritch surge ability to reroll an attack roll associated with a spell or scholar exploit, or to reroll all of the damage dice associated with a spell or scholar exploit. In the case of attack rolls, this ability must be used after the die is rolled but before the results are revealed. The scholar must take the results of the reroll, even if they are lower.

### Light Arts: Rapture (Su)

At 15th level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may maximize her next healing type white magic spell.

### Dark Arts: Ebullience (Su)

At 15th level, 3 times per day, as a move action, a scholar may maximize her next elemental type black magic spell.

### Greater Surge (Su)

At 17th level, a scholar can use her eldritch surge ability to force a creature to reroll a saving throw against one spell or scholar exploit and take the lower value. The scholar must declare the use of this ability before the result of that creature’s saving throw is revealed. If the spell or scholar exploit affects more than one target, only one target is affected by this ability.

### Bottomless Well (Su)

At 19th level, a scholar can spend 1 hour studying her grimoire to refuel herself. Doing so allows her to regain MP as if resting for 8 hours and regain points of arcane reservoir equal to half her scholar level. She can use this ability multiple times per day, however she still only regains MP once per day.

### Magical Supremacy (Su)

At 20th level, the scholar learns how to convert her arcane reservoir into spells and back again. She can cast any spell she knows by expending a number of points from her arcane reservoir equal to 1 + the level of the spell to be cast instead of expending MP. When she casts a spell in this fashion, she treats her caster level as 2 higher than normal, and the DCs of any saving throws associated with the spell increase by 2. She cannot further expend points from her arcane reservoir to enhance a spell cast in this way nor can metamagic feats be applied.

## Favored Class Bonuses

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, some races have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored classes. The following options are available to the listed race who have scholar as their favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the listed favored class reward.

* **Dwarf:** Add +1/4 to the scholar’s effective class level when determining the effects of the arcane barrier and arcane grimoire scholar exploits.
* **Elvaan:** Increase total number of points in the scholar’s arcane reservoir by 1.
* **Galka:** Gain a +1 bonus on concentration checks made due to taking damage while casting spells.
* **Guado:** The scholar gains +1/6th of a scholar exploit.
* **Half-Breed:** When casting scholar enfeebling spells, add 1/3 to the effective caster level, but only for the purpose of determining duration.
* **Hume:** Add one spell from the black mage or white mage spell lists to the scholar’s known spells. The spell must be at least 1 spell level below the highest level the scholar can cast.
* **Kojin:** Add 1 spell from the black mage or white mage spell lists to the scholar’s known spells. This spell must be at least 1 spell level below the highest level the scholar can cast.
* **Mithra:** Add +2.5 feet to the distance the scholar can move when using the dimensional slide exploit, up to a maximum of 1.5 times the usual distance she could move at her given level. This option has no effect unless the scholar has selected it twice (or possesses increments evenly divisible by 5); a distance of 12.5 feet is effectively the same as a distance of 10 feet, for example.
* **Moogle:** Gain 1/6 of a new scholar exploit.
* **Nu Mou:** Increase total number of points in the scholar’s arcane reservoir by 1.
* **Sylph:** Increase total number of points in the scholar’s arcane reservoir by 1.
* **Tarutaru:** Add 1/6 to the number of points the scholar gains in her arcane reservoir each day.

## Archetypes

* A complete list of scholar archetypes can be found here: Scholar Archetypes