This build focuses on ramping up casting through metamagic feats like Rapid and Quicken Spell for flexibility. The aim is to use a broad array of spells from various domains, maximizing versatility. Starting as an Archivist, you’ll benefit from Scribe Scroll and the Academic Priest feat, further enhancing your spellcasting capabilities.
Stat Block Level 1:
Gray Elf Archivist 1; CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 1d6+1; hp 5; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +0; Grp -3; Atk Longbow +3 (1d8/x3) or Dagger +0 (1d4-2/19-20); Full Atk Longbow +3 (1d8/x3) or Dagger +0 (1d4-2/19-20); SA Dark Knowledge (Tactics) 3/Day; SQ Dark Knowledge, Lore Mastery; AL Neutral; SV Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 7, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Concentration +5, Diplomacy +4, Knowledge (Arcana) +9, Knowledge (Nature) +9, Knowledge (Religion) +9, Spellcraft +9, Survival +4; Academic Priest, Scribe Scroll, Dragonfriend, Toughness. Special Attacks and Qualities: Dark Knowledge (Tactics): grants a bonus to allies’ attack rolls against a studied creature type. Lore Mastery: +2 bonus to Decipher Script and Knowledge checks.
At Level 5, the Archivist is a versatile spellcaster with solid knowledge skills and the ability to use powerful metamagic feats. Equipped with a Longbow and a Chain Shirt, this character is ready for both combat and research tasks. The build emphasizes knowledge and spells through the combination of class abilities and feats.
Stat Block Level 5:
[Character Name]: Male, Gray Elf Archivist 5; CR 5; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 5d6+5; hp 27; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +3; Grp +2; Atk Longbow +7 (1d8/x3) or Dagger +2 (1d4-2/19-20); Full Atk Longbow +7 (1d8/x3) or Dagger +2 (1d4-2/19-20); SA Dark Knowledge (Tactics); SQ Elven Traits, Dark Knowledge (4/day), Lore Mastery, Still Mind; AL NG; SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 7, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Concentration +9, Diplomacy +9, Knowledge (Arcana) +12, Knowledge (Nature) +10, Knowledge (Religion) +12, Spellcraft +12, Survival +5; Academic Priest, Scribe Scroll, Wordly Focus. Special Attacks and Qualities: Dark Knowledge (Tactics) – Grants allies +1 to attack or AC against identified creatures. Lore Mastery – +2 to Decipher Script and Spellcraft checks.
At level 10, this Archivist build is a well-rounded spellcaster with extensive domain access. With Rapid Spell, they can cast spells quickly, and their numerous domains grant them a wide range of abilities and spell slots.
Stat Block Level 10:
Unnamed Gray Elf: male, gray elf archivist 5/church inquisitor 1/divine oracle 1/holt warden 1/sovereign speaker 2; CR 10; Medium humanoid (elf); HD 5d6+1d8+1d6+1d8+2d8; hp 50; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +5; Grp +2; Atk +8 melee (1d6-2, melee weapon) or +8 ranged (1d8, longbow); Full Atk +8 melee (1d6-2, melee weapon) or +8 ranged (1d8, longbow); SA Dark Knowledge (Tactics) 4/day, Detect Evil; SQ Lore Mastery, Still Mind, Plant Affinity, Nature Sense, Bonus Domains (Inquisition, Oracle, Commerce, War); AL Neutral Good; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +9; Str 7, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Possessions: longbow, chain shirt, melee weapon of choice, cloak of resistance, headband of intellect.
This character is tremendously versatile, wielding spells from 14 different domains. Metamagic feats massively enhance spellcasting efficiency. The character wields a Longbow and Chain Shirt, with a Cloak of Resistance and Headband of Intellect for further enhancement.
Stat Block Level 15:
Unnamed: male, Gray Elf Archivist 5/Church Inquisitor 1/Divine Oracle 1/Holt Warden 1/Sovereign Speaker 9; CR 15; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 15d6+15; hp 70; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +8; Grp +7; Atk Longbow +12 ranged (1d8/×3) or Dagger +7 melee (1d4-2/19-20); Full Atk Longbow +12/+7 ranged (1d8/×3) or Dagger +7/+2 melee (1d4-2/19-20); SA Dark Knowledge; SQ Elf Traits, Dark Knowledge (Tactics) 4/day, Dark Knowledge (Puissance), Lore Mastery, Still Mind, Detect Evil, Plant Affinity, Nature Sense, Divine Health; AL NG; SV Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +10; Str 7, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Possessions: Longbow, Chain Shirt, Dagger, Cloak of Resistance +3, Headband of Intellect +4.
This Archivist build focuses on having a vast array of spells from 14 domains with extended durations, rapid casting, and repeated effects. Perfect for overcoming scenarios where scrolls are restricted. Equipped wisely, this build is a versatile power-caster with answers to almost any challenge.
Stat Block Level 20:
Unnamed: male, Gray Elf Archivist 5/Church Inquisitor 1/Divine Oracle 1/Holt Warden 1/Sovereign Speaker 9/Contemplative 1/Dracolyte 1/Seeker of the Misty Isle 1; CR 20; Medium Humanoid (Elf); HD 20d6+26; hp 96; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +13; Grp +12; Atk Longbow +14 (1d8); Full Atk Longbow +14/+9/+4 (1d8); SA Dark Knowledge 4/day, Spells (Archivist/Cleric); SQ Dark Knowledge, Lore Mastery, Still Mind, Detect Evil, Bonus Domains (War, Commerce, Charm, Luck, Pride, Magic, Celerity, Animal, Force, Spell, Domination, Travel), Prestige Domain (Domination), Divine Health; AL Lawful Good; SV Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +20; Str 7, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Concentration +25, Diplomacy +25, Knowledge (Arcana) +25, Knowledge (Nature) +25, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Spellcraft +25, Survival +25; Toughness, Dragonfriend, Academic Priest, Scribe Scroll, Wordly Focus, Skill Focus (Knowledge-Religion), Rapid Spell, Quicken Spell, Extend Spell, Repeat Spell. Special Attacks and Qualities: Massive spell arsenal due to 14 domains, metamagic feats for versatility and potency.
Possessions: Longbow, Chain Shirt, melee weapon (optional), Cloak of Resistance, Headband of Intellect.
Milestones Of Character Development
Levels 1-5: You begin as an Archivist, focusing on accumulating Dark Knowledge abilities and gaining the Academic Priest feat to bolster your spellcasting capabilities. By level 5, you’ve improved your Intellect, enhancing your scholarly and magical prowess.
Levels 6-10: Diversification begins here. You add Church Inquisitor for the Inquisition domain and evil detection, Divine Oracle for the Oracle domain and scrying bonuses, and Holt Warden for nature-based abilities. Sovereign Speaker drastically increases your spell versatility with additional domains like War and Commerce.
Levels 11-15: The bulk of your power growth occurs here. Continuing as a Sovereign Speaker, you acquire multiple new domains and abilities. Key feats like Quicken Spell and Extend Spell enhance your spellcasting efficiency and duration, positioning you as a potent spellcaster with enormous versatility.
Levels 16-20: Finalizing your build, you gain abilities from Contemplative and Dracolyte, including Divine Health and the Prestige Domain of Domination. As a Seeker of the Misty Isle, you cap off with the Travel domain and an intelligence boost. Your array of domains and spells makes you almost unstoppable in any magical situation.
Core Abilities & Features of the Occult Lore Hoarder
Dark Knowledge
Starting early, the Archivist gains extremely useful abilities through Dark Knowledge. At level 1, you get Dark Knowledge (Tactics), which can grant your allies bonuses against different creature types. By level 5, you’ll enhance this with Dark Knowledge (Puissance), providing additional power boosts to your team. Don’t underestimate the tactical edge these abilities provide.
Domain Access Galore
With classes like Sovereign Speaker and Contemplative in the mix, you’ll have access to a staggering number of domains—14 free and nearly full access to a 15th. Every domain offers unique spells and abilities, increasing your flexibility and utility in virtually any scenario. Whether it’s the War domain’s combat boosts or the Luck domain’s re-rolls, you’re covered.
Metamagic Mastery
This build doesn’t just stop at breadth; it adds depth through Metamagic feats. Rapid Spell and Quicken Spell both cut casting time, making you more reactive in combat. Extend Spell lengthens the duration of your buffs or debuffs, and Repeat Spell effectively doubles some of your best spells. These Metamagic feats ensure that when you cast a spell, it counts.
Special Class Features
In addition to spells and Metamagic feats, this build includes various class-specific benefits. The Church Inquisitor level provides ‘Detect Evil’ and an additional domain. Divine Oracle grants another domain and bonuses to scrying. Holt Warden gifts nature-related bonuses, while levels in Sovereign Speaker pile on one domain after another. Each of these features didn’t just add spells but also introduced situational perks, enhancing your adaptability.
Equipment Progression of the Occult Lore Hoarder
Level Range
Equipment
Details
L1-5
Longbow, Chain Shirt
Basic equipment for initial survival and moderate protection
L6-10
Cloak of Resistance, Headband of Intellect
Improves saves with Cloak of Resistance; boosts intelligence for more spell slots and knowledge areas with Headband of Intellect
L11-15
Melee Weapon of Choice, Amulet of Health
Choose a melee weapon that aligns with preferred fighting style; increases Constitution for better survivability with Amulet of Health
L16-20
Ring of Protection, Belt of Battle
Additional armor with Ring of Protection; bonus actions and tactical options with Belt of Battle
Combat Scenarios
Dungeon Crawls:
Use Extend Spell to prolong crucial buffs like Bull’s Strength and Bless. Utilize Dark Knowledge to gain significant bonuses against different creature types. As traps and tight corridors are common, keep a Quicken Spell like Divine Favor to rapidly boost combat effectiveness if needed.
Open Fields:
Employ Rapid Spell for spells like Entangle to control large areas quickly. Prioritize summoning spells to create multiple flanks and distract enemies. Utilize your longbow with buffs from various domains to deal with distant threats while keeping your team supported with spells.
Ambushes:
Use Scry bonuses from Divine Oracle to predict and avoid ambushes. If caught off-guard, quickly cast defensive spells such as Shield of Faith using Quicken Spell. Utilize Rapid Spell to cast crowd control spells like Hold Person to neutralize immediate threats. Always keep a few immediate action spells ready, such as Protection from Evil.
Defensive Stands:
Leverage Dark Knowledge for defensive bonuses and tactically deploy Extend Spell for spells like Sanctuary and Shield Other to protect allies. Rapid Spell can be used for quick barriers while Quicken Spell ensures immediate casting for emergency healing or buffs.
Urban Encounters:
Utilize Diplomacy in combination with spells from the Charm domain to diffuse tense situations. During combat, use crowd control spells to minimize collateral damage. Employ Dark Knowledge to quickly assess threats and use Rapid and Quicken Spells to adjust to fast-paced urban skirmishes efficiently.
Weaknesses & Counters
Weakness
Counter
Low Strength (Str 7)
Keep to the back lines, utilize spells for protection. Use a Headband of Intellect (+2 or higher) raised to further increase spell DCs.
Flaws: Noncombatant, Vulnerable
Focus on spells like Mirror Image and displacement items such as a Cloak of Displacement (50% miss chance). Also, use shield spells.
Medium Armor Proficiency (Chain Shirt)
Use spells like Mage Armor for better protection and invest in a Mithral Chain Shirt for the same protection with a lower arcane spell failure chance.
Lack of Direct Damage Spells
Focus on battlefield control and debuffs. Spells like Hold Person, Solid Fog, and Silence can alter the battlefield to your advantage.
Limited Healing Options
Get wands of Cure Light Wounds and use scrolls of Cure Serious Wounds or access the Healing domain via the Sovereign Speaker class.
Skill Dependency
Invest skill points wisely and collaborate with party members to cover any skill gaps, especially ones not strengthened by your high intelligence.
Roleplaying the Occult Lore Hoarder
As an Archivist, your focus is on collecting and preserving the sacred and forbidden knowledge of the world.
Opportunities:
Interrogation Expert: Use your vast religious knowledge to extract information from cultists and dark forces. Cornering a cultist during a raid and offering a chance for redemption can make for a gripping scenario.
Knowledgeable Advisor: Guide your party through dangerous areas by identifying and circumventing magical traps or deciphering ancient texts. Imagine flipping through ancient tomes to prevent a catastrophe during a dungeon crawl.
Themes:
Forbidden Knowledge: Often, your quest for knowledge will lead you down dark paths. Roleplay the internal struggle of seeking power while avoiding corruption. Make decisions that reflect this conflict, showcasing your dedication to preserving knowledge without losing your moral compass.
Religious Devotion: Your character’s deep faith influences every action. Whether negotiating with celestial beings or combating undead, your devotion drives you. Show how this influences your interactions, possibly making you uncompromising against anything you consider blasphemous.
This build is all about divine magic versatility. You get access to numerous domains through classes like Sovereign Speaker and Contemplative. With Metamagic feats, you can cast powerful spells faster and for longer. This allows you to adapt to any situation, making you a key player in any campaign.
Initially, focus on Ark Knowledge and boosting your Intellect. Around levels 6-10, diversify with Church Inquisitor and Divine Oracle for extra abilities. By levels 11-15, acquire key Metamagic feats like Quicken Spell. Finally, from levels 16-20, optimize with Contemplative and Acolyte levels for more domains and perks.
What are common weaknesses of this build, and how can they be countered?
Low Strength and average Constitution are notable weaknesses. Use spells like Mage Armor and items like Amulet of Health. Flaws such as Noncombatant can be mitigated with defensive spells. Invest in battlefield control and debuffs instead of direct damage spells.
In dungeon crawls, use prolonged buffs and Ark Knowledge for bonuses. In open fields, Rapid Spell helps in large-area control, while in ambushes, quick defensive spells are crucial. For defensive stands, extend protection spells for team survival. In urban settings, employ crowd control to manage skirmishes efficiently.
What role-playing opportunities are available for this build?
The Archivist can be an expert interrogator using religious knowledge. Act as a knowledgeable advisor, deciphering texts and identifying magical traps. Role-play the struggle between seeking forbidden knowledge and avoiding corruption. Show deep religious devotion that influences all decisions.
Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
On the first floor, the gray elf recited prayers of exorcism against evil spirits and the undead.
The church had sent him to cleanse the place of evil spirits that supposedly haunted the place.
-“It seems we have more than one rat who interrupts our fun here.“
The gray elf turned and jumped aside just in time as the heavy flail hit the ceiling. As the ceiling gave in, a confused middle aged man fell to the floor beside the elf.
-“Are you alright?” The elf asked as he helped the man get up. He scanned the darkness to find the wielder of the flail.
Race
Gray Elf
Classes
Archivist 5/Church Inquisitor 1/Divine Oracle 1/Holt Warden 1/Sovereign Speaker 9/Contemplative 1/Dracolyte 1/Seeker of the Misty Isle 1
Besides the obvious Academic Priest feat here, we are focusing on metamagic feats like Rapid Spell and Quicken Spell which reduces significantly spellcasting time, Repeat Spell which lets us all but double some of our best spells and Extend Spell to make our best buffs or debuffs last as long as possible.
Equipment
Begin play with a Longbow and a Chain Shirt. As you level up, grab a melee weapon of your choice and invest in a cloak of resistance and a headband of intellect.
Final Thoughts
This build, as you can see, is the answer to “my DM won’t let me grab scrolls to add to my prayerbook” problem. You have a massive 14 domains and all but full access to a 15th one.
This gives us a free 135 spells known on top of the free two we get each level. This is on top of each domain’s Special Ability and additional spell slots, making this build a ridiculously versatile spellcaster.
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