Arcanists practice the traditional Academic style of arcane spellcasting. While they may belong to varying factions, traditions, and schools, their abilities all work the same way mechanically.
Arcanist Class Abilities
Arcanists roll 1d6-1 for their hit points, modified by Constitution. This roll cannot be less than 1, even with the penalty.
Arcanists have a base attack bonus equal to their level divided by five, rounded down. Thus, their bonus is +0 until it reaches +1 at fifth level and +2 at tenth.
Arcanists must be able to move freely to channel undisrupted metadimensional energy. They cannot cast spells while wearing any kind of powered armor, or any other sort of armor with an Encumbrance value higher than zero.
Arcanists may choose foci from the General Arcane list. They get a bonus focus chosen from this list as an addition to their usual free pick at character creation.
Arcanists get Cast Magic-0 as a bonus skill. If this would increase their skill level above level-1, they may instead pick any other non-psychic skill.
Arcanists start play knowing two first-level spells from the Arcanist spell list, plus one more for each point of bonus Intelligence modifier. If not using the Occult Lore rules from the Arcane Research and Development section, they can pick two more Arcanist spells of any level they can cast each time they advance a character level.
Arcanist Spells Per Day | |||||
| Arcanist Level | 1st Level Spells | 2nd Level Spells | 3rd Level Spells | 4th Level Spells | 5th Level Spells |
| 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
| 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 10+ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
The entries list the number of spells an Arcanist can prepare each day of a given spell level. There is no limit to the number of spells an Arcanist can learn at each level, assuming a source is found for them.
Level 1 Arcanist SpellsAspect of EleganceCerebral Buffer Regeneration Energetic Construct Evocation Evoked Image Projection Implanted Whim Manipulatory Shadow Manifestation Neural Burn Cascade Personal Shielding Field Variant MES Perception Void Flow Scan Void Slip Void Transceiver Emanation | Level 2 Arcanist SpellsAversive Impulse ProjectionBlindside Skip Combat Shadow Manifestation Concussive Pinhole Gate Doppleganger Manifestation Genetic Privacy Field Ghost Field Emission Patterned Energy Flare Shadow Disruption Rubric Universal Translation Rubric | Level 3 Arcanist SpellsArcane GroundingCryptographic Control Protocol Extradimensional Pocket Gravitic Control Rubric Hot Zone Invocation Kinetic Siphon Metadimensional Power Font Projectile Repulsion Field Quantum Jamming Field Random Organic Failure | Level 4 Arcanist SpellsCerebral Scramble CodeClairvoyance Window Probe Energy Amplification Boost Orbital Insertion Shadow Adjutant Manifestation Solid Image Matrix Spatial Realignment Warp Spatial Ripcord Shift | Level 5 Arcanist SpellsDevourer ManifestationGravcar Pattern Instantiation Metadimensional Passage Protocol Amplification Psychic Compulsion Induction Uncontrolled Metadimensional Rift Void Barrier Instantiation Zero Energy Sink |
Partial Arcanist Abilities
An Adventurer PC might choose to be a Partial Arcanist as part of their class selection. In that case, the following rules apply.
Partial Arcanists suffer a -1 penalty to their hit point rolls. Thus a Partial Warrior/Partial Arcanist would roll 1d6 for their hit points at each level.
Partial Arcanists suffer a -1 penalty to their attack bonus, as calculated by the other class. Thus that same Partial Warrior/Partial Arcanist would start play with an attack bonus if +0 instead of +1. This penalty cannot bring the character’s attack bonus below zero. If the other partial class also has this quality, such as a Partial Arcanist/Partial Pacter, then the PC’s attack bonus is +0, becoming +1 at fifth level and +2 at tenth.
Partial Arcanists can learn and prepare spells as an Arcanist of half their level, rounded up. A fifth level Partial Warrior/Partial Arcanist can prepare spells as if they were a third-level Arcanist, so they can prepare two first level and one second level spell each day.
Partial Arcanists cast their spells at their full level. Thus, the spells that PC casts would be cast as if they were a fifth level Arcanist.
Partial Arcanists are still subject to the armor limitations of a full Arcanist when casting spells. Any powered armor or any other armor with an Encum-brance value higher than zero will prevent effective spellcasting.
Partial Arcanists gain Cast Magic-0 as a bonus skill. If this would bring their Cast Magic skill abovelevel-1, they may instead pick any non-psychic skill in its place.
Partial Arcanists may choose General Arcane foci, but unlike full Arcanists, they do not get a free bonus focus from that list.