Astrologer

Profession, single-classed

A scholarly spell caster of the field of Astrology, skilled in divination and reading signs and portents. Astrologers draw power from a patron sun or sky deity and are also trained scribes.

From the book

Astrologers practice Astrology, reading signs and divining the future; as skilled scribes and linguists they are sought as counselors and are perhaps the most learned casters. Each has a patron sun or sky deity who supplies inspiration and magic, and like a priest must hold to that deity's alignment or lose spell casting.

Unlike priests they need no church and may skip religious office to study independently; they may also honor other star or sky deities linked to their patron. Their scribal training makes them good at scrolls, and inscription-based extra spells, Sigil and Talisman from High Magic for example, cost them only half the usual XP.

An astrologer may build an observatory at any suitably high altitude; inside it, one additional spell per day may be cast and divinations get the best possible results (Game Judge's ruling). From 5th level, known zodiacal or planetary spells can be cast silently by inscribing the sign in the air.

Skills by level

Level 1
- Any Single Weapon
- Read Magic (100%)
- Linguistics
- Spell Casting
- Chirography
- Magical Mixtures
Level 3
- Decipher
Level 5
- Scrolls
Level 7
- Ancient Lore
- Runes
Level 9
- Minor Magic Items
Level 11
- Rods, Staves and Wands
Level 12
- Greater Magic Items

At a glance

Minimum attributes: INT 12, WILL 14, PER 12
Alignment: Any (as per patron Deity)
Combat training: Untrained
Hit points per level: 1 H.P. per point of CON, plus 2 H.P. at first level; then +2 H.P. and any CON bonus per level gained; after 12th level, +1 H.P. per level with no CON bonus (optional rule, page 48)
Special abilities: None listed in the stat block; the description grants these: Inscription spells: any extra-curricular spell that uses inscriptions (e.g. the High Magic spells Sigil and Talisman) costs 1/2 the usual XP; Observatory: may be built at any suitably high altitude; inside it the astrologer casts 1 additional spell per day and gets the best possible divination results (Game Judge's ruling); Silent casting (5th level+): any known zodiacal or planetary spell can be cast by inscribing its sign in the air, with no verbal components
Fields of magic: Astrology
Restrictions: Must keep to the patron deity's alignment or lose spell casting powers
Equipment: Optional observatory at a suitably high altitude
Patron: A patron sun or sky Deity is the source of inspiration and magical power; the astrologer need not join a church or hold religious office, and may also revere other star or sky Deities associated with the patron
Open to races: Humans

The level 11 row prints 'Rods' and 'Staves and Wands' in two columns; recorded as the single skill Rods, Staves and Wands.