Atlantean Trilogy Archive
A woman in a laboratory tower holds a green potion beside a floating book, standing inside glowing alchemical circles on the floor.

Thaumaturge

Profession, dual-classed

A dual-classed magician and alchemist who uses magic rather than Projection of Will to perform advanced alchemical work. Thaumaturges cannot use Rare Earths and never cooperate with alchemists.

Also called Thaumaturgist

CombinesMagician + Alchemist

From the book

Thaumaturges combine the magician and the alchemist and practice the esoteric study called Thaumaturgy, which uses magic to reproduce the most advanced alchemical processes. Being magicians at heart, they do not grasp Projection of Will and use no Rare Earths; a first level cantrip open only to them, Thaumaturgic Enchantment, does the same job less well.

Without Rare Earths they cannot make Essences or build an aludel or athanor; instead they use an enchanted brass vessel that works with any ordinary furnace, and only with it can they try to make Aqua Vitae, the fluid used to create artificial life.

Their unorthodox methods have benefits: they can perform as many operations a day as they can cast spells, high level thaumaturges can put more ingredients into homunculi than alchemists can, and they can use plant ingredients, some claiming to breed hybrid plants this way. The philosophical rift is so deep that thaumaturges and alchemists never work together.

Skills by level

  1. Level 1
  2. Level 2
  3. Level 3
  4. Level 4
  5. Level 5
  6. Level 6
  7. Level 7
  8. Level 8
  9. Level 9
  10. Level 10
  11. Level 11
    • Rods, Staves and Wands
  12. Level 12
  13. Level 13
    • Homonculi
    • Aqua Vitae

At a glance

Minimum attributes
INT 12, WILL 12, PER 12
Alignment
Any
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
Thaumaturgic Enchantment: a first level cantrip open only to thaumaturges that stands in for the alchemist's Rare Earths, at -5% on every chance of success except Magical Mixtures, Philtres and Potions; cannot use Projection of Will or Rare Earths, so cannot make Essences or build an aludel or athanor; Enchanted brass vessel: replaces the aludel/athanor and works with any ordinary furnace (seven weeks and about 1,000 g.p. of materials to make); Aqua Vitae: only with the brass vessel, 20% + 2% per point of INT; Homonculi: -5% on all chance of success rolls, but high level thaumaturges can use up to twelve ingredients (alchemists eight) and may use plant ingredients; Operations per day: as many as the thaumaturge can cast spells (each still takes its normal time)
Fields of magic
Thaumaturgy; Enchantment (as a magician)
Restrictions
Will never work with alchemists on any alchemical or magical operation; No Essences, aludel or athanor; Aqua Vitae only with the enchanted brass vessel
Equipment
Enchanted brass vessel (seven weeks, about 1000 g.p. of materials) used with any ordinary furnace
Open to races
Humans, Dwarves, Elves

The text also uses the form 'thaumaturgists'.