Master of Circles — Warden of Arcane Boundaries

Master of Circles — 5.5e / 2024

Prerequisites

• Character Level: 7th level or higher before taking your first Master of Circles level.
• Spellcasting: Ability to cast at least one 4th-level spell.
• Skill: Proficiency in Arcana.
• Training: Proficiency with Calligrapher’s Supplies, Mason’s Tools or another tool set the GM accepts for inscribing durable magical diagrams.
• Special: Successfully create a working magic circle under the supervision of a teacher or circle-making tradition.

Hit Point Die: d6 per Master of Circles level. Hit Points per Level: 1d6 (or 4) + Constitution modifier. Proficiencies: No new armour, weapon or saving throw proficiencies.

Circle Save DC: Use the spell save DC of the qualifying spellcasting class whose progression you advance with this prestige class.

Spellcasting

Choose one spellcasting class that qualified you for Master of Circles. Each prestige-class level counts as a level in that class for its Spellcasting feature: spell slots and the number and level of spells you can prepare or know advance normally. You do not gain other class or subclass features from the qualifying class.

Circlecraft

Using chalk, cord, paint, salt, engraved marks or another suitable medium, you can spend 10 minutes creating a 10-foot-radius circle on a reasonably flat surface. The circle lasts for 1 hour, until you dismiss it, until you create another active circle, or until a creature deliberately breaks or removes part of its boundary.

While you are entirely inside your active circle, you have Advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks made to identify a spell, magical effect, ward or summoned creature that you can perceive crossing or interacting with the boundary.

Imbue Circle I

When you finish Circlecraft, you may expend one spell slot to store a spell of 1st or 2nd level that you have prepared or know. The spell must have a casting time of an Action and must either target one creature or create an area whose point of origin can be placed inside the circle. At creation, define a visible or audible trigger such as a creature crossing, touching or deliberately disturbing the boundary.

The first qualifying trigger releases the spell using your spell attack modifier and Circle Save DC. A spell requiring Concentration still requires your Concentration from the moment it activates; if you cannot begin or maintain that Concentration, the spell ends. Material components with a listed cost are consumed when the circle is imbued. You can have only one imbued circle active at a time.

Permanent Circle

At 3rd level, you can spend 8 hours and suitable materials worth 50 gp building a durable physical circle into a floor, platform or other fixed surface. The inscription itself is permanent but contains no magic while inactive. Activating it takes 1 minute and causes it to function as your Circlecraft circle; it still counts as your one active circle.

Disable Circle

At 3rd level, as an Action while within 5 feet of a magical circle, glyph or comparable ward you can see, make an Intelligence (Arcana) check against the creator’s spell save DC. On a success, you suppress that circle or ward until the start of your next turn. If you instead spend a spell slot of a level equal to or higher than the stored spell or effect and succeed on the check, the circle is dispelled if the effect can normally be dispelled.

Ability Score Improvement

At 4th and 8th Master of Circles level, gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat for which you qualify, following the normal rules of your campaign.

Imbue Circle II

At 5th level, you can store a spell of up to 4th level in an imbued circle.

Reset Imbued Circle

At 7th level, after an imbued circle releases its stored spell, you can spend 1 minute inside the intact circle and expend a new spell slot to store the same spell again. You do not need to redraw the circle.

Extended Circle

At 7th level, when you create or activate a circle, choose either a 20-foot radius or an 8-hour duration. A Permanent Circle can use either option each time it is activated.

Quick Circle

At 9th level, once per Short or Long Rest you can create an unimbued 10-foot-radius circle as a Magic Action instead of taking 10 minutes. It lasts for 1 minute. Imbuing it still requires the normal preparation time, so this feature is primarily for immediate circle-based analysis, boundaries and later class features rather than a free combat spell.

Imbue Circle III

At 9th level, you can store a spell of up to 6th level in an imbued circle.

Mobile Circle

At 10th level, a circle can be inscribed on a rigid Large or larger platform that moves, such as a wagon bed, ship deck or levitating slab. The circle ends if the surface is folded, rolled, broken, turned vertical or carried as personal equipment by a creature. You still cannot have more than one active imbued circle.

Master of Circles — 5e / 2014

Prerequisites

• Character Level: 7th level or higher before taking your first Master of Circles level.
• Spellcasting: Ability to cast at least one 4th-level spell.
• Skill: Proficiency in Arcana.
• Training: Proficiency with calligrapher’s supplies, mason’s tools or another suitable inscribing tool.
• Special: Training under a master or tradition capable of teaching functioning magical circles.

Hit Die: d6. Hit Points per Level: 1d6 (or 4) + Constitution modifier. Proficiencies: None. Circle Save DC: use the spell save DC of your qualifying spellcasting class.

Spellcasting

Each Master of Circles level advances the Spellcasting feature of one qualifying class for spell slots and spells known or prepared. Other class and subclass features do not advance.

Circlecraft

Spend 10 minutes creating a 10-foot-radius circle on a reasonably flat surface. It lasts 1 hour, until dismissed, until another active circle is created, or until its boundary is deliberately broken. While entirely inside it, you have advantage on Arcana checks made to identify spells, magical wards or summoned creatures interacting with the boundary.

Imbue Circle I

When the circle is finished, expend a spell slot to store a prepared or known spell of 1st or 2nd level with a casting time of 1 action. It must target one creature or create an area that can originate inside the circle. Define a visible or audible trigger. The first qualifying trigger releases the spell using your spell attack modifier and spell save DC. Concentration begins when the spell triggers and follows the normal rules. Costly material components are consumed when imbued. Only one imbued circle can be active at a time.

Permanent Circle

At 3rd level, spend 8 hours and 50 gp of suitable materials to build a durable physical circle into a fixed surface. It is mundane while inactive. Activating it takes 1 minute and makes it your active Circlecraft circle.

Disable Circle

At 3rd level, use an action within 5 feet of a magical circle, glyph or comparable ward to make an Arcana check against its creator’s spell save DC. Success suppresses it until the start of your next turn. If you also expend a slot at least equal to the stored spell or effect, a successful check dispels it when the effect can normally be dispelled.

Ability Score Improvement

At 4th and 8th level, increase one ability score by 2 or two scores by 1 to the normal maximum, or choose a feat if your campaign allows feats.

Imbue Circle II

At 5th level, stored spells can be up to 4th level.

Reset Imbued Circle

At 7th level, after the stored spell triggers, spend 1 minute in the intact circle and expend a new spell slot to store the same spell again without redrawing the circle.

Extended Circle

At 7th level, choose a 20-foot radius or 8-hour duration whenever you create or activate a circle.

Quick Circle

At 9th level, once per short or long rest create an unimbued 10-foot-radius circle as an action. It lasts 1 minute. Imbuing it still requires normal preparation.

Imbue Circle III

At 9th level, stored spells can be up to 6th level.

Mobile Circle

At 10th level, place a circle on a rigid Large or larger moving platform such as a wagon bed, ship deck or levitating slab. It cannot be worn or carried as personal equipment, and breaking, folding or turning the surface vertical ends the circle.

Master of Circles — Pathfinder 1e

Requirements

• Skills: Craft (magic circles) 5 ranks or Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks; Craft (alchemy) 3 ranks.
• Feat: Any item creation feat.
• Spellcasting: Ability to cast 4th-level spells.
• Special: Training in the construction of magical circles.

Hit Die: d6. Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Skills: Craft, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (engineering), Perception, Profession, Spellcraft and Use Magic Device.

Spells per Day / Spells Known

Every Master of Circles level advances one spellcasting class you possessed before entering the prestige class for spells per day, spells known where applicable and caster level. No other class features advance.

Create Magic Circle

Creating a circle takes 2 rounds on a flat, immobile surface: one round to inscribe the boundary and one round to place the arcane symbols. Each step requires Craft (magic circles) or Knowledge (arcana), followed by Craft, at DC 15 + the highest spell level to be imbued; an unimbued circle uses DC 15. The circle has a 5-foot radius plus 5 feet for every two Master of Circles levels and lasts 1 hour per class level. Breaking the inscription ends it.

Identify Magic Circle

Recognise a circle with Knowledge (arcana) or Spellcraft against DC 15 + the highest spell level stored in it. A successful check also tells you whether the circle is currently imbued; exceeding the DC by 5 reveals the spell school and trigger.

Imbue Circle

Spend 1 round and expend the spell or spell slot to store a spell you can cast. The total spell levels stored cannot exceed your Master of Circles level, and only one spell releases from a single trigger. Imbue Circle I allows spells up to 3rd level, Imbue Circle II at 5th level allows spells up to 6th level, and Imbue Circle III at 9th level allows any spell level you can cast. The spell must target a creature or create an area that can originate within the circle. When a predetermined creature or action crosses or disturbs the boundary, the spell resolves using your caster level and save DC. Concentration-duration spells still require normal concentration once triggered.

Permanent Circle

At 2nd level, build a circle from tile, wire, carving or another durable medium. It is not constantly magical. Activating it takes 1 round and requires no construction check. You may maintain one Permanent Circle for every two Master of Circles levels.

Disable Circle

At 3rd level, make an opposed caster level check against the circle’s creator. Success suppresses the circle for 1d4 rounds. Beating the opposing check by 5 or more dispels a temporary circle entirely.

Bonus Metamagic Feat

At 4th and 8th level, gain one metamagic feat for which you qualify.

Reset Imbued Circle

At 6th level, after a stored spell triggers, spend 1 round in the intact circle and expend a spell or spell slot of the same level to store that spell again without rebuilding the circle.

Extend Circle

At 7th level, when you create a circle, either double its radius or double its duration. The chosen benefit is fixed until the circle ends.

Quick Circle

At 8th level, as a standard action create an unimbued circle by making one Craft (magic circles) or Knowledge (arcana) check against DC 20. It has a 10-foot radius and lasts 1 minute per Master of Circles level. Imbuing it requires a separate action.

Mobile Circle

At 10th level, create a circle on a wagon bed, ship deck, carpet-sized rigid frame, levitating slab or similar Large or larger mobile surface. Construction checks take a +5 DC increase. The circle ends if the surface is folded, rolled, broken or carried as personal equipment.

Master of Circles — D&D 3.5e

Requirements

• Skills: Craft (magic circle) 5 ranks or Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks; Craft (alchemy) 3 ranks.
• Feat: At least one item creation feat.
• Spellcasting: Ability to cast 4th-level spells.
• Special: Training in the creation of magical circles.

Hit Die: d4. Skill Points per Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Skills: Concentration, Craft, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (architecture and engineering), Profession, Scry and Spellcraft.

Spells per Day / Spells Known

Each Master of Circles level advances one spellcasting class you belonged to before entering for spells per day, spells known where applicable and caster level. Other class features do not advance.

Create Magic Circle

Creation takes 2 rounds on a flat, immobile surface: one round to inscribe the boundary and one round to place arcane symbols. Make Craft (magic circle) or Knowledge (arcana), then Craft, each against DC 15 + the highest spell level to be imbued; an unimbued circle uses DC 15. Radius is 5 feet plus 5 feet for every two Master of Circles levels. Duration is 1 hour per class level. Breaking the physical boundary ends the circle.

Identify Magic Circle

Use Knowledge (arcana) or Spellcraft against DC 15 + the highest spell level stored in the circle. Success identifies whether it is imbued; beating the DC by 5 reveals the spell school and trigger.

Imbue Circle

Spend 1 round and expend the spell to store it in the circle. The total spell levels stored cannot exceed your Master of Circles level. Imbue Circle I permits spells up to 3rd level, Imbue Circle II at 5th level permits spells up to 6th level, and Imbue Circle III at 9th level permits any spell you can cast. Define the trigger when the spell is stored. When triggered, resolve the spell using your caster level and save DC; concentration-duration spells still require normal concentration.

Permanent Circle

At 2nd level, construct a durable circle in tile, wire, carving or another permanent medium. It is mundane while inactive. Activation takes 1 round and requires no construction check. You can maintain one Permanent Circle for every two Master of Circles levels.

Disable Circle

At 3rd level, make an opposed caster level check against the circle’s creator. Success suppresses the circle for 1d4 rounds; winning by 5 or more dispels a temporary circle entirely.

Bonus Metamagic Feat

At 4th and 8th level, gain a metamagic feat for which you qualify.

Reset Imbued Circle

At 6th level, after a stored spell triggers, spend 1 round inside the intact circle and expend the same spell or a slot of equal level to store that spell again without rebuilding the circle.

Extend Circle

At 7th level, either double the circle’s radius or double its duration when you create it.

Quick Circle

At 8th level, as a standard action create an unimbued 10-foot-radius circle with a single Craft (magic circle) or Knowledge (arcana) check against DC 20. It lasts 1 minute per class level. Imbuing it is a separate action.

Mobile Circle

At 10th level, create a circle on a wagon bed, ship deck, rigid carpet-sized frame, levitating slab or similar Large or larger moving surface. Construction checks take a +5 DC increase. Folding, rolling, breaking or carrying the circle as personal equipment ends it.