The Shadow Mage - Forgotten Realms (3.5E Setting)

You are a worshiper of the dark Goddess Shar, for your magic comes from the Shadow Weave, a dark mirror of the weave created by Mystra. You are a practitioner of dark arts which are almost universally shunned. No one, except those of your cabal, worshipers of Shar, or those who are not longed for this world can know of this dark secret.

During the course of her eternal war with the goddess Selûne, the goddess Shar created the Shadow Weave in response to Selûne's creation of Mystra and the birth of the Weave. If the Weave is a loose mesh permeating reality, the Shadow Weave is the pattern formed by the negative space between the Weave's strands.

"The Dark Lady's Weave is the only true source of power. Servants of Mystra are restricted by their goddess, for Mystra has established limitations and the bounds of magic. Followers of the Dark Lady are subject to no such limitations."
— Oruana Drearon

The Shadow Mage is a class based on a wizard practitioner of Shadow Magic in 3E / 3.5E in the Forgotten Realms Setting.

This class is intended to be used in a 3/3.5 Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign setting (Pre-Spellplague) where the Shadow Plane is Shar's primary domain.

It is highly recommended that players extract (with DM permission) Shadow based spells from the Magic of Faerûn (3/3.5E), 2001 book for more flavor.

Alignment Restrictions: Non-good

Shadow Magic

At 2nd level a Shadow Mage will not be able to cast Evocation Spells (with the exception of 'Darkness'), however will able to cast stronger Illusion, Necromancy and Enchantment Spells.

Shadow Mage receives +2 to 'Spell Save DC' to all Necromancy, Illusion and Enchantment Spells.

Shadow Magic is not affected by Anti-magic areas (holes in Mystra's weave) or anti-magic spell effects cast through the weave.

Before Counterspell is used against a spell cast by a Shadow Mage, the counter spell caster must make a 15 DC Arcana check + Spell Level to attempt the casting. This represents the fact that magic cast from the Shadow Weave is from a different source and is cast in a different way from normal casters, meaning that it would be difficult to identify the spell being cast.

Incognito

At 2nd level, as an agent of Shar, the dark goddess, you are forbidden to spread knowledge of the Shadow Weave and your faith, unless it would be to expand her cabal and corrupt others. Years of living in the shadows of society has made you adapt in the ways of Stealth and Deception.

The Shadow Mage has proficiency in Deception and Stealth.

Attuned to the Shadow Plane

At 6th level, you have become an adapt in casting the Shadow Weave and have attuned to the shadows. When you are in an area of dim light or darkness, you can use your action to become invisible. You remain invisible until you make an attack, cast a spell, or are in an area of bright light.

This is considered to be used in the same instant as 'Shadow Plane Shift' if used at the same time.

Shadow Plane Shift

At 10th level, you gain the ability to shift into the Shadow Plane, allowing you to move from one shadow into another. When you step into any shadow (except from your own), as a bonus action, you can teleport up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space you can see that is a shadow or in dim light or darkness.

Shade

"A select few Shadovar, citizens of Thultanthar, were rewarded for their immense loyalty to the city by being made into shades. Netherese shades were first created through the research of Netherese wizards who left Faerûn for the Plane of Shadow for research purposes long before Karsus's Folly."

At 14th level your character becomes a Shade. Shar has rewarded you for your dedication to your mastery of the Shadow Weave, you have become a creature of the Shadow Plane, a Shade. A shade is an outsider. You retain all bonuses from your previous race.

Average lifespan: 600–1,200 years
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Necrotic, Poison
Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.

Amorphous. Shades can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the shadow can take the Hide action as a bonus action.