Cryptomancy

The mage strode forth into the bloodstained arena, strapped with instruments and weaponry rather unusual for a spellcaster. As a ferocious beast charges forth to challenge the mage, they begin to take notes. Once sufficiently sure in their rendition, the mage launches a blank slab into the air, before shattering it to bits with a magicked nail. The shards of stone fly through the air, taking the shape of the very beast the mage is fighting, and the beast's own abilities are turned upon itself. A new muse is created for this aspiring Cryptomancer.

Cryptomancers are mages who forgo the traditional schools of magic in favor of creating a path for themselves. Although able to cast most standard wizardry spells, Cryptomancers' main powers come from their deck of slabs, whose skills are entirely spur of the moment and created of pure passion. By picturing a beast, creature, or weapon in one's mind, a Cryptomancer can inscribe a carving into their slab and smash it, conjuring a facsimile of the pictured creation. Many Cryptomancers start their deck small, taking inspiration from arcane focuses and simple creatures, and expand their arsenal of slabs over time, as they fight more powerful foes.

Precise Toolset

When taking up this art at 2nd level, you gain proficiency with light armor, and you gain proficiency with light hammers.

You also gain proficiency in the Sleight of Hand skill if you don’t already have it.

Slab Spellbook

By 2nd level, you have learned to take notes and copy abilities into a special notebook of spells.

At the DM's cue, if you witness a spell or ability, you can use your reaction to begin taking notes, committing the ability to memory.

Make a Concentration check. The DC of this check is 8 + the attacker's proficiency bonus. Additionally, you may also be permitted to create special weapon muses, taking inspiration from unique weapons you may come face to face with.

On success, you may add the spell or ability to your Slab Spellbook. Your Slab Spellbook can hold as many spells as necessary, as it is simply a note-taking tool. You may not learn an ability from a monster whose Challenge Rating exceeds your level in the Wizard class. You cannot learn lair abilities.

After adding a spell to your spellbook, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Deck of Slabs

During a Short or Long rest, you may prepare any spell from your Slab Spellbook into your Deck of Slabs and cast them as if they were Wizard Spells. Your Deck of Slabs has 8 total slots, and prepared spells are kept in a special Feat. (I couldn’t figure out a way to make it work with the homebrew Modifier option, sorry lol you may just have to make ur own)

Non-spell abilities in your Slab Spellbook must be cast by expending a spell slot of an appropriate level, determined by the Challenge Rating of the creature you learned it from, as noted in the table below. This table should be used as a guideline; the GM may choose to raise or lower the required spell slot level at their discretion based on the relative power of the learned ability.

Spell Slot Level by Challenge Rating:

Challenge	Slot Level
<1	Cantrip
1 – 3	1st
4 – 5	2nd
6 – 7	3rd
8 – 9	4th
10 – 11	5th
12 – 13	6th
14 – 15	7th
16 – 17	8th
18 >	9th

You do not need to provide any material components for spells or abilities cast in this way, unless they are costly.

Sleights

Choose multiple slabs, up to three, to expend and combine their powers to create a powerful effect based on the collective power of the used slabs. When casting the Sleight, add the spell slot levels together, and release an effect from the table based on the collective spell slot number. This trait can be used once every Long Rest.

Combined Spell Level	Effect
<1	Make a Ranged Attack. On hit, the target takes 2d6 blunt damage as you just chuck the slabs at their head.
1 – 3	Heal self for 3d8.
4 – 5	Cast Fireball at 4th level.
6 – 7	Cast Scorching Ray at 5th level.
8 – 9	Make a ranged attack. On hit, the target takes 7d8 radiant damage as the nail pierces all three slabs and beams through the target with divine force.
10 – 11	Cast Ice Storm at 6th level.
12 – 13	Cast Heal at 7th level.
14 – 15	Cast Incendiary Cloud at 8th level.
16 – 17	Conjure facsimiles of all current allies, as they all take several swings at a target, using their stat blocks and most powerful melee attacks.
18 >	Everyone within 30 feet of the caster must make a CON saving throw (DC equal to your spell DC) as powerful beams of magic erupt out from the slabs, smiting anything within their paths. On a failed save, take 20d12 radiant damage and become stunned. On a successful save, take half as much and do not become stunned.

 

Cryptomantic Mimicry

By 10th level, you have learned to mimic and reproduce not only the abilities of foes, but their very nature.

After defeating a sufficiently arcane enemy or foe, you can attune with their magicks and copy the fallen foe’s passive abilities. Make an Arcana check. The DC of this check is 10 + the foe's proficiency bonus. The check follows the same rules as learning any other Cryptomantic spell. (Including not being able to learn more than 1 spell before resting.) On success, you may add the spell or ability to your Slab Spellbook. On failure, you take 2d6 psychic damage and the link is severed.

In and out of combat, these spells can be casted, giving passive effects in exchange for spell slots and needing to keep concentration on the spell. This concentration can be broken, and you cannot concentrate on another spell while a passive is active. If another concentration spell is cast, you must choose one to concentrate on, while breaking concentration on another.

Slab Mastery

At 14th level, you are so experienced with the art of Cryptomancy that you know how to keep track of your slabs and sleights extra efficiently.

When using Sleights, your combined power has an additional +1, you can use two Sleights per Long Rest, and they no longer expend the lowest spell slot in the sleight.

Additionally, your Deck of Slabs now holds up to 10 slabs.