The Paragnostic apostles are the most devoted of the Paragnostic Assembly (see page 72)—the most erudite of a sect dedicated, mind and soul, to the acquisition of knowledge. These eminent scholars use the secrets they've learned to augment their spells, and to shape the world around them its ways that other casters cannot. Knowledge is indeed power and the Paragnostic apostle understands that power better than most.

Wizards, clerics, and archivists are best suited to this prestige class because of their skills and spellcasting progressions However, bards, druids, sorcerers, and warlocks sometimes follow this path as well. A high Intelligence score is essential because of the Knowledge skills required.

Role: Spell Utility

Characteristics: Magically-inclined individuals that have secret knowledge to bolster their powers.

Source: Complete Champion

Game Rule Information

The Paragnostic Apostle has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Intelligence for your various knowledges, Wisdom and Charisma for turning checks

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d4

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Paragnostic Apostle's class skills are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Paragnostic Apostle.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Paragnostic Apostle is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with prior to taking levels in this class.

Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a paragnostic apostle, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Holy Texts Ex: Because of your study of sacred writings, your paragnostic apostle levels stack with other class levels for the purpose of turning or rebuking undead and level-dependent domain abilities. You do not gain such abilities if you do not already have them, however.

Knowledge is Power Ex: At each level, you gain a spellcasting enhancement based on your Knowledge skills. Each time you gain this feature, choose one of the following abilities for which you meet the skill-based prerequisites. Although you can choose some of these abilities multiple times (as indicated in the descriptions), you may not select the same one twice in a row, and the minimum required skill rank increases by 2 for each subsequent selection of the same ability.

These benefits apply to warlock invocations as well as spells, where applicable.

Accurate Retort: You gain a +1 circumstance bonus on your ranged attack roll with every ray spell that you aim at a creature with a natural armor bonus. (Knowledge [arcana] 8 ranks)

Backhanded Attack: If you successfully hit with an attack that deals hit point or ability score damage and requires a saving throw against an additional, nondamaging effect (such as a warlock's Beshadowed Blast or the Orb of Acidspell, add 1 to the DC of the saving throw. (Knowledge [arcana] 6 ranks)

Call of Worlds: Each creature you summon with a conjuration (summoning) spell gains the fast healing ability. The damage healed per round begins at 2 hit points and increases by 1 for every three caster levels (maximum +5 at 15th caster level). (Knowledge [the planes] 6 ranks)

Discern Weakness: Choose one creature type or subtype from the ranger's favored enemy list (PH 47). If you have 8 ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill (such as Knowledge [arcana] for dragons, or Knowledge [nature] for humanoids), the save DC of every spell that you target on a creature of that type increases by 1. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different creature type each time.

Divine Understanding: Choose one clerical domain. For the purpose of this ability, you can choose any domain, whether or not your deity offers it. Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells that appear on that domain's spell list. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different domain each time. (Knowledge [religion] 5 ranks)

Energy Supremacy: Choose an energy type from the following list: acid, cold, electricity, fire. Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells of that energy type. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different energy type each time. (Knowledge [the planes] 5 ranks)

Manifest Ethos: Choose one non-neutral aspect of your own alignment (chaos, evil, good, or law). When you cast an energy-based offensive spell against a creature with an opposing alignment component (chaos/law or good/evil), one-half the hit point damage dealt is pure divine power instead of its normal energy type, and thus not subject to reduction by energy resistance or immunity. You can select this ability multiple times, assuming that your alignment permits it, choosing a different aspect of your alignment each time. (Knowledge [religion] 8 ranks or [the planes] 10 ranks)

Mind over Body: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast conjuration (healing) spells or transmutation spells that grant ability bonuses or penalties. (Knowledge [nature or religion] 7 ranks)

Mind over Matter: Whenever you cast a spell that creates a solid object, its hardness and hit points each increase by 2. When you cast a spell that provides an armor bonus, that bonus to AC also increases by 2. (Knowledge [architecture and engineering] 5 ranks)

Mortal Coil: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells that physically change the subject's form (such as alter self, enlarge person, or baleful polymorph). (Knowledge [nature] 6 ranks)

Noble Presence: Whenever you cast a charm spell, or a compulsion that affects the subject's emotions but not specific actions (such as good hope or rage, but not dominate person), the save DC increases by 1. (Knowledge [nobility and royalty] 5 ranks)

Penetrating Insight: You gain a +1 bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance, or to successfully dispel another caster's spell. (Knowledge [arcana] 9 ranks)

See through the Veil: Whenever you cast a necromantic spell that targets undead, the save DC increases by 1. In addition, your effective turning level increases by 2, if you possess the ability to turn or rebuke undead. (Knowledge [religion] 7 ranks)

Spatial Awareness: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast conjuration (teleportation) spells. Furthermore, the subject of any spell that increases base movement rate or grants a new type of movement gains an additional 10 feet to the designated speed. (Knowledge [geography] 5 ranks)

Lore Ex: You can recall legends or information regarding various topics, just like a bard can with bardic knowledge. To use this ability, make a lore check (1d20 + twice your paragnostic apostle level + your Int modifier). Success grants you the same result as a bardic knowledge check would. If you have the bardic knowledge or lore ability from another class, your levels in those classes stack with your paragnostic apostle levels for the purpose of this check.