The Pathfinder Thaumaturge always seems to just know what their enemies are weak to and how to best take them out.
The Pathfinder Thaumaturge is an adventurer who looks at the world’s unexplainable, ancient, dead, and strange things and says, “I can work with that.” Broken relics of abandoned magic practices, texts of no-longer worshiped gods, and odd objects that you know carry tremendous power are all fair game and can be wielded as a tool or used to subdue the supernatural. To others, a Thaumaturge’s practice may look like making the impossible happen. But they manage to make it happen.
The Pathfinder Thaumaturge Basics
Thaumaturges make the impossible look easy, even a world full of monsters and magic. They are a Charisma-based class, taking a boost to that attribute at character creation. They also start with expert-level training in their Will and Fortitude saving throws and Perception. Additionally, they begin their adventure with training in Reflex, Arcana, Nature, Occultism, Religion, Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Unarmored attacks, Light Armor, Medium Armor, Unarmored Defense, Thaumaturge, and another handful of skills equal to their Intelligence modifier plus three.
In combat, the Thaumaturge draws on a diverse arsenal of mystic tools, weapons, and tricks. They usually know just how to use their unique skills and items to exploit an enemy’s weakness or shield their allies. This is a class that tends to prepare for every scenario as much as they can. But they will also improvise when the battle requires it. As such, others may look to them as experts for how to defeat the supernatural or pinpoint their weaknesses.
In non-combat situations, a Pathfinder Thaumaturge tries to understand the connections between people as well as they do the larger mysteries of the universe. It’s not unusual for Thaumaturge to come across as personable, and friendly, or even thrive as a negotiator. In reality, this may be the fruit of their tireless preparation. They will take every precaution to ward themselves and their allies against paranormal threats in situations that could become dangerous. And even in their down time, it isn’t unusual to see a party’s Thaumaturge researching and learning more. If there were supernatural mysteries in their last adventure, they will uncover their secrets.
Exploiting Vulnerabilities
The Thaumaturge knows that all creatures have a weakness, and that with the right object even the most powerful foe can be struck down.
They receive the Exploit Vulnerability action. This allows them to scour their experience to identify something that will help defeat their enemy. Depending on the level of their success, the Thaumaturge will either quickly learn all of the creature’s resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, fail to recall anything at all and even become distracted during the effort, or anything in between.
Implements
Thaumaturges pick a special object that has symbolic importance that they will use both as a symbol of themselves and as a tool or weapon when the need arises. The usual implements that they can choose from include:
Amulet: These items are carried for good luck and protection. Amulets may be religious symbols, a rabbit’s foot, a lucky coin, or something else else along those lines. They will help protect the Thaumaturge and their allies from harm and provide the Amulet’s Abeyance reaction.
Bell: The bell has a powerful sound that can be soothing to some and troubling to others. They can be carried as literal bells, but also as drums, finger cymbals, or any other one-handed percussion instrument. The bell can be used to play three different kinds of music and will weaken an enemy. It gives access to the Ring Bell activity.
Chalice: Chalices represent healing, nourishment and life. The Thaumaturge can carry one that looks like a traditional cup or goblet, or a hollowed out gourd or even a skull as long as it holds liquid. The chalice can be drunk from to improve health and provides access to the Drink from the Chalice action.
Lantern: The lantern shines bright, revealing the shadows and exposing truth. It may take the form of lantern (class, paper, or other) a torch, or anything else that shines a light. While being held, the lantern will shine a light for twenty feet and attempts to reveal the unseen.
Mirror: Mirrors represent misdirection, illusion, and shifts in perspective, and adventurers tend to prefer carrying small, handheld mirrors to large ones. The mirror implement allows you to project another version of yourself, and gives the Mirror’s Reflection action.
Regalia: These implements represent leadership and social connections. They can be anything a person would use to signify authority and may change depending on regional customs. Scepters, jeweled orbs, and heraldic banners are all common regalia implements. These will bolster courage and give bonuses to Deception and Diplomacy.
Tome: Tomes represent lost knowledge and otherworldly insight. They can be represented by any object that may hold great knowledge. So whole weathered books are most common, scrolls, clay tablets, or knotted cords are also used. The tome help the Thaumaturge to Recall Knowledge.
Wand: Want implements represent all things magic, and can look like any short, lightweight baton. They slowly collect ambient magic and can project some of that charged up energy in the form of cold, fire, or electricity as well as provide the Fling Magic activity.
Weapon: The most direct and confrontational of the implements, the weapon represents all things battle and potentially violent. They are represented by any one-handed weapon, and seeks out an enemies weakness and interrupts their actions.
Multiclassing a Pathfinder Thaumaturge
An adventurer who wants to learn some strange knowledge may find it especially useful to multiclass as a Thaumaturge. Especially if they already tend to fight with a one-handed weapon. Classes like swashbucklers or rogues will have one hand on their usual weapon. And than the other is free to hold their implement and access all of its power and abilities.
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Characters who multiclass as a Thaumaturge will gain access to the feats Thaumaturge Dedication, Basic and Advanced Thaumaturgy, Implement Initiate, Magical Knowledge, and Resolute.
How to Play a Pathfinder Thaumaturge
The Pathfinder Thaumaturge has a good mixture of opportunities to get in decent sized hits and implement some strong strategy. High charisma and the ability to figure out an enemy’s weakness will both lend itself to a character who always seems to know what’s going on and what to do next. So never miss an opportunity to schmooze the important looking NPC in town. And try to start as many battles as possible by exploiting a foe’s venerability.
Your character’s chosen implement will determine many things about them, so choose wisely. Do you want to play a character that’s focused on protection or healing? Or is your character one who will figure out how the monster of the day is venerable… And then personally strike that with a dagger? There are so many possible implements to pick from. So make this character your own.
Happy adventuring!
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