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AppleVsOrange
2013-04-03, 05:43 PM
I'll soon be starting a new campaign, and I really want to play a bard (call it self-torture), but there is a very specific archetype I would like to play, one that I can't seem to find anywhere in the intarwebz.

For any of you who ever played the MMORPG called Everquest, this will be extremely relatable. I want a bard that, instead of casting spells, sings songs, chants, etc.

My goal is to do away with spell-casting and instead incorporate a wider range of musical abilities, similar to what the virtuoso PrC and others have done. Perhaps pull songs from those PrCs and incorporate them into the base class? I'm a fan of the Dirgesinger PrC too.

Another thing I am looking for is the ability to maintain multiple songs at once, kind of like weaving two or more songs into a single tune. This was one of the major attributes of the Everquest bard that I enjoyed, and I would really like to emulate it. In that game, you could do what was called weaving to sustain three songs at once. I would like to be able to do this.

Another option I'm entertaining is that since the spellcasting would be done away with, either upping the songs per day considerably, or making them weaker but at will effects.

My goal is to have a wide array of songs that have varied effects, (direct magical damage, crowd control, speed enhancement, buffs, fast healing, etc.) and make them usable simultaneously, but to have them to a lesser effect. In essence, i want to take the Bard's current capabilities and tweak the way they are accomplished. Also, the particular character I have in mind will be more of a squishy (I'm thinking a kobold who chants rather than sings). Think the difference between cloistered cleric and regular cleric.

Ok, Playground, I look forward to your ideas!!

Palanan
2013-04-03, 07:47 PM
There's a similar concept in Monte Cook's Book of Eldritch Might II: Songs and Souls of Power (http://www.amazon.com/OP-Book-Eldritch-Might/dp/1588461025/), which has variant bard and sorcerer classes and quite a few more bard spells. The description for the variant bard is similar to some of what you're describing, including one ability which allows a group of bards to all contribute to a single spellsong effect.

Not precisely what you're looking for, maybe, but worth a look if you can find a copy.

sirpercival
2013-04-03, 09:34 PM
If you refluff it, maybe Powerbard (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=4817.0) can work for you?

dawnsolara
2013-04-03, 09:47 PM
There's NeoSeraphi's Conductor Bard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201346)

Sypher667
2013-04-03, 11:29 PM
There's NeoSeraphi's Conductor Bard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201346)

Ive seen this one in action, and I think it will do an excellent job for you. PrC-ing out will probably appeal more at some point, but it's a very solid class.