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View Full Version : Fochlucan Lyrist PrC - Fix, PEACH



JoshuaZ
2013-11-03, 12:29 AM
Design preamble:
The goal of this fix is to make the Fochlucan Lyrist actually make sense. There are serious issues with the PrC as it stands. Not only is so difficult to get into that one has trouble getting into it early enough to finish pre-epic, it requires massive multiclassing. But, and here's the real problem: even after all of that, what you get just isn't that great for the effort involved. It is mechanically not that strong. Sure, you get duel spellcasting, but you've likely lost so many spellcasting levels that this is even worse than a mystic theurge. And once of your spellcasting sides is lkely bard. The other class features are nice, but not impressive. And the features are dull: nothing about them jumps out as interesting. This is an attempt to change that while minimizing the change to the initial requirements and instead make a prestige class that actually works with what it requires.

Fochlucan Lyrist

Requirements
Skills: Decipher Script 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks, Gather Information 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, Perform (string instruments) 13 ranks, Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Speak Language (Druidic).
Alignment: Any neutral.
Spells: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane and divine spells.
Special: Bardic knowledge and evasion abilities. Must be trained by another Fochlucan Lyrist or admitted into the Fochlucan Academy.


Class Skills
The Fochlucan Lyrcist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Concentration(Con), Craft (any) (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Skill Points at Each Level
6 + Int modifier.

Hit Die
d6

The Fochlucan Lyrist
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Spellcasting
1st|+1|+0|+2 |+2|Bardic Knowledge, Bardic Music, Instrumental Intuition, Reputation, Unbound|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2nd|+2|+0|+2|+3|Magical Performance, Skilled Lyrist, Uncanny Dodge, |+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3rd|+3|+1|+2|+3| Critical Eye, Musical Resonance (1/day), Theoarcanic Acoustic Synthesis|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4th|+4|+1|+4|+4|Sudden Swiftness, Inspired Crafting|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5th|+5|+1|+4|+4|Improved Critical Eye, Musical Summoning |+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
6th|+6|+2|+5|+5|Improved Inspired Crafting, Musical Resonance (2/day)|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7th|+7|+2|+5|+5|Call to Hand|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8th|+8|+2|+6|+6|Improved Uncanny Dodge|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9th|+9|+3|+6|+6| Musical Resonance (3/day)|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10th|+10|+3|+7|+7|Lyrist Ascendant, Perfect Inspired Crafting|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class[/table]

Spellcasting
Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each level, a Fochlucan Lyrist gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class and any one divine spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefi t a character of that class would have gained. If she had more than one arcane spellcasting class or divine spellcasting class before becoming a Fochlucan Lyrist, she must decide to which class to add each Fochlucan Lyrist level for the purpose of determining spells per day, spells known, and overall caster level.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Fochlucan Lyrists gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Bardic Knowledge (Ex): A Fochlucan Lyrist counts Fochlucan Lyrist levels as bard levels for purposes of bardic knowledge.

Bardic Music: A Fochlucan Lyrist adds her Lyrist level to her bard level to determine the number of times per day she can use her bardic music, the bardic music abilities she can employ, and the power of those abilities.

Instrumental Intuition(Su): A Fochlucan Lyrist develops a deep understanding of enchanted musical instruments. Whenever they come into physical contact with a musical instrument, they learn instantly if it is magical.

Reputation(Ex):A Fochlucan Lyrist's musical skill is legendary and known to all with even a passing acquaintance with music. All others treat them with deep respect. A Fochlucan Lyrist adds a +2 circumstance bonus to diplomacy and bluff checks when dealing with anyone with ranks in any Perform skill.

Unbound (Ex): A Fochlucan Lyrist’s druid oaths are relaxed, allowing her to wear light metal armor with no loss of spellcasting, supernatural, or spell-like abilities. A Lyrist also suffers no experience point penalty for multiclassing.

Critical Eye(Ex) Few are as skilled in the musical arts as you, and you can easily evaluate people's musical skill by watching them perform. At third level, when a Fochlucan Lyrist sees someone else make a musical performance of any type, they know instantly about how much training the person has in that form of music. They learn if they have little training (5 or fewer skill ranks), medium training (5-15 ranks), or high amounts of training (16 or more ranks).

Magical Performance(Su)A Fochlucan Lyrist has learned to channel magic energy to improve their performance, using the energy to move their hands with unnatural speed and to channel the sound with arcane power. At 2nd level, when a Lyrist is making any Perform check may sacrifice a spell slot or prepared spell to add that spell level to the Perform check.

Skilled Lyrist(Ex) A Fochlucan Lyrist's skill at using stringed instruments is surpassed by none. When they make a Perform(string instruments) check, a Lyrist of at least second level adds half their class level as a competence bonus.

Uncanny Dodge(Ex): At 2nd level, a Fochlucan Lyrist gains Uncanny Dodge.

Musical Resonance(Su):A Fochluan Lyrist learns to combine their bardic music with residual magical energy from their spells, allowing the music to vibrate into their hearts on the threads of power. Whenever you use your Bardic Music they may designate one target that has failed a save from a harmful spell they've cast that is still present (and has a duration other than permanent). That target automatically fails its save against the bardic music effect. A Lyrist may use this ability once a day at 3rd level, twice a day at 6th level, and 3 times a day at 9th level.

Theoarcanic Acoustic Synthesis(Su):Lyrists learn a unique way of using residual magical energy to further empower their spells. At third level, whenever the Lyrist casts an arcane spell, the next divine spell they cast has its caster level and save DC increased by 1 a long as the Lyrist casts that spell before the end of their next turn. Whenever the the Lyrist casts a divine spell, the next divine arcane they cast has its caster level and save DC increased by 1 a long as the Lyrist casts that spell before the end of their next turn. If a Lyrist has used their bardic music ability in the last minute, then the caster level and save DC for any divine or arcane spell they cast is increased by 1.

Sudden Swiftness(Su): Fochlucan Lyrist learn early in their training to channel their magical energy to move their hands quickly. However, the more skilled Lyrists can channel that energy with a few seconds warning throughout their body, to give themselves momentary bursts of speed. At 4th level, you need to make a reflex save, you may as an immediate action, sacrifice both an arcane spell slot (or prepared spell) and a divine spell slot (or prepared) spell. If you do, you add their combined levels to your save. Similarly, when you are attacked(before the attack roll is rolled) you may as an immediate action sacrifice both an arcane spell slot (or prepared spell) and a divine spell slot (or prepared) spell to give yourself a dodge bonus equal to the their combined levels against that attack.

Inspired Crafting(Ex)At fourth level, the Lyrist learn the careful skills needed to imbue the power of music into magical items. A Fochlucan Lyrist is treated as having the Craft Wondrous Item feat to craft any magical item that has being a bard as a prerequisite for construction, requires bardic music to use, or require making a Perform check, or are otherwise musically related (the last as determined by the DM if not specifically listed below). If the Lyrist has Craft Wondrous Item, they instead reduce the crafting cost in both GP and XP of such items by 10%. Additionally, they may use Locate Object as a spell-like ability with caster level equal to their hit die on any musical instrument that you have personally enchanted.

Relevant items from various books:Items from the SRD: Harp of Charming, Lyre of Building,Pipes of Haunting, Pipes of Pain, Pipes of the Sewers and the Pipes of Sounding. From Complete Arcane (pg. 148-149): Fochluchan Bandore, Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern, Canaith Mandolin, Doss Lute, Cli Lyre, Anstruth Harp, and Ollamh Harp.

Magic Item Compendium: Dove's Harp (pg. 156), Drums of Marching(pg. 158), Pipes of Frenzied Revelry(pg. 168), Skill Shard(when used for a Perform skill) (pg. 184).

Libris Mortis (pg. 78-79): Bagpipes o the Damned, the Lyre of the Restful Soul, and the Night Caller (pg 78-79)
At this point in their training, it is traditional for most Lyrists to construct their own Fochlucan Bandore, although this tradition is not followed universally. Others make other instruments, while others receive a bandore from a mentor. Many who make their own bandores choose to add a few additional enchantments, and almost all Lyrists continue to tinker with their magical instruments over time, eventually making their instrument an object of legend by itself.

Improved Critical Eye(Ex) At fifth level, the Lyrist's ability to discern the performances of others improves, allowing them to notice minute details reflecting the nature and influence of their training. Whenever a Lyrist of fifth levels sees someone perform they learn how many other Perform skills the performer have ranks in. Additionally, the Lyrist can tell if the Performer has any training in magical uses of magic (such as being a bard) and can tell if any aspect of the performance is either magically enhanced or is being used to channel magical energy (such as by bardic music). If the last occurs, the Lyrist gets a +2 circumstance bonus on any save from the effect.

Musical Summoning(Ex)A Fochlucan Lyrist of Fifth level learns to channel and sustain the forces of nature through their music. Any round which they are using bardic music (either having started or continuing to use a bardic music ability) does not count against the duration of any Summon Nature's Ally Spell they have cast.

Improved Inspired Crafting(Ex) At sixth level, the Lyrist ability to craft musical items imbued with magic further improves. For purposes of crafting any item covered under Fochlucan Crafting, they are treated as knowing any spell on the bard list that is of a level they can cast.

Call to Hand(Sp):A Fochlucan Lyrist develops a deep magical connection with any instrument they use. They may as a standard action duplicate the spell Instant Summons as a spell-like ability with caster level equal to their hit die. The target any musical instrument they have played in the last 24 hours, or any magical musical instrument they have themselves personally crafted.

Improved Uncanny Dodge(Ex):At 8th level, a Fochlucan Lyrist gains Improved Uncanny Dodge as a rogue. If they already have Improved Uncanny Dodge, they instead gain a bonus feat.

Lyrist Ascendant(Ex): At 10th level, a Lyrist becomes the living incarnation ofof the unification of the three powerful forces: music, arcane magic and divine power. They count any class level or prestige class level that has spellcasting or advances spellcasting as any form as a bard level for determining how many daily uses of bardic music you get, as well as your bard level for bardic knowledge. If a prestige class advances spellcasting only at some levels this ability applies to all levels of the prestige class. So for example if a Lyrist took one level in Pale Master, the first level would still count as a bard level even though it does not have any spellcasting.

Additionally, a Lyrist always treat Perform(string instruments) as a class skill. If at any level they gained ranks of Perform(string instruments) as a cross-class skill, they get the extra spent skill points back to immediately respend. They may also choose to take 10 on a Perform(string instruments) check, even if stress and distractions would normally prevent them from doing so.

Perfect Inspired Crafting(Ex):A Fochlucan Lyrist of 10th level is treated as knowing all bard spells and all druid spells for purposes of items made with their Fochlucan Crafting ability.

Design notes/updates:
I've reduced slightly the required skills for entry. That should make entry slightly more flexible, but still allow some small additional degree of flexibility in builds.

I've left Unbound as it stands from the original, although in my own games I've never used multiclassing penalties, and most games I've been in also don't use them.

Skilled Lyrist and Magical Performance were added since as it is it is easier for a straight bard to do better at Perform(string instruments) than a Fochlucan Lyrist and this helps even that slightly.

Theoarcanic Acoustic Synthesis was added because a Fochlucan Lyrist suffers massively from low save DCs for their spells and low caster level.

Sudden Swiftness, and Uncanny Dodge were added since you get evasion but none of the class features really build off of that.

Fochlucan Crafting- I've almost certainly missed a few items here. Any I'm obvious missing ones would be nice to have pointed out. I've included the Lyre of Building here for completeness, although I'm of the opinion that it is a broken item.

Most of the other added class features should be self-explanatory.