Eno Remnant
2014-09-18, 09:43 PM
Skald
For those who love music, there is the Bard. For those who love to fight, there is the Barbarian. For those who hear the harmony of a beating heart, the sharps of blades, the flats of clubs and the sweet melody of pained screams, there is the Skald.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Perform (Oratory) 9 ranks
Special: Bardic music, Rage ability
Skill Points: 4 + Int
Hit Dice: d8
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
Spellcasting
1st
+1
+2
+2
+0
Bardic Music, Rage, Battle Chant
+1 level of spellcasting
2nd
+2
+3
+3
+0
—
+1 level of spellcasting
3rd
+3
+3
+3
+1
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 2/day
+1 level of spellcasting
4th
+4
+4
+4
+1
—
+1 level of spellcasting
5th
+5
+4
+4
+1
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 3/day
—
6th
+6
+5
+5
+2
Bloodthirsty Roar 1/day
+1 level of spellcasting
7th
+7
+5
+5
+2
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 4/day
+1 level of spellcasting
8th
+8
+6
+6
+2
Bloodthirsty Roar 2/day
+1 level of spellcasting
9th
+9
+6
+6
+3
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 5/day
+1 level of spellcasting
10th
+10
+7
+7
+3
Berserker Dirge
—
Weapon Proficiencies: Skald characters do not gain any weapon proficiencies.
Spellcasting: At every level except 5th and 10th, 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 one class providing you with Bardic music. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (unless stated later in this entry).
Bardic Music: Your Skald levels stack with your Bard levels for the purpose of determining Bardic music uses. You do not, however, gain additional features like Inspire Heroics.
Rage: Your Skald levels stack with your Barbarian levels for the purpose of determining rage duration and uses. You do not, however, gain additional Rage features such as Tireless Rage.
Battle Chant: Even the intense fire of your rage cannot overcome your love of music. While raging, you may expend one use of Bardic music for the day as a swift action to use Bardic music for the duration of the rage. By instead expending two Bardic music uses, you may also cast spells gained through this class or your levels of a class providing Bardic music.
Let's Get 'Em, Boys! (Su): Your rallying cry gives strength and courage to both yourself and your allies. At 3rd level, you may expend one use of Bardic music to increase the attack and damage rolls of yourself and every ally within 60 ft. by +1 for every interval of 5 you make in a Perform (Oratory) check (to a maximum of +8 at 40) for 1 round per class level. By expending an additional two uses of Bardic music, allies within 60 ft. affected by a fear effect may reroll their save against that effect at a +4 bonus. These are morale bonuses. These effects can be used twice per day, with an additional use every two levels hence.
Bloodthirsty Roar (Su): Years of vocal practice and aggressive combat have made you able to roar like a horrible creature of myth, cowing enemies and even inflicting physical harm. At 6th level, you may expend one use of Bardic music to give all enemies within 60 ft. -5 to attack and damage for 1 round per class level. This effect increases by -1 at every level after 6th (to a maximum of -8 at 10th level). By expending an additional two uses of Bardic music, you may frighten all opponents within the same range, as the spell Fear. This is a mind-affecting ability. By instead expending four uses of Bardic music, you may also deal 1d6 sonic damage per class level to every opponent within the same range, as well as applying the previous effects. The save DC for all of these effects is the result of a Perform (Oratory) check. These effects may be used once per day, with an additional use at 8th level.
Berserker Dirge: You are an instrument of death, a perfect harmony of pain and beauty. As you sing, those aspects are evoked into reality, transforming your feelings from mental to physical—aweing and terrifying all who witness your power. At 10th level, you may expend three uses of Bardic music at the beginning of a rage as a free action. Your bonuses to Strength and Constitution during a rage increase to +10. The penalty to AC remains at -2. Any enemy within 10 ft. becomes shaken, and must make a Will save (DC = 10 + Class level + Cha modifier) or else become frightened. You may expend an additional two uses of Bardic music to negate the fatigue caused by your rage, and as a swift action use Inspire Courage as a Bard equal to your combined Bard and Skald, and Bardic music-providing class levels. By expending an additional three Bardic music uses, your weapon becomes imbued with death magic, as the Slay Living spell, which can be discharged with a melee attack (DC = 10 + Class level + Cha modifier).
CHANGES:
Reduced Bardic music costs on the capstone to something more reasonable.
Reduced the Slay Living ability's cost a second time.
Adjusted spellcasting progression, Battle Chant ability and capstone because Bard isn't the only way to get Bardic music
This is the second homebrew class I've created, and the first I've ever posted anywhere. I created it after seeing a homebrew class called the Bardbarian which, in the opinion of myself and my friends, was quite dreadfully done. I claimed I could do better, and this is the result. Yes, I know there's already a prestige class called Warrior Skald, but I didn't know that at the time of creating this one.
The basic concept is the use Bardic music to give a Barbarian buffing and debuffing options, allowing them to fill in as both primary/secondary melee and buffer/debuffer in a party.
My major concerns are class skills, the Bardic music costs (too lenient?) and the capstone, but other suggestions are very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
For those who love music, there is the Bard. For those who love to fight, there is the Barbarian. For those who hear the harmony of a beating heart, the sharps of blades, the flats of clubs and the sweet melody of pained screams, there is the Skald.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Perform (Oratory) 9 ranks
Special: Bardic music, Rage ability
Skill Points: 4 + Int
Hit Dice: d8
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
Spellcasting
1st
+1
+2
+2
+0
Bardic Music, Rage, Battle Chant
+1 level of spellcasting
2nd
+2
+3
+3
+0
—
+1 level of spellcasting
3rd
+3
+3
+3
+1
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 2/day
+1 level of spellcasting
4th
+4
+4
+4
+1
—
+1 level of spellcasting
5th
+5
+4
+4
+1
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 3/day
—
6th
+6
+5
+5
+2
Bloodthirsty Roar 1/day
+1 level of spellcasting
7th
+7
+5
+5
+2
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 4/day
+1 level of spellcasting
8th
+8
+6
+6
+2
Bloodthirsty Roar 2/day
+1 level of spellcasting
9th
+9
+6
+6
+3
Let’s Get ‘Em, Boys! 5/day
+1 level of spellcasting
10th
+10
+7
+7
+3
Berserker Dirge
—
Weapon Proficiencies: Skald characters do not gain any weapon proficiencies.
Spellcasting: At every level except 5th and 10th, 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 one class providing you with Bardic music. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (unless stated later in this entry).
Bardic Music: Your Skald levels stack with your Bard levels for the purpose of determining Bardic music uses. You do not, however, gain additional features like Inspire Heroics.
Rage: Your Skald levels stack with your Barbarian levels for the purpose of determining rage duration and uses. You do not, however, gain additional Rage features such as Tireless Rage.
Battle Chant: Even the intense fire of your rage cannot overcome your love of music. While raging, you may expend one use of Bardic music for the day as a swift action to use Bardic music for the duration of the rage. By instead expending two Bardic music uses, you may also cast spells gained through this class or your levels of a class providing Bardic music.
Let's Get 'Em, Boys! (Su): Your rallying cry gives strength and courage to both yourself and your allies. At 3rd level, you may expend one use of Bardic music to increase the attack and damage rolls of yourself and every ally within 60 ft. by +1 for every interval of 5 you make in a Perform (Oratory) check (to a maximum of +8 at 40) for 1 round per class level. By expending an additional two uses of Bardic music, allies within 60 ft. affected by a fear effect may reroll their save against that effect at a +4 bonus. These are morale bonuses. These effects can be used twice per day, with an additional use every two levels hence.
Bloodthirsty Roar (Su): Years of vocal practice and aggressive combat have made you able to roar like a horrible creature of myth, cowing enemies and even inflicting physical harm. At 6th level, you may expend one use of Bardic music to give all enemies within 60 ft. -5 to attack and damage for 1 round per class level. This effect increases by -1 at every level after 6th (to a maximum of -8 at 10th level). By expending an additional two uses of Bardic music, you may frighten all opponents within the same range, as the spell Fear. This is a mind-affecting ability. By instead expending four uses of Bardic music, you may also deal 1d6 sonic damage per class level to every opponent within the same range, as well as applying the previous effects. The save DC for all of these effects is the result of a Perform (Oratory) check. These effects may be used once per day, with an additional use at 8th level.
Berserker Dirge: You are an instrument of death, a perfect harmony of pain and beauty. As you sing, those aspects are evoked into reality, transforming your feelings from mental to physical—aweing and terrifying all who witness your power. At 10th level, you may expend three uses of Bardic music at the beginning of a rage as a free action. Your bonuses to Strength and Constitution during a rage increase to +10. The penalty to AC remains at -2. Any enemy within 10 ft. becomes shaken, and must make a Will save (DC = 10 + Class level + Cha modifier) or else become frightened. You may expend an additional two uses of Bardic music to negate the fatigue caused by your rage, and as a swift action use Inspire Courage as a Bard equal to your combined Bard and Skald, and Bardic music-providing class levels. By expending an additional three Bardic music uses, your weapon becomes imbued with death magic, as the Slay Living spell, which can be discharged with a melee attack (DC = 10 + Class level + Cha modifier).
CHANGES:
Reduced Bardic music costs on the capstone to something more reasonable.
Reduced the Slay Living ability's cost a second time.
Adjusted spellcasting progression, Battle Chant ability and capstone because Bard isn't the only way to get Bardic music
This is the second homebrew class I've created, and the first I've ever posted anywhere. I created it after seeing a homebrew class called the Bardbarian which, in the opinion of myself and my friends, was quite dreadfully done. I claimed I could do better, and this is the result. Yes, I know there's already a prestige class called Warrior Skald, but I didn't know that at the time of creating this one.
The basic concept is the use Bardic music to give a Barbarian buffing and debuffing options, allowing them to fill in as both primary/secondary melee and buffer/debuffer in a party.
My major concerns are class skills, the Bardic music costs (too lenient?) and the capstone, but other suggestions are very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!