ShneekeyTheLost
2007-08-29, 09:28 AM
Well, someone else was trying to make a bard/warlock hybrid PrC here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55128) and it gave me an idea. He was doing a bunch of sonic stuf, making it a blaster PrC. But I decided to go the other direction... be a corrupting influence rather than just a blaster. It makes a very good battlefield control specialist, although weak to the point of uselessness against targets which are immune to mind-affecting. I still need a good capstone ability, though.
Fell Lyricist v1.0
As the old saying goes, Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. However, the sad fact is, those who are corrupted by power are then in a position to corrupt others with their power. Sadly, some Bards seek more power, and in that search for power, they turn to sources which are... corrupt. And, being Bards, they are in a position to spread that corruption through the music they play. These Fell Lyricists are fearsome foes,
The Fell Lyricist is a Bard/Warlock hybrid, requiring levels in both classes to qualify. It takes the foul practices of the Warlock, and uses their Bardic Music to broadcast it to their opponents. Since both bard and Warlock are considered sub-par in power level, this PrC is slightly more powerful than typical to compensate.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements:
To qualify to become a Fell Lyricist, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Skills: Perform (any) 8 ranks
Alignment: Any non-good, non-lawful
Spells: Able to spontaniously cast spells from the Bard list and have 2 Invocatiosn known.
Special: Bardic Music ability: Facinate, Eldrich Blast 2d6.
Class Skills:
Fell Lyricist class skills (and key attribute for each) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
{table="head"]Level | BAB | Ref | Fort | Will | Special Abilities | Spellcasting
1 | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Fel Music, Fel Knowledge | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
2 | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Song of Woe | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
3 | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Summon Instrument | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
4 | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Song of Apathy | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
5 | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Invoke Music | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
6 | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Song of Terror | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
7 | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Resonant Invocation | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
8 | +6 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Song of Insanity | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
9 | +6 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Fel Enrapturement | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
10 | 7x | +7 | +3 | +7 | Fel Command | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker[/table]
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: None additional
Spells: Continues progression of both Arcane and Invoker at every level
Fell Music (Ex): Fell Lyricists add their class level to all Bard levels for determining the number of Bardic Music uses and their strength, however he does not gain additional music options from the Bard class, instead he gains Fell Music options, although he can certainly use any Bardic Music abilities he already possesses.
Each use of Fell Music counts as Bardic Music for all intents and purposes. All Fell Music uses are Sonic (read: cannot be used while silenced) and Mind-Affecting, although not necessarily language dependent. Will saves are Cha based. Level-dependent effects are Bard + Warlock + Fell Lyricist levels. All uses of Fell Music can only affect a maximum number of opponents equal to class level. All Fell Music effects which have a duration last for concentration+class level rounds.
Song of Woe - 2nd level
This song produces a dischordant melody which brings forth unpleasant memories, demoralizing the opponents. Opponents who fail their save get a morale penalty to their attack rolls and saving throws equal to half the Fell Lyricist's class level, round up.
Song of Apathy - 4th
This song produces a sorrowful melody which clouds their reasons for fighting in the first place. This is a Slow effect on all opponents who fail their save.
Song of Terror - 6th
This song is a haunting tune which strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. All who fail their save increase their fear by one step, which stacks with any other fear effects which might be affecting them. Those who fail their save must make an additional will save every round or be affected again. Those who succeed their save are not further affected by the song, although they remain at the level of effect which they were at when they made their save.
Song of Insanity - 8th
This twisted tune disturbs and confuses people. Treat as a Confusion effect for those who fail their save.
Fell Knowledge (Ex): A Fell Lyricist adds his class level to Bard Levels for making Bardic Knowledge checks, and adds a bonus equal to his Warlock level for making Bardic Knowledge checks concerning demons or demonic things.
Summon Fell Instrument (Sp): At 3rd level, the Fel Lyricist gains this minor invocation to be never without an instrument. He may summon an infernal instrument of the type he plays, which gives him a +2 Equipment bonus on all Perform checks, as though a Mastercrafted Instrument. This also gives him a +1 to the DC of any Bardic Music or Fel Music abilities which this instrument is used to make. The exact details of the instrument's description is up to the individual Fel Lyricist, but have in the past included such things as Golden Fiddles, harps made of bone strung with hair of victims, and others.
Invoke Music (Su): At 5th level, the Fell Lyricist gains this major invocation to increase the power of his music. The next Bardic Music or Fell Music ability he uses gains a bonus to the DC to resist it's effects by half of his Fell Lyricist level.
Resonant Invocaton (Ex): At 7th level, as part of an Invocation, a Fell Lyricist may increase the DC and his level check to penetrate SR for that invocation by spending a Bardic Music use and making a Performance check. The bonus is as follows: +1 for a check result of 10, and +1 for every 5 points thereafter. Thus a check of 20 would give a +3, a check of 30 would give a +5, and so forth.
Fell Enrapturement (Ex): At 9th level, the Fell Lyricist gains this invocation, which makes his music even more compelling. His next Facinate attempt may be used even on creatures in combat. Obvious threats do not automatically break the Facinate ability, but instead forces the Fel Lyricist to make another Performance check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result, much in the same way that potential threats do.
Fell Command (Su): By using one use of bardic music during an invocation, the fel lyricist may issue a command, greater, as the spell, to each target of the invocation (or each target within the invocation's area of effect), up to one target per fell lyricist class level. Any damage normally caused by the invocation is nullified, though all non-damaging effects still apply normally. In the case of a Warlock's Eldritch Blast or similar ability, this is treated as the Eldritch Essence (or equivalent) to the invocation. The invocation has an effective spell level of 8 if it would otherwise be lower than 8.
Fell Lyricist v1.0
As the old saying goes, Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. However, the sad fact is, those who are corrupted by power are then in a position to corrupt others with their power. Sadly, some Bards seek more power, and in that search for power, they turn to sources which are... corrupt. And, being Bards, they are in a position to spread that corruption through the music they play. These Fell Lyricists are fearsome foes,
The Fell Lyricist is a Bard/Warlock hybrid, requiring levels in both classes to qualify. It takes the foul practices of the Warlock, and uses their Bardic Music to broadcast it to their opponents. Since both bard and Warlock are considered sub-par in power level, this PrC is slightly more powerful than typical to compensate.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements:
To qualify to become a Fell Lyricist, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Skills: Perform (any) 8 ranks
Alignment: Any non-good, non-lawful
Spells: Able to spontaniously cast spells from the Bard list and have 2 Invocatiosn known.
Special: Bardic Music ability: Facinate, Eldrich Blast 2d6.
Class Skills:
Fell Lyricist class skills (and key attribute for each) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
{table="head"]Level | BAB | Ref | Fort | Will | Special Abilities | Spellcasting
1 | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Fel Music, Fel Knowledge | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
2 | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Song of Woe | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
3 | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Summon Instrument | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
4 | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Song of Apathy | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
5 | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Invoke Music | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
6 | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Song of Terror | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
7 | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Resonant Invocation | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
8 | +6 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Song of Insanity | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
9 | +6 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Fel Enrapturement | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker
10 | 7x | +7 | +3 | +7 | Fel Command | +1 Arcane/+1 Invoker[/table]
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: None additional
Spells: Continues progression of both Arcane and Invoker at every level
Fell Music (Ex): Fell Lyricists add their class level to all Bard levels for determining the number of Bardic Music uses and their strength, however he does not gain additional music options from the Bard class, instead he gains Fell Music options, although he can certainly use any Bardic Music abilities he already possesses.
Each use of Fell Music counts as Bardic Music for all intents and purposes. All Fell Music uses are Sonic (read: cannot be used while silenced) and Mind-Affecting, although not necessarily language dependent. Will saves are Cha based. Level-dependent effects are Bard + Warlock + Fell Lyricist levels. All uses of Fell Music can only affect a maximum number of opponents equal to class level. All Fell Music effects which have a duration last for concentration+class level rounds.
Song of Woe - 2nd level
This song produces a dischordant melody which brings forth unpleasant memories, demoralizing the opponents. Opponents who fail their save get a morale penalty to their attack rolls and saving throws equal to half the Fell Lyricist's class level, round up.
Song of Apathy - 4th
This song produces a sorrowful melody which clouds their reasons for fighting in the first place. This is a Slow effect on all opponents who fail their save.
Song of Terror - 6th
This song is a haunting tune which strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. All who fail their save increase their fear by one step, which stacks with any other fear effects which might be affecting them. Those who fail their save must make an additional will save every round or be affected again. Those who succeed their save are not further affected by the song, although they remain at the level of effect which they were at when they made their save.
Song of Insanity - 8th
This twisted tune disturbs and confuses people. Treat as a Confusion effect for those who fail their save.
Fell Knowledge (Ex): A Fell Lyricist adds his class level to Bard Levels for making Bardic Knowledge checks, and adds a bonus equal to his Warlock level for making Bardic Knowledge checks concerning demons or demonic things.
Summon Fell Instrument (Sp): At 3rd level, the Fel Lyricist gains this minor invocation to be never without an instrument. He may summon an infernal instrument of the type he plays, which gives him a +2 Equipment bonus on all Perform checks, as though a Mastercrafted Instrument. This also gives him a +1 to the DC of any Bardic Music or Fel Music abilities which this instrument is used to make. The exact details of the instrument's description is up to the individual Fel Lyricist, but have in the past included such things as Golden Fiddles, harps made of bone strung with hair of victims, and others.
Invoke Music (Su): At 5th level, the Fell Lyricist gains this major invocation to increase the power of his music. The next Bardic Music or Fell Music ability he uses gains a bonus to the DC to resist it's effects by half of his Fell Lyricist level.
Resonant Invocaton (Ex): At 7th level, as part of an Invocation, a Fell Lyricist may increase the DC and his level check to penetrate SR for that invocation by spending a Bardic Music use and making a Performance check. The bonus is as follows: +1 for a check result of 10, and +1 for every 5 points thereafter. Thus a check of 20 would give a +3, a check of 30 would give a +5, and so forth.
Fell Enrapturement (Ex): At 9th level, the Fell Lyricist gains this invocation, which makes his music even more compelling. His next Facinate attempt may be used even on creatures in combat. Obvious threats do not automatically break the Facinate ability, but instead forces the Fel Lyricist to make another Performance check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result, much in the same way that potential threats do.
Fell Command (Su): By using one use of bardic music during an invocation, the fel lyricist may issue a command, greater, as the spell, to each target of the invocation (or each target within the invocation's area of effect), up to one target per fell lyricist class level. Any damage normally caused by the invocation is nullified, though all non-damaging effects still apply normally. In the case of a Warlock's Eldritch Blast or similar ability, this is treated as the Eldritch Essence (or equivalent) to the invocation. The invocation has an effective spell level of 8 if it would otherwise be lower than 8.