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Kurald Galain
2007-09-24, 05:44 AM
:elan: Sing, sing, sing, sing your way through the evil dungeon!

Bards are a cool class. They have the charm, the magic, and the mad skillz to make a campaign more interesting. However, their trademark musical ability is a bit one-sided. Hence, I propose this change, to make the bard a more versatile addition to the party.

When using the Inspire Courage ability, the bard may choose any one of the following effects. Only one of these can be in effect at any one time; if the bard starts a new song, it ends the effect of his previous song. If two bards are using the same ability simultaneously to different effect, the two songs cancel out in a dissonant cacophony; if two bards are using the same effect, the bonuses stack. All these are mind-affecting, and last as long as the bard is heard, plus five rounds afterwards (or until overridden by a different song).

Song of courage: all allies gain a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against charm and fear effects.

Song of caution: all allies gain a +1 morale bonus to armor class and all saving throws.

Song of celerity: all allies gain a +1 morale bonus to initiative, and, as a morale bonus, increase their movement rate by 5' per round.

Song of despair: all enemies gain a -1 morale penalty to attack and damage rolls, and saving throws against charm and fear effects.

Song of persistence: all allies treat any damage reduction on whomever they attack as two points less, and gain a +2 morale bonus to checks for bypassing spell resistance.

Song of distraction: all enemies within earshot who cast a spell must make a concentration check (difficulty 10 + spell level + the bard's cha modifier); if they fail the check, the spell is wasted. This does not apply to spells cast as a swift or immediate action.

At level 8, 14, and 20, these bonuses are doubled, tripled, and quadrupled, respectively, and the concentration check for the song of distraction increases by five points each time.

Wystrell
2007-09-24, 05:32 PM
Interesting ideas, giving the invididual abilities a "song tree" does make it more versatile. You might want to check this out, it's been floating around Homebrews:

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56481

Kurald Galain
2007-09-25, 05:24 AM
Oops, I should have seen that before :smallsmile: