RTGoodman
2008-03-22, 12:02 PM
Songsword
Phineas watched his fellow adventurers fighting for their lives against the dreaded foe, their battle cries only serving to make him play his fiddle faster and more passionately. Soon, though, he realized that his friends needed more than music. Dropping his instrument, the little gnome dashed forward, rapier drawn, to confront the enemy head-on...
Many bards spend their lives traveling the countryside, performing for crowds or simply living out their lives journeying to nowhere in particular. Those who go on to become adventurers sometimes feel left out because of their inability to fight like their more combat-oriented compatriots. For some, this isn't what they thought adventuring might be. After spending time in the company of combat-oriented party members, some bards forsake some ability in using their music and magic in order to become more adept at (and last longer in) combat. These are the Songswords.
A Songsword maintains many of his bardic abilities, though these accrue at slower paces as he focuses more on combat ability. Indeed, they adapt melee fighting to their own style, eventually even channeling their songs and charm into combat.
Hit Die: d8
Requirements:
To qualify to become a Songsword, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: Perform (any) 8 ranks; Tumble 8 ranks
Feats: Dodge; Weapon Finesse; Weapon Focus (any weapon useable with Weapon Finesse)
Special: Bardic Music ability
Special: Must have defeated an opponent through force of arms or smart tactics alone, without resorting to spellcasting or bardic music.
Class Skills
The songsword’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge [all skills, taken individually] (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform [any] (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (none), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier
{table=head]Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spellcasting
1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Bardic Combat Knowledge; Bardic Music 1/day | --
2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Channeled Song; Mobility | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Bardic Music 2/day | --
4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Improved Channeled Song | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Bardic Music 3/day, Charming Strike | --
[/table]
Class Features:
All of the following are class features of the Songsword.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: At every even-numbered level, a songsword gains new spells per day and spells known as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class he was a member before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (but see below). If a character had levels in more than one arcane spellcasting class, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for the purposes of determining spells per day and spells known.
Bardic Combat Knowledge (Ex): A songsword adds one-half his class level (rounded down) to all bardic knowledge checks. Furthermore, as a songsword becomes more experienced in the combat arts, the breadth of his bardic knowledge increases. A songsword can make a bardic knowledge check to reveal information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places (as normal), or to identify and assist in fighting creatures (as normal for Knowledge checks to reveal information about creatures), even if he doesn't have ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill. He gains a +2 synergy bonus to this check if he has 5 or more ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill used to identify the particular creature (as described in the rules for the Knowledge skill).
Bardic Music: At every odd-numbered level, a songsword gains one extra use of his bardic music ability per day. However, his class levels do not count for the purposes of determining the bardic music abilities to which the character has access.
Channeled Song (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a songsword can expend a number of uses of bardic music in order to gain one of the following bonuses, equal to the number of uses of bardic music expended. The bonus may not exceed twice his class level. For instance, a Bard 5/Songsword 2 may expend 4 uses of his Bardic Music to gain a +4 morale bonus to AC for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier.
[tab]Channeled Defense: As a standard action, a songsword can gain a morale bonus to AC that lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Cha modifier.
[tab]Channeled Power: As a standard action, he may gain a morale bonus to attack rolls that lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Cha modifier.
[tab]Channeled Resistance: As an immediate action, he can gain a morale bonus to a single saving throw.
Mobility: At 2nd level, a Songsword gains Mobility as a bonus feat, regardless of whether or not he meets the prerequisites.
Improved Channeled Music: At 4th level, a Songsword becomes more efficient at expending his musical ability to increase his own combat ability. Any bonus from his channeled music ability is doubled, and the maximum bonus is equal to one-half his HD (rounded down). For instance, a Bard 15/Songsword 5 may expend 5 uses of Bardic Music to gain a +10 morale bonus on attack rolls for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier.
Charming Strike: At 5th level, a Songsword may add his Charisma modifier to damage rolls, provided that he strikes a weapon that can be used with the Weapon Finesse feat.
Phineas watched his fellow adventurers fighting for their lives against the dreaded foe, their battle cries only serving to make him play his fiddle faster and more passionately. Soon, though, he realized that his friends needed more than music. Dropping his instrument, the little gnome dashed forward, rapier drawn, to confront the enemy head-on...
Many bards spend their lives traveling the countryside, performing for crowds or simply living out their lives journeying to nowhere in particular. Those who go on to become adventurers sometimes feel left out because of their inability to fight like their more combat-oriented compatriots. For some, this isn't what they thought adventuring might be. After spending time in the company of combat-oriented party members, some bards forsake some ability in using their music and magic in order to become more adept at (and last longer in) combat. These are the Songswords.
A Songsword maintains many of his bardic abilities, though these accrue at slower paces as he focuses more on combat ability. Indeed, they adapt melee fighting to their own style, eventually even channeling their songs and charm into combat.
Hit Die: d8
Requirements:
To qualify to become a Songsword, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: Perform (any) 8 ranks; Tumble 8 ranks
Feats: Dodge; Weapon Finesse; Weapon Focus (any weapon useable with Weapon Finesse)
Special: Bardic Music ability
Special: Must have defeated an opponent through force of arms or smart tactics alone, without resorting to spellcasting or bardic music.
Class Skills
The songsword’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge [all skills, taken individually] (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform [any] (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (none), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier
{table=head]Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spellcasting
1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Bardic Combat Knowledge; Bardic Music 1/day | --
2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Channeled Song; Mobility | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Bardic Music 2/day | --
4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Improved Channeled Song | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Bardic Music 3/day, Charming Strike | --
[/table]
Class Features:
All of the following are class features of the Songsword.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: At every even-numbered level, a songsword gains new spells per day and spells known as if he had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class he was a member before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (but see below). If a character had levels in more than one arcane spellcasting class, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for the purposes of determining spells per day and spells known.
Bardic Combat Knowledge (Ex): A songsword adds one-half his class level (rounded down) to all bardic knowledge checks. Furthermore, as a songsword becomes more experienced in the combat arts, the breadth of his bardic knowledge increases. A songsword can make a bardic knowledge check to reveal information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places (as normal), or to identify and assist in fighting creatures (as normal for Knowledge checks to reveal information about creatures), even if he doesn't have ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill. He gains a +2 synergy bonus to this check if he has 5 or more ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill used to identify the particular creature (as described in the rules for the Knowledge skill).
Bardic Music: At every odd-numbered level, a songsword gains one extra use of his bardic music ability per day. However, his class levels do not count for the purposes of determining the bardic music abilities to which the character has access.
Channeled Song (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a songsword can expend a number of uses of bardic music in order to gain one of the following bonuses, equal to the number of uses of bardic music expended. The bonus may not exceed twice his class level. For instance, a Bard 5/Songsword 2 may expend 4 uses of his Bardic Music to gain a +4 morale bonus to AC for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier.
[tab]Channeled Defense: As a standard action, a songsword can gain a morale bonus to AC that lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Cha modifier.
[tab]Channeled Power: As a standard action, he may gain a morale bonus to attack rolls that lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Cha modifier.
[tab]Channeled Resistance: As an immediate action, he can gain a morale bonus to a single saving throw.
Mobility: At 2nd level, a Songsword gains Mobility as a bonus feat, regardless of whether or not he meets the prerequisites.
Improved Channeled Music: At 4th level, a Songsword becomes more efficient at expending his musical ability to increase his own combat ability. Any bonus from his channeled music ability is doubled, and the maximum bonus is equal to one-half his HD (rounded down). For instance, a Bard 15/Songsword 5 may expend 5 uses of Bardic Music to gain a +10 morale bonus on attack rolls for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier.
Charming Strike: At 5th level, a Songsword may add his Charisma modifier to damage rolls, provided that he strikes a weapon that can be used with the Weapon Finesse feat.