I think Countersong either works or it doesn't.
Eh? Not sure what you mean here... I changed it to a caster level check to conform with the normal mechanics for such a thing. I think the Perform check would beat the DC 9 times out of 10, because skills are easy to maximize.
I decided to go with the ideas I had, plus some new ones - I ditched the minimum rank requirements (which was kind of redundant, given that you already had a minimum level, too) and added a DC instead, which ties into the graded success. For each +10 over the DC, you increase the power of the song; at +20, +40, and +60, you gain additional effects. I'm not quite sure on the DCs for the higher-end stuff (inspire greatness and above), but I'm fairly sure a bard of that level could make the DC.
Bardic Music
Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). While these abilities fall under the category of bardic music and the descriptions discuss singing or playing instruments, they can all be activated by reciting poetry, chanting, singing lyrical songs, singing melodies, whistling, playing an instrument, or playing an instrument in combination with some spoken performance. Starting a bardic music effect is a standard action. In order to use a bardic music ability, the bard must make a Perform check, using whichever Perform skill he wishes; the DC for this check varies depending on the bardic music ability (see below). If the check succeeds, the bard can use the ability; if the check succeeds by 10 or more, he gains additional benefits, as noted under each ability’s description. If the check fails, the attempt still counts against his daily limit.
Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even while using bardic music that doesn’t require concentration, a bard cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), spell trigger (such as wands), or command word. Just as for casting a spell with a verbal component, a deaf bard has a 20% chance to fail when attempting to use bardic music. If he fails, the attempt still counts against his daily limit.
The following benefits apply to all bardic music abilities, if applicable. All the benefits stack – that is, a check result 60 or more over the DC means the ability is widened, maximized, and empowered, in addition to the bonuses granted for that particular ability by a high check result.
If the check succeeds by 20 or more, the area of effect is widened.
If the check succeeds by 40 or more, all effects are extended by 50%. (In the case of inspire courage and inspire heroics, the bonus remains in effect for an additional 50% of the time the bard spent singing after he stops. For example, the bonus from a bard who spent 10 rounds singing would last for another 5 rounds afterward.)
If the check succeeds by 60 or more, all effects are empowered.
NOTES
This system was designed to simulate the effects of a very high Perform check. As it is now, there are no additional benefits for making a masterful performance – or even making a Perform check at all, except for fascinate. (And speaking of fascinate, the save DC was changed to conform to every other save formula for class abilities in D&D.)
Additionally, it removes the bard’s requirement to max out his ranks in Perform to be able to use his bardic music abilities at the minimum level, which is kind of silly. The lower-level Perform DCs assume the bard with max ranks and a +2 Charisma bonus can make the DC with a 10 on the die; higher-level abilities assume (slightly) higher Charisma bonuses, Skill Focus, and other bonuses (masterwork instrument, magic items, etc.). This means that a bard with fewer than max ranks can still make the check – he just needs to roll slightly higher.
For those of you who don’t want to read through all of the descriptions (which are in the spoiler block below) to find DCs and bonus effects, I made a handy quick-reference chart:
Code:
Ability Min. Level DC Additional Effects
Countersong 1 15 Each +10 = +1 on caster level checks
Fascinate 1 15 Each +10 = +1 target and +2 to the save DC
Inspire courage 2 18 Each +10 = +1 morale bonus
Inspire competence 4 22 Each +10 = +1 competence bonus
Suggestion 7 25 Each +10 = +2 to save DC
Inspire greatness 10 28 Each +10 = +1 ally, +2 to attack, +1 to Fort saves
Song of freedom 13 32 Each +10 = +1 to caster level checks
Inspire heroics 16 36 Each +10 = +1 ally, +1 to saves/AC
Mass suggestion 19 40 Each +10 = +2 to save DC
I'm not too sure that suggestion and mass suggestion should have Perform DCs, since they're made while you're already playing, but I guess you could justify it by saying that the bard is "multitasking" - keeping his targets entrances while summoning additional energy to make a suggestion.
Bardic Music Descriptions
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Countersong: A bard of 1st level or higher who makes a DC 15 Perform check can use his music or poetics to counter magical effects that depend on sound (but not spells that simply have verbal components). Each round of the countersong, he makes a caster level check (using his bard level as the caster level). If the caster level check succeeds, the other effects is negated for that round for all creatures within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself). If the caster level check fails, the creatures can still make their own saving throws. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, the bard can make a caster level check each round to negate it, as if he were using a dispel magic spell. Countersong has no effect against effects that don’t allow saves. The bard can keep up the countersong for 10 rounds.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 15, he adds +1 to his caster level checks.
Fascinate (Sp): A bard of 1st level or higher who makes a DC 18 Perform check can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and able to pay attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working.
All creatures to be affected must make a saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 bard’s level + Cha bonus) to resist it. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the bard to make another Perform check (DC 18) and allows the creature a new save.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
For every 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 18, he can affect one additional creature, and he adds a +2 bonus to the save DC.
Inspire Courage (Su): A bard of 2nd level or higher who makes a DC 20 Perform check can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be within 30 feet and be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing or remains in the area of effect, and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saves against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 20, allies gain an additional +1 morale bonus to saves and weapon and damage rolls.
Inspire Competence (Su): A bard of 4th level or higher who makes a DC 22 Perform check can use his music or poetics to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also be able to see the ally.
The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with a particular skill as long as he or she continues to hear the bard’s music. Certain uses of this ability are infeasible. The effect lasts as long as the bard concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. A bard can’t inspire competence in himself. Inspire competence is a mind-affecting ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 22, the ally gains an additional +1 competence bonus to skill checks.
Suggestion (Sp): A bard of 6th level or higher who makes a DC 25 Perform check can make a suggestion (as the spell) to a creature that he has already fascinated. Using this ability does not break the bard’s concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect.
Making a suggestion doesn’t count against a bard’s daily limit on bardic music performances. A Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 bard’s level + bard’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature (but see mass suggestion, below). Suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language dependent ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 25, the save DC is increased by +2.
Inspire Greatness (Su): A bard of 9th level or higher who makes a DC 28 Perform check can use music or poetics to inspire greatness in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet, granting him or her extra fighting capability. To inspire greatness, the bard must sing and an ally must hear him. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard and for 5 rounds thereafter. A creature inspired with greatness gains 2 bonus Hit Dice (d10s), the commensurate number of temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these bonus Hit Dice), a +2 competence bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves. The bonus Hit Dice count as regular Hit Dice for determining the effect of spells that are Hit Die dependent. Inspire greatness is a mind-affecting ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 32, the bard can affect one additional ally; also, all allies affected gain an additional +1 competence bonus on attack rolls and Fort saves.
Song of Freedom (Sp): A bard of 12th level or higher who makes a DC 35 Perform check can use music or poetics to create an effect equivalent to the break enchantment spell (caster level equals the character’s bard level). Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted concentration and music, and it functions on a single target within 30 feet. A bard can’t use song of freedom on himself.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 35, the bard’s caster level increases by +1.
Inspire Heroics (Su): A bard of 15th level or higher who makes a DC 36 Perform check can use music or poetics to inspire tremendous heroism in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet. To inspire heroics, a bard must sing, and an ally must hear him sing for a full round. A creature so inspired gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for up to 5 rounds thereafter. Inspire heroics is a mind-affecting ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 40, affected creatures gain an additional +1 morale bonus to saves and a +1 dodge bonus to AC.
Mass Suggestion (Sp): This ability functions like suggestion, above, except that a bard of 18th level or higher who makes a DC 40 Perform check can make the suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that he has already fascinated. Mass suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability.
For each 10 points by which the bard’s Perform check exceeds DC 45, the save DC is increased by +2.
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