One of my PC's has submitted this for approval. I wanted to pass it in front of the group to see if you can see any potential problems...
The Exalter
Any hum-drum Bard can inspire courage and confidence. But it takes a special sort of character to so fill his allies with vim and vigor that all their efforts -- spell casting, combat, skill-related -- are made vastly more effective. Enter, the Exalter!
Hit Dice: d6
Requirements
Perform skill: 10 ranks.
Ability to use Bardic Music 7 times a day.
Class Skills
As Bard.
Class Features
All of the following are features of the Exalter prestige class.
Level..BAB..Will/Ref..Fort
1..... +1......+2......+0
2......+1......+3......+0
3......+2......+3......+1
4......+2......+4......+1
5......+3......+4......+1
6......+3......+5......+2
7......+4......+5......+2
8......+4......+6......+2
9......+5......+6......+3
10....+5......+7......+3
Here he is attempting to change a fairly standard BAB progression, which I believe I will disallow.
Level....Special
1..........Greater Inspiration (+1)
2..........Extreme Focus
3..........Heightened Spellcasting (+1)
4..........Slightly Greater Greatness
5..........Greater Inspiration (+2), Keen Song
6..........Slippery Mind
7..........Heightened Spellcasting (+2)
8..........Turn it Up to Eleven
9..........Greater Inspiration (+3)
10.....….Mesmerizing Melody
The Exalter receives +1 existing spellcasting level per Exalter level.
The Exalter receives +1 use of Bardic Music ability per day per level.
Greater Inspiration (+1) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by one each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by one (to +3). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +1. In addition, all allies are granted a +1 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires two daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
The magic item he refers to is the Natural Horn from SAS, which increases the Inspire Courage bonus to +2 but kills the save bonus. I am going to disallow the luck bonus to AC as too powerful, I believe. I am inclined to suggest scaling the duration of the effect as well, but I am not sure what to base it on. Bardic Level? Perform skill?
Extreme Focus (Ex)
An Exalter can use one of their Bardic Music daily uses to help an ally focus intently upon one task (which requires a skill-related check). Like the "inspire competence" ability, the ally gains a circumstance bonus while the Exalter continues playing. The competence bonus granted is +4 (instead of +2).
Heightened Spellcasting (+1) (Ex)
When the Exalter sings his "Heightened Spellcasting" song, all spellcasters in the area of effect (allies) have their effective caster levels raised by +1 each for the purposes of spell effects and spell resistance checks. This effect lasts as for one minute per use of Heightened Spellcasting. Each use requires two daily uses of the Bardic Music ability.
Slightly Greater Greatness (Ex)
The Exalter is able to generate a slightly improved version of "Inspire Greatness" (see the Bard character class description for more detail) in his allies. The Exalter is still able to use the normal "Inspire Greatness" ability of the Bard if desired.
The Bardic "Inspire Greatness" grants the following bonuses:
* +2 Hit Dice (d10s that grant temporary hit points).
* +2 competence bonus on attacks.
* +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves
An Exalter's "Greater Greatness" grants the following bonuses:
* +3 Hit Dice (d10s that grant temporary hit points).
* +2 competence bonus on attacks
* +1 competence bonus on damage
* +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves
The bonuses last as long as the Exalter's Slightly Greater Greatness performance lasts. The Exalter is able to effect (with Slightly Greater Greatness ) a number of allies (each use) equal to his Exalter level divided by two. This ability requires two Bardic Music uses to accomplish.
Extreme Focus (Ex)
An Exalter can use one of their Bardic Music daily uses to help an ally focus on one task, and perform a skill-related check. Like the "inspire competence" ability, the ally gains a circumstance bonus while the Exalter continues playing. The competence bonus granted is +4.
Greater Inspiration (+2) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by two each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by two (to +4). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +2. In addition, all allies are granted a +2 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires three daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
Keen Song (Su)
The Exalter has the ability to sharpen the blades of all piercing and slashing weapons of allies. The affected weapons function as if a 6th-level sorcerer had cast a keen edge spell on them, except that the effect lasts only 10 minutes. Keen Song is a spell-like, transmutation ability, and requires three uses of Bardic Music ability.
Slippery Mind (Ex)
During an "inspire courage" or "Greater Inspiration" performance, all allies are granted a +2 to Will-based saving throws not already receiving a bonus (fear or charm related). This is a morale bonus.
Heightened Spellcasting (+2) (Ex)
When the Exalter sings his "Heightened Spellcasting" song, all spellcasters in the area of effect (allies) have their effective caster levels raised by +2 each for the purposes of spell effects and spell resistance checks. This effect lasts as for one minute per use of Heightened Spellcasting. Each use requires three Bardic music performances.
Turn it Up to Eleven (Su)
An Exalter is able to start a "battle of the bands" when confronted by either a sonic attack or a sound-effecting spell (or a spell that negates sound, such as Silence). Similar in some ways to the Bardic countersong ability, the Exalter is able to negate sonic attacks if the Exalter's perform check is greater than the DC of the sonic attack. If the Exalter's check exceeds the spell or spell-like attack's DC, the Exalter was able to "out sing/out play" the sonic effect, which is nullified. In the case of a spell such as Silence, if the Exalter wins the "battle of the bands," his performance simply overwhelms the magical attempt at silence. This ability only comes into play if the Exalter is currently inspiring his troops at the time of the sonic assault/spell attack. It can be applied to effects targeted at either himself or any ally currently under the "inspire courage" effect (i.e. if an ally 30 feet away has Silence cast on them, the Exalter's ability may be able to negate the spell).
Greater Inspiration (+3) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by two each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by three (to +5). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +3. In addition, all allies are granted a +3 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires four daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
Mesmerizing Melody (Ex)
During any "inspire courage/Greater Inspiration" episode, the Exalter's allies are so filled with the soul-stirring music of the Exalter that spells and spell-like effects have great difficulty penetrating their minds. Will-based saves are granted a +4 morale bonus. Allies are immune to all fear, charm, and domination effects. This supplants the Slippery Mind +2 Will save bonus.
Thoughts?
The Exalter
Any hum-drum Bard can inspire courage and confidence. But it takes a special sort of character to so fill his allies with vim and vigor that all their efforts -- spell casting, combat, skill-related -- are made vastly more effective. Enter, the Exalter!
Hit Dice: d6
Requirements
Perform skill: 10 ranks.
Ability to use Bardic Music 7 times a day.
Class Skills
As Bard.
Class Features
All of the following are features of the Exalter prestige class.
Level..BAB..Will/Ref..Fort
1..... +1......+2......+0
2......+1......+3......+0
3......+2......+3......+1
4......+2......+4......+1
5......+3......+4......+1
6......+3......+5......+2
7......+4......+5......+2
8......+4......+6......+2
9......+5......+6......+3
10....+5......+7......+3
Here he is attempting to change a fairly standard BAB progression, which I believe I will disallow.
Level....Special
1..........Greater Inspiration (+1)
2..........Extreme Focus
3..........Heightened Spellcasting (+1)
4..........Slightly Greater Greatness
5..........Greater Inspiration (+2), Keen Song
6..........Slippery Mind
7..........Heightened Spellcasting (+2)
8..........Turn it Up to Eleven
9..........Greater Inspiration (+3)
10.....….Mesmerizing Melody
The Exalter receives +1 existing spellcasting level per Exalter level.
The Exalter receives +1 use of Bardic Music ability per day per level.
Greater Inspiration (+1) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by one each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by one (to +3). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +1. In addition, all allies are granted a +1 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires two daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
The magic item he refers to is the Natural Horn from SAS, which increases the Inspire Courage bonus to +2 but kills the save bonus. I am going to disallow the luck bonus to AC as too powerful, I believe. I am inclined to suggest scaling the duration of the effect as well, but I am not sure what to base it on. Bardic Level? Perform skill?
Extreme Focus (Ex)
An Exalter can use one of their Bardic Music daily uses to help an ally focus intently upon one task (which requires a skill-related check). Like the "inspire competence" ability, the ally gains a circumstance bonus while the Exalter continues playing. The competence bonus granted is +4 (instead of +2).
Heightened Spellcasting (+1) (Ex)
When the Exalter sings his "Heightened Spellcasting" song, all spellcasters in the area of effect (allies) have their effective caster levels raised by +1 each for the purposes of spell effects and spell resistance checks. This effect lasts as for one minute per use of Heightened Spellcasting. Each use requires two daily uses of the Bardic Music ability.
Slightly Greater Greatness (Ex)
The Exalter is able to generate a slightly improved version of "Inspire Greatness" (see the Bard character class description for more detail) in his allies. The Exalter is still able to use the normal "Inspire Greatness" ability of the Bard if desired.
The Bardic "Inspire Greatness" grants the following bonuses:
* +2 Hit Dice (d10s that grant temporary hit points).
* +2 competence bonus on attacks.
* +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves
An Exalter's "Greater Greatness" grants the following bonuses:
* +3 Hit Dice (d10s that grant temporary hit points).
* +2 competence bonus on attacks
* +1 competence bonus on damage
* +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves
The bonuses last as long as the Exalter's Slightly Greater Greatness performance lasts. The Exalter is able to effect (with Slightly Greater Greatness ) a number of allies (each use) equal to his Exalter level divided by two. This ability requires two Bardic Music uses to accomplish.
Extreme Focus (Ex)
An Exalter can use one of their Bardic Music daily uses to help an ally focus on one task, and perform a skill-related check. Like the "inspire competence" ability, the ally gains a circumstance bonus while the Exalter continues playing. The competence bonus granted is +4.
Greater Inspiration (+2) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by two each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by two (to +4). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +2. In addition, all allies are granted a +2 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires three daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
Keen Song (Su)
The Exalter has the ability to sharpen the blades of all piercing and slashing weapons of allies. The affected weapons function as if a 6th-level sorcerer had cast a keen edge spell on them, except that the effect lasts only 10 minutes. Keen Song is a spell-like, transmutation ability, and requires three uses of Bardic Music ability.
Slippery Mind (Ex)
During an "inspire courage" or "Greater Inspiration" performance, all allies are granted a +2 to Will-based saving throws not already receiving a bonus (fear or charm related). This is a morale bonus.
Heightened Spellcasting (+2) (Ex)
When the Exalter sings his "Heightened Spellcasting" song, all spellcasters in the area of effect (allies) have their effective caster levels raised by +2 each for the purposes of spell effects and spell resistance checks. This effect lasts as for one minute per use of Heightened Spellcasting. Each use requires three Bardic music performances.
Turn it Up to Eleven (Su)
An Exalter is able to start a "battle of the bands" when confronted by either a sonic attack or a sound-effecting spell (or a spell that negates sound, such as Silence). Similar in some ways to the Bardic countersong ability, the Exalter is able to negate sonic attacks if the Exalter's perform check is greater than the DC of the sonic attack. If the Exalter's check exceeds the spell or spell-like attack's DC, the Exalter was able to "out sing/out play" the sonic effect, which is nullified. In the case of a spell such as Silence, if the Exalter wins the "battle of the bands," his performance simply overwhelms the magical attempt at silence. This ability only comes into play if the Exalter is currently inspiring his troops at the time of the sonic assault/spell attack. It can be applied to effects targeted at either himself or any ally currently under the "inspire courage" effect (i.e. if an ally 30 feet away has Silence cast on them, the Exalter's ability may be able to negate the spell).
Greater Inspiration (+3) (Ex)
The Exalter's "inspire courage" ability is augmented in the following fashion. Existing Hit/Damage bonuses increase by two each. Charm and fear saving throw bonus increased by three (to +5). If the saving throw bonuses were nullified due to instrument choice, they are re-instated at +3. In addition, all allies are granted a +3 Luck bonus to their AC. This requires four daily uses of the Bardic Music ability. In all other respects (duration, negative effect of silence upon it, etc.) Greater Inspiration follows the "inspire courage" ability guidelines.
Mesmerizing Melody (Ex)
During any "inspire courage/Greater Inspiration" episode, the Exalter's allies are so filled with the soul-stirring music of the Exalter that spells and spell-like effects have great difficulty penetrating their minds. Will-based saves are granted a +4 morale bonus. Allies are immune to all fear, charm, and domination effects. This supplants the Slippery Mind +2 Will save bonus.
Thoughts?
