[BoED] Troubador of Stars?

[Lord Pendragon]

I'm currently playing a bard, and having a ball with him. However, knowing that my fellow players are using splatbooks, prestige classes, new spells, etc., I've been searching for an interesting prestige class myself. The problem was that any prestige class made with an eye to bards seemed to either suck, or go completely contrary to my character concept.

Recently, I had a chance to look at the Book of Exalted Deeds, though, and the Troubador of Stars caught my mind. It looks pretty good. Some interesting abilities, access to Sanctified spells, at the cost of -1 BAB, and 5 caster levels of Bardic spellcasting.

Looking through the abilities, however, I came across the 2nd-level ability, "Celestial Spells."

From the Book of Exalted Deeds, page 79

Once she reaches 2nd level, a troubador of stars can cast spells as if she were an eladrin. Specifically, the troubadour can learn and cast any spell described in Chapter 6 that has a celestial or eladrin component, as long as she can otherwise cast the spell (it appears on her spell list, it is of a level of spells that she can cast, and she has a sufficient ability score to cast spells of that level.)

This is where I start to get confused. If I understand it correctly, the ability provides no extra access to spells, save that the "celestial" or "eladrin" components are considered provided. But when I flip to Chapter 6 I can find only one spell that has an eladrin component...and it's a sor/wiz spell. On top of that, the few spells that have a celestial component are also not bard spells.

So either Celestial Spell is useless to bard/troubadours, or the prestige class isn't meant for bards at all, but rather geared towards sorcerers?

Someone help me make sense of it.

Also, has anyone played one of these? How do they stack up to a standard bard? To other classes in general?

Thanks for any help/input.

 

[hong]

I would say that there's nothing stopping you or the DM from making new bard spells that have an eladrin component. It helps your flexibility, but it's not, by default, a major powerup.


Hong "but which component of the eladrin is the component?" Ooi

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I would say that there's nothing stopping you or the DM from making new bard spells that have an eladrin component. It helps your flexibility, but it's not, by default, a major powerup.

Well, I wasn't expecting a major powerup, since the ability does not add anything directly to a PC, but only allows them a greater selection of spells to choose when leveling up. But I was shocked to discover there were no new choices for a bard/troubadour. Unless, as you say, the DM and player actually create new bard spells, specifically with the eladrin component, the ability isn't an ability at all. It's only slightly useful for a sorcerer/troubadour.

Having said that, though, I first need to see if my DM will okay the Troubadour.

Also, can anyone point me to any eladrin in any of the critter books? I couldn't find any in the MM. The only one I've found so far is the Firre from the Manual of the Planes. I'm toying with the idea of asking my DM to allow the ability to add spells cast by other eladrin to a Troubadour's spell list (not known spells...they'd still have to be chosen normally.) Would this be too powerful?

 

[Cyraneth]

Got some good and bad news regarding exalted bards:

Good News: Words of Creation is wonderful feat for bards since the "only" cost for doubling the effect of their bardic music is a ton of nonlethal damage, and the Refreshment spell removes all of that.

Bad News: Both the Celestial Spells and Celestial Symphony abilities are generally useless. Celestial Symphony works like a holy word but only at the Troubadour's class level, and since holy word is very level-dependent, that greatly reduces it's effectiveness.

- Cyraneth

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Got some good and bad news regarding exalted bards:

Good News: Words of Creation is wonderful feat for bards since the "only" cost for doubling the effect of their bardic music is a ton of nonlethal damage, and the Refreshment spell removes all of that.[/b]

I hadn't noticed that spell. If all you're suffering from is nonlethal damage, it's as good as a heal.

Bad News: Both the Celestial Spells and Celestial Symphony abilities are generally useless. Celestial Symphony works like a holy word but only at the Troubadour's class level, and since holy word is very level-dependent, that greatly reduces it's effectiveness.

After re-reading the description, it does seem like Celestial Symphony is also useless to a bard/troubadour. However, Celestial Symphony is a bardic music ability. Would it not be reasonable to rule that you use class levels of any classes that provide bardic music?

Otherwise, it's a high-level ability that is ALWAYS useless. Bard or sorcerer, you'd be a 19th level character with a Holy Word that only affects enemies 9th level or lower...and even then only slightly...

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Double post.

But since I'm here, regarding Celestial Symphony, the description of the Troubadour of Stars' ability "bardic music" also states that a Troubadour adds Bard and Troubadour levels together when determining what kinds of bardic music, uses per day, etc. are available. Wouldn't the caster level of Celestial Symphony also fall under this?