Complete Warrior: Bladesinger Prestige class, changing Song of Celerity.

[Arravis]

I'm thinking of changing how often Song of Celerity can be used per day, since 1/day is so incredibly dissapointing and in my opinion betrays the spirit of the class. I'm considering changing it to either 1/day per Bladesinger level, or 1/day per 2 Bladesinger levels, or to 1+Int bonus(or Charisma bonus, depending if Wiz or Sorc)/per day. I think the above would require lowering Hit Dice from d8, to d6.

What do you guys think? Which seems balanced (if any)?

 

[AeroDm]

I don't have the book in front of me and I only glanced at the class, but isn't Song of Celerity their 10th level ability? If it is, that really defeats the spirit of 1/day/bladesigner level. Even if it isn't their 10th, I was sure it was one of their higher abilities. With that in mind, I'd go with the 1+spellcasting stat due to the variability it adds.

I personally don't think that 1/day is too weak. It makes the ability special and rare. People won't be doing it every battle, and thus when they do it will be more exciting. However, were you to make it more frequent I'd say dropping the HD would be a fair trade.

 

[Arravis]

As I recall (I'm at work, and I don't have the book here either, lol) you get the ability at 4th level (works on 2nd level spells or below), than it's upgraded at 8th level (works on 4th level spells or below).

To me the core spirit of the class is combining spellcasting, quite literally, with swordplay. The moves of the blade are the somatic components... the dance of steel is what draws the magic. That's what I, and from talking to others they as well, envisioned this class to be. Having the one ability that we seek only once a day seems to miss the point of the class (especially since it used to be usable as often as was desired).

I'm just trying to find a fair and balanced way to achieve that vision of the class.

 

[AeroDm]

As I recall (I'm at work, and I don't have the book here either, lol) you get the ability at 4th level (works on 2nd level spells or below), than it's upgraded at 8th level (works on 4th level spells or below).
QUOTE]

My bad. I was thinking of a different ability-- the one where they get an extra attack or some such.

As an aside, I was thinking that the Celerity feature should be reworked a little. What if instead of working on 2nd level spells and then 4th level spells, you let it work on spell of a level up to 1/2 your Bladesinger level. So at 4th it works on 2nd and on 8th it works on 4th, but there is also a progression through the class and it caps on 5th instead. Empowering, but cool.

 

[Arravis]

So out of the ones in my first post, going on a d6 for hit dice, which do you think is balanced and fair? Anyone?

 

[Scion]

any chance you could put up what the ability does for those of us not yet blessed with having the complete warrior?

 

[Arravis]

Well, without posting the entire prestige class it's very difficult to show how balanced (or unblanced) it is, since it would all need to be in context of the class requirements, abilities it gives, etc.

Anyway from memory, at 4th level Song of Celerity allows the Bladesinger to cast a 2nd level spell or under, as if quickened, 1/day. At 8th level it allows the Bladesinger to cast a 4th level spell or under, as if quickened, 1/day. I think there are equirements (like one hand free, etc) to it, but I can't remember...

Song of Celerity was quite different in Races of Faerun, and honestly, it was the main ability of the class (though they way it was written, before it was errated, was way too powerful). Anyway... I'm very happy with all the changes they've made to the class in Complete Warrior, except for the Song of Celerity issue.

 

[Arravis]

No opinions on this?

 

[Gez]

I would be OK with changing it to 1 + relevant ability mod/day, with this caveat: can only be used on spells whose target is You or Your sword.

 

[Arravis]

I think that's an unecessary level of complexity, Bladesingers don't chanel any of their magics through their blades, etc. Completely different prestige class.

Any opinions on simply changing the Hit Dice and number of times a day Celerity is used?