Primitive Screwhead
First Post
...and Master of None.
Second attempt to post, so less fill at the top.
THis is an attempt to have a true jack of all trades that doesn't overshadow the classes it steals from.
It is a first draft, so please be ruthless in helping me get it right!
===========
The Bard draws upon the power of their patron and the training of their collage to create many mystical effects. Many of these are drawn from the rhythm and cadences of musical performance. Some of them are adaptations of things the Bard has learned to do though their esoteric training.
Unlike most classes, the Bard only exists as a multi-class option. To become a Bard, the character must take the ‘Bardic Training’ feat. To build on the bardic skills, that character must spend further feats to expand and broaden the characters abilities.
Feat: Bardic Training [Multi-Class]
Prerequisite: Chr 13
You gain the Bardic Music feature below.
You may also trade a class feature from your base class for a class feature from the Bard list below. You may not retrain this traded feature.
You must choose a Patron and a College from the list below. These choices form your style and approach.
Bardic Class Features:
• Bardic Music. Once per encounter you can play or sing music that draws power from your Patron and creates a mystical effect. When you gain this ability, select two (2) songs from the list below. You may acquire or learn other songs as you progress, much like collecting rituals.
• Bardic Knowledge: Your training and exposure to history, myth, and legends grants you a +2 bonus to any Knowledge check.
• Prestidigitation: Your exposure to the arcane arts has enabled your use of the Wizard cantrip.
• Jack of All Trades: You gain the bonus feat ‘Jack of All Trades’
Patrons:
Patrons are primal beings that are invigorated by raw emotions. They swim on the edges of the Material Plane in search of emotions. As part of the ritual of becoming a Bard, you call upon a Patron and bargain with it. In trade for creating the Patrons preferred emotions on a regular basis the Patron will empower your music and abilities as well as let you draw upon the knowledge and experience of other Bards who followed the same Patron.
There are many Patrons, some of them are represented by ‘pure’ emotions such as ‘Love’, ‘Sorrow’, and ‘Rage’. Others have a broader portfolio of emotions, but a tighter range of desired performance. The named Patrons are:
• Calliope: Muse of Heroic Speech. Poetic tales of audacity and sacrifice
• Clio: Muse of History. Prose of historic events of characters
• Erato: Muse of Amour. Poetry and Songs of Love and Marriage
• Euterpe: Muse of Song. Complex songs with counterbalancing rhythms
• Melpomeme: Muse of Tragedy. Gregorian Chants
• Ploymnia: Muse of the Gods. Religious hymns, prose, poetry and rhetoric
• Terpsichore: Muse of the Dance. Choral song and dance
• Thalia: Muse of Comedy and Satire. Poetry and Songs with a comedic or satiric twist
• Atlomeme: Muse of Deceipt. Ledgermain and illusion
Collages:
A Bardic College represents an area of focus. Generally speaking, a Bardic College draws from another classes abilities and powers. In some cases, the College draws based on a theme of powers. Regardless of theme, the College provides two benefits: training in a given skill and the ability to select a power from another class list.
The powers selected must be equal to or below the level at which the feat is selected and are ‘elevated’ to the next type of power. As such ‘At Will’ powers become ‘Encounter’ powers. You can choose a power that is at least 10 levels below the level at which the feat was selected in order to avoid ‘elevating’ the powers. As such, ‘Daily’ powers are not accessible to Bards until they are a tier above the power in question. The power selected by this feat can be retrained. You can take Collage training multiple times and can select the same collage multiple times.
Feat: Collage Training [Bard]
You may select an additional College from the list below.
School of the Sword:
Training in Endurance
You may select a power from the Fighter class list.
School of the Arcane:
Training in Arcana
You may select a power from the Wizard class list.
School of the Divine:
Training in Religion
You may select a power from the Cleric class list.
School of the Dark Pact:
Training in Insight
You may select a power from the Warlock class list.
School of the Wilderness:
Training in Nature
You may select a power from the Ranger class list.
School of the God Hand:
Training in Heal
You may select a power from the Paladin class list.
School of Thor
You may select a power with the Thunder keyword
School of Lolth
You may select a power with the Fear keyword
School of Pelor
You may select a power with the Radiant keyword
Discordant School
Prerequisite: One of; Patron is either Calliope or Melpomeme, School of the Sword, or School of the Dark Pact
Your Bardic Songs gain an attack of Chr vs Will that deals psychic damage based on the level gained this feat. See your DM for the exact damage expression. This damage only occurs on the round that you spend a standard action to inflict it.
This School can be taken twice. The second time increases the damage expression and inflicts 5 ongoing damage (save ends)
Healing Song:
Prerequisite: One of; Patron is either Erato or Ploymnia, School of the God Hand, or School of the Divine
Allies within the burst can use a standard action and spend a healing surge to regain their surge amount plus your CHR bonus.
School of the Lost
Training in Bluff
You may select a power with the Illusion keyword
Other Patrons and Schools are possible
Bardic Songs
Bardic Songs are all Close Burst 2. A musical instrument doubles this range to Close Burst 4. A magical instrument increases the base range by 1. Generally, all Songs have a dual effect, one for the enemy in the burst and another for your allies. All Songs have ‘Sustain: Minor’. If they are damaging songs
Inspire Heroics
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: You and your allies
Effect: Target gains +1 to attack and damage rolls.
The bonus increases to +2 at 11th level and to +3 at 21st level
Sustain: Minor.
Special: The targets only need to remain within line of sight to retain the effects of this power.
Inspire Courage
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All enemies within the burst
Attack Chr vs Will
Hit: Target grants combat advantage until either it moves out of the burst area or the end of your next turn.
Effect:
- Allies within the burst and under the effects of a power with the Fear keyword may make an immediate save to remove the effect
Countersong
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Immediate Interrupt Close Burst 2
Trigger: You or one of your allies is attacked by an effect with the thunder or charm keyword
Target: You or one ally
Effect:
- Target gains resist 5 against Thunder or Charm. This effect lasts until the end of your next turn.
- If the triggering attack has a lingering effect, the target may make an immediate save to remove that effect.
Long March
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All allies within the burst
Effect: Target may use their second wind without spending an action. If they do, they gain 1D6 additional hps. This increases to 2D6 at 11th level and 3D6 at 21st level.
Dirge of Disaster [Fear]
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All enemies within the burst
Attack Chr vs Will
Hit: Target suffers a -1 Fear penalty to attacks (Saves Ends)
Special: If your Muse is Melpomeme, the penalty to attacks is equal to your Chr modifier.
Effect: Allies within the burst gain +1 bonus to saves against Fear effects
Paragon Paths
Only one for now!
Exquisite Performer
11th Level
Enhanced Song
You gain +1 to attacks with your song powers and double the burst radius
Expanded Knowledge
You gain a new college
16th Level
You may use a Bardic Song twice per encounter
Second attempt to post, so less fill at the top.
THis is an attempt to have a true jack of all trades that doesn't overshadow the classes it steals from.
It is a first draft, so please be ruthless in helping me get it right!
===========
The Bard draws upon the power of their patron and the training of their collage to create many mystical effects. Many of these are drawn from the rhythm and cadences of musical performance. Some of them are adaptations of things the Bard has learned to do though their esoteric training.
Unlike most classes, the Bard only exists as a multi-class option. To become a Bard, the character must take the ‘Bardic Training’ feat. To build on the bardic skills, that character must spend further feats to expand and broaden the characters abilities.
Feat: Bardic Training [Multi-Class]
Prerequisite: Chr 13
You gain the Bardic Music feature below.
You may also trade a class feature from your base class for a class feature from the Bard list below. You may not retrain this traded feature.
You must choose a Patron and a College from the list below. These choices form your style and approach.
Bardic Class Features:
• Bardic Music. Once per encounter you can play or sing music that draws power from your Patron and creates a mystical effect. When you gain this ability, select two (2) songs from the list below. You may acquire or learn other songs as you progress, much like collecting rituals.
• Bardic Knowledge: Your training and exposure to history, myth, and legends grants you a +2 bonus to any Knowledge check.
• Prestidigitation: Your exposure to the arcane arts has enabled your use of the Wizard cantrip.
• Jack of All Trades: You gain the bonus feat ‘Jack of All Trades’
Patrons:
Patrons are primal beings that are invigorated by raw emotions. They swim on the edges of the Material Plane in search of emotions. As part of the ritual of becoming a Bard, you call upon a Patron and bargain with it. In trade for creating the Patrons preferred emotions on a regular basis the Patron will empower your music and abilities as well as let you draw upon the knowledge and experience of other Bards who followed the same Patron.
There are many Patrons, some of them are represented by ‘pure’ emotions such as ‘Love’, ‘Sorrow’, and ‘Rage’. Others have a broader portfolio of emotions, but a tighter range of desired performance. The named Patrons are:
• Calliope: Muse of Heroic Speech. Poetic tales of audacity and sacrifice
• Clio: Muse of History. Prose of historic events of characters
• Erato: Muse of Amour. Poetry and Songs of Love and Marriage
• Euterpe: Muse of Song. Complex songs with counterbalancing rhythms
• Melpomeme: Muse of Tragedy. Gregorian Chants
• Ploymnia: Muse of the Gods. Religious hymns, prose, poetry and rhetoric
• Terpsichore: Muse of the Dance. Choral song and dance
• Thalia: Muse of Comedy and Satire. Poetry and Songs with a comedic or satiric twist
• Atlomeme: Muse of Deceipt. Ledgermain and illusion
Collages:
A Bardic College represents an area of focus. Generally speaking, a Bardic College draws from another classes abilities and powers. In some cases, the College draws based on a theme of powers. Regardless of theme, the College provides two benefits: training in a given skill and the ability to select a power from another class list.
The powers selected must be equal to or below the level at which the feat is selected and are ‘elevated’ to the next type of power. As such ‘At Will’ powers become ‘Encounter’ powers. You can choose a power that is at least 10 levels below the level at which the feat was selected in order to avoid ‘elevating’ the powers. As such, ‘Daily’ powers are not accessible to Bards until they are a tier above the power in question. The power selected by this feat can be retrained. You can take Collage training multiple times and can select the same collage multiple times.
Feat: Collage Training [Bard]
You may select an additional College from the list below.
School of the Sword:
Training in Endurance
You may select a power from the Fighter class list.
School of the Arcane:
Training in Arcana
You may select a power from the Wizard class list.
School of the Divine:
Training in Religion
You may select a power from the Cleric class list.
School of the Dark Pact:
Training in Insight
You may select a power from the Warlock class list.
School of the Wilderness:
Training in Nature
You may select a power from the Ranger class list.
School of the God Hand:
Training in Heal
You may select a power from the Paladin class list.
School of Thor
You may select a power with the Thunder keyword
School of Lolth
You may select a power with the Fear keyword
School of Pelor
You may select a power with the Radiant keyword
Discordant School
Prerequisite: One of; Patron is either Calliope or Melpomeme, School of the Sword, or School of the Dark Pact
Your Bardic Songs gain an attack of Chr vs Will that deals psychic damage based on the level gained this feat. See your DM for the exact damage expression. This damage only occurs on the round that you spend a standard action to inflict it.
This School can be taken twice. The second time increases the damage expression and inflicts 5 ongoing damage (save ends)
Healing Song:
Prerequisite: One of; Patron is either Erato or Ploymnia, School of the God Hand, or School of the Divine
Allies within the burst can use a standard action and spend a healing surge to regain their surge amount plus your CHR bonus.
School of the Lost
Training in Bluff
You may select a power with the Illusion keyword
Other Patrons and Schools are possible
Bardic Songs
Bardic Songs are all Close Burst 2. A musical instrument doubles this range to Close Burst 4. A magical instrument increases the base range by 1. Generally, all Songs have a dual effect, one for the enemy in the burst and another for your allies. All Songs have ‘Sustain: Minor’. If they are damaging songs
Inspire Heroics
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: You and your allies
Effect: Target gains +1 to attack and damage rolls.
The bonus increases to +2 at 11th level and to +3 at 21st level
Sustain: Minor.
Special: The targets only need to remain within line of sight to retain the effects of this power.
Inspire Courage
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All enemies within the burst
Attack Chr vs Will
Hit: Target grants combat advantage until either it moves out of the burst area or the end of your next turn.
Effect:
- Allies within the burst and under the effects of a power with the Fear keyword may make an immediate save to remove the effect
Countersong
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Immediate Interrupt Close Burst 2
Trigger: You or one of your allies is attacked by an effect with the thunder or charm keyword
Target: You or one ally
Effect:
- Target gains resist 5 against Thunder or Charm. This effect lasts until the end of your next turn.
- If the triggering attack has a lingering effect, the target may make an immediate save to remove that effect.
Long March
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All allies within the burst
Effect: Target may use their second wind without spending an action. If they do, they gain 1D6 additional hps. This increases to 2D6 at 11th level and 3D6 at 21st level.
Dirge of Disaster [Fear]
Encounter Arcane Instrument
Standard Action Close Burst 2
Target: All enemies within the burst
Attack Chr vs Will
Hit: Target suffers a -1 Fear penalty to attacks (Saves Ends)
Special: If your Muse is Melpomeme, the penalty to attacks is equal to your Chr modifier.
Effect: Allies within the burst gain +1 bonus to saves against Fear effects
Paragon Paths
Only one for now!
Exquisite Performer
11th Level
Enhanced Song
You gain +1 to attacks with your song powers and double the burst radius
Expanded Knowledge
You gain a new college
16th Level
You may use a Bardic Song twice per encounter
