Looking for Spell-less bard variant

[Thia Halmades]

Sounds like your players are similar to my players, who are involved in a complicated inter-planar war against an extremely clever opponent who has gone to great lengths to hide their presence, strike from secrecy, sow chaos and generally be a pain in the ass. But that's what happens when Demons invade because of a 500 year old curse. Point being: I know all about changing emphasis, and exactly how frustrating it can be when your well-built plan is about to go to pieces because some smart-ass casts ONE SPELL that can undo the entire thing.

My advice: Don't hesitate to break the spell caster, even if it comes after the fact. I installed what I called an Elven Fortress Tree; a semi-literal tree which houses a gate to a demi-plane where the city was located. One of the things I hadn't counted one was the Cleric casting "Tree Travel" or whatever it is and trying to move in between this tree and another. SO I made it unique. That annoyed the hell out of him, but was considered entirely clever by the players. Thinking fast is a prime requisite for this job. Anyway. Where was I?

Effortless song
As a bard increases in skill, he becomes even better at performing his magical bardic music, to the point where he can sing and do other things, such as fighting, at the same time. Once per day at 4th level, (+1/day every 3 levels thereafter), the bard may start and maintain a bardic music using free actions instead of simple ones (Note that the song still counts against the bard's daily bardic music limit). Even if the bard has a different Perform skill other than singing, assume that he has broad enough musical talent to sing instead of play an instrument. The bard still can not cast spells or use scrolls while maintaining the song, however.

This actually looks good to me; it's limited in times per day it can be used, but I think Felnar has a good point; clarify that while it's a Free Action, the Bard still can't use normal communication, etc. I don't know if you'd need to cap the duration straight off, but I would keep your eye on the abuse meter. So long as it doesn't get all twisted and broken, I think this is perfectly reasonable.

You're removing Clerics (twitch) but okay, you're including Potions, which means alchemists shops and other developed communities. There's an EQ bard song for healing, but there's no way to let them keep it and not wind up being more powerful healers than Clerics (I ran the math; even limiting their rounds singing and the HP it heals, they can still "heal the party" without much effort.) True Bard Spells, such as those found in Relics & Rituals, tend to be a bit more balanced (i.e., "underpowered") compared to regular magic, so you could easily adapt those into "songs" rather than spells.

I suppose what I'm suggesting is trading your basic song/spell Bard for a song-as-ability Bard. EQ Bards get a song every level, but some things are redundant with what the Bard does already. But without checking the SRD, some considerations are:

- Raise other savings throws (instead of just Fear and Countersong)
- More crowd control fear/charm effects
- Check Divinations and see if you can convert some of those, as well as
- Abjurations (see Raise saving throws, above).

I'm trying to steer away from things that go boom or replicate other abilities. You have Haste, you may want to include a Slow for your targets as well. The EQ bard list is here:

http://www.eqdiva.com/eq/songlist.aspx

That may give you some groovy ideas as well.

LCpt. Thia Halmades

 

[irdeggman]

Try the one at athas.org. IN 2nd ed Dark Sun bards couldn't cast spells but were exceptional with poison use.