New Feat: Wishsong (Broken?)

[wilrich]

Slightly off topic, but I just have to echo the poster above who said that, in a campaign that is actually played out from 1-20th level, the "delayed gratification" idea is a really great concept that I had not thought of before -- I think a person could do a lot with that if that idea was developed further. You've given me some great food for thought. Thanks!

Great idea!

As for the feat itself, I think that its probably slightly overpowered, maybe make it 20 ranks in perform, and, of course, I would only permit in games where characters actually play through all the levels.

 

[CleverNickName]

Eh, I think it's a good idea, just not well-done (no offense). What you need to do is either make it a class or (my choice) a feat tree.

Wow, this is really good stuff. I might have to do a little bit of tweaking, but I think it could accomplish what I am looking for...

How about I make the Wishsong into a Bardic Music ability? Something like this:

Wishsong (Sp): A bard of 14th level or higher with 17 or more ranks in a Perform (singing) can use vocals or poetics to create an effect equivalent to the limited wish spell (caster level equals the character’s bard level). Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted concentration and music.

Of course this means that all bards in the game world will have the gift of the Wishsong, and that's not something I am wanting to do. I'd have to give this ability some sort of trigger, like a feat that allows a bard to use it or something along those lines, to make it extremely unique. Not sure how to do that.

 

[CleverNickName]

This feat is in fact broken.

No first level character would take it, but many many 18th level characters would. A limited wish without the xp cost...yes please.

Only 1st level characters could take it; "character level 1" is a prerequisite. And it doesn't grant a spell-like ability; it gives you the ability to spontaneously cast the spell like a sorcerer does (and thereby pay the XP cost).

Did you see the version in Dragon Magazine (#286, pg. 45)?

"The wishsong comes in two forms: the true wishsong, and the illusionary wishsong...The true wishsong allows the user to cast a wish spell once per round with only a verbal component. The illusory wishsong allows the user to cast any one spell from the school of illusion once per round. This spell has only a verbal component."

I thought my version was a lot less broken...although broken nonetheless...

As a side-note, if you are planning on creating an adventure campaign in the world of Shannara, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Dragon #286. Brian Murphy and Chris Thomasson have done a lot of the work for you, creating stats for NPCs, magic items, maps, monsters, and what-not. Of course, you will have to tweak a lot of it to fit your particular playing style, but it's an excellent starting-point.

 

[DogBackward]

I'd advise against making the wishsong a bardic music effect. For one, that would mean that everybody who wants to use the wishsong is required to be a bard. This includes the other, non-wishsong specific bardic musics as well as the spells. Remember that the people who had access to the wishsong had no other magic.

I'm actually beginning to think a base class would better represent the abilities. In the books, those with the wishsong didn't have many other abilities that couldn't be explained by skill allocation. Maybe use the bard as a basis, but replace the spells with a more diverse and more powerful wishsong (bardic music) mechanic.

I can see a d6 HD, 6+Int skill points, medium BAB, and bard-like skill list. High will, no reflex. And a bardic music-like mechanic, adding Charisma to uses per day. It starts off allowing minor illusions and charm spells, and gets to the more powerful abilities at higher levels.

Oh, and if you have the wishsong, you've gotta stat out the elfstones as well. I can see... Find the Path at will, and perhaps a Greater Dispel at will, that also deals magic damage when it dispels something... Something like that, anyway.