Siggelsworth
First Post
PrC: Bardic Bowman (revisited) is a PrC geared towards the alternate bard character class described in Book of Eldritch Might II (Monte Cook; Malhavoc Press). Anyone unfamiliar with this variation may be confused by some concepts in this PrC, particularly mentionings of spellnotes, spellchords, and melodies. It is an alternative spell-casting mechanic employed in BoEM2.
Please respond to this potential prestige class in any way you would like. I'm particullarly interested in issues of balance and appropriateness. This is a reconstruction of an earlier, original PrC that was unfortunatly way over-powered (but cool). I think I've really worked it into something more practical here. What do you think?
[I'lll soon add a little background about the Bardic Bowman if anyone is interested in it]
Prerequisites:
Skills: Craft (Bowmaking) 10 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks, Knowledge (Arcana) 7 ranks, Perform 7 ranks;
Feats: Skill Focus: (Craft - Bowmaking), Weapon Focus: (Bow), Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot
Special: Ability to cast spellnotes and at least 1 spellchord; Must construct a Lethal Instrument (double value masterwork bow) before entering this PrC (see below)
Hit Dice: d6
Class Skills
The bardic bowman's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Ch), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int, exclusive), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Ch), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int, exclusive), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Ch, exclusive)
Skill Point per level: 6 + Int modifier
..............................+1 Lvl
Lvl....BA.....F/R/W....Caster...Abilities
1......0......0/2/2...................Lethal Instrument, Battle Song I
2......1......0/3/3.......+1....... Sonic Damage Resistance 5
3......2......1/3/3...................Sonic Grenade
4......3......1/4/4.......+1
5......3......1/4/4...................Imbue Song
6......4......2/5/5.......+1........Power of Song
7......5......2/5/5
8......6......2/6/6.......+1........Battle Song II
9......6......3/6/6...................Sonic DR 15
10.....7......3/7/7.......+1........Music in the Air
Ability Descripions:
Lethal Instrument: Before being taught the Battle Song, potential Bardic Bowmen (BB) must prove their worth buy solitarily construcing a bow of exceptional quality. In actuallity, this is the first lesson of the BB, creating both a tool of skill and weaponry and a focus for their unique style of magical intunement. The lethal instrument's Craft DC should be set by the DM based on what kind of bow the potential BB wishes to dedicate his study to. It may be a short or longbow; it may be composite; it may be Mighty; it MUST be masterwork. The total value of the bow is also doubled for the purpose of determing its cost. (Optional - Should this item also allow or require for a Craft (Artisan) check?). The bond between the BB and this weapon is such that he may only use Sonic Grenade, Imbue Song, Power of Song, and Music in the Air with the lethal instrument. If it is ever destroyed, the BB must construct a replacement--if repair is impossible--before being able to proceed in this PrC.
Battle Song I (Ex): When opting to use the Rapid Shot feat, the BB may sacrafice the extra shot for the possibility of casting one spellnote--Perform DC 25 (failure wastes one spellnote). The remaining arrow(s) are then shot as normal. NOTE: All shots fired still suffer the -2 Rapid Shot penalty. Touch spells may be cast, but are not discharged until you use an action to do so.
Sonic Grenade (Sp): As a standard action the BB may fire one arrow which transforms into a sonic energy missle. Make a ranged touch attack. On a hit, deal 1d4/classLvl sonic and all within 10 feet save Fort DC(10+classLvl+ChaMod) or be stunned 1 round. Useable classLvl/2 per day.
Imbue Song (Su): The BB may cast any non-personal spell into his arrow as it is fired using its range instead of the spell's. The arrow no longer causes damage but instead delivers the spell with a successful ranged touch attack. Area of effect spells may target on a miss with rules for grenades.
Power of Song (Sp): The Power of Song takes a standard action to start. While singing this song, all arrows fired by the BB with his lethal instrument gain a +1 enhancement bonus that stacks with any existing enhancement bonus. The BB may continue the Power of Song a number of rounds equal to classLvl. This is useable 3+ChaMod times per day.
Battle Song II (Ex): As Battle Song I except the BB may use the bonus shot provided by Rapid Shot AND cast one spellnote. Before the second attack, choose to use Batlle Song I (DC 25) or II (DC 35). If using BS2, the BB always gets all his shots, but failing the check not only wastes the spellnote but also incurs a -1 attack penalty for each full 5 the check fails.
Music in the Air (Su): After 2 rounds of casting spells and/or firing with the lethal instrument, a defensive field surrounds the BB granting a deflection bonus to AC equal to ChaMod. This field superscedes magical silence. The field lasts until the BB neither casts nor shoots for a full round, thereafter requiring another 2 rounds to reactivate. If multiple BBs within 10 feet of one another each have active fields, the fields merge increasing the bonus for all participating BBs to the highest +1/additional BB.
Please respond to this potential prestige class in any way you would like. I'm particullarly interested in issues of balance and appropriateness. This is a reconstruction of an earlier, original PrC that was unfortunatly way over-powered (but cool). I think I've really worked it into something more practical here. What do you think?
[I'lll soon add a little background about the Bardic Bowman if anyone is interested in it]
Prerequisites:
Skills: Craft (Bowmaking) 10 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks, Knowledge (Arcana) 7 ranks, Perform 7 ranks;
Feats: Skill Focus: (Craft - Bowmaking), Weapon Focus: (Bow), Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot
Special: Ability to cast spellnotes and at least 1 spellchord; Must construct a Lethal Instrument (double value masterwork bow) before entering this PrC (see below)
Hit Dice: d6
Class Skills
The bardic bowman's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Ch), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int, exclusive), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Ch), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int, exclusive), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Ch, exclusive)
Skill Point per level: 6 + Int modifier
..............................+1 Lvl
Lvl....BA.....F/R/W....Caster...Abilities
1......0......0/2/2...................Lethal Instrument, Battle Song I
2......1......0/3/3.......+1....... Sonic Damage Resistance 5
3......2......1/3/3...................Sonic Grenade
4......3......1/4/4.......+1
5......3......1/4/4...................Imbue Song
6......4......2/5/5.......+1........Power of Song
7......5......2/5/5
8......6......2/6/6.......+1........Battle Song II
9......6......3/6/6...................Sonic DR 15
10.....7......3/7/7.......+1........Music in the Air
Ability Descripions:
Lethal Instrument: Before being taught the Battle Song, potential Bardic Bowmen (BB) must prove their worth buy solitarily construcing a bow of exceptional quality. In actuallity, this is the first lesson of the BB, creating both a tool of skill and weaponry and a focus for their unique style of magical intunement. The lethal instrument's Craft DC should be set by the DM based on what kind of bow the potential BB wishes to dedicate his study to. It may be a short or longbow; it may be composite; it may be Mighty; it MUST be masterwork. The total value of the bow is also doubled for the purpose of determing its cost. (Optional - Should this item also allow or require for a Craft (Artisan) check?). The bond between the BB and this weapon is such that he may only use Sonic Grenade, Imbue Song, Power of Song, and Music in the Air with the lethal instrument. If it is ever destroyed, the BB must construct a replacement--if repair is impossible--before being able to proceed in this PrC.
Battle Song I (Ex): When opting to use the Rapid Shot feat, the BB may sacrafice the extra shot for the possibility of casting one spellnote--Perform DC 25 (failure wastes one spellnote). The remaining arrow(s) are then shot as normal. NOTE: All shots fired still suffer the -2 Rapid Shot penalty. Touch spells may be cast, but are not discharged until you use an action to do so.
Sonic Grenade (Sp): As a standard action the BB may fire one arrow which transforms into a sonic energy missle. Make a ranged touch attack. On a hit, deal 1d4/classLvl sonic and all within 10 feet save Fort DC(10+classLvl+ChaMod) or be stunned 1 round. Useable classLvl/2 per day.
Imbue Song (Su): The BB may cast any non-personal spell into his arrow as it is fired using its range instead of the spell's. The arrow no longer causes damage but instead delivers the spell with a successful ranged touch attack. Area of effect spells may target on a miss with rules for grenades.
Power of Song (Sp): The Power of Song takes a standard action to start. While singing this song, all arrows fired by the BB with his lethal instrument gain a +1 enhancement bonus that stacks with any existing enhancement bonus. The BB may continue the Power of Song a number of rounds equal to classLvl. This is useable 3+ChaMod times per day.
Battle Song II (Ex): As Battle Song I except the BB may use the bonus shot provided by Rapid Shot AND cast one spellnote. Before the second attack, choose to use Batlle Song I (DC 25) or II (DC 35). If using BS2, the BB always gets all his shots, but failing the check not only wastes the spellnote but also incurs a -1 attack penalty for each full 5 the check fails.
Music in the Air (Su): After 2 rounds of casting spells and/or firing with the lethal instrument, a defensive field surrounds the BB granting a deflection bonus to AC equal to ChaMod. This field superscedes magical silence. The field lasts until the BB neither casts nor shoots for a full round, thereafter requiring another 2 rounds to reactivate. If multiple BBs within 10 feet of one another each have active fields, the fields merge increasing the bonus for all participating BBs to the highest +1/additional BB.
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