Ren-Era Bard Varient: Artist

[Jeph]

I am trying my hand at a concept mentioned in this thread. Basically, a more skill-oriented bard with verry, verry limited spellcasting abilities. The only other spellcasters in the worlds are alchemists, refer to the other thread for details. Now, on with the bard!

The Artist

BAB: as Cleric
Hit Die: d6
Saves: Good Reflex, Poor Fortitude, Good Will
Class Skills: as Bard
Skill Points: 6 + Int mod per level
Proficiencies: All simple weapons and light armor, and either any 1 Martial or Exotic weapon, or shields.

Lv.      Special
01      0-Level Spells, Learn Spell
02      Inspiration
03      1st Level Spells
04      Amazing Luck (1/day)
05      Learn Spell
06      2nd Level Spells
07      
08      Learn Spell
09      3rd Level Spells
10      Amazing Luck (2/day)
11      Learn Spell
12      4th Level Spells
13      
14      Learn Spell
15      5th Level Spells
16      Amazing Luck (3/day)
17      Learn Spell
18      6th Level Spells
19      
20      Learn Spell

      Spells: The Artist may, with a high Perform check, cast a small number of Arcane spells. They know a very limited number of spells, and all these spells are of the Enchantment school. The spells require quite a while to cast, but, aside from this, the Artist may cast as many spells as they like.
      Whenever an Artist advances to a level marked with 'X Level Spells', they learn one Enchantment spell of that level. Whenever they advance to a level marked 'Learn Spell,' they learn 1 spell of the highest level that they can cast, or 2 spells of any lower level (these spells do not have to be the same level). For instance, when an Artist character advances to level 14, they may learn either 1 4th level spell, or 2 spells of a lower level. All spells that the Artist knows must be of the Enchantment school.
      In order to cast a spell on a subject, the Artist must spend an amount of time entertaining them equal to 5 minutes per spell level (or 3 minutes for 0 level spells). At the end of this time, they must make a Perform check (DC 10 plus 5 times the spell's level). If the check is successful, they successfully cast the spell.
      If a spell allows a saving throw, the DC is 10 plus the spell's level plus the Artist's Charisma modifier. For instance, if an Artist with Charisma 17 cast a level 2 spell, the DC would be 15.

      Inspiration: A number of times per day equal to 3 + their Charisma modifier, the Artist may make an Intelligence or Charisma based check with a +4 bonus. (As a special feat, the Artist may gain 3 additional uses of Inspiration per day.)

      Amazing Luck: Artists are unusually lucky. They're always getting the break, just happen to have a conctact in the right area. A number of times per day indicated on their class chart, the Artist may reroll 1 skill check, ability check, saving throw, or attack roll. Optionally, the Artist may spend an Amazing Luck usage to force an opponent that just struck them in combat to reroll their attack roll.

So, all (and especially gpetruc), how does it look?

 

[Ace]

Thats a very interesting class

It seems a little underpowered to me though, the exra 2 skill points and luck just don't seem enough to make up for the lost spells and songs

otherwise I like the idea

 

[Crothian]

What if you give them the ability to create magical items of art?

 

[Jeph]

Ace: Yeah, you're right. What would balance them? d8 hp? Lower the casting time? Lower the casting DC (although since they can use both Inspiration and Amazing Luck with the Perform check I doubt even the DCs for high level spells will be a problem)? Give them Luck at levels 7m 13, and 19, too?

Crothian: I assume that if magic items are abundant in the setting (I doubt they are--I'ts not my setting, it's gpetruc's), then they can create them if they have the right feats, just as any other caster. Naturally, their enchantment only spell list would lend it's self to items of art. Bracelet of Charms, and whatnot.

 

[Crothian]

Well, what about giving the artist a special ability to create items from magic temporarily. For instance he could sculpt a wall and a wall would appear, or draw a rabbit and it would hop off the page.

This type of thing could require a skill check or some such to balance it with the neesds of a low magic setting.

 

[Jeph]

You remember Harold and the Purple Crayon? I'm sure you read it when you were 5 or 6 . . .

Anyway.

I don't know, I'm not sure it really fits in the setting. It's supposed to be pretty darn low magic, to the point of basically no magic--all the Alchemist's stuff is, well, alchemy, and the Artist's stuff is just hyper-personality. Drawing a rabbit and having a rabbit hop off the page is high magic, no matter the DC.

 

[Azure Trance]

Thats a very interesting class

It seems a little underpowered to me though, the exra 2 skill points and luck just don't seem enough to make up for the lost spells and songs

otherwise I like the idea

I agree. It's cool (picture a beret and thin mustache) but it feels as if it's lacking something. It seems to me it could just be an Expert class with a dash of spellcasting ability and nothing else.

 

[Ace]

In the right game this would be an excellent class

I think it would fit and balance perfectly in a Swashbuckling Adventures game.


One suggestion would be to adjust the spells list a bit, any spell that could be performed with the characters art form could be allowed

Entrancing Dances, Healing Painting-- Whatever

Another idea would be to change luck to Muse and let it have a divination effect

Expanding the spell list to level 9 and granting one spell of each level plus a few bonus spells might work OK

That way a high level Artist might have a dozen or so spells and a few related abilities

 

[Khorod]

Do you mean low magic, as in not much power, or low magic, as in subtle effects?

Either way, maybe if he gets a slew of spells between 1 and 3rd level and no higher level spells it would add to the effect. I can just picture the Artist doing something artsy whenever he wants and it subtly changing the way events will unfold.

 

[gpetruc]

Very good. Maybe I'd cut down the casting time to 2 minutes + 1 min/level.

For the spell list I think that also some spells of the Illusion school: Ghost sound, Ventryloquism

Also I'd use fear-related and morale-related spells: Cause Fear, Scare, Fear, at 1 level higher than the normal.

Also I'd allow Dream and Nightmare but only if at least one of these conditions are met
1) the target listens to the artist (for example in evening or night concert), the artist casts the spell at that time and it takes effect when
the target is next asleep.
2) the target is already asleep and within medium range: the artist sings (or speaks) softly influencing his dreams.

Some ideas also are: higher level "sleep" spells for example:
- lvl 2: same area of effect, affects only creatures of HD less than 4 (each, not total): in this way he could send to sleep a larger group of people
- lvl 3: targeted sleep: only one creature, HD less than the caster level.

Maybe another idea is some divinations but with a very good chance of failing. For example he tries to sing about something that he wants to try and if he feels that the song was good he thinks that the try will be successful; due to his innate intuition he usually thinks right, but sometimes (often in the opinion of the others, never in his own opinion ;-) )he fails.

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Thinking of the Artist I would also like to have some "nearly magical" effects related to other time of art, for example painting and/or sculpture: if he succeeds in creating a real artwork this gives some bonuses such as:
- an imposing bronze statue in front of the a prince palace evocates awe in his people (giving him and his guards a intimidate bonus)
- a master artwork in your room gives you some bonuses to, for example, diplomacy checks
- a carefully painted bedroom helps you relax better and you wake up in a good mood, giving you a +1 luck bonus to skill checks for the next 1d4 x30 minutes (usable once a day) ....

Maybe make something general such as: to give a skill bonus (under some circumstances) with an artwork the artist must at least have a Craft bonus of five time the bonus he wants to grand, and the DC for the artwork is:
- DC 20: a +1 bonus to one skill
- DC 30: a +2 bonus to one skill, or a +1 to a group of skills
- DC 35: +3 to one skill or +1 to all

Of course these effects work only if the artwork is visible and nearby (immagine attacking a prince in his room where all the portraits of elder members of his family watch you: you have at least a -1 to hit), or for a small time (after looking at that inspiring tapestry the guards felt ready to fight for the honor of their house). ...