Spell-less Bard variant

1Mac

First Post
I think I've refined my Spell-less Bard class so that it can be shared. Unplaytested, unplugged, uncensored! Check it out via the download link here (Use the "click here to download from sendspace" link, not any big duplicitous ads that say "click here to start download".).

The weirdest thing is probably the special Perform check for many Performances (1d20 + half your Perform modifier vs. 10 + Will modifier). I think it works, though, and some kind of check is necessary to balance unlimited rounds of Performance (this sort of thing would be less kludgey if saves and spell DCs scaled like attacks and skills, fwiw). You could revert to normal rounds/day and Will saves just fine, I suppose, though I'd at least double the normal number of rounds of performance per day.

Anyway, I'd be interested to here what y'all think of this and other aspects of the class. Kind or ruthlessly fair feedback will be appreciated.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

I like how different Performances are keyed to either music or speech Perform styles...here are a couple of additions I think would do great for your Bard variant.

* * * * * * * * * *

Bardic Work (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, the bard can enhance his Bardic Performance abilities by creating and developing unique performance works as a specific combination of a Performance effect (such as Glorious Epic) and a Perform style associated with the effect (such as Singing). The Performance effect must be one the bard has access to, and the bard must have at least one rank in the Perform style to be associated with it. When a bard applies a bardic work to a bardic performance he is carrying out, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus on the Perform check he makes for the bardic performance.

A bard can have one bardic work at 3rd level, plus one additional work at 7th, 11th, 15th, and 19th level. Whenever a bard gains a level, he can choose to develop a new bardic work in place of one he has previously developed. In effect, the bard abandons the old bardic work in exchange for the new one. A bard may swap only a single bardic work at any given level, and must choose to lose an existing bardic work before beginning to develop the new bardic work to replace it.

Developing a bardic work requires a number of hours equal to the minimum number of ranks required by the associated bardic performance (minimum of one hour). A bard can have any number of bardic works in development at a time but can only work on a single bardic work in a given one-hour period. A bard can also develop multiple bardic works for a given Bardic Performance effect, but can only actively apply one bardic work at a time to a given bardic performance.

The bard can spend up to 8 hours each day on development of bardic works and cannot rush the process by working longer each day, but days spent need not be consecutive and the bard can devote the rest of his time as he sees fit. This time need not be spent in one continuous period, but can be done during lunch, morning preparation, and during watches at night. If time is dedicated to bardic-work development, it must be spent in uninterrupted four-hour blocks. This work is generally done in a controlled environment, where distractions are at a minimum. Work that is performed in a distracting or dangerous environment nets only half the amount of progress. If the bard is out adventuring, he can devote up to four hours each day on developing his bardic works, although this nets only two hours’ worth of work (or half of however much time is spent).

While not required, a bardic work ought to have its own name when created. This will make it a unique creation of the bard.

* * * * * * * * * *

Signature Work (Ex) : At 13th level, a bard may improve on one of his existing bardic works to make it a signature work. When the bard applies a signature work to an associated bardic performance, he can Take 10 on the Perform check even when distractions or threats would normally not allow him to.

In order to enhance a bardic work in this way, the bard must spend much time rehearsing, becoming so well-practiced that his routine becomes almost automatic. He must rehearse for a number of hours equal to 10 times the number of minimum ranks required for access to the associated Bardic Performance effect. At least one uninterrupted hour each day must be spent rehearsing; if more than three consecutive days pass without this minimum requirement being met, the bard has lost focus and the practice time built up goes to waste—the bard must start over. Otherwise, time spent rehearsing follows the same guidelines as developing a bardic work, in terms of avoiding distractions and rehearsing while adventuring. Example: rehearsing for a signature work involving True Confession (minimum 9 ranks) would require a minimum of 90 cumulative hours of rehearsing which can be spread out over a maximum of 90 days.

Once established, a signature work must be practiced at least two hours every week for the bard to continue to benefit from this ability. If the bard neglects his practice, he loses focus and his signature work reverts back to being a normal bardic work, although the bard can reacquire this status after four weeks of resumed weekly practices.

Alternatively, the bard can abandon a signature work in exchange for choosing a different bardic work to be his signature work. This causes the signature work to revert back to being a normal bardic work immediately, although the replacement will require the usual extensive rehearsing over several weeks before it can be promoted to a signature work, as with any other normal bardic work.


* * * * * * * * * *

Extra Bardic Works feat

Prerequisites: Bardic Performance class feature, Bardic Work class feature
Benefit: You gain two additional bardic works.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times.

* * * * * * * * * *

Improved Signature Work feat

Prerequisites: Bardic Performance class feature, Bardic Work class feature, Signature Work class feature
Benefit: You can have a number of additional signature works equal to your Charisma modifier. If you choose to establish and maintain multiple signature works, you must devote separate two hours of practice time each week to every signature work you wish to maintain.
Normal: You may have only one signature work at a time.

* * * * * * * * * *

A minor problem for these additions is that the Signature Work class feature and Improved Signature Work feat becomes moot at 19th level. Maybe at 19th level, the bard gets boost his cicumstance bonus on his Perfom checks up to 4 instead of 2 with his signature works, so it will still be worth the trouble to mess around with the Signature Work class feature past that point.

--end--
 
Last edited:

That's a cool idea, Matthias. It covers some of the same ground as the Masterpieces from Ultimate Magic, but I like the idea of the bard working on a magnum opus during downtime from adventuring.

I'm trying to think of ways of streamlining the concept. Maybe instead of making it a bard class feature, you can piggyback off the Craft skill. Call it Craft (composition), use the basic Craft rules to create it, tie each composition to a particular Perform skill, and have it grant a bonus to the appropriate Perform check for anyone who uses it. Then give the Bard the ability to take 10 on certain compositions of his own crafting.

What did you think of the class design? Does the special Perform check seem usable? Are there many Performances, too few, or just enough?
 

That's a cool idea, Matthias. It covers some of the same ground as the Masterpieces from Ultimate Magic, but I like the idea of the bard working on a magnum opus during downtime from adventuring.

I'm trying to think of ways of streamlining the concept. Maybe instead of making it a bard class feature, you can piggyback off the Craft skill. Call it Craft (composition), use the basic Craft rules to create it, tie each composition to a particular Perform skill, and have it grant a bonus to the appropriate Perform check for anyone who uses it. Then give the Bard the ability to take 10 on certain compositions of his own crafting.

It would streamline things but I would still limit the bard to X number of compositions that he could benefit from. Otherwise there's nothing preventing a bard from crafting a composition for every combo of Perform style and Bardic Performance effect they would want to be ready to use. I would like to see different bards mechanically specializing in different Perform styles with the Bardic Performances they have learned.


What did you think of the class design? Does the special Perform check seem usable? Are there many Performances, too few, or just enough?

I wouldn't say you could have too many unles you just went absurdly over the top for a character of the same or similar level. Without spells, bard becomes aweak wizard combined with a weak rogue who specializes in winning friends and influencing foes, no real bangbang stuff.

Bard's never had the sense of a very powerful or effective class with me. I'll confess I've never played one, never really seriously considered playing one as a PC, nor even as an NPC as a DM. But I want to be confident I could build a dangerous bard NPC if I felt the need for a hostile martial performer...orienting Bard more toward a kind of warlord type of concept will help its appeal.
 

It would streamline things but I would still limit the bard to X number of compositions that he could benefit from. Otherwise there's nothing preventing a bard from crafting a composition for every combo of Perform style and Bardic Performance effect they would want to be ready to use. I would like to see different bards mechanically specializing in different Perform styles with the Bardic Performances they have learned.
If you're talking about the Take 10 thing, I agree. I'd probably say you can only have one available at a time, though you could switch by making a new one.
But I want to be confident I could build a dangerous bard NPC if I felt the need for a hostile martial performer...orienting Bard more toward a kind of warlord type of concept will help its appeal.
You might be interested in the War Master class from SGG. A marshall-inspired tactical class with a bit of social-fu.
 

Remove ads

Top