anacreon
04-07-2003, 08:16 AM
This is a new prestige class I've been working on, that, in my opinion, suits the mood of the birthright campaign, so here it is:
Court Bard
The tradition of the court bard is an ancient one, and dates back to the grand elven kingdom that existed on Cerilia centuries before the arrival of the humans. And it persists even today, especially among the elves and the Anuireans.
Court bards often operate as their regent's right hand. Intelligent and charismatic, they are used as diplomats and spies, both abroad and within the regent's court itself. Thanks to their ability to intuit truth they are sound advisors and have good grasp of situations.
In addition, court bards entertain the court, and are the keepers of lore and traditions. A powerful and learned court bard is a coveted status symbol in Anuire. However, a court may not employ more than one court bard at any given time.
Many church regents also retain court bards, who fill more or less the same functions of those who serve land-regents. In these cases the talents of the bard as a keeper of lore and diplomat are emphasized more than her talents as an entertainer, although the churches of Laerme do celebrate their court bard ingenuity in performance as suitable praise for their goddess of the arts.
Most court bards are bards, but combinations such as bard/wizard, bard/rogue, bard/sorcerer, loremaster/wizard, loremaster/magician or loremaster/sorcerer are not unheard of. Church court bards tend to include also cleric/bards or loremaster/clerics.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements
To qualify to become a court bard, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
Feats: Spell Focus (enchantment), Skill Focus (sense motive).
Skills: bluff 2 ranks, decipher script 2 ranks, diplomacy 2 ranks, gather information 2 ranks, knowledge (history) 2 ranks, knowledge (local) 2 ranks, knowledge (nobility) 2 ranks, perform (must have epic and ballad among his perform types) 10 ranks, sense motive 2 ranks.
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 2nd level spells
Special: a. bardic knowledge or similar ability.
b. Nonregent.
c. Must be trained by a court bard and receive appointment as one.
d. Must have composed in the past an epic poem, ballad or elegy, dealing with the history of his nation or its ruler, of at least DC 20.
Class Skills
The court bard's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (all skills, taken separately) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Scry (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Languages, Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 8+Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the court bard:
Weapon Proficiency: The court bard gains no proficiency in the use of weapons or armors.
Spells per Day: Every level a court bard gains, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class she already possesses levels in. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (metamagic/item creation feats etc.)
If the character has more than one spellcasting class she may decide which class she chooses to raise.
Bardic Knowledge: The court bard continues to enlarge his general knowledge of the world around her; as a result she gains +1 to her bardic knowledge score each time she gains a level.
Bardic Immunity: The court bard is considered to be the one person who can say anything at all to her regent. The court bard is expected to say the truth to his regent, ignoring etiquette, protocol, and the usual courtier flattery. As a result, by custom stronger than law, the court bard cannot be arrested or attacked by anyone within the borders of his regent's domain. Doing so is considered a serious offense sometimes punishable by death. If one has evidence, however, of any illegal actions taken by the court bard, one can take his charges to the local bard school or guild, where an inquiry or a tribunal will take place. If the court bard is found guilty, she is removed from her position (losing all class abilities), so she can stand trial.
Bardic Music: the court bard continues to study and improve her musical abilities, but with her additional studies and obligation, she cannot do that in the same rate that other bards do. As a result the court bard gains the bardic music ability, but can use it once per every two court bard levels per day. These uses stack with any other bardic music abilities the court bard may have. Court bard level count when determining how many people are affected by the 'Inspire Greatness' ability.
Apprentice: upon reaching 3rd level the court bard gains an apprentice. The level of the apprentice is determined as if he were a cohort (cf. the Leadership feat), except that he must have at least one bard level. The apprentice does not count against any cohort (or follower) the court bard may have from the Leadership feat (if indeed she has taken it).
Bonus Feat: at 5th level a court bard can choose one of the following feats: Jack-of-All-Trades or Disguise Spell.
Intuit Truth: The court bards experience with courtly scheming and gossip, grants him the ability to ascertain whether a rumor has a base in reality, or if it is a fabrication. Starting 7th level, when hearing a rumor, a court bard can attempt to make a special bardic knowledge check to ascertain the validity of the rumor. The DC is as follows:
The rumor is far-fetched or the court bard knows things that contradicts it. DC 10
The rumor has some elements grounded in reality, but overall it is inconsistent with what the court bard knows. DC 15
The rumor is close to the truth, but has many fictitious elements to the court bard's knowledge. DC 20
The rumor is very close to what the court bard knows to be true, differing in just a few minor details, or one major (not huge) one. DC 25
The rumor is almost identical to what the court bard knows to be true, differing in just a minor detail (regardless of whether the detail is important or not). DC 30
Great Inspiration: upon reaching 9th level the court bard can use her 'Inspire Courage' ability to great effect. When the court bard's country is under attack, the court bard may speak in front of an entire military unit, granting the entire unit +1 morale bonus to attack, defense and saving throws against charm and fear effects. The affect lasts one hour per each round the court bard spent speaking to the unit before the battle. The use of this ability counts against 4 daily uses of the court bard's bardic music ability. This is a mind-affecting supernatural ability.
National Treasure: upon reaching 10th level the court bard is considered a national treasure. Her countrymen, who often give her small gifts, or refuse taking payment from her, treat her with near divine reverence. Most court bards are expected to refuse those offers except in the direst of need. She gains a bodyguard as if she were a regent, at her country's expense. In addition to this, she gains +2 to all her charisma-based skill check and her charisma checks when dealing with members of her own country. When dealing with member of her own nation who are not of her own country this bonus drops to +1. For example: Seoman, Anuirean Bard 7/court bard 10 of Mhoried, tries to find out at the local restaurant what the ambassador of Elinie (Anuirean), the ambassador of Dhoesone (half-elf) and the ambassador of Kiergard (brecht) had for dinner, as their waiter is a fellow Mhorien, Seoman gains +2 to his gather information check. Later that evening he tries to persuade each of the three to a trade agreement with the Mhor, gaining +1 to his diplomacy check with the Elinien and no bonus with the Dhoesone or the Kiergard ambassadors. Had Seoman been a half-elf he'd still gain a +2 with the waiter, but now he'd have gotten +1 with the Dhosonean and no bonuses with the others.
The Court bard
Class Level Base Att. Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spells per Day/ Spells Known
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Bardic knowledge, bardic immunity +1 level of spellcating class
2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 Bardic music 1/day +1 level of spellcating class
3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Apprentice +1 level of spellcating class
4th +3 +1 +4 +4 Bardic music 2/day +1 level of spellcating class
5th +3 +1 +4 +4 Bonus Feat +1 level of spellcating class
6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Bardic music 3/day +1 level of spellcating class
7th +5 +2 +5 +5 Intuit truth +1 level of spellcating class
8th +6 +2 +6 +6 Bardic music 4/day +1 level of spellcating class
9th +6 +3 +6 +6 Great Inspiration +1 level of spellcating class
10th +7 +3 +7 +7 Bardic music 5/day, national treasure +1 level of spellcating class
Please tell me what you think!
Court Bard
The tradition of the court bard is an ancient one, and dates back to the grand elven kingdom that existed on Cerilia centuries before the arrival of the humans. And it persists even today, especially among the elves and the Anuireans.
Court bards often operate as their regent's right hand. Intelligent and charismatic, they are used as diplomats and spies, both abroad and within the regent's court itself. Thanks to their ability to intuit truth they are sound advisors and have good grasp of situations.
In addition, court bards entertain the court, and are the keepers of lore and traditions. A powerful and learned court bard is a coveted status symbol in Anuire. However, a court may not employ more than one court bard at any given time.
Many church regents also retain court bards, who fill more or less the same functions of those who serve land-regents. In these cases the talents of the bard as a keeper of lore and diplomat are emphasized more than her talents as an entertainer, although the churches of Laerme do celebrate their court bard ingenuity in performance as suitable praise for their goddess of the arts.
Most court bards are bards, but combinations such as bard/wizard, bard/rogue, bard/sorcerer, loremaster/wizard, loremaster/magician or loremaster/sorcerer are not unheard of. Church court bards tend to include also cleric/bards or loremaster/clerics.
Hit Die: d6
Requirements
To qualify to become a court bard, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
Feats: Spell Focus (enchantment), Skill Focus (sense motive).
Skills: bluff 2 ranks, decipher script 2 ranks, diplomacy 2 ranks, gather information 2 ranks, knowledge (history) 2 ranks, knowledge (local) 2 ranks, knowledge (nobility) 2 ranks, perform (must have epic and ballad among his perform types) 10 ranks, sense motive 2 ranks.
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 2nd level spells
Special: a. bardic knowledge or similar ability.
b. Nonregent.
c. Must be trained by a court bard and receive appointment as one.
d. Must have composed in the past an epic poem, ballad or elegy, dealing with the history of his nation or its ruler, of at least DC 20.
Class Skills
The court bard's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (all skills, taken separately) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Scry (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Languages, Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 8+Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the court bard:
Weapon Proficiency: The court bard gains no proficiency in the use of weapons or armors.
Spells per Day: Every level a court bard gains, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class she already possesses levels in. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (metamagic/item creation feats etc.)
If the character has more than one spellcasting class she may decide which class she chooses to raise.
Bardic Knowledge: The court bard continues to enlarge his general knowledge of the world around her; as a result she gains +1 to her bardic knowledge score each time she gains a level.
Bardic Immunity: The court bard is considered to be the one person who can say anything at all to her regent. The court bard is expected to say the truth to his regent, ignoring etiquette, protocol, and the usual courtier flattery. As a result, by custom stronger than law, the court bard cannot be arrested or attacked by anyone within the borders of his regent's domain. Doing so is considered a serious offense sometimes punishable by death. If one has evidence, however, of any illegal actions taken by the court bard, one can take his charges to the local bard school or guild, where an inquiry or a tribunal will take place. If the court bard is found guilty, she is removed from her position (losing all class abilities), so she can stand trial.
Bardic Music: the court bard continues to study and improve her musical abilities, but with her additional studies and obligation, she cannot do that in the same rate that other bards do. As a result the court bard gains the bardic music ability, but can use it once per every two court bard levels per day. These uses stack with any other bardic music abilities the court bard may have. Court bard level count when determining how many people are affected by the 'Inspire Greatness' ability.
Apprentice: upon reaching 3rd level the court bard gains an apprentice. The level of the apprentice is determined as if he were a cohort (cf. the Leadership feat), except that he must have at least one bard level. The apprentice does not count against any cohort (or follower) the court bard may have from the Leadership feat (if indeed she has taken it).
Bonus Feat: at 5th level a court bard can choose one of the following feats: Jack-of-All-Trades or Disguise Spell.
Intuit Truth: The court bards experience with courtly scheming and gossip, grants him the ability to ascertain whether a rumor has a base in reality, or if it is a fabrication. Starting 7th level, when hearing a rumor, a court bard can attempt to make a special bardic knowledge check to ascertain the validity of the rumor. The DC is as follows:
The rumor is far-fetched or the court bard knows things that contradicts it. DC 10
The rumor has some elements grounded in reality, but overall it is inconsistent with what the court bard knows. DC 15
The rumor is close to the truth, but has many fictitious elements to the court bard's knowledge. DC 20
The rumor is very close to what the court bard knows to be true, differing in just a few minor details, or one major (not huge) one. DC 25
The rumor is almost identical to what the court bard knows to be true, differing in just a minor detail (regardless of whether the detail is important or not). DC 30
Great Inspiration: upon reaching 9th level the court bard can use her 'Inspire Courage' ability to great effect. When the court bard's country is under attack, the court bard may speak in front of an entire military unit, granting the entire unit +1 morale bonus to attack, defense and saving throws against charm and fear effects. The affect lasts one hour per each round the court bard spent speaking to the unit before the battle. The use of this ability counts against 4 daily uses of the court bard's bardic music ability. This is a mind-affecting supernatural ability.
National Treasure: upon reaching 10th level the court bard is considered a national treasure. Her countrymen, who often give her small gifts, or refuse taking payment from her, treat her with near divine reverence. Most court bards are expected to refuse those offers except in the direst of need. She gains a bodyguard as if she were a regent, at her country's expense. In addition to this, she gains +2 to all her charisma-based skill check and her charisma checks when dealing with members of her own country. When dealing with member of her own nation who are not of her own country this bonus drops to +1. For example: Seoman, Anuirean Bard 7/court bard 10 of Mhoried, tries to find out at the local restaurant what the ambassador of Elinie (Anuirean), the ambassador of Dhoesone (half-elf) and the ambassador of Kiergard (brecht) had for dinner, as their waiter is a fellow Mhorien, Seoman gains +2 to his gather information check. Later that evening he tries to persuade each of the three to a trade agreement with the Mhor, gaining +1 to his diplomacy check with the Elinien and no bonus with the Dhoesone or the Kiergard ambassadors. Had Seoman been a half-elf he'd still gain a +2 with the waiter, but now he'd have gotten +1 with the Dhosonean and no bonuses with the others.
The Court bard
Class Level Base Att. Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spells per Day/ Spells Known
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Bardic knowledge, bardic immunity +1 level of spellcating class
2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 Bardic music 1/day +1 level of spellcating class
3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Apprentice +1 level of spellcating class
4th +3 +1 +4 +4 Bardic music 2/day +1 level of spellcating class
5th +3 +1 +4 +4 Bonus Feat +1 level of spellcating class
6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Bardic music 3/day +1 level of spellcating class
7th +5 +2 +5 +5 Intuit truth +1 level of spellcating class
8th +6 +2 +6 +6 Bardic music 4/day +1 level of spellcating class
9th +6 +3 +6 +6 Great Inspiration +1 level of spellcating class
10th +7 +3 +7 +7 Bardic music 5/day, national treasure +1 level of spellcating class
Please tell me what you think!