Acrobat / Entertainer core class [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTimePost
D.K.R.

06-11-05, 11:44 PM		This is a variant on the Bard core class, with some rogue and monk crossover abilities thrown in that seem, to me, to suit it. I am not sure if I am making an unbalanced class here; have I cut enough out of the base Bard class to warrant all that I am adding? Do you guys think this is balanced at all?

Alternate Bard core class; Acrobat (or) Entertainer

Bards throughout every realm have a special tie to magic, through their musical performances. There are many other types of performers, however, and some have found that the same magic can be tapped into through their various other methods of performance. This particular class is geared for an acrobatic or dancing type of entertainer; one who relies on their physical agility and grace to keep others amused.

Adventures: (same as a bard)

Characteristics: (same as a bard, substituting 'performance' for 'music and poetry', and deleting ', and counter magical effects that rely on speech or sound')

Alignment: (same as bard)

Religion: (same as bard)

Background: (same as bard)

Races: Entertainers are commonly human, half-elven, or halflings, and not altogether uncommon among elves and gnomes. It is very uncommon to find a half-orc or dwarven entertainer, and rarer still to see one from the savage humanoids.

Other Classes: (same as bard)

Game Rule Information

Abilities: (same as bard)

Alignment: Any nonlawful.

Hit Dice: d6

Class Skills: Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Intuit Direction, Jump, Knowledge (all skills), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Pick Pocket, Profession, Sense Motive, Speak Language, Swim, Tumble

Skill points at first level: (6+Int) times 4
Skill points at each add'l level: 6+Int


Class Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Save Save Save Special

1 +0 +0 +2 +0 Bardic Knowledge, Performance, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1, Weapon Finesse
2 +1 +0 +3 +0 Uncanny Dodge (Dex bonus to AC)
3 +2 +1 +3 +1 Evasion, Inspire Competence
4 +3 +1 +4 +1 Slow Fall (20')
5 +3 +1 +4 +1 Uncanny Dodge (can't be flanked)
6 +4 +2 +5 +2 Slow Fall (30'), Suggestion
7 +5 +2 +5 +2
8 +6 +2 +6 +2 Slow Fall (40'), Inspire Courage +2
9 +6 +3 +6 +3 Improved Evasion, Inspire Greatness
10 +7 +3 +7 +3 Slow Fall (50')
11 +8 +3 +7 +3 Special Ability
12 +9 +4 +8 +4 Slow Fall (60'), Dance of Freedom
13 +9 +4 +8 +4 Special Ability
14 +10 +4 +9 +4 Slow Fall (70'), Inspire Courage +3
15 +11 +5 +9 +5 Special Ability, Inspire Heroics
16 +12 +5 +10 +5 Slow Fall (80')
17 +12 +5 +10 +5 Special Ability
18 +13 +6 +11 +6 Slow Fall (90') , Mass Suggestion
19 +14 +6 +11 +6 Special Ability
20 +15 +6 +12 +6 Slow Fall (any distance), Inspire Courage +4
Level Spells per Day
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 1 - - - - - -
2 1 0 - - - - -
3 2 0 - - - - -
4 2 1 0 - - - -
5 2 1 0 - - - -
6 3 2 1 - - - -
7 3 2 1 0 - - -
8 3 2 2 0 - - -
9 3 3 2 1 - - -
10 4 3 2 1 0 - -
11 4 3 3 2 0 - -
12 4 3 3 2 1 - -
13 4 4 3 2 1 0 -
14 4 4 3 3 2 1 -
15 4 4 4 3 2 1 -
16 4 4 4 3 2 2 0
17 4 4 4 3 3 2 1
18 4 4 4 4 3 3 2
19 4 4 4 4 3 3 3
20 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Level Spells Known
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 - - - - - -
2 2 1 - - - - -
3 3 1 - - - - -
4 3 2 1 - - - -
5 4 2 1 - - - -
6 4 3 2 - - - -
7 5 3 2 1 - - -
8 5 4 3 1 - - -
9 6 4 3 2 - - -
10 6 5 4 2 1 - -
11 6 5 4 3 1 - -
12 6 5 5 3 2 - -
13 6 5 5 4 2 1 -
14 6 5 5 4 3 1 -
15 6 5 5 5 3 2 -
16 6 5 5 5 4 2 1
17 6 5 5 5 4 3 1
18 6 5 5 5 5 3 2
19 6 5 5 5 5 4 2
20 6 5 5 5 5 4 3

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An entertainer is proficient with all simple weapons. Additionally, the entertainer is proficient with one of the following weapons: longbow, composite longbow, longsword, rapier, sap, short composite bow, short sword, shortbow, or whip. Entertainers are proficient only in light armor, and in no shields.

Spells: The Entertainer casts spells as Bard, but at a slower progression )as listed above). The differences between the way these two classes cast spells (aside from being slower to learn) is that each spell the entertainer casts has a Somantic component, even if it did not previously. Unlike the bard, the entertainer can apply the silent spell metamagic feat to any qualified spell he casts (if he possesses the silent spell metamagic feat), but he may never utilize the still spell metamagic feat; and each and every spell he casts is subjected to arcane spell failure rates for wearing armor.

Bardic Knowledge: As Bard of equal level, if levels in both classes are attained, combine the total levels of both classes to determine the level of this ability.

Performance: similar to the bard's skill with music, the entertainer can inspire with visual displays of skill. Once per day per level, dependant upon the ranks in his perform skill, he can inspire courage in allies, fascinate a creature, make a magical suggestion to a fascinated creature, help others perform skills better, or inspire greatness.

To initiate and/or maintain any of these abilities requires a partial (move equivalent) action each round, and provokes an attack of opportunity if engaged in melee combat and threatened by an opponent. Any visual performance can be used to create and maintain the effect, including acrobatics, dancing, tumbling, a weapons display, rolling a coin across one’s knuckles, juggling, etc., etc., etc. It is left to the DM’s discretion what display(s) will be appropriate for which effect.

Uncanny Dodge: (same as rogue's ability)

Evasion: (same as rogue/monk's ability)

Slow Fall: (same as monk's ability)

Special Ability: (as rogue's ability)
Abundant Step (as monk’s ability)
Tongue of the Sun and Moon (as monk’s ability)
Defensive Roll
Opportunist
Skill Mastery
Slippery Mind
Bonus Feat