Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ell 04-11-08, 10:55 AM	I am one of those people who don’t like bard’s battle songs. I’ve read all the arguments about it, trust me, but I still don’t like it, and my players don’t like it either, so I decided to revise it. It is easier said than done, because I suck at designing stuff, so I need some help. The concept of this bard is somewhat inspired by the beguiler class. Only the beguiler is that guy who took the king’s diamond right from his crown and nobody really saw him do it, and the bard is that great guy whom the king has given the diamond. I want the bard to be charismatic, knowledgeable and self-sufficient (this is important, because I DM a lot of solo or two-players campaigns, so there is no big party to do all the hard stuff while the bard whistles a jolly tune). I also want to make the class a little more powerful for the same reasons – bard is nice if he has a lot of people around, but on his own he is rather sub-par(in my experience, anyway. I’ll be happy to hear another point of view). Now I need to mention two things: 1. My players do not exploit the class’ potential to be broken. I don’t have CoDzillas or guys with +20 to hit at first level in my game. They are generally even not good with optimizing. So I need the class which is playable without scrounging for feats in the splatbooks (I like scrounging for feats, don’t get me wrong, but most of my group won’t do it). 2. Knowledge and social connections are very important in my world. Your life can become a lot easier if you know someone in the Glass-blower Guild or if you remember the tale of Great Necromancer Overlord Cheese McBones. Diplomacing of bluffing your way out of the fight or getting someone to fight it for you are often viable choices. And characters get XP for it, as long as challenge is overcome. :) So keeping that in mind, I present you with my thoughts about the new bard. My notes are in italics. Bard loses all the bardic music abilities used in battle (countersong, song of freedom and the “inspire” chain). He keeps the fascinate, suggestion and mass suggestion abilities. Bardic Knack (PHB II): (is it allowed to quote the ability here or is it violation of some rights?) When making any skill check, you can use 1/2 your bard level (rounded up) in place of the number of ranks you have in the skill (even if that number is 0). You can’t take 10 on checks when you use bardic knack (to take 10 you have to use your actual ranks). If the skill doesn’t allow untrained checks, you must have at least 1 actual rank to attempt the check. Contacts(at first level): bards travel the world and make friends essentially everywhere. In any settlement bard can make a roll vs DC15, adding his charisma modifier, to find out that his old acquaintance lives here (or the old acquaintance of his old acquaintance). The person is friendly and is predisposed (but not obligated) to help the bard. On a natural 20, the acquaintance is willing to risk life and limb for the bard. On a natural 1, the he or she is someone the bard has scorned in his previous adventures and will act to harm him. The modifiers to this ability are the following: Wilderness: -10 Thorp: -8 Hamlet: -6 Village -4 Small Town -2 Large Town no modifier Small City +2 Large City +4 Metropolis +8 The bard is of different race than the majority of the population (human bard in an elven settlement) -4* The bard is of different ethnicity or culture than the majority of population (someone from Japan-ish country trying to make their way in generic medieval Europe) -2 ** *half-breeds count for any of their parent races for the sake of this modifier. Half-elf won’t be penalized neither in elven nor in human city. ** this is not cumulative with the racial modifier. I was also thinking of allowing it only once per session. Friends at high places: at 10th (or 15th? Or 7th?) level bard can make a contact roll in a settlement (I was thinking of maybe adding a negative modifier to that?). On a successful roll, their acquaintance is a person of importance. If the roll fails, they know nobody in this settlement. Bardic Knowledge: bards gain synergy from any knowledge skill appropriate for the roll (not only history). For example, if they want to know about the temple of god Mightypants, Knowledge (religion) gives them synergy. These are the abilities I pretty much decided on. Below are some options that I have swirling around in my head, unable to make a choice. Bonus Skillpoints: maybe two or even four skillpoints per level, but they can only be put in Knowledge skills. Free Skilltricks: Give one at second level and one every three levels after that. Expanding\changing spell-list. Making spells known not fixed (so they can benefit from high charisma some more :) ). I would appreciate some feedback on balance or any new suggestions. Thank you in advance. Now to all those people who think bard's battle performance is cool and mighty: I'm leaving the core Bard in my game, should my players want to play it. I need help with this particular variant.
Aethios 04-11-08, 12:45 PM	Have you seen the 1-20 class in the ECS? I can't remember it's name but it's based off of having connections.. it may be in the EPH, though, I am uncertain. Perhaps you could find the time to review that class, and meld it with the bard for certain tweaks you are willing to meet.