AriaMagus the Song Mage, updated for 3.5e [Archive] - Wizards Community

AriaMagus the Song Mage, updated for 3.5e [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nadaka
07-23-03, 03:07 PM Ariamagus Notes:
With the improvements to the bard, I have considered increasing the power of this class. But I really don't think it is needed, the increased bardic performances are already part of this class and that may be enough. A bard (3.5) looses skill points, BAB, reflex saves and bardic knowledge as well as the admittedly not entirely unuseful prereqs, prereqs that now have a less harsh cost due to the bards increased skill points.

You can find a picture of the Iconic character Jasmine here. (http://www14.brinkster.com/nadaka/jasmine.jpeg) Credit for this drawing can be given to Aldym Nochnorien, a member of this board.

Example builds:
Bard 7 / Ariamagus X:
Wiz 3 / Cle 3 / bard 1 /ariamagus X (Also requres spell mastery so the wizard can know 2nd level spells and the extra music

feat (S&S))
Sor 4 / Cle 3 / bard 1 / ariamagus x (also requires the extra music feat)

Revision 5:
- updated for 3.5.
Revision 4:
- Clarification of chorus of many voices and change of pace.
- Reformatted to more closely resemble the official PRC description style.
- Grammar and spell checking.
Revision 3:
- Changed requirements, it takes character level 7 and either 4 levels of bard or 3 levels of something else, a level of bard

and the extra music feat(S&S) to qualify. This means that every spell-caster except bard sacrifices 4 caster levels and their

highest level of spells.
- Tweaked class skill list.
- Changed Chorus of many voices
- Clarified aria magic.
Revision 2:
- Renamed from Ariamancer. "Mancer" denotes a practitioner of divination magic. "Magus" more generally applies to all magic

users.
- Streamlined and reworked all class abilities.
- Tweaked class skill list.

Revision 1:
- Long before I started tracking changes in revisions.
- I do somehow recall lowering the music usage cost for the ability now known as aria magic.

Ariamagus (song mage)

Introduction
Jasmine walks slowly along the road through tempest glade. Admiring the play of light and shadow through the leaves, the
babbling of a cool brook and the warble of songbirds. She strums lightly on her lute.

Off in the trees a hidden sorcerer watches.
A lone girl? She reeks of magic. Leather armor, the lute, that beauty, she must be a bard. No bard spell can defeat my will and she has no allies to back her. Easy pickings, I might even have a little fun.

In silence he prepares. His defenses active, his speed enhanced. He invisibly flies to the road ahead of Jasmine. She stops as though she heard something. She begins to sing a magic tune, granting her strength as she puts her lute away to draw her sword.

He watches...

Without a pause in her song, she casts a spell. looking strait ahead, her gaze meets the sorcerer’s eyes. He hurls a sphere of silence and gout of flame towards the young woman. Her sight magically enhanced, she tumbles away from the flame negating its worst effects.

Jasmine's voice breaks through the silence, shattering it with power. A second melody entwines with the first. Meshing completely, the two melodies merge into a more powerful magical entity. She attempts to charm the wicked sorcerer, but his will is far too strong.

"That was impressive, but do you really think your feeble songs can help you? You have no one to back you up. Your spells are useless against my will. And I am nigh invulnerable to any physical attack. Give up, and I promise you will take pleasure in your death."

"My songs are more powerful than you can possibly imagine, fool."

With that Jasmines fingers trace the intricate patterns that spell power, her songs halt, and her voice echoes the words of power with a harmony and ryme that few could master. Harmonies that coalesce into a frigid cone of abject destruction.

What is that spell? Cone of Cold? she can't! Wait, it's maximized! No bard can cast at that level of power!

The foul sorcerer’s thoughts slow to nothing as his blasted and ice covered body falls to shatter against the ground.
.
.
.

Some bards use song to strengthen their allies. Some to weaken their foes. Some bards seek to empower their physical combat abilities. But some few see the truth of song and magic intertwined. All song is magic, the harmonies resonate with the very soul of all that hear and echo the sounds of creation. Magic is the song of the universe itself, a wonderous melody and rythme that spins the very fabric of existance. Those few that do realize and seek to master the songs of magic are called Ariamagi. They meld their spells and song into a single fluid form.

Hit Die: d6.

Requirements
To become an Ariamagus, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Skills: Perform 10 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks.
Feats: skill focus: perform, any metamagic feat.

Special:
4 bardic performances per day.
Know 2nd level arcane spells.
Know the spell Silence.

Class Skills:
The Ariamagus's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff(cha), Concentration(con), Craft(int), Decipher

Script(int), Diplomacy(cha), Knowledge:Arcana(int), Listen(wis), Perform(cha), Profession(wis), Read Lips(wis), Scry(int),

Sense Motive(wis), Speak Language(none), and Spellcraft(int). See Chapter 4 of the PHB for skill descriptions.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + int modifier.

lvl..BAB..For..Ref..Wil..Special
1....+0...+0...+0...+2...+1 caster level, Aria Magic, Bardic Music
2....+1...+0...+0...+3...+1 caster level, Extra spell known
3....+1...+1...+1...+3...+1 caster level, Change of Pace
4....+2...+1...+1...+4...+1 caster level, Extra spell known
5....+2...+1...+1...+4...+1 caster level, Dispel Silence
6....+3...+2...+2...+5...+1 caster level, Extra spell known
7....+3...+2...+2...+5...+1 caster level, Chorus of Many Voices: Duet
8....+4...+2...+2...+6...+1 caster level, Extra spell known
9....+4...+3...+3...+6...+1 caster level, Chorus of Many Voices: Trio
10...+5...+3...+3...+7...+1 caster level, Extra spell known

Class Features
The following are class features of the Ariamagus prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An Ariamagus gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Spells per Day/Spells Known:
At each Ariamancer level, the character gains new spells per day (and spells know/scribed into spellbook if aplicable) as if he gained a level in a spellcasting class to wich he belonged before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benifiet that a character of that class would have gained. If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an Ariamagus, the player must decide to wich class to add each level for determining spells per day and spells known.

Aria Magic: [Spells]
Aria magic allows your character to cast spells at the cost of using bardic music performances. The maximum spell level that your character can use aria magic with is equal to your Ariamagus level -1. All spells cast through aria magic must have a verbal component. Spells cast through aria magic can be cast spontainiously or prepared (depending on the casting method of the class of origin). If a spell prepared with ariamagic is not cast or the slot not released, the bardic performance cost will not be recoved the next day. Spells are cast with thier normal casting time, including the full round action if spontaniously casting a spell with metamagic. Spells cast spontaniously or prepared with aria magic do not use a spell slot, but do use a number of bardic performances as specified in the following chart.

Ariamagus..Spell..Performance
Level......Level..Cost
1..........0......1
2..........1......2
3..........2......2
4..........3......3
5..........4......3
6..........5......4
7..........6......4
8..........7......5
9..........8......5
10.........9......6

Bardic Music:
Levels of Ariamagus stack with bard levels for all bardic music purposes. Performances per day, gaining new performances, increased effectiveness of performances, etc.

Extra spell known: [ex]
Your character gain a new spell at up to the maximum level that you can cast. This spell can be on the bard, cleric, druid, or wizards spell list and must have a verbal component. If your character use a spellbook to prepare spells, the spell is scribed into your spellbook at no cost, Otherwise you know the spell.

Change of Pace: [ex]
You can change the pace of your bardic music without interrupting it. This allows you to cast a spell, activate a command word or spell completion item, or otherwise speak without interupting a bardic performance that requires continious singing. This is an move equivelant action. You must pass a performance check with a DC = 20 + (2 x spell level) to maintain the songs pace and melody. If you fail the perform check, the song end as if you have stopped singing. This ability applies to both normal spells and those cast through Aria Magic.

Dispel Silence: [su]
You can dispel an area of magical silence by succeeding a perform check against a DC equal to 15 + the caster level of the silence. This ability requires a standard action to activate. This ability uses one bardic performance for each attempt. Unlike most other bardic performance abilities, dispel silence can be used within a silenced area.

Chorus of Many Voices: [ex]
You can sing more than one bardic song at once. Duet allows you to sing two songs at once if succede a performance check DC 30 every round that you maintain the two songs. Trio allows you to sing three songs at once if you succede a performance check DC 40 every round that you maintain the three songs. If you fail the perform check, all songs end as if you have stopped singing. Chorus of Many Voices is a move equivelant action.
Nadaka
07-24-03, 10:54 PM I knew I should have requested some feedback.

When originally concieved, it was a significant boost to the Bard, with the new bard, it seems to be more or less balanced.

So, any thoughts, suggestions, comments, accolades, flames?
Nadaka
07-29-03, 03:13 AM I wonder if anyone can spot the changes I made for the update to 3.5?

oh and bump...
Nadaka
08-02-03, 02:30 AM Ok, I admit it, the only real mechanical change to update to 3.5 was the removal of alchemy as a class skill (as that skill is now a craft). Other than that, I only had to change a clarification to chorus (removal of haste reference), and bardic performances (as bardic performances are now more closely related to bard level).

and...

Things that go bump in the night...
Mephisto-Juzam
09-01-05, 06:43 PM Looks good, but I can't understand the chart. Can you make it a bit clearer, please?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nadaka 07-23-03, 03:07 PM	Ariamagus Notes: With the improvements to the bard, I have considered increasing the power of this class. But I really don't think it is needed, the increased bardic performances are already part of this class and that may be enough. A bard (3.5) looses skill points, BAB, reflex saves and bardic knowledge as well as the admittedly not entirely unuseful prereqs, prereqs that now have a less harsh cost due to the bards increased skill points. You can find a picture of the Iconic character Jasmine here. (http://www14.brinkster.com/nadaka/jasmine.jpeg) Credit for this drawing can be given to Aldym Nochnorien, a member of this board. Example builds: Bard 7 / Ariamagus X: Wiz 3 / Cle 3 / bard 1 /ariamagus X (Also requres spell mastery so the wizard can know 2nd level spells and the extra music feat (S&S)) Sor 4 / Cle 3 / bard 1 / ariamagus x (also requires the extra music feat) Revision 5: - updated for 3.5. Revision 4: - Clarification of chorus of many voices and change of pace. - Reformatted to more closely resemble the official PRC description style. - Grammar and spell checking. Revision 3: - Changed requirements, it takes character level 7 and either 4 levels of bard or 3 levels of something else, a level of bard and the extra music feat(S&S) to qualify. This means that every spell-caster except bard sacrifices 4 caster levels and their highest level of spells. - Tweaked class skill list. - Changed Chorus of many voices - Clarified aria magic. Revision 2: - Renamed from Ariamancer. "Mancer" denotes a practitioner of divination magic. "Magus" more generally applies to all magic users. - Streamlined and reworked all class abilities. - Tweaked class skill list. Revision 1: - Long before I started tracking changes in revisions. - I do somehow recall lowering the music usage cost for the ability now known as aria magic. Ariamagus (song mage) Introduction Jasmine walks slowly along the road through tempest glade. Admiring the play of light and shadow through the leaves, the babbling of a cool brook and the warble of songbirds. She strums lightly on her lute. Off in the trees a hidden sorcerer watches. A lone girl? She reeks of magic. Leather armor, the lute, that beauty, she must be a bard. No bard spell can defeat my will and she has no allies to back her. Easy pickings, I might even have a little fun. In silence he prepares. His defenses active, his speed enhanced. He invisibly flies to the road ahead of Jasmine. She stops as though she heard something. She begins to sing a magic tune, granting her strength as she puts her lute away to draw her sword. He watches... Without a pause in her song, she casts a spell. looking strait ahead, her gaze meets the sorcerer’s eyes. He hurls a sphere of silence and gout of flame towards the young woman. Her sight magically enhanced, she tumbles away from the flame negating its worst effects. Jasmine's voice breaks through the silence, shattering it with power. A second melody entwines with the first. Meshing completely, the two melodies merge into a more powerful magical entity. She attempts to charm the wicked sorcerer, but his will is far too strong. "That was impressive, but do you really think your feeble songs can help you? You have no one to back you up. Your spells are useless against my will. And I am nigh invulnerable to any physical attack. Give up, and I promise you will take pleasure in your death." "My songs are more powerful than you can possibly imagine, fool." With that Jasmines fingers trace the intricate patterns that spell power, her songs halt, and her voice echoes the words of power with a harmony and ryme that few could master. Harmonies that coalesce into a frigid cone of abject destruction. What is that spell? Cone of Cold? she can't! Wait, it's maximized! No bard can cast at that level of power! The foul sorcerer’s thoughts slow to nothing as his blasted and ice covered body falls to shatter against the ground. . . . Some bards use song to strengthen their allies. Some to weaken their foes. Some bards seek to empower their physical combat abilities. But some few see the truth of song and magic intertwined. All song is magic, the harmonies resonate with the very soul of all that hear and echo the sounds of creation. Magic is the song of the universe itself, a wonderous melody and rythme that spins the very fabric of existance. Those few that do realize and seek to master the songs of magic are called Ariamagi. They meld their spells and song into a single fluid form. Hit Die: d6. Requirements To become an Ariamagus, a character must fulfill the following criteria. Skills: Perform 10 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks. Feats: skill focus: perform, any metamagic feat. Special: 4 bardic performances per day. Know 2nd level arcane spells. Know the spell Silence. Class Skills: The Ariamagus's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff(cha), Concentration(con), Craft(int), Decipher Script(int), Diplomacy(cha), Knowledge:Arcana(int), Listen(wis), Perform(cha), Profession(wis), Read Lips(wis), Scry(int), Sense Motive(wis), Speak Language(none), and Spellcraft(int). See Chapter 4 of the PHB for skill descriptions. Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + int modifier. lvl..BAB..For..Ref..Wil..Special 1....+0...+0...+0...+2...+1 caster level, Aria Magic, Bardic Music 2....+1...+0...+0...+3...+1 caster level, Extra spell known 3....+1...+1...+1...+3...+1 caster level, Change of Pace 4....+2...+1...+1...+4...+1 caster level, Extra spell known 5....+2...+1...+1...+4...+1 caster level, Dispel Silence 6....+3...+2...+2...+5...+1 caster level, Extra spell known 7....+3...+2...+2...+5...+1 caster level, Chorus of Many Voices: Duet 8....+4...+2...+2...+6...+1 caster level, Extra spell known 9....+4...+3...+3...+6...+1 caster level, Chorus of Many Voices: Trio 10...+5...+3...+3...+7...+1 caster level, Extra spell known Class Features The following are class features of the Ariamagus prestige class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An Ariamagus gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies. Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each Ariamancer level, the character gains new spells per day (and spells know/scribed into spellbook if aplicable) as if he gained a level in a spellcasting class to wich he belonged before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benifiet that a character of that class would have gained. If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an Ariamagus, the player must decide to wich class to add each level for determining spells per day and spells known. Aria Magic: [Spells] Aria magic allows your character to cast spells at the cost of using bardic music performances. The maximum spell level that your character can use aria magic with is equal to your Ariamagus level -1. All spells cast through aria magic must have a verbal component. Spells cast through aria magic can be cast spontainiously or prepared (depending on the casting method of the class of origin). If a spell prepared with ariamagic is not cast or the slot not released, the bardic performance cost will not be recoved the next day. Spells are cast with thier normal casting time, including the full round action if spontaniously casting a spell with metamagic. Spells cast spontaniously or prepared with aria magic do not use a spell slot, but do use a number of bardic performances as specified in the following chart. Ariamagus..Spell..Performance Level......Level..Cost 1..........0......1 2..........1......2 3..........2......2 4..........3......3 5..........4......3 6..........5......4 7..........6......4 8..........7......5 9..........8......5 10.........9......6 Bardic Music: Levels of Ariamagus stack with bard levels for all bardic music purposes. Performances per day, gaining new performances, increased effectiveness of performances, etc. Extra spell known: [ex] Your character gain a new spell at up to the maximum level that you can cast. This spell can be on the bard, cleric, druid, or wizards spell list and must have a verbal component. If your character use a spellbook to prepare spells, the spell is scribed into your spellbook at no cost, Otherwise you know the spell. Change of Pace: [ex] You can change the pace of your bardic music without interrupting it. This allows you to cast a spell, activate a command word or spell completion item, or otherwise speak without interupting a bardic performance that requires continious singing. This is an move equivelant action. You must pass a performance check with a DC = 20 + (2 x spell level) to maintain the songs pace and melody. If you fail the perform check, the song end as if you have stopped singing. This ability applies to both normal spells and those cast through Aria Magic. Dispel Silence: [su] You can dispel an area of magical silence by succeeding a perform check against a DC equal to 15 + the caster level of the silence. This ability requires a standard action to activate. This ability uses one bardic performance for each attempt. Unlike most other bardic performance abilities, dispel silence can be used within a silenced area. Chorus of Many Voices: [ex] You can sing more than one bardic song at once. Duet allows you to sing two songs at once if succede a performance check DC 30 every round that you maintain the two songs. Trio allows you to sing three songs at once if you succede a performance check DC 40 every round that you maintain the three songs. If you fail the perform check, all songs end as if you have stopped singing. Chorus of Many Voices is a move equivelant action.
Nadaka 07-24-03, 10:54 PM	I knew I should have requested some feedback. When originally concieved, it was a significant boost to the Bard, with the new bard, it seems to be more or less balanced. So, any thoughts, suggestions, comments, accolades, flames?
Nadaka 07-29-03, 03:13 AM	I wonder if anyone can spot the changes I made for the update to 3.5? oh and bump...
Nadaka 08-02-03, 02:30 AM	Ok, I admit it, the only real mechanical change to update to 3.5 was the removal of alchemy as a class skill (as that skill is now a craft). Other than that, I only had to change a clarification to chorus (removal of haste reference), and bardic performances (as bardic performances are now more closely related to bard level). and... Things that go bump in the night...
Mephisto-Juzam 09-01-05, 06:43 PM	Looks good, but I can't understand the chart. Can you make it a bit clearer, please?