Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vilenatas 12-03-04, 06:05 PM	I'm looking for any balance suggestions and wording suggestions to clarify any possible rules problems. If anyone has some flavor abilities that would be great as well. Trained by evil races, particularly the drow elves who revel in death, the deathsinger learns to create songs about the moment of death in a most gruesome manner. Deathsingers are strong members of a raiding mission, bringing fear and chaos to the targets of those missions. Their ability to inspire despair through music is a frightening aspect, and although many evil parties respect their abilities, they are creepy even to the most viciously evil of living creatures. The only true acceptance they tend to find is among vampires and other intelligent undead who seem to more clearly understand the warped mind of the deathsingers. DEATHSINGER Alignment: Any non-lawful, non-good. Hit Die: d6. Class Skills The deathsinger’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha). Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x4. Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier. Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special 1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Deathsinger music, Deathsinger knowledge ,countersong, fascinate, inspire despair -1 2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Enfeebling Song 4th +3 +1 +4 +4 Requiem, Poison Use 5th +3 +1 +4 +4 6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Suggestion 7th +5 +2 +5 +5 8th +6/+1 +2 +6 +6 inspire despair -2 9th +6/+1 +3 +6 +6 Enervating Song 10th +7/+2 +3 +7 +7 11th +8/+3 +3 +7 +7 12th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 Song of freedom 13th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 14th +10/+5 +4 +9 +9 inspire despair -3 15th +11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +9 Song of Revenance 16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 17th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 18th +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +11 Mass suggestion 19th +14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +11 20th +15/+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 inspire despair -4 ––—— Spells per Day ——–— 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 1st 2 — — — — — — 2nd 3 0 — — — — — 3rd 3 1 — — — — — 4th 3 2 0 — — — — 5th 3 3 1 — — — — 6th 3 3 2 — — — — 7th 3 3 2 0 — — -- 8th 3 3 3 1 — — — 9th 3 3 3 2 — — — 10th 3 3 3 2 0 — — 11th 3 3 3 3 1 — — 12th 3 3 3 3 2 — — 13th 3 3 3 3 2 0 — 14th 4 3 3 3 3 1 — 15th 4 4 3 3 3 2 — 16th 4 4 4 3 3 2 0 17th 4 4 4 4 3 3 1 18th 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 19th 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 20th 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Table: Deathsinger Spells Known ————— Spells Known ————— Level 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 1st 4 — — — — — — 2nd 5 21 — — — — — 3rd 6 3 — — — — — 4th 6 3 21 — — — — 5th 6 4 3 — — — — 6th 6 4 3 — — — — 7th 6 4 4 21 — — — 8th 6 4 4 3 — — — 9th 6 4 4 3 — — — 10th 6 4 4 4 21 — — 11th 6 4 4 4 3 — — 12th 6 4 4 4 3 — — 13th 6 4 4 4 4 21 — 14th 6 4 4 4 4 3 — 15th 6 4 4 4 4 3 — 16th 6 5 4 4 4 4 21 17th 6 5 5 4 4 4 3 18th 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 19th 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 20th 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 1 Provided the deathsinger has a high enough Charisma score to have a bonus spell of this level. Class Features All of the following are class features of the deathsinger. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A deathsinger is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. Deathsingers are proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). A deathsinger can cast deathsinger spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a deathsinger wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass deathsinger still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes. Spells: A deathsinger casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the bard spell list except that all cure spells have been replaced with inflict spells and the deathsinger can choose any spell from the necromancy school that is on the sorc/wizard spell list up to 6th level spells as long as it is of a level that he can cast. He also loses the spells Calm Emotions, Daylight, Dream, Good Hope, Greater Heroism, Heroes’ Feast, Heroism, Remove Curse, Remove Fear, Repel Vermin, Secure Shelter, and any spells with the good descriptor. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every deathsinger spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music). To learn or cast a spell, a deathsinger must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a deathsinger’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the deathsinger’s Charisma modifier. Like other spellcasters, a deathsinger can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Deathsinger. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score. When Table: Deathsinger Spells Known indicates that the deathsinger gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Charisma score for that spell level. The deathsinger’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A deathsinger begins play knowing four 0-level spells of your choice. At most new deathsinger levels, he gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Deathsinger Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a deathsinger knows is not affected by his Charisma score; the numbers on Table: Deathsinger Spells Known are fixed.) Upon reaching 5th level, and at every third deathsinger level after that (8th, 11th, and so on), a deathsinger can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the deathsinger “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least two levels lower than the highest-level deathsinger spell the deathsinger can cast. A deathsinger may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level. As noted above, a deathsinger need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level. Deathsinger Knowledge: A deathsinger may make a special deathsinger knowledge check with a bonus equal to his deathsinger level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the deathsinger has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.) A successful deathsinger knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A deathsinger may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random. DC Type of Knowledge 10 Common, known by at least a substantial minority drinking; common legends of the local population. 20 Uncommon but available, known by only a few people legends. 25 Obscure, known by few, hard to come by. 30 Extremely obscure, known by very few, possibly forgotten by most who once knew it, possibly known only by those who don’t understand the significance of the knowledge. Deathsinger Music: Once per day per deathsinger level, a deathsinger can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). While these abilities fall under the category of deathsinger music and the descriptions discuss singing or playing instruments, they can all be activated by reciting poetry, chanting, singing lyrical songs, singing melodies, whistling, playing an instrument, or playing an instrument in combination with some spoken performance. Each ability requires both a minimum deathsinger level and a minimum number of ranks in the Perform skill to qualify; if a deathsinger does not have the required number of ranks in at least one Perform skill, he does not gain the deathsinger music ability until he acquires the needed ranks. Starting a deathsinger music effect is a standard action. Some deathsinger music abilities require concentration, which means the deathsinger must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even while using deathsinger music that doesn’t require concentration, a deathsinger cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands). Just as for casting a spell with a verbal component, a deaf deathsinger has a 20% chance to fail when attempting to use deathsinger music. If he fails, the attempt still counts against his daily limit. Countersong (Su): A deathsinger with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to counter magical effects that depend on sound (but not spells that simply have verbal components). Each round of the countersong, he makes a Perform check. Any creature within 30 feet of the deathsinger (including the deathsinger himself ) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the deathsinger’s Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the deathsinger’s Perform check result for the save. Countersong has no effect against effects that don’t allow saves. The deathsinger may keep up the countersong for 10 rounds. Fascinate (Sp): A deathsinger with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the deathsinger, and able to pay attention to him. The deathsinger must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a deathsinger attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability. To use the ability, a deathsinger makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the deathsinger cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the deathsinger continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per deathsinger level). While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the deathsinger to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. Inspire Despair (Su): A deathsinger with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire despair in his enemies, increasing their susceptibility to fear and horror and decreasing their combat abilities. To be affected, an enemy must be able to hear the deathsinger sing. The effect lasts for as long as the enemy hears the deathsinger sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected enemy receives a -2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects and a -1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level, and every six deathsinger levels thereafter, this penalty increases by 1 (-2 at 8th, -3 at 14th, and -4 at 20th). Inspire despair is a mind-affecting ability. Enfeebling Song (Su): A deathsinger of 3rd level or higher with 6 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause an enemy to wither in any task requiring strength. The enemy must be within 30 + 5 feet for every four levels of deathsinger and able to see and hear the deathsinger. The deathsinger must also be able to see the enemy that he is targeting. The enemy is affected by an effect similar to the spell ray of enfeeblement with caster level equal to 1/2 deathsinger level (round down) except that no attack roll is required and the effect only lasts for as long as the deathsinger sings and an additional 3 rounds thereafter. Enfeebling song is a mind-affecting ability. Suggestion (Sp): A deathsinger of 6th level or higher with 9 or more ranks in a Perform skill can make a suggestion (as the spell) to a creature that he has already fascinated (see above). Using this ability does not break the deathsinger’s concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect. Making a suggestion doesn’t count against a deathsinger’s daily limit on deathsinger music performances. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 deathsinger’s level + deathsinger’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature (but see mass suggestion, below). Suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language dependent ability. Envervating Song (Su): A deathsinger of 9th level or higher with 12 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to draw life essence from his opponents for a short time. For every three levels a deathsinger attains beyond 9th, he can target one additional enemy with a single use of this ability (two at 12th level, three at 15th, four at 18th). To use his enervating song, a deathsinger must sing and an enemy must hear him sing. The effect is as the enervation spell except that the deathsinger does not need to make a ranged touch attack. The caster level for the enervation effect is equal to the deathsinger’s class level. Enervating song is a mind-affecting ability. Song of Revenance (Su): A deathsinger of 15th level or higher with 18 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to animate a fresh corpse. For every three deathsinger levels the character attains beyond 15th, he can animate one additional fresh corpse. To raise the corpse, a deathsinger must sing for a full and the corpse must be within 30’ of the deathsinger. After singing within the presence of the creature for a full round the creature becomes animated rising up as it was in life except with the corpse template (BOVD). The animated corpse cannot cast spells or use any effects that require it to be able to speak. The creature stays animated for a number of rounds equal to the ranks in perform that the deathsinger has. Mass Suggestion (Sp): This ability functions like suggestion, above, except that a deathsinger of 18th level or higher with 21 or more ranks in a Perform skill can make the suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that he has already fascinated (see above). Mass suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability. Poison Use(Ex): Deathsingers are trained in the use of poison and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves when applying poison to a blade. Requiem: The Deathsinger gains the Requiem feat at 4th level. Ex-Deathsingers A deathsinger who becomes lawful or good in alignment cannot progress in levels as a deathsinger, though he retains all his deathsinger abilities.
SD 12-03-04, 06:14 PM	Enfeebling Song looks too powerful. Considering that the bard ability at that level is "give +2 on skill checks for up to two minutes", what is the justification for making the deathsinger's parallel ability "give a penalty to Str from -2 to -7 for three minutes", especially since it gets more powerful as the deathsinger gains levels? You've covered what happens if they turn lawful; what if they turn good? With the changed songs and adjusted spell list, the deathsinger looks like Bard+. What have I missed that they lose to make them a bard variant instead of a bard improvement?
Vilenatas 12-03-04, 06:58 PM	Removed some more spells from this Deathsinger spell list. Lowered the power of the enfeebling song and fixed the alignment issue. Would like to hear suggestions on any other spells to remove from the list.
Vilenatas 12-04-04, 05:21 PM	I decided song of freedom didn't fit, took it out as of now, but would be interested in a mirroring evil ability that wasn't too strong to replace it.