Yodelling Rage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Yodelling Rage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Coveredinbeeees
02-26-08, 07:06 PM Yodelling Rage.

One of my players came up with in interesting concept for his new character. He wants to play a bard who yodels and he likes the idea of his bard being able to enter a yodelling rage. Obviously this will not be the most optimised character on the world but I like the flavour so I wanted to put together a feat which would allow him to do this. I've never designed a feat before so I thought I'd bounce it off the boards before letting him know about it.

Goal: Produce a feat that allows a bard to enter into a rage without unbalancing the character.

Idea: I thought it would make sense to link this ability to Bardic Music. I also wanted it to scale in a similar manner to the Barbarian Rage but be slightly inferior overall.

Prerequisite: Bardic Music, 3 ranks Perform (Yodel).

Benefit: By expending uses of Bardic Music the character may Yodel themselves into a Rage. The Rage itself is identical to the Barbarian Rage but the character must continue to yodel throughout. Ceasing to yodel ends the rage. The first rage costs 1 use of Bardic Music the second costs 3 uses the third costs 5 and so on. So entering a rage twice in one day costs 4 uses of Bardic music total. Raging 4 times in one day would cost 16 uses.

Thoughts: This way the Bard will, without taking more feats, generally be able to rage about as much as a barbarian of equal level until mid levels where the barbarian will be able to rage more frequently. He won't overshadow any barbarian characters and he will be balancing going into a rage with making use of his Bardic Music.

Any suggestions or criticism is welcome. Be gentle though, it's my first time.

Cheers
Mojo_Rat
02-26-08, 10:26 PM It seems fine to me. Although To balance it fully you might make them give up one of the other Bardic music abilities or the Lore.
ciaran
02-26-08, 11:15 PM To match the Barbarian's uses of Rage you would do this:

Barbarian gets additional rages at levels: 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 & 20

So this Bard would spend:
1 for the first rage
3 more for the second
4 for each additional use.

This grants 6 Rages at level 20, same in both classes.

You might want to make some kind of a Prestige class that has Rage and Bardic Music as prereqs

As a variant of Bard i might remove bardic knowledge, countersong & fascinate; add Rage song (above formula for self or 1 additiol for someone else); add proficiency in all martial weapons; change the good Ref and Will saves to good Fort and Ref saves; and d8 for HP.

Instead of Suggestion at 6th level, spend 1 bardic music for fast movement.

Thats my two minute brainstorm.
Qube
02-27-08, 04:41 AM Meh, I like it.
Yust don't him greater rage, and he won't overshadow the barbairan (who has much more hp, and better BAB)

since he must keep singing, he won't be able to use other spells; and the -2 AC can really hurt him if he goes into mellee too much. so its in no way overpowering
Someone
02-27-08, 01:07 PM Nothing in the descriptions of a barbarian's rage or bardic music exclude the other, so a bard/barbarian multiclass is perfectly valid.

And I thought there was a prestige class that fused bard and barbarian. Otherwise, make one up.
Coveredinbeeees
02-27-08, 01:14 PM Hullo All,

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to stick with just a feat rather than a prestige class or variant.

Given that his lower HP, BAB already stop him from outshining a regular barbarian I think I will go with the equal progression suggested by Claran.

So this Bard would spend:
1 for the first rage
3 more for the second
4 for each additional use.

I also like the idea of spending 1 use of bardic music for +10' move speed while singing. I'll call that "song of the swift" and ask him to give up fascinate, inspire courage or countersong to make use of it.

My one concern is how all of this will be effected if he takes the extra music feat from complete adventurer to gain 4 more uses of bardic music per day. To allay that concern I might impose a maximum number of rages per day by level.

Thanks for the advice so far. Any more is always welcome.
Coveredinbeeees
02-27-08, 03:01 PM Here is the final version I decided to go with.

Yodelling Rage.

Prerequisites: Bardic Music and 3 ranks Perform (Yodel).

Benefit: At the expense of a number of uses of Bardic Music your character can take a swift action to enter a Yodelling Rage identical in its effects, duration and consequences to that of a Barbarian. The character must continue to Yodel throughout the rage or the rage will cease.

The first use of Yodelling Rage each day costs 1 use of Bardic Music
The second costs 3 uses of Bardic Music.
All subsequent Yodelling Rages cost 4 uses of Bardic Music each.

A level 1 character may not enter a Yodelling Rage more than once per day, even if he has enough uses of Bardic Music remaining to do so.
This limit increases to twice per day at level 4, an by one every 4 levels thereafter.

Special: A bard with the Yodelling Rage feat may choose to replace either Countersong, or Fascinate with Song of Swiftness.

Song of Swiftness: At the expense of 1 use of Bardic Music your character can increase his Base speed by 10' through Yodelling. This increase in speed will apply only for so long as he continues to Yodel. He may initiate this ability as a swift action even while yodelling for another purpose by simply increasing the cadence of his yodel. He may initiate this feat while in a Yodelling Rage. He cannot make use of this ability while wearing heavy armour or carrying a medium or heavy load. The benefit of this ability does not stack with the increased speed of the barbarian or the monk.
Istaran
02-28-08, 04:23 PM My one concern is how all of this will be effected if he takes the extra music feat from complete adventurer to gain 4 more uses of bardic music per day. To allay that concern I might impose a maximum number of rages per day by level.

He will get one more rage per day.
The barbarian can take Extra Rage to get two more rages per day.
That about balances out (since the extra music could be used for other things instead, so it's more versatile).

You don't really need to cap the uses to balance it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Coveredinbeeees 02-26-08, 07:06 PM	Yodelling Rage. One of my players came up with in interesting concept for his new character. He wants to play a bard who yodels and he likes the idea of his bard being able to enter a yodelling rage. Obviously this will not be the most optimised character on the world but I like the flavour so I wanted to put together a feat which would allow him to do this. I've never designed a feat before so I thought I'd bounce it off the boards before letting him know about it. Goal: Produce a feat that allows a bard to enter into a rage without unbalancing the character. Idea: I thought it would make sense to link this ability to Bardic Music. I also wanted it to scale in a similar manner to the Barbarian Rage but be slightly inferior overall. Prerequisite: Bardic Music, 3 ranks Perform (Yodel). Benefit: By expending uses of Bardic Music the character may Yodel themselves into a Rage. The Rage itself is identical to the Barbarian Rage but the character must continue to yodel throughout. Ceasing to yodel ends the rage. The first rage costs 1 use of Bardic Music the second costs 3 uses the third costs 5 and so on. So entering a rage twice in one day costs 4 uses of Bardic music total. Raging 4 times in one day would cost 16 uses. Thoughts: This way the Bard will, without taking more feats, generally be able to rage about as much as a barbarian of equal level until mid levels where the barbarian will be able to rage more frequently. He won't overshadow any barbarian characters and he will be balancing going into a rage with making use of his Bardic Music. Any suggestions or criticism is welcome. Be gentle though, it's my first time. Cheers
Mojo_Rat 02-26-08, 10:26 PM	It seems fine to me. Although To balance it fully you might make them give up one of the other Bardic music abilities or the Lore.
ciaran 02-26-08, 11:15 PM	To match the Barbarian's uses of Rage you would do this: Barbarian gets additional rages at levels: 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 & 20 So this Bard would spend: 1 for the first rage 3 more for the second 4 for each additional use. This grants 6 Rages at level 20, same in both classes. You might want to make some kind of a Prestige class that has Rage and Bardic Music as prereqs As a variant of Bard i might remove bardic knowledge, countersong & fascinate; add Rage song (above formula for self or 1 additiol for someone else); add proficiency in all martial weapons; change the good Ref and Will saves to good Fort and Ref saves; and d8 for HP. Instead of Suggestion at 6th level, spend 1 bardic music for fast movement. Thats my two minute brainstorm.
Qube 02-27-08, 04:41 AM	Meh, I like it. Yust don't him greater rage, and he won't overshadow the barbairan (who has much more hp, and better BAB) since he must keep singing, he won't be able to use other spells; and the -2 AC can really hurt him if he goes into mellee too much. so its in no way overpowering
Someone 02-27-08, 01:07 PM	Nothing in the descriptions of a barbarian's rage or bardic music exclude the other, so a bard/barbarian multiclass is perfectly valid. And I thought there was a prestige class that fused bard and barbarian. Otherwise, make one up.
Coveredinbeeees 02-27-08, 01:14 PM	Hullo All, Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to stick with just a feat rather than a prestige class or variant. Given that his lower HP, BAB already stop him from outshining a regular barbarian I think I will go with the equal progression suggested by Claran. So this Bard would spend: 1 for the first rage 3 more for the second 4 for each additional use. I also like the idea of spending 1 use of bardic music for +10' move speed while singing. I'll call that "song of the swift" and ask him to give up fascinate, inspire courage or countersong to make use of it. My one concern is how all of this will be effected if he takes the extra music feat from complete adventurer to gain 4 more uses of bardic music per day. To allay that concern I might impose a maximum number of rages per day by level. Thanks for the advice so far. Any more is always welcome.
Coveredinbeeees 02-27-08, 03:01 PM	Here is the final version I decided to go with. Yodelling Rage. Prerequisites: Bardic Music and 3 ranks Perform (Yodel). Benefit: At the expense of a number of uses of Bardic Music your character can take a swift action to enter a Yodelling Rage identical in its effects, duration and consequences to that of a Barbarian. The character must continue to Yodel throughout the rage or the rage will cease. The first use of Yodelling Rage each day costs 1 use of Bardic Music The second costs 3 uses of Bardic Music. All subsequent Yodelling Rages cost 4 uses of Bardic Music each. A level 1 character may not enter a Yodelling Rage more than once per day, even if he has enough uses of Bardic Music remaining to do so. This limit increases to twice per day at level 4, an by one every 4 levels thereafter. Special: A bard with the Yodelling Rage feat may choose to replace either Countersong, or Fascinate with Song of Swiftness. Song of Swiftness: At the expense of 1 use of Bardic Music your character can increase his Base speed by 10' through Yodelling. This increase in speed will apply only for so long as he continues to Yodel. He may initiate this ability as a swift action even while yodelling for another purpose by simply increasing the cadence of his yodel. He may initiate this feat while in a Yodelling Rage. He cannot make use of this ability while wearing heavy armour or carrying a medium or heavy load. The benefit of this ability does not stack with the increased speed of the barbarian or the monk.
Istaran 02-28-08, 04:23 PM	My one concern is how all of this will be effected if he takes the extra music feat from complete adventurer to gain 4 more uses of bardic music per day. To allay that concern I might impose a maximum number of rages per day by level. He will get one more rage per day. The barbarian can take Extra Rage to get two more rages per day. That about balances out (since the extra music could be used for other things instead, so it's more versatile). You don't really need to cap the uses to balance it.