houserules for the prestige bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

houserules for the prestige bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GreyLord
05-14-04, 02:02 AM Hmm, I'm thinking of doing a houserule for the bardic class. With a character needing a +8 in perform, it seems that this is a little steep...especially if they also need to be able to cast spells from 3 different schools...AND all the rest of the requirements. The book claims to be made for a character of 5th level going on 6th (hence 15 levels of the prestige class) but anyway I look at it, I can't really fulfill all the requirements AND find a way for the PC's to meet that requirement (actually it was brought up by one of the players and THEY did the research, not I...but I digress).

Hence I am thinking of dropping the Perform requirement, or houseruling it so that they can obtain the Perform skill ranks easier.

Any ideas on how to do this, anyone else observed this?
Nifft
05-14-04, 02:54 AM House Rule: Grant every PC one Knowlege, Craft, Profession or Perform that is always a class skill.

It's not unbalancing, it adds a tiny hint of individuality to each PC, and it fixes this silly Perform bug while still imposing an opportunity cost on the Bard PrC.

-- N
Salla
05-14-04, 11:32 AM You can hit 8 ranks in Perform at 5th level, so long as it's been a class skill for one of your classes, without even having to spend extra. Let's say that you're planning to go Rogue 4/Wizard 1 for entry into Prestige Bard.

Start with Rogue 1, then Wiz 1, then take Rogue 2-3-4. Use 8 of your 4th level of Rogue skill points to get 8 ranks in Perform. Quick, easy, leaves no waxy yellow buildup.

Being able to cast spells of 3 schools is easy. Cantrips count, and a 1st level wizard has all cantrips in his spellbook. Prerequisite: Complete.
GreyLord
05-14-04, 01:09 PM Originally posted by Salla
You can hit 8 ranks in Perform at 5th level, so long as it's been a class skill for one of your classes, without even having to spend extra. Let's say that you're planning to go Rogue 4/Wizard 1 for entry into Prestige Bard.

Start with Rogue 1, then Wiz 1, then take Rogue 2-3-4. Use 8 of your 4th level of Rogue skill points to get 8 ranks in Perform. Quick, easy, leaves no waxy yellow buildup.

Being able to cast spells of 3 schools is easy. Cantrips count, and a 1st level wizard has all cantrips in his spellbook. Prerequisite: Complete.

That's what I was thinking of doing before one of my other players stated that I was doing it wrong.

The opinion of the majority of the power munchkin freaks (hope none of my players are reading this or at least figure out I said it...I suspect one of them was jealous or wanting to seem really smart as they didn't really like the prestige class idea for certain classes in the UA in the first place, I think they wanted to be a Ranger, but due to the prestige class trial of this campaign we're running, they couldn't be at first, and still haven't filled all the reqs) stated that though you could get perform with Rogue, you could only add points to the skill as a wizard or sorcerer or such if you had it as a class skill, otherwise, if it were a cross class skill, the max you could add would be equal to whatever it was as a cross class.

Hence If one were a Rogue 5 they could get 8 ranks, but if you were a Rogue4, Wizard 1, the max amount would be 7. I was of a different mind, but I agreed thinking for the other player that is going for the prestige Bard that they could have some houserule or something.

So which is the correct clarification of the rules? If I kept it the way suggested above, then it would make more sense, but the players seemed to make sense when they mentioned how they believed the skills system to work (or at least one of them did).

I suppose I could houserule on the skills system, but I want to keep as close to the actual rules as I can, so if it's breaking the rules, I'd rather change one thing in the Bard Prestige class reqs, then do a major houserule on skills.

However, who would be right in the skills interpretation of how they work, I, or the player in this instance?
Nifft
05-14-04, 01:23 PM SRD, Skill Summary, last sentence:

Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3.

So, you're right, they're wrong. Yay! :)

-- N
headlessfriar
05-14-04, 01:24 PM Edit: Damn, Nifft beat me to it.
GreyLord
05-14-04, 01:40 PM Originally posted by Nifft
SRD, Skill Summary, last sentence:

So, you're right, they're wrong. Yay! :)

-- N

Ah, good, that resolves that problem...

Hah, that one little smarta...well you get the idea, of a player is in for a surprise tonight!

Thanks!

That solves a lot of headache right there.
Salla
05-15-04, 11:15 AM What they said. ;)

Actually, to correct myself ...

I said cantrips count, but the requirements do say 'three 1st level spells'. However, since a 1st level wizard gets 3+INT Mod spells in his spellbook at 1st level, grabbing one of each required school is still cake (presuming you go wizard ... if you want to go sorcerer to get there to maintain spontaneous casting, that's another kettle of fish).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GreyLord 05-14-04, 02:02 AM	Hmm, I'm thinking of doing a houserule for the bardic class. With a character needing a +8 in perform, it seems that this is a little steep...especially if they also need to be able to cast spells from 3 different schools...AND all the rest of the requirements. The book claims to be made for a character of 5th level going on 6th (hence 15 levels of the prestige class) but anyway I look at it, I can't really fulfill all the requirements AND find a way for the PC's to meet that requirement (actually it was brought up by one of the players and THEY did the research, not I...but I digress). Hence I am thinking of dropping the Perform requirement, or houseruling it so that they can obtain the Perform skill ranks easier. Any ideas on how to do this, anyone else observed this?
Nifft 05-14-04, 02:54 AM	House Rule: Grant every PC one Knowlege, Craft, Profession or Perform that is always a class skill. It's not unbalancing, it adds a tiny hint of individuality to each PC, and it fixes this silly Perform bug while still imposing an opportunity cost on the Bard PrC. -- N
Salla 05-14-04, 11:32 AM	You can hit 8 ranks in Perform at 5th level, so long as it's been a class skill for one of your classes, without even having to spend extra. Let's say that you're planning to go Rogue 4/Wizard 1 for entry into Prestige Bard. Start with Rogue 1, then Wiz 1, then take Rogue 2-3-4. Use 8 of your 4th level of Rogue skill points to get 8 ranks in Perform. Quick, easy, leaves no waxy yellow buildup. Being able to cast spells of 3 schools is easy. Cantrips count, and a 1st level wizard has all cantrips in his spellbook. Prerequisite: Complete.
GreyLord 05-14-04, 01:09 PM	Originally posted by Salla You can hit 8 ranks in Perform at 5th level, so long as it's been a class skill for one of your classes, without even having to spend extra. Let's say that you're planning to go Rogue 4/Wizard 1 for entry into Prestige Bard. Start with Rogue 1, then Wiz 1, then take Rogue 2-3-4. Use 8 of your 4th level of Rogue skill points to get 8 ranks in Perform. Quick, easy, leaves no waxy yellow buildup. Being able to cast spells of 3 schools is easy. Cantrips count, and a 1st level wizard has all cantrips in his spellbook. Prerequisite: Complete. That's what I was thinking of doing before one of my other players stated that I was doing it wrong. The opinion of the majority of the power munchkin freaks (hope none of my players are reading this or at least figure out I said it...I suspect one of them was jealous or wanting to seem really smart as they didn't really like the prestige class idea for certain classes in the UA in the first place, I think they wanted to be a Ranger, but due to the prestige class trial of this campaign we're running, they couldn't be at first, and still haven't filled all the reqs) stated that though you could get perform with Rogue, you could only add points to the skill as a wizard or sorcerer or such if you had it as a class skill, otherwise, if it were a cross class skill, the max you could add would be equal to whatever it was as a cross class. Hence If one were a Rogue 5 they could get 8 ranks, but if you were a Rogue4, Wizard 1, the max amount would be 7. I was of a different mind, but I agreed thinking for the other player that is going for the prestige Bard that they could have some houserule or something. So which is the correct clarification of the rules? If I kept it the way suggested above, then it would make more sense, but the players seemed to make sense when they mentioned how they believed the skills system to work (or at least one of them did). I suppose I could houserule on the skills system, but I want to keep as close to the actual rules as I can, so if it's breaking the rules, I'd rather change one thing in the Bard Prestige class reqs, then do a major houserule on skills. However, who would be right in the skills interpretation of how they work, I, or the player in this instance?
Nifft 05-14-04, 01:23 PM	SRD, Skill Summary, last sentence: Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3. So, you're right, they're wrong. Yay! :) -- N
headlessfriar 05-14-04, 01:24 PM	Edit: Damn, Nifft beat me to it.
GreyLord 05-14-04, 01:40 PM	Originally posted by Nifft SRD, Skill Summary, last sentence: So, you're right, they're wrong. Yay! :) -- N Ah, good, that resolves that problem... Hah, that one little smarta...well you get the idea, of a player is in for a surprise tonight! Thanks! That solves a lot of headache right there.
Salla 05-15-04, 11:15 AM	What they said. ;) Actually, to correct myself ... I said cantrips count, but the requirements do say 'three 1st level spells'. However, since a 1st level wizard gets 3+INT Mod spells in his spellbook at 1st level, grabbing one of each required school is still cake (presuming you go wizard ... if you want to go sorcerer to get there to maintain spontaneous casting, that's another kettle of fish).