My mind just exploded from the awesome. [Archive] - Wizards Community

My mind just exploded from the awesome. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FeceMan
07-27-06, 02:56 PM As many of you know, I'm a fan of low-magic worlds. Or, at least worlds without magic marts. Now, I was trying to figure out how I would implement this into the game world I'm designing. Frustrated with trying to figure out how to implement the generic classes while limited their spellcasting power and add various class abilities to the game without causing a mental hernia, I saw the bard variants in the SRD.

I've always loved the bard class. It's one of my favorites, despite its overall "underpoweredness" compared to other classes. I read through the bardic sage, and I remembered that, at one time, my friend had suggested eliminating the wizard/sorcerer classes and maybe making bards the only casters, since magic was so rare. I didn't like this so much, as bards didn't feel like a "caster" class to me.

Then my mind exploded.

The bardic sage is AWESOME. I love that class so very, very much. Reading over the changes, I realized that it was perfect for the world I was creating. It had potent magic, but its magic wasn't flashy.

I fell over and saw the divine bard. SWEET.

Then the savage bard. SWEET.

It's like a mage, cleric, and druid all in one awesome package.

So, in my growing excitement, I was like 'teh'. However, in order to make these classes more caster-like, I was considering instituting the following changes.

1. All bards can cast an additional spell per day per spell level (that is, it gets +1 spells/day on their charts).

2. Savage bards aren't illiterate. That is a stupid thing.

3. The divine bard gains the ability to turn undead as a cleric of his class level at third level. The bardic sage gains the Obtain Familiar feat at third level as a bonus feat as long as he meets the prerequisites. The savage bard gains wild empathy as a druid at third level.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK BECAUSE BARDS ARE AWESOME.
And now I can't decide whether or not I want to implement the generic class system or use the bards. Because they are just so awesome that they make zombie ninja pirates who ride dinosaurs look like lame.
SilvercatMoonpaw
07-27-06, 04:51 PM The bardic sage is AWESOME. I love that class so very, very much. Reading over the changes, I realized that it was perfect for the world I was creating. It had potent magic, but its magic wasn't flashy.
Exactly what I'm doing with my world, only I generally take out bardic music and replace it with something else. I like magic because it can do things that should augment rather than replace skills. If you want to tone down some of the magic you could require that certain spells like diguise self still require a skill check to use successfully (and that they don't grant a bonus).
2. Savage bards aren't illiterate. That is a stupid thing.
Illiteracy should usually be a flavor thing. However, if you want to compensate someone who deliberately chooses to be illiterate you can give them a +1 bonus on any skill except Decipher Script or Forgery. You should always make sure to have a flavor variant on hand.
3. The divine bard gains the ability to turn undead as a cleric of his class level at third level. The bardic sage gains the Obtain Familiar feat at third level as a bonus feat as long as he meets the prerequisites.
So long as you think that's balanced. I would hesistate, unelss you consider the lack of felxibility in the bard compared to other generics as compensation. I would suggest you look at the bard variant listed in the really short variants section.
And now I can't decide whether or not I want to implement the generic class system or use the bards. Because they are just so awesome that they make zombie ninja pirates who ride dinosaurs look like ****.
Well, if you have what you want in the way of casters than maybe you don't need generics anymore. I would ask why you wanted them in the first place then? The generics fulfill a certain desire for customization, and they leave the DM and players with fewer things to remember.
FeceMan
07-27-06, 09:51 PM I agree, I don't really need the generics, though I really liked the customizability offered. However, I'm not super worried about the balance, as there aren't any casters aside from the bards themselves. I'm honestly considering giving the bardic sage a wizard bonus feat at tenth and twentieth level. I'm also considering allowing the d20 modern feat that gives one extra spell per day per spell level.
FeceMan
07-31-06, 03:23 PM Aw, come on, someone else's mind must have exploded from the awesome.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaardic saaaaaage!
SilvercatMoonpaw
08-01-06, 08:01 AM Aw, come on, someone else's mind must have exploded from the awesome.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaardic saaaaaage!
Sorry, I had my awsome moment when I realized that I could cut out flashy magic to bring casters in line with other classes.
BrianD
08-02-06, 04:39 PM Good idea. Check my signature for my take on the bard-as-primary-caster idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FeceMan 07-27-06, 02:56 PM	As many of you know, I'm a fan of low-magic worlds. Or, at least worlds without magic marts. Now, I was trying to figure out how I would implement this into the game world I'm designing. Frustrated with trying to figure out how to implement the generic classes while limited their spellcasting power and add various class abilities to the game without causing a mental hernia, I saw the bard variants in the SRD. I've always loved the bard class. It's one of my favorites, despite its overall "underpoweredness" compared to other classes. I read through the bardic sage, and I remembered that, at one time, my friend had suggested eliminating the wizard/sorcerer classes and maybe making bards the only casters, since magic was so rare. I didn't like this so much, as bards didn't feel like a "caster" class to me. Then my mind exploded. The bardic sage is AWESOME. I love that class so very, very much. Reading over the changes, I realized that it was perfect for the world I was creating. It had potent magic, but its magic wasn't flashy. I fell over and saw the divine bard. SWEET. Then the savage bard. SWEET. It's like a mage, cleric, and druid all in one awesome package. So, in my growing excitement, I was like 'teh'. However, in order to make these classes more caster-like, I was considering instituting the following changes. 1. All bards can cast an additional spell per day per spell level (that is, it gets +1 spells/day on their charts). 2. Savage bards aren't illiterate. That is a stupid thing. 3. The divine bard gains the ability to turn undead as a cleric of his class level at third level. The bardic sage gains the Obtain Familiar feat at third level as a bonus feat as long as he meets the prerequisites. The savage bard gains wild empathy as a druid at third level. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK BECAUSE BARDS ARE AWESOME. And now I can't decide whether or not I want to implement the generic class system or use the bards. Because they are just so awesome that they make zombie ninja pirates who ride dinosaurs look like lame.
SilvercatMoonpaw 07-27-06, 04:51 PM	The bardic sage is AWESOME. I love that class so very, very much. Reading over the changes, I realized that it was perfect for the world I was creating. It had potent magic, but its magic wasn't flashy. Exactly what I'm doing with my world, only I generally take out bardic music and replace it with something else. I like magic because it can do things that should augment rather than replace skills. If you want to tone down some of the magic you could require that certain spells like diguise self still require a skill check to use successfully (and that they don't grant a bonus). 2. Savage bards aren't illiterate. That is a stupid thing. Illiteracy should usually be a flavor thing. However, if you want to compensate someone who deliberately chooses to be illiterate you can give them a +1 bonus on any skill except Decipher Script or Forgery. You should always make sure to have a flavor variant on hand. 3. The divine bard gains the ability to turn undead as a cleric of his class level at third level. The bardic sage gains the Obtain Familiar feat at third level as a bonus feat as long as he meets the prerequisites. So long as you think that's balanced. I would hesistate, unelss you consider the lack of felxibility in the bard compared to other generics as compensation. I would suggest you look at the bard variant listed in the really short variants section. And now I can't decide whether or not I want to implement the generic class system or use the bards. Because they are just so awesome that they make zombie ninja pirates who ride dinosaurs look like ****. Well, if you have what you want in the way of casters than maybe you don't need generics anymore. I would ask why you wanted them in the first place then? The generics fulfill a certain desire for customization, and they leave the DM and players with fewer things to remember.
FeceMan 07-27-06, 09:51 PM	I agree, I don't really need the generics, though I really liked the customizability offered. However, I'm not super worried about the balance, as there aren't any casters aside from the bards themselves. I'm honestly considering giving the bardic sage a wizard bonus feat at tenth and twentieth level. I'm also considering allowing the d20 modern feat that gives one extra spell per day per spell level.
FeceMan 07-31-06, 03:23 PM	Aw, come on, someone else's mind must have exploded from the awesome. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaardic saaaaaage!
SilvercatMoonpaw 08-01-06, 08:01 AM	Aw, come on, someone else's mind must have exploded from the awesome. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaardic saaaaaage! Sorry, I had my awsome moment when I realized that I could cut out flashy magic to bring casters in line with other classes.
BrianD 08-02-06, 04:39 PM	Good idea. Check my signature for my take on the bard-as-primary-caster idea.