Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 seker Jul 16, 2006 23:46:38	I have been thinking about the nature of arcane magic in dark sun throughout the ages. And I had some ideas and wanted to get peoples reactions to them and what they think. First off the concept of arcane spellcasting bards. Now while they do not fit at all in the current ages of Athas, what about back during the Green Age. After all the bards of that age would more likely be more similar to the normal bards of D&D than the recent ages assassins in bards clothing. The thing I am wondering is would they be more like the core class bard of the PhB or would they be more likely be a PrC, like the one in the Unearthed Arcana. Personally I lean more towards the Unearthed Arcana version, as while arcane magic was more common in the Green Age, it still fits more with the feel of Athas to have it be a more difficult path to start as a arcane casting bard. (ie like how bards were in the first version of AD&D) Now while normally this would not have much effect on current era of play, if there were arcane casting bards in the past.... would not there be a chance of ones who attained immortality... or even began to transform into dragons? If so the most likely paths would be something like this depending on if you were using the core class bard or the PrC version. Core: (green age)bard 7/psion 3/sublime chord 1/cerebramancer 10 (level 21. An even scarier idea is to trade in 4 levels of bard for 4 levels of blood magus.) PrC: wizard 3/psion 3/(green age)bard 6/cerebramancer 10 (level 22.) If using sorcerer for the base class instead of wizard, add one level to bard to make it the following: sorcerer 4/psion 3/(green age)bard 6/cerebramancer 10 (level 23.) a more combat oriented bard would be: bard 7/psychic warrior 6/sublime chord 1/cerebramancer 10 (level 24.) PrC wizard 1/pyschic warrior 6/(green age)bard 9/cerebramancer 10 (level 26.) If using sorcerer for the base class instead of wizard, add one level to bard to make it the following: sorcerer 1/psychic warrior 6/(green age)bard 10/cerebramancer 10 (level 27) but I want to hear others opinions on this. Let me know what you think on the idea of green age arcane bards, and if so should they be core class or PrC Secondly, I have really been looking at the differences between preservers and defilers lately. Mainly this is due to the fact I have been working so much on my own version of the dragons and avangions and the bureau version of the Avangions, and I have come to this conclusion. What we have in the bureau just does not give us the same feel of the actual differences from the original setting. The actual preserving/defiling casting system works pretty well as a simplified version of it to keep the play of the game going along... but the class itself just does not keep the same feel. I have a simple solution and I would like peoples opinions on it. Preservers: Keep them as the standard wizard class with no changes, save the raze feats are no longer added to their bonus feat list. They can choose to cast using preserving or defiling per the rules in the Athas.org document. Defilers: Use the sorcerer class from the PhB with the following exceptions: They add disguise to their skill list, and they gain the defiler preparation feat at 1st level, and they keep a spellbook which contains all their spells known. The only requirements that you need at this point is the rules for converting a preserver to a defiler and vice versa. (the normal use f defiling turing you into a defiler and the druid spell returning you to a preserver is as per the Athas.org document) This is actually easy to do. Here is a simple set of rules for it: converting defiler/preserver: Hit points,familiar, saving throws, skills, and weapon proficiencies are unchanged. If changing into defiler, lose access to bonus wizard feats, wizard spellcasting progression, and choose an appropriate number of known spells from the wizard spellbook. Gain access to all simple weapons proficiencies. Note new spell progression and bonus spells as determined by Charisma. If changing to preserver, select bonus feats as per preserver level. Note changes in spell progression and bonus spells as determined by Intelligence. The Following feats should also be added: Defiler Preparation (modified) Allows you to prepare spells as a wizard. When you do so, you need not take any extra time to apply metamagic feats upon casting that spell. Prerequisites: ability to cast arcane spells without preparation Benefit: Each day, you can use one or more of your spell slots to prepare spells from your spells known as a wizard does. (These spells must also be ones from your spellbook) Therafter, you can cast that spell as a standard action even if you apply a metamagic feat to a spell as you cast it. Preparing a spell uses a slot of the appropriate level, as well as requiring you to study it from a spellbook as per a wizard. Once a spell is prepared, you can't use that spell slot for anything else until you cast the prepared spell. This feat does not allow you to prepare spells which are not on your known list. Defiler Researcher Allows you to prepare, study, and research spells as a wizard. Prerequisites: spellcraft 4 ranks, defiler preparation, ability to cast arcane spells without preparation Benefit: Each day, you can use one or more of your spell slots to prepare spells from a spellbook as a wizard does. Therafter, you can cast that spell as a standard action even if you apply a metamagic feat to a spell as you cast it. Preparing a spell uses a slot of the appropriate level, as well as requiring you to study it from a spellbook as per a wizard. Once a spell is prepared, you can't use that spell slot for anything else until you cast the prepared spell. This feat does allow you to prepare spells which are not on your known list. (And possibly spells that are not even available to your class spell list, but are on the wizard spell list.)
#2 Sysane Jul 17, 2006 7:49:10	I'd have to say if green age bards had any arcane spellcasting ability it would have been no doubt thru a PrC. That said PrC wouldn't have granted them spontaneous casting IMO due to the nature of magic on Athas. The PrC would have focused on the contuined advancement of the bard's base bardic abilities (i.e. bard song, etc) but intermingling it with the ability to cast spells. It would have needed to be this way, otherwise why would the bard bother with a PrC when they could have just took straight-up class levels in wizard?
#3 seker Jul 17, 2006 22:48:48	I'd have to say if green age bards had any arcane spellcasting ability it would have been no doubt thru a PrC. That said PrC wouldn't have granted them spontaneous casting IMO due to the nature of magic on Athas. The PrC would have focused on the contuined advancement of the bard's base bardic abilities (i.e. bard song, etc) but intermingling it with the ability to cast spells. It would have needed to be this way, otherwise why would the bard bother with a PrC when they could have just took straight-up class levels in wizard? I personally agree on having green age bards being a PrC, I personally love the original version of bards from AD&D (1st edition) where you had to multiclass several times to even get into the class. And the unearthed arcana version of the bard grants +1 level in arcane caster class, like other PrC. It did not grant spontaneous casting. (and it is not a full progression, there are several levels without advancement in the 15 level PrC.) I also agree that it should grant/continue bard abilities... the only thing I am wondering is which abilities should it grant? The Athasian Bard abilities from athas.org (which are really more in line with the desert/desolate/dangerous world that happened after the SK took over) or should it be the abilities of the normal bards from D&D (which might represent a more green age take on bards)... or possibly something entirely different (such as increases in arcane casting and psionics if the character has it.... as bards were jacks of all trades) In the last case the ratio would obviously not be a full progression in either arcane or psionics.... most likely something like a 3/4 progression.... and the question becomes would they have requirements for both psionics and magic or would it be just that they advance if they happen to have it. On the nature of magic what did you think of my options on defilers and preservers.... note defilers, although they use the rules from the sorcerer class, do NOT have innate magic.... they just have a few spells which they have mastered.... they are still draining the energy from plant life to cast spells.... there is no free ride for any caster.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 18, 2006 8:51:01	i think the preperation/ sorcerer idea is pretty schweet...I believe i read on the boards while i was cruising around that many people thought the sorcerer class was almost useless besides at the beginning levels and to get out of it almost immediately into a full progression prc. But to solve this, i don't recall the build of the sorcerer, but they gave it the warlocks eldritch blast as a class feature. i don't remember what else they did, but they basically combined the 2 classes to make it more attractive to a player. U could make the blast drain from the land...5' radius for every dice that is used? this is just an idea, and i'm sure that you all have a better idea then me about flavor, but if the sorcerer was desperate enough, he could always draw off of the energy of the world around him when he ran out of his own (instead of increasing his own power). I will look around the boards for it.
#5 Sysane Jul 18, 2006 9:11:03	The only problem I see with splitting preservers into wizards and defilers into sorcorers is capturing the flavor of a preserver falling or tempted to the ways of a defiler.
#6 seker Jul 18, 2006 20:51:44	The only problem I see with splitting preservers into wizards and defilers into sorcorers is capturing the flavor of a preserver falling or tempted to the ways of a defiler. Actually that is pretty easy, by what I had above we were keeping the defiling mechanic from athas.org.... that allows them to get more bang for their buck so to speak when casting defiling. And a preserver is tainted and becomes a defiler in the exact same way as now.... that is why I included the conversion notes on how they change from one class to the other, mechanic wise. Plus the option to freely cast your known spells and to use metamagic without having to memorize it first is a very significant advantage. Add to this the fact that you can cast more spells per day.... and the defiler/sorcerer becomes a very very tempting thing to gain power quickly. Oh and the spells per day of a sorcerer/defiler represents the maximum amount of energy your body can handle draining from the suroundings.... NOT your personal spell energy. So spells per day for preservers represents the number of spells they can keep the formula in their minds at a given time.... and then they drain life energy as needed for the spells. The spells known of a defiler represents the number of formula that they can use to cast spells..... for them the spells per day represents the max amount of energy they can channel in a day from their defiling. This gives defilers a faster path to power as they have more lower level spells known than a wizard has spells per day overall.... but the higher level spells are more in the provence of the preservers.... which balances them nicely.... and gives a feel that taking shortcuts may hurt you in the long run but gives significant advantages up front. I think I am going to work up a Green Age bard PrC.... any recommendations on a name for it? And I am going to make it closer to the normal bard instead of the dark sun one, as it represents the prior age version, though some things will be the same I think. Also I am going to add limited advancement in both arcane casting and psionics.... there will be a requirement for one or the other in the requirements, butas the character is a jack of all trades, if they have taken both manifesting and arcane casting classers, then they will get advancement in both.... though not on the level of the cerebremancer.
#7 terminus_vortexa Jul 19, 2006 11:52:42	I think your defiler sorcerer idea is excellent. It makes the term Sorceror Kings will actually fit.
#8 kelsen Jul 19, 2006 17:56:09	Agreed with Terminus Vortexa. Excellent idea, indeed. Taking a ride in seker's idea, I would suggest to do the following: Sorcerer may learn spells from spellbooks freely, without being limited by a maximum number of spells know. The list of spells known already existant, show instead the maximum number of spells a sorcerer (defiler) can master, and cast in any combination during the day (limited only by their maximum number of spells per day). Example: Can cast five first level spells per day. Choose magic missile, shield, charm person, alter self, and cast then in any combination during the day. If the defiler wants to change his list of mastered spells for the next day, he may study his spell book again, and select a new combination of mastered spells. So, the defiler still someway limited by a "number of spells previously selected wich he can use during the day in any combination among his spells slots," rather than a maximum number of spells know, wich doesn´t fit to sorcerer-kings. What do you think?
#9 seker Jul 19, 2006 21:26:51	Agreed with Terminus Vortexa. Excellent idea, indeed. Taking a ride in seker's idea, I would suggest to do the following: Sorcerer may learn spells from spellbooks freely, without being limited by a maximum number of spells know. The list of spells known already existant, show instead the maximum number of spells a sorcerer (defiler) can master, and cast in any combination during the day (limited only by their maximum number of spells per day). Example: Can cast five first level spells per day. Choose magic missile, shield, charm person, alter self, and cast then in any combination during the day. If the defiler wants to change his list of mastered spells for the next day, he may study his spell book again, and select a new combination of mastered spells. So, the defiler still someway limited by a "number of spells previously selected wich he can use during the day in any combination among his spells slots," rather than a maximum number of spells know, wich doesn´t fit to sorcerer-kings. What do you think? Hate to say it but your suggestion would trash the play balance between sorcerer and wizard pretty heavily. What you are suggesting is similiar to monte cooks arcana unearthed system. (which I really like personally... but if used with the standard wizard class it makes the standard wizard class useless. A better option would be to modify the defiler preparation feat I made, to allow the sorcerer to switch out known spells for other spells in their spellbook.... but make there be an exp cost each time they do... something like 50xp/spell level of the spell swapped .... or 100xp/spell level of the spell swapped. This would give a disadvantage at low level that balances the new advantage.... but at the same time at higher level (ie sorcerer kings) the cost is fairly negligible, so would still work will on the balancing of the lack of feats that a sorcerer has vs a wizard..... as the spells per day are not that different for a wizard or sorcerer at 20+ level.)
#10 kelsen Jul 20, 2006 7:16:37	Seker, I agree with you.
#11 seker Jul 21, 2006 22:00:49	I could really use some help on what people would think we should have in a green age bard prc. On what abilities of the current (brown age) bards we think they should have and if I should add any other weapons to their proficiency list.
#12 lurking_shadow Jul 22, 2006 20:43:50	On what abilities of the current (brown age) bards we think they should have and if I should add any other weapons to their proficiency list. The PHB Bard is described as a wandering artist that lives on the gratitude of his audience, and which may opportunely act as a diplomat, messenger, scout or spy. From the official timeline: "125th King's Age (-5,005) -Guthay's Reverence After three eons of study, Rajaat emerges from the Pristine Tower to teach magic to the Rebirth races. He teaches preserving magic openly, and defiling magic in secret to those of "questionable" character. For the next 1,500 years Rajaat studies how magic interacts with the Rebirth races, and decides that humans have the most potential of all to suit his needs. 134th King's Age (-4,312) -King's Agitation Rajaat begins a jihad against the preservers of Athas for the next thousand years. Preservers across the land go into hiding while fighting a losing battle against the followers of Rajaat." I feel that magic wasn’t really commonplace even in the late Green Age (the Time of Magic), and that few arcane spelcasters of that age were dabblers. Furthermore, I'm not sure how tolkienesque the Athasian Green Age really was, so an exact PHB Bard may have been out of place. However, 1500 years is more than enough time for magic to become somewhat enmeshed with society, and for different kinds of specialized arcane spellcasters to evolve; between the onset of the Time of Magic and the start of the preserver jihad, there certainly could have been a musically apt roguish spellcaster type that bore fair resemblance to the bards of regular D&D. For such a Bard, my suggestion would be a PrC that is very similar to the PHB version in terms of stats, but with different spellcasting mechanics. The PHB Bard’s magic comes through music and poetry, which are inherently magical, in regular D&D. That doesn’t really fit the style of Athasian wizardry; the PrC’s spellcasting must be preserver magic. The spell list should be the Wizard’s, and the spell progression should an alternated Wizard's progression (i.e., +1 level of arcane spellcasting every odd level, or something similar). The PrC could have a special feature of some sort that makes magic more “musical”, but I’m not sure what that would be. For the 1000 years of the preserver jihad, however, there should be another Bard Prc. This one must be closer to the ds3 core Bard, as preserver spellcasters are fighting a losing war, and going into hiding – an assassin-type Bard works better for this period.
#13 seker Jul 23, 2006 20:43:02	The PHB Bard is described as a wandering artist that lives on the gratitude of his audience, and which may opportunely act as a diplomat, messenger, scout or spy. From the official timeline: "125th King's Age (-5,005) -Guthay's Reverence After three eons of study, Rajaat emerges from the Pristine Tower to teach magic to the Rebirth races. He teaches preserving magic openly, and defiling magic in secret to those of "questionable" character. For the next 1,500 years Rajaat studies how magic interacts with the Rebirth races, and decides that humans have the most potential of all to suit his needs. 134th King's Age (-4,312) -King's Agitation Rajaat begins a jihad against the preservers of Athas for the next thousand years. Preservers across the land go into hiding while fighting a losing battle against the followers of Rajaat." I feel that magic wasn’t really commonplace even in the late Green Age (the Time of Magic), and that few arcane spelcasters of that age were dabblers. Furthermore, I'm not sure how tolkienesque the Athasian Green Age really was, so an exact PHB Bard may have been out of place. However, 1500 years is more than enough time for magic to become somewhat enmeshed with society, and for different kinds of specialized arcane spellcasters to evolve; between the onset of the Time of Magic and the start of the preserver jihad, there certainly could have been a musically apt roguish spellcaster type that bore fair resemblance to the bards of regular D&D. Agree, I was not thinking of adding the PHB bard exactly I was thinking more of a PrC for those wizards (both preserver and defiler) of a roguish bent, that more interested in the power of music in magic. And in the Prism Pentad they mentioned some of the elemental type magic users using musically basid for their magic, ie windsingers, so it is possible that an arcane path using magic is possible. After all there are some spells that really lend themselves to a sung/spoken magic. For such a Bard, my suggestion would be a PrC that is very similar to the PHB version in terms of stats, but with different spellcasting mechanics. The PHB Bard’s magic comes through music and poetry, which are inherently magical, in regular D&D. That doesn’t really fit the style of Athasian wizardry; the PrC’s spellcasting must be preserver magic. The spell list should be the Wizard’s, and the spell progression should an alternated Wizard's progression (i.e., +1 level of arcane spellcasting every odd level, or something similar). The PrC could have a special feature of some sort that makes magic more “musical”, but I’m not sure what that would be. I am actually thinking more along the lines of the PrC just requiring the ability to cast arcane magic (and psionics as well actually, as they are jacks of all trades and psionics is a major part of darksun, moreso at that time period than arcane magic) not specifying if it was preserver or defiler. And I was looking at the arcane casting level increase (as well as the psionic) being every 3/4 level. Which makes it similiar to the cerebramancer, but not giving as fast as a progression and the cycles not being the same on arcane and psionic... I am still working up the rules on it. And not sure if I need to lower the rate or not.... will have to see when I make it. I was thinking something like this for the requirements: Alignment: any nonlawful Base Attack Bonus: +3 Skills: Knowledge (any three) 4 ranks, Perform (any one) 8 ranks Spellcasting: Able to cast at least one 1st level arcane spell from each of the abjuration, illusion, and enchantment schools Manifesting: Must be able to manifest 1st level powers This is similiar to the requirements of the Unearthed Arcana PrC version of the bard. as to abilities, I am thinking something like this: bardic knowledge: as PHB bardic music: as per PHB but increase required ranks in perform by 5 ranks for any bardic music ability. Spellcasting: "+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class" and grants +2 caster level on spells of divination, enchantment, or illusion... but spells of evocation and necromancy are cast at -2 caster level. Gains access to the bardic spell list as well as their existing spell list, and all bard spells have verbal components. Manifesting: "+1 level of existing manifesting class" Not sure if I should have this advance at the same rate as arcane magic or not. poison use Trade secrets: as per athas.org bard, but adding the smuggler, speed reactions, and slippery mind to the list. I will look at creating some more ones that focus on the arcane/psionic nature of the PrC For the 1000 years of the preserver jihad, however, there should be another Bard Prc. This one must be closer to the ds3 core Bard, as preserver spellcasters are fighting a losing war, and going into hiding – an assassin-type Bard works better for this period. I am thinking that this would be actually easier done as a single PrC for both types, just use something like the trade secrets from the bards from the Dark Sun rules from Athas.org. to represent the perserver and defiler aspects... maybe make some of the trade secrets useful for the wandering jacks of all trades.... and others for the assassins from both sides of the preserver jihad (and later assassins used by defilers in the Cleansing Wars) That would even explain the precursers of the current bards.... and save the current bards no longer use psionics/wizardry in addition to their other skills as much. hmmmm. this would also mean there is a chance that this PrC may still be roaming around.... especially in Ur Draxa prior to Borys' death. (or possibly in the Last Sea area or in Kurn) Not to mention some SK's would have used them as special assassin troops and might still have a few.... they are normally not advanced enough wizards to be a threat to the SK's power... but they would be exellent for hunting down preservers and other threats, and would be as linked to the SK as their other defilers
#14 Sysane Jul 23, 2006 21:18:55	hmmmm. this would also mean there is a chance that this PrC may still be roaming around.... especially in Ur Draxa prior to Borys' death. (or possibly in the Last Sea area or in Kurn) Not to mention some SK's would have used them as special assassin troops and might still have a few.... they are normally not advanced enough wizards to be a threat to the SK's power... but they would be exellent for hunting down preservers and other threats, and would be as linked to the SK as their other defilers There's a very good chance that the PrC would still be around in the area of the Last Sea.
#15 lurking_shadow Jul 23, 2006 23:47:02	And in the Prism Pentad they mentioned some of the elemental type magic users using musically basid for their magic, ie windsingers, so it is possible that an arcane path using magic is possible. Good point, I had forgotten about this. I am thinking that this would be actually easier done as a single PrC for both types, just use something like the trade secrets from the bards from the Dark Sun rules from Athas.org. to represent the perserver and defiler aspects... maybe make some of the trade secrets useful for the wandering jacks of all trades. Makes sense. And the mechanics you presented are OK, as well. PrC just requiring the ability to cast arcane magic (and psionics as well actually, as they are jacks of all trades and psionics is a major part of darksun, moreso at that time period than arcane magic) This bugs me a little, however... A jack-of-all-trades type could reasonably dabble in both magic and psionics, but a PrC that grants bardic capabilities and full progression as a Wizard and Psion (save for loss of some manifester and caster levels) seems awfully specific and powerful, to me, and I believe you are seeking a blanket PrC. Any such blanket PrC should at best include either just full arcane capabilities and a few psionic Trade Secrets, or the reverse, IMHO. Alternatively, you could go for a really specific PrC that includes both full arcane and psionics abilities but which has extreme requirements and isn’t very common. There's a very good chance that the PrC would still be around in the area of the Last Sea. My thoughts as well.
#16 seker Jul 24, 2006 0:56:36	double post
#17 seker Jul 24, 2006 1:03:29	This bugs me a little, however... A jack-of-all-trades type could reasonably dabble in both magic and psionics, but a PrC that grants bardic capabilities and full progression as a Wizard and Psion (save for loss of some manifester and caster levels) seems awfully specific and powerful, to me, and I believe you are seeking a blanket PrC. Any such blanket PrC should at best include either just full arcane capabilities and a few psionic Trade Secrets, or the reverse, IMHO. Alternatively, you could go for a really specific PrC that includes both full arcane and psionics abilities but which has extreme requirements and isn’t very common. Actually I was thinking more along the line of a progression on psionics/magic like this: 1 bardic music, bardic knowledge, poison use 2 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 3 4 trade secret, +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 5 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 6 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 7 8 trade secret, +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 9 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 10 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 11 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 12 trade secret, +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 13 14 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 15 +1 level to existing arcane casting class add in the badice music abilities gained at the following levels 1 countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1 3 inspire competence 5 inspire courage +2 7 inspire greatness 9 song of freedom 10 inspire courage +3 11 inspire heroics 13 mass suggestion 15 inspire courage +4 This is using the arcane advancement from the unearthearthed arcana version, and giving half advancement on psionics.... but the class has higher requirements and adds trade secrets. (though would lose some weapon proficiencies as it would use the athas.org version of bard weapons. So this balances out okay) though I was considering the following instead for magic/psionics: 1 bardic music, bardic knowledge, poison use 2 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 3 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 4 trade secret, +1 level to existing manifesting class 5 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 6 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 7 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 8 trade secret, +1 level to existing manifesting class 9 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 10 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 11 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 12 trade secret, +1 level to existing manifesting class 13 +1 level to existing arcane casting class 14 +1 level to existing arcane casting class/+1 level to existing manifesting class 15 +1 level to existing arcane casting class Which gives it a sequence for advancement even in the epic levels. either method has the character advance 11 levels in spellcasting and 7 levels in manifesting in a 15 level PrC. Which given the requirements the fastest method to the class is wizard 1/psion 1/rogue 4 (or wizard 2/psion 1/rogue 3 or some other like combination) This means your spellcasting and psionic ability are limited by this Prc, even a wizard 2/psion 2/rogue 2 (the best combination in my view) would still mean a max of arcane spellcasting level of 13 and max level in the manifesting class of 9 at level 21
#18 seker Jul 24, 2006 1:17:45	Another option would be to change the psionics requirements a bit: such as Psionics: Must have a power point reserve of at least 1 point this puts the requirement on line with an illithid slayer and would allow for a wizard 2/rogue 3 to take the class if they had the wild talent feat or were of a naturally psionic race.... but like the illithid slayer class they would not actually gain any bonuses to manifester levels unless they actually had levels in a manifester class. Which would really fit even better I think The only thing I keep thinking is the requirements should be a bit tighter, like a feat requirement but I am drawing a blank on a good feat to require for a bard like this, what do you all think? Alignment: any nonlawful Base Attack Bonus: +3 Skills: Knowledge (any three) 4 ranks, Perform (any one) 8 ranks Psionics: Must have a power point reserve of at least 1 point Spellcasting: Able to cast at least one 1st level arcane spell from each of the abjuration, illusion, and enchantment schools