Athasian Bard PrC - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Athasian Bard PrC

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 8:23:14 Enjoy or wretch:

Athasian Bard

Hit Die: d6

Requirements
To qualify to become a bard, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any non good.
Skills: Gather Information 4 ranks, Craft (poison) 8 ranks, Perform 8 ranks.

Class Skills
The bard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Chr), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Psionic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Table: The Athasian Bard

Level BaseAttackBonus FortSave RefSave WillSave Special
1st +0 +0 +2 +0 Sneak attack +1d6, poison artisan, poison use, bardic knowledge
2nd +1 +0 +3 +0 +1 save against poison, uncanny dodge
3rd +2 +1 +3 +1 Sneak attack +2d6
4th +3 +1 +4 +1 +2 save against poison
5th +3 +1 +4 +1 Improved uncanny dodge, sneak attack +3d6
6th +4 +2 +5 +2 +3 save against poison
7th +5 +2 +5 +2 Sneak attack +4d6
8th +6 +2 +6 +2 +4 save against poison, death attack
9th +6 +3 +6 +3 Sneak attack +5d6
10th +7 +3 +7 +3 +5 save against poison

Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the bard prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Bards are proficient with the bard’s friend, crossbow (hand, light, or heavy), dagger (any type), dart, rapier, sap, shortbow (normal and composite), and short sword. Bards are proficient with light armor but not with shields.

Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every other level (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th). If a bard gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack.

Poison Artisan: Bards pay only ¼ of the ordinary price for raw materials needed to craft poisons. This also effects the length of time in which it takes the bard to create poison (see craft skill for details).

Poison Use: Bards are trained in the use of poison and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves when applying poison to a blade.

Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.)
A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard 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.

Poison Artisan:

Save Bonus against Poison: The bards gains a natural saving throw bonus to all poisons gained at 2nd level that increases by +1 for every two additional levels the bard gains.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a bard retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (He still loses any Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.)
If a character gains uncanny dodge from a second class the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below).

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level, a bard can no longer be flanked, since he can react to opponents on opposite sides of him as easily as he can react to a single attacker. This defense denies rogues the ability to use flank attacks to sneak attack the bard. The exception to this defense is that a rogue at least four levels higher than the bard can flank him (and thus sneak attack him).
If a character gains uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge, and the levels from those classes stack to determine the minimum rogue level required to flank the character.

Death Attack: If a bard studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (bard’s choice). While studying the victim, the bard can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the bard or recognize the bard as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the bard’s class level + the bard’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the bard. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the bard has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.
If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the bard does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.
#2
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 8:27:57 Oops. Add the following abaility descriptor:

Poison Artisan: Bards pay only 1/4 normal price for raw materials needed to craft poisons. This also effects the length of time which it takes the bard to create poison (see craft skill for details)
#3
zombiegleemax
Jun 18, 2004 8:33:52 I find the Bardic knowledge being redondant with
most Knowledge skills

I would suggest th
#4
zombiegleemax
Jun 18, 2004 8:38:55 I find the Bardic knowledge is redondant with most Knowledge skills :

I would suggest that being itinerant and gathering lots of info, bards have some kind of Jack of all trade knowledge, thus having for free a bonus on all following knowledge skills :

Local
History
Geography
Politics
Religion

Maybe a bonus equal to one half of his level rounded down.
#5
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 8:58:40 The bardic knowledge ability groups all those skills into one essentially. The bard gets to add his bard level + Int mod and get a +2 bonus if they have 5 ranks in knowledge (history).

This way the bard isn't spending tons of skill points on several seperate knowledge skills.

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#6
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 12:23:36 I personally believe, more than any other setting, the Bard should be a core class for Dark Sun.
#7
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 12:45:13 I think bard is better suited as a PrC. They are nothing like they are in core D&D worlds.

The athas.org version isn't bad, but its more like a trader than a bard. As an assassin/espionage like character they are more akin to the PrC of like name IMHO.

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#8
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 13:17:09
Originally posted by Sysane
I think bard is better suited as a PrC. They are nothing like they are in core D&D worlds.

The athas.org version isn't bad, but its more like a trader than a bard. As an assassin/espionage like character they are more akin to the PrC of like name IMHO.

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik

That's just it - I think the Bard should be a PrC on the other D&D worlds, but a core class on Dark Sun.
#9
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 13:30:48 I admit that they need to be more distinct than they are in other core D&D worlds but a completely rewritten class of it's own may be a bit much.

I feel the same about gladiator as well. I think that would be better represented as a PrC than a core class.

Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#10
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 14:14:19 I can see gladiator as a PrC. but Bard as a core class makes more sense to me for Dark Sun.
#11
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 14:18:53
I can see gladiator as a PrC. but Bard as a core class makes more sense to me for Dark Sun.

Care to elaborate? :D

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#12
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 14:24:39 Well, the Gladiator, to me, is somethng one may pick up later in life - and is less of a core thing, having abilities that are quite specific to crowds and arenas and such, and are relatively useless outside of those environments.

The Bard, however, is more like being a member of an organization that collects and retains secret knowledge across Athas, provding services like poisonmaking and such, but also having access to things the rest of the world has forgotten - like alchemy and tinkercraft, as well as access to lost knowledges in general, and some ability with music and/or oration. They have a very expansive set of abilities as a result, and are not as restricted as the gladiator.
#13
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 14:28:38 that can't be conveyed thru a PrC in the case of the Bard?

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#14
Pennarin
Jun 18, 2004 14:34:04
Originally posted by xlorepdarkhelm
but also having access to things the rest of the world has forgotten - like alchemy and tinkercraft

Are you refering to the concept of tinkercraft (I think it was spelled thinker, though) exposed in the DS novel The Darkness Before the Dawn?
#15
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 14:51:55
Originally posted by Sysane
that can't be conveyed thru a PrC in the case of the Bard?

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik

What I'm saying is - general, non-specific-based classes, which have abilities that can be applied globally, as opposed to special-case abilities (like, for instance the special-case abilities of the gladiator) should be base classes in my mind. special-case classes where their abilities are more restrictive to certian locations or events, or are a superset of some other base class' abilities, should be PrC's. So, the Bard isn't a superset of another class' abilities (with their knowledge access and things making them unique), and aren't special-case abilities (unlike the gladiator), they should be a base class.
#16
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 18, 2004 14:53:27
Originally posted by Pennarin
Are you refering to the concept of tinkercraft (I think it was spelled thinker, though) exposed in the DS novel The Darkness Before the Dawn?

There's a book I haven't read in years....
#17
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 14:58:05 Is that the book that had the main characters see a vision of modern day NY?

-- Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#18
Pennarin
Jun 18, 2004 15:14:56
Originally posted by Sysane
Is that the book that had the main characters see a vision of modern day NY?

Yeah. A modern day-like city, anyway. I really hated the author for doing that to his readers, but have since changed my opinion.
After all, the parallel between our reality and the protagonists is only in our eyes. If an immortal psyche in a crystal world was left to its own affairs long enough, it could come to build a world that seemed like ours. If he'd presented us with medieval skyscrapers, we might have swallowed it better than apparitions of what we know to be neon lights and cars, but its just our reluctance to mix tech/science and fantasy. In the case of the modern day-like city in the crystal world, the reason for the apparent tech was not to mix science and fantasy but to show the readers the extremes at which the psyche's worlds had evolved and progressed.
#19
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 15:19:12 Not to stay of the threads topic, but yeah I wasn't a fan of that either. That book was only so-so.

The book I liked was the one with the templar/durid Pavel. I can't recall the book title though....

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#20
Pennarin
Jun 18, 2004 16:13:40 All three book by Lynn Abbey have Pavek in it (not to be confused with Pavel Chekov): The Brazen Gambit, Cinnabar Shadows, The Rise and Fall of a Dragon King.
#21
Sysane
Jun 18, 2004 16:16:37 Thats right. Pevek was a pretty good character IMO. RaFoaDK was good till the last chapter. I try to disregard that part.

--Sysane, The Terror of Urik

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 8:23:14	Enjoy or wretch: Athasian Bard Hit Die: d6 Requirements To qualify to become a bard, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Alignment: Any non good. Skills: Gather Information 4 ranks, Craft (poison) 8 ranks, Perform 8 ranks. Class Skills The bard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Chr), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Psionic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex). Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier. Table: The Athasian Bard Level BaseAttackBonus FortSave RefSave WillSave Special 1st +0 +0 +2 +0 Sneak attack +1d6, poison artisan, poison use, bardic knowledge 2nd +1 +0 +3 +0 +1 save against poison, uncanny dodge 3rd +2 +1 +3 +1 Sneak attack +2d6 4th +3 +1 +4 +1 +2 save against poison 5th +3 +1 +4 +1 Improved uncanny dodge, sneak attack +3d6 6th +4 +2 +5 +2 +3 save against poison 7th +5 +2 +5 +2 Sneak attack +4d6 8th +6 +2 +6 +2 +4 save against poison, death attack 9th +6 +3 +6 +3 Sneak attack +5d6 10th +7 +3 +7 +3 +5 save against poison Class Features All of the following are Class Features of the bard prestige class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Bards are proficient with the bard’s friend, crossbow (hand, light, or heavy), dagger (any type), dart, rapier, sap, shortbow (normal and composite), and short sword. Bards are proficient with light armor but not with shields. Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every other level (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th). If a bard gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack. Poison Artisan: Bards pay only ¼ of the ordinary price for raw materials needed to craft poisons. This also effects the length of time in which it takes the bard to create poison (see craft skill for details). Poison Use: Bards are trained in the use of poison and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves when applying poison to a blade. Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.) A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard 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. Poison Artisan: Save Bonus against Poison: The bards gains a natural saving throw bonus to all poisons gained at 2nd level that increases by +1 for every two additional levels the bard gains. Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a bard retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (He still loses any Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.) If a character gains uncanny dodge from a second class the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below). Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level, a bard can no longer be flanked, since he can react to opponents on opposite sides of him as easily as he can react to a single attacker. This defense denies rogues the ability to use flank attacks to sneak attack the bard. The exception to this defense is that a rogue at least four levels higher than the bard can flank him (and thus sneak attack him). If a character gains uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge, and the levels from those classes stack to determine the minimum rogue level required to flank the character. Death Attack: If a bard studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (bard’s choice). While studying the victim, the bard can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the bard or recognize the bard as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the bard’s class level + the bard’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the bard. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the bard has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds. If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the bard does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.
#2 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 8:27:57	Oops. Add the following abaility descriptor: Poison Artisan: Bards pay only 1/4 normal price for raw materials needed to craft poisons. This also effects the length of time which it takes the bard to create poison (see craft skill for details)
#3 zombiegleemax Jun 18, 2004 8:33:52	I find the Bardic knowledge being redondant with most Knowledge skills I would suggest th
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 18, 2004 8:38:55	I find the Bardic knowledge is redondant with most Knowledge skills : I would suggest that being itinerant and gathering lots of info, bards have some kind of Jack of all trade knowledge, thus having for free a bonus on all following knowledge skills : Local History Geography Politics Religion Maybe a bonus equal to one half of his level rounded down.
#5 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 8:58:40	The bardic knowledge ability groups all those skills into one essentially. The bard gets to add his bard level + Int mod and get a +2 bonus if they have 5 ranks in knowledge (history). This way the bard isn't spending tons of skill points on several seperate knowledge skills. --Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#6 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 12:23:36	I personally believe, more than any other setting, the Bard should be a core class for Dark Sun.
#7 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 12:45:13	I think bard is better suited as a PrC. They are nothing like they are in core D&D worlds. The athas.org version isn't bad, but its more like a trader than a bard. As an assassin/espionage like character they are more akin to the PrC of like name IMHO. --Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#8 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 13:17:09	Originally posted by Sysane I think bard is better suited as a PrC. They are nothing like they are in core D&D worlds. The athas.org version isn't bad, but its more like a trader than a bard. As an assassin/espionage like character they are more akin to the PrC of like name IMHO. --Sysane, The Terror of Urik That's just it - I think the Bard should be a PrC on the other D&D worlds, but a core class on Dark Sun.
#9 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 13:30:48	I admit that they need to be more distinct than they are in other core D&D worlds but a completely rewritten class of it's own may be a bit much. I feel the same about gladiator as well. I think that would be better represented as a PrC than a core class. Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#10 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 14:14:19	I can see gladiator as a PrC. but Bard as a core class makes more sense to me for Dark Sun.
#11 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 14:18:53	I can see gladiator as a PrC. but Bard as a core class makes more sense to me for Dark Sun. Care to elaborate? :D --Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#12 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 14:24:39	Well, the Gladiator, to me, is somethng one may pick up later in life - and is less of a core thing, having abilities that are quite specific to crowds and arenas and such, and are relatively useless outside of those environments. The Bard, however, is more like being a member of an organization that collects and retains secret knowledge across Athas, provding services like poisonmaking and such, but also having access to things the rest of the world has forgotten - like alchemy and tinkercraft, as well as access to lost knowledges in general, and some ability with music and/or oration. They have a very expansive set of abilities as a result, and are not as restricted as the gladiator.
#13 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 14:28:38	that can't be conveyed thru a PrC in the case of the Bard? --Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#14 Pennarin Jun 18, 2004 14:34:04	Originally posted by xlorepdarkhelm but also having access to things the rest of the world has forgotten - like alchemy and tinkercraft Are you refering to the concept of tinkercraft (I think it was spelled thinker, though) exposed in the DS novel The Darkness Before the Dawn?
#15 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 14:51:55	Originally posted by Sysane that can't be conveyed thru a PrC in the case of the Bard? --Sysane, The Terror of Urik What I'm saying is - general, non-specific-based classes, which have abilities that can be applied globally, as opposed to special-case abilities (like, for instance the special-case abilities of the gladiator) should be base classes in my mind. special-case classes where their abilities are more restrictive to certian locations or events, or are a superset of some other base class' abilities, should be PrC's. So, the Bard isn't a superset of another class' abilities (with their knowledge access and things making them unique), and aren't special-case abilities (unlike the gladiator), they should be a base class.
#16 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 18, 2004 14:53:27	Originally posted by Pennarin Are you refering to the concept of tinkercraft (I think it was spelled thinker, though) exposed in the DS novel The Darkness Before the Dawn? There's a book I haven't read in years....
#17 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 14:58:05	Is that the book that had the main characters see a vision of modern day NY? -- Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#18 Pennarin Jun 18, 2004 15:14:56	Originally posted by Sysane Is that the book that had the main characters see a vision of modern day NY? Yeah. A modern day-like city, anyway. I really hated the author for doing that to his readers, but have since changed my opinion. After all, the parallel between our reality and the protagonists is only in our eyes. If an immortal psyche in a crystal world was left to its own affairs long enough, it could come to build a world that seemed like ours. If he'd presented us with medieval skyscrapers, we might have swallowed it better than apparitions of what we know to be neon lights and cars, but its just our reluctance to mix tech/science and fantasy. In the case of the modern day-like city in the crystal world, the reason for the apparent tech was not to mix science and fantasy but to show the readers the extremes at which the psyche's worlds had evolved and progressed.
#19 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 15:19:12	Not to stay of the threads topic, but yeah I wasn't a fan of that either. That book was only so-so. The book I liked was the one with the templar/durid Pavel. I can't recall the book title though.... --Sysane, The Terror of Urik
#20 Pennarin Jun 18, 2004 16:13:40	All three book by Lynn Abbey have Pavek in it (not to be confused with Pavel Chekov): The Brazen Gambit, Cinnabar Shadows, The Rise and Fall of a Dragon King.
#21 Sysane Jun 18, 2004 16:16:37	Thats right. Pevek was a pretty good character IMO. RaFoaDK was good till the last chapter. I try to disregard that part. --Sysane, The Terror of Urik