Yet another base class for Magipunk. Rock on.
POWERBARDPicture Credit: Google Image Search "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends!"-Doug Mathis, powerbard
A powerbard can rock your face off with a powerchord, raise the roof with an arpeggio, or melt your heart with a ballad.
MAKING A POWERBARD Powerbards work with sound like holomancers work with light, kind of.
Abilities: Charisma is king.
Races: Any.
Alignment: Any.
Starting Gold: As bard.
Starting Age: As bard.
Class SkillsThe Powerbard's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Arcana (Int), Athletics (Str), Concentration (Wis), Engineering (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Negotiation (Cha), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Persuasion (Cha), Profession (Wis), Scholarship (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Wordcraft (Int).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int
Table: The Powerbard | HD: d6 |
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Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| | | Base Attack Bonus | +0 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 | /+1 | +6 | /+1 | +7 | /+2 | +8 | /+3 | +9 | /+4 | +9 | /+4 | +10 | /+5 | +11 | /+6 | /+1 | +12 | /+7 | /+2 | +12 | /+7 | /+2 | +13 | /+8 | /+3 | +14 | /+9 | /+4 | +15 | /+10 | /+5 |
| | | Fort Save | +0 | +0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
| | | Reflex Save | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +7 | +7 | +8 | +8 | +9 | +9 | +10 | +10 | +11 | +11 | +12 |
| | | Will Save | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +7 | +7 | +8 | +8 | +9 | +9 | +10 | +10 | +11 | +11 | +12 |
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Special | Minor arpeggios, power chords (rhythm) | Control sound, musician's ear | Countersong, resounding note | Bonus arpeggio | Bonus feat (see text) | Silver record | Power chords (harmony) | Bonus arpeggio | Improved countersong | Improved musician's ear | Form the band +1, gold record | Bonus arpeggio, encore | Power chords (melody) | Form the band +2 | Greater countersong | Bonus arpeggio, platinum record | Form the band +3 | Greater musician's ear | Double encore | 12-string, bonus arpeggio, form the band +4 |
| | Uses per Power Chord per Day | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A powerbard is proficient with simple weapons, light armor, and shields, as well as all guitars.
Minor arpeggios (Su): A powerbard must master certain basic musical techniques before proceeding to the more complex works of music. These techniques, known as arpeggios, function as supernatural abilities usable at will as a standard action. A powerbard begins play with three arpeggios and gain an additional arpeggio at 4th level and every four additional levels beyond 4th. A powerbard can, when gaining a new level, choose a new arpeggio in place of another power chord (see below). The save DC of any arpeggio is equal to 10 + the powerbard's Cha modifier; all arpeggios allow a Will save to negate, though most are harmless. When choosing an arpeggio, a powerbard can “relearn” an already known arpeggio, which increases the save DC and the caster level for that arpeggio by 1.
Power chords and genres: A powerbard does not cast spells as other classes do, but instead invokes musical techniques called power chords (see below for descriptions). A powerbard knows one chord at 1st level and gain one additional chord every class level. Up to 6th level, a powerbard can learn only rhythm chords; at 7th level, she gains access to harmony chords, and at 13th level she becomes able to use melody chords. A powerbard can choose her new chord at each level from any category she has access to (including minor arpeggios). For instance, at 8th level, a powerbard could select either an arpeggio, a rhythm chord, or a harmony chord.
Within a category of power chords (rhythm, harmony, or melody), a powerbard can only learn chords of a new level if she has learned at least two chords of the previous level, but she need not know all previous chords within a genre to select a chord from that genre. A powerbard can always select the first chord in a genre of a category she has access to, even if she didn’t complete the lower category genres. At 4th level, and every even level after (6th, 8th, etc.), a powerbard can learn a new chord in place of a chord she already knows of the same level.
Power chords represent musical patterns and techniques so complex that other spells seem simple in comparison. As a powerbard progresses, however, her intuitive understanding of power music grows stronger, and her chords become more ingrained in her essence. When a powerbard is capable of playing only rhythm chords, she casts them as though they were arcane spells. They all have verbal components and are subject to interruption, though they do not require material components, foci, or somatic components. This means that chords which are cast as spells cannot be played while under the effect of a
silence spell (however, see the Resounding Note, below), and suffer a 20% failure chance whenever the powerbard is deafened.
At 7th level, when a powerbard becomes capable of playing harmony chords (whether or not she chooses to learn any), her rhythm chords become so much a part of her that they now function as spell-like abilities, and they no longer require verbal components. The powerbard's new harmony chords (when she learns them) function as arcane spells and follow the rules described above.
When the powerbard reaches 13th level and becomes capable of playing melody chords, another change occurs. Her melody chords now function as arcane spells, and her harmony chords function as spell-like abilities. The powerbard's rhythm chords become supernatural abilities, and no longer provoke attacks of opportunity. They are not subject to dispelling, counterspelling, or spell resistance, though they still do not function in an
antimagic field.
A powerbard can learn a chord more than once; each time she relearns a chord, she gains another set of uses of that chord per day, and the save DC and caster level of that chord each increase by 1. A powerbard can play each chord she knows a certain number of times per day depending on whether it is cast as a spell (once), a spell-like ability (twice), or a supernatural ability (thrice). The allotments per level are given on the table above, but only apply if she is able to play chords of the level indicated.
A powerbard gains bonus uses of her power chords for a high Charisma score just like a spellcaster; however, each bonus daily use a powerbard is granted applies to all of her power chords of the appropriate level. For example, a powerbard with an 18 Charisma would gain an additional daily use of each of her 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-level power chords.
Although a powerbard does not prepare spells, she must rest for 8 hours and meditate for 15 minutes each day to regain her use of power chords just as a DivHead must rest and meditate to regain use of spell slots. In order to play a chord, a powerbard must have a Charisma score of at least 10 + the chord's level. The save DC for a powerbard's chords which are played as spells or spell-like abilities equals 10 + chord level + her Cha modifier, while the save DC for chords played as supernatural abilities is equal to 10 + 1/2 powerbard level + Cha modifier. Even though a powerbard does not “cast spells” in the traditional sense, her levels in this class count for the purpose of determining her overall caster level.
Control sound (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a powerbard learns to control the sound around her. This works exactly like the
control sound psionic power, with a manifester level equal to her powerbard level; she can use this ability at will.
Musician's ear (Ex): At 2nd level, a powerbard's hearing becomes much more acute than a normal person's. She gains a bonus equal to her powerbard level on Perception checks when listening, as well as saves vs being deafened and to defeat illusions with an auditory component.
Countersong (Su): Upon reaching 3rd level, a powerbard can attempt to use her knowledge of physics to cancel the sounds that a caster makes when casting a spell with verbal components. The powerbard can attempt to counterspell a spell that she has successfully identified using the Arcana skill, requires a verbal component, and is being cast within 30 feet. She must ready an action to counterspell, as normal. She makes a dispel check to counter the cast spell as if with
dispel magic, except that she uses her ranks in Perform in place of her caster level as a bonus to the check (with no limit on the maximum bonus). Countersong can be used to counter a power chord with a verbal component played by another powerbard. A powerbard can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier.
Resounding note (Su): At 3rd level, a powerbard can attempt to overcome a
silence effect with her power chords. Whenever she attempts to play a chord which would be negated by
silence, she can make a Perform check (DC 15 + the caster level of the
silence) to play the chord anyway.
Bonus feat: A powerbard of 5th level or higher gains a bonus [Chord] feat of her choice for every genre she completes. If the powerbard changes one of her known chords (at an even level) and in doing so "un-completes" a path, she loses access to the bonus feat granted by that path, unless she chooses that feat as a normal feat or a bonus feat from completing a different path.
Silver record (Ex): By 6th level, a powerbard has become well-known among the fans of her music, and this celebrity grants her a measure of leeway in social situations. She gains a +4 bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks (except Perform checks while using other powerbard abilities), as well as the ability to call in one favor per week (as per the Favored in House feat from the Eberron Campaign Setting).
Improved countersong (Su): Beginning at 9th level, a powerbard can use her countersong ability once per round as an immediate action; she need not ready an action to do so. However, she cannot use countersong while concentrating on another powerbard ability (such as Control Sound or a power chord that requires concentration).
Improved musician's ear (Ex): At 10th level, a powerbard's hearing has become so acute that she can hear things she can't see. The powerbard gains blindsense out to a range of 10 feet times her Charisma modifier, which does not function when the powerbard is deafened or within the radius of a
silence effect.
Form the band (Ex): A powerbard of 11th level or higher can combine her musical prowess with other powerbards to create effects of unparalleled strength. If two or more powerbards (one of whom is at least 11th level) play the same power chord at the same time, the save DC and caster level of the chord are both increased by +1 for each powerbard after the first (+1 for two players, +2 for three players, etc.). Use the highest save DC and caster level among the players as the base effect. At every 3 levels after 11th, the bonus for each additional powerbard increases by +1. If more than one contributing powerbard has this class feature, the bonuses do not stack; instead, use the highest bonus among all contributing powerbards.
Gold record (Ex): Upon reaching 11th level, the powerbard's fame and fortune have increased substantially, and people keep trying to give her stuff. The powerbard's bonus to Charisma check and Charisma-based skill checks increases to +8, and she can call in up to 3 favors per week (though no more than once per day). In addition, she can purchase equipment and magic items for 75% of market price; items purchased this way can only be sold for 50% of market price as normal, even if sold by someone with the Industrious regional feat.
Encore (Su): Beginning at 12th level, a powerbard can follow up a power chord with an additional, less-powerful chord. Whenever the powerbard plays a harmony or melody chord in a round, she can follow with a rhythm chord in the same round as a move action as long as she has a move action to spare. Using this ability does not count against the daily uses of the chosen rhythm chord. The powerbard can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier.
Greater countersong (Su): At 15th level, a powerbard is a master of manipulating soundwaves. She can use her countersong ability any number of times per day as a free action, to a maximum number of times per round equal to her Intelligence modifier, though no more than once on a given casting.
Platinum record (Ex): A powerbard of 16th level or higher is unbelievably famous, and people will often stop her on the street for her autograph. The powerbard's bonus to Charisma check and Charisma-based skill checks increases to +16, and she can call in two favors per day, up to a maximum number of favors a week equal to her Charisma modifier. In addition, she can purchase equipment and magic items for 50% of market price; items purchased this way can only be sold for 50% of market price as normal, even if sold by someone with the Industrious regional feat.
Greater musician's ear (Ex): Upon reaching 18th level, a powerbard's ears are finely-tuned instruments of detection. She gains blindsight out to a range of 5 feet times her Charisma modifier, which does not function when the powerbard is deafened or within the radius of a
silence effect.
Double encore (Su): Starting at 19th level, a powerbard can follow up her most potent power chords with additional chords of lesser strength. Whenever the powerbard plays a melody chord in a round, she can spend a use of her Encore ability to immediately follow with a harmony chord as a move action and/or a rhythm chord as a swift action, as long as she has such actions to spare. Using this ability does not count against the daily uses of either the rhythm chord or the harmony chord.
12-string (Su): At 20th level, a powerbard is an unparalleled master of the power chord. She can play two power chords simultaneously in the same action. The powerbard cannot use both this ability and Encore or Double Encore in the same round. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier.
PLAYING A POWERBARDThing.
Combat: Thing.
Advancement: Thing.
POWERBARDS IN THE WORLD"Thing."-Guy
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GUYThing
Init +0,
Senses: Listen +, Spot +,
Languages ------------------------------------------------
AC , touch , flat-footed ()
hp ( HD)
Fort +,
Ref +,
Will +
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee Base Atk +,
Grp +
Atk Options Combat GearSpells Prepared Supernatural Abilities -----------------------------------------------
Abilities STATS
SQ Feats Skills Possessions