Bard (d20) - Revision history

MJBurrage: /* Class features */

2018-09-29T03:05:17Z

‎Class features

MJBurrage at 21:26, 28 September 2018

2018-09-28T21:26:40Z

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MJBurrage at 21:11, 28 September 2018

2018-09-28T21:11:49Z

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MJBurrage: /* Masterwork instruments */

2018-09-28T03:55:29Z

‎Masterwork instruments

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MJBurrage: /* See also */

2018-09-28T03:50:02Z

‎See also

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MJBurrage at 03:35, 28 September 2018

2018-09-28T03:35:48Z

MJBurrage: Created page with "== Prestige classes == === Fochlucan Lyrist === {{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.47–51}} Warrior, thief, spy, poet, woodland champion—the Fochlucan lyrist is a legen..."

2018-09-28T03:12:51Z

Created page with "== Prestige classes == === Fochlucan Lyrist === {{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.47–51}} Warrior, thief, spy, poet, woodland champion—the Fochlucan lyrist is a legen..."

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== Prestige classes ==

=== Fochlucan Lyrist ===
{{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.47–51}}
Warrior, thief, spy, poet, woodland champion—the Fochlucan lyrist is a legendary figure who serves as the herald and teacher to great kings, the champion of the common folk, and the keeper of lore long forgotten elsewhere. Only the best and brightest are invited to become Fochlucan lyrists, and those who eventually win the approval of the Fochlucan College’s masters are remarkable individuals indeed, skilled in swordplay, magic, and diplomacy.

Those who aspire to join the Fochlucan College face a long and difficult road. The great bards who lead the school choose only individuals who have demonstrated skill at arms and stealth, learning and cleverness, superb talent with the lute and an ear for the stories of old. Finally, all applicants must first study the lore of the druids, learning the ways of growth and the hidden secrets of nature. Few indeed can stand up to the rigorous scrutiny of the Fochlucan masters.

Fochlucan lyrists adventure to gain information. They are spies and rumormongers, ever on the watch for news of events that may upset the balance they seek to preserve. A lyrist can serve as a diplomat, messenger, or assassin, as needed. The Fochlucans strongly believe in fostering the careers of other adventurers whose viewpoints align with their own, and many lyrists attach themselves to adventuring companies specifically for the purpose of guiding their comrades to oppose the right enemies and advance the interests of the Fochlucan College.

'''Adaptation:''' This class is a fusion of the druid and bard base classes. An interesting variation would be to adapt the class into a fusion of the druid and ranger base classes.

'''Hit Die:''' d6.

==== Requirements ====
To qualify to become a Fochlucan lyrist, a character must
fulfill all the following criteria.
{{statblock|
;Skills: Decipher Script 7 ranks, Diplomacy 7 ranks, Gather Information 7 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 7 ranks, Perform (string instruments) 13 ranks, Sleight of Hand 7 ranks, Speak Language (Druidic).
;Alignment: Neutral good, neutral, chaotic neutral, or neutral evil.
;Spells: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane and divine spells.
;Special: Bardic knowledge and evasion abilities.
}}

==== Class skills ====
The Fochlucan lyrist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (any) (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

'''Skill Points at Each Level:''' 6 + Int modifier.

{| class="d20 center c6l c7l"
|+ The Fochlucan Lyrist
|-
! Level !! BAB !! Fort !! Ref !! Will !! Spellcasting !! Special
|-
|class=in1| 1st || +1 || +0 || +2 || +2 || +1 Arc. & Div. || Bardic knowledge, bardic music, unbound
|-
|class=in1| 2nd || +2 || +0 || +3 || +3 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 3rd || +3 || +1 || +3 || +3 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 4th || +4 || +1 || +4 || +4 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 5th || +5 || +1 || +4 || +4 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 6th || +6 || +2 || +5 || +5 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 7th || +7 || +2 || +5 || +5 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 8th || +8 || +2 || +6 || +6 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
|class=in1| 9th || +9 || +3 || +6 || +6 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|-
| 10th ||class=in0| +10 || +3 || +7 || +7 || +1 Arc. & Div. ||
|}

==== Class features ====
All of the following are class features of the Fochlucan lyrist prestige class.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Fochlucan lyrists gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

'''Spellcasting:''' At each level, a Fochlucan lyrist gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if they had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class and any one divine spellcasting class to which they belonged before adding the prestige class level. They do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If they had more than one arcane spellcasting class or divine spellcasting class before becoming a Fochlucan lyrist, they must decide to which class to add each Fochlucan lyrist level for the purpose of determining spells per day, spells known, and overall caster level. For example, a 2nd-level rogue/5th-level bard/4th-level druid/3rd-level Fochlucan lyrist can cast arcane spells as an 8th-level bard and divine spells as a 7th-level druid.

'''Bardic Knowledge (Ex):''' A Fochlucan lyrist can attempt to recall some relevant piece of information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (See the bard class feature.) They add their Fochlucan lyrist class level to their bardic knowledge checks, so their bardic knowledge checks have a bonus equal to their bard level + their Fochlucan lyrist level + their Int modifier.

'''Bardic Music:''' A Fochlucan lyrist adds their lyrist level to their bard level to determine the number of times per day they can use their bardic music, the bardic music abilities they can employ, and the power of those abilities. For example, a 2nd-level rogue/5th-level bard/4th-level druid/3rd-level Fochlucan lyrist can use her bardic music eight times per day, can use any bardic music ability an 8th-level bard could use (assuming she meets the Perform skill rank requirements), and is treated as an 8th-level bard for adjudicating the effects of those abilities (such as number of targets, save DC, and so forth).

'''Unbound:''' A Fochlucan lyrist’s druid oaths are relaxed, allowing her to wear light metal armor with no loss of spellcasting, supernatural, or spell-like abilities. A lyrist also suffers no experience point penalty for multiclassing.

==== Fochlucan bandore ====
{{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.48}}
In the same vein that most folk consider the Fochlucan College to be the most famous of the bardic colleges, the most well-known and most often encountered of all the famed instruments of the bards is the ''Fochlucan bandore''. (This item and the other instruments of the bards are described in detail in ''Complete Arcane''.)

This three-stringed masterwork lute grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +1 competence bonus on bardic music checks for countersong, ''fascinate'', and suggestion. The instrument can be played by anyone to produce ''light'' once per day. Any character with at least 2 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the bandore to cast ''flare'', ''mending'', and ''message'' each once per day.

Faint transmutation, faint evocation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, ''flare'', ''light'', ''mending'', ''message'', creator must be a bard; Price 1,900 gp; Weight 3 lb.

==== the Fochlucan College ====
{{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.49–50}}
Perhaps the most famous of the bardic colleges, the Fochlucan College serves as a beacon of learning and diplomacy in a dark and restless land. Many have accused the Fochlucan masters of fomenting intrigues among the nearby kingdoms and using their famed neutrality to conceal the real extent of their meddling and manipulation. By advising mighty rulers and undertaking the tutoring of royal heirs, the Fochlucan bards turn the fate of kingdoms with nothing more than quiet words and whispered secrets.

The Fochlucan College itself is located on the shores of the misty Loch Firrnen, a few miles from the town of Oakenway. The College is a rambling old stone building that resembles something between a minor lord’s manor house and a decrepit old monastery. Green ivy covers its walls, and old lanterns hanging from its eaves warm its chill, misty nights with golden light.

No more than a handful of its collegians are present at any given time—the strength of the organization lies in the learning and skill of its individual members, not in any muster of warriors. Members are welcome to stay as long as they like but are expected to contribute to the college’s upkeep. The customary donation is 50 gp a month (for itinerant members) or 200 gp a month (for members living on the premises).

A small number of servants keep the College in order and prepare meals, but there are no guards or soldiers. Instead, its defense lies primarily in the reputation and influence of its members. Should trouble come anyway, the College is well defended by the handful of lyrists or guests who happen to be visiting at any given time. In case of serious trouble, the Fochlucans turn to the creatures of the surrounding forest. Through ancient pacts, the sylvan denizens of Loch Firrnen’s forests are pledged to defend the bards’ house against attack.

The College is governed by the Yew Circle, a small council composed of the five most senior Fochlucans currently enrolled in the order. All five are nominally equal, but if the Circle’s opinion is divided on any important matter, the Eldest of the Circle—the Fochlucan who has served the longest in the college—decides the issue. Currently, the Eldest of Fochlucan is Yew Master Hurlich Stennarden, a half-elf who has belonged to the College for better than fifty years. The masters of the Yew Circle rarely meet, since they are not often at the College at the same time.

The Fochlucans are affiliated with several other bardic colleges in neighboring lands, including the College of Mac-Fuirmidh, the Doss School, and the High College of Anstruth, oldest and most knowledgeable of the colleges.

== See also ==
* {{wp|Filí}}
* {{wp|Ollam}}

@@ Line 482: / Line 482: @@
 A sublime chord adds one-half her class level (rounded down) to her bard level to determine her number of daily uses of bardic music.
-{| class="d20 aside"
+{| class="d20 aside c2c"
 !class=ml| Perform<br>Check Result
 !class=ml| Caster Level<br>Increase

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Prestige classes ==
@@ Line 68: / Line 182: @@
 ==== Fochlucan bandore ====
-{{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', pp.48}}
+{{hatnote|''Complete Adventurer'', p.48}}
 In the same vein that most folk consider the Fochlucan College to be the most famous of the bardic colleges, the most well-known and most often encountered of all the famed instruments of the bards is the ''Fochlucan bandore''. (This item and the other instruments of the bards are described in detail in ''Complete Arcane''.)