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Forte
2011-10-20, 09:37 AM
Inspired by a post on EN World:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan-creations-house-rules/306155-essentials-bard-balladeer.html

Heroic Bard (Balladeer)
Arcane Leader
Key Abilities: Charisma, Intelligence

Class Traits
Hit Points: You start with hit points equal to 12 + your Constitution score. You gain 5 hit points each time you gain a level.
Bonus to Defenses: +1 to Reflex, +1 to Will
Healing Surges per Day: 6 + your Constitution modifier
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Chain
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, simple ranged, rapier
Implement Proficiencies: Instrument, Wand
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Arcana (Int), Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Dungeoneering (Wis), Heal (Wis), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Nature (Wis), Perception (Wis), Religion (Int), Streetwise (Cha)
Trained Skills: Aracana, plus four more from the list of class skill

Level 1: Leitmotif Features
Leitmotifs encompass the overall theme of your Balladeer and the primary emotion his or her works evoke. Choose joy or anger as your leitmotif to inspire happiness or to sow disharmony.
Benefit: You gain special features and two at-will powers from your leitmotif and additional powers as you gain in experience.


Leitmotif: Anger

Level 1: Prelude to Anger
When you begin a song, all enemies within 5 squares of you take a -2 penalty to attack and damage rolls until the end of your next turn.

Level 1: Leitmotif At-Will Power
Tormenting Refrain Bard Attack 1
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic, Refrain
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and the target takes ongoing psychic damage equal to your Intelligence modifier (save ends).

Level 1: Leitmotif At-Will Power
Enraging Refrain Bard Attack 1
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic, Refrain
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d8 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and the target grants combat advantage until the end of your next turn.
Leitmotif: Joy
Level 1: Prelude to Joy
When you begin a song, all allies within 5 squares of you gain a +2 power bonus to speed until the end of your next turn.

Level 1: Leitmotif At-Will Power
Inspiring Refrain Bard Attack 1
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic, Refrain
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and one ally within 10 squares of you gains a power bonus to his or her next attack roll against the target before the start of your next turn. The bonus equals your Charisma modifier.

Level 1: Leitmotif At-Will Power
Enthralling Refrain Bard Attack 1
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic, Refrain
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: Charisma modifier psychic damage and you slide the target up to 3 squares.


Level 1: Repertoire
Bards learn a number of songs, parables, and poems into which they weave their magic. Each song produces a zone that grants a benefit to you and your allies within the zone. In addition to the song’s effect, each song has three additional components:
* Refrain: The refrain is an effect that occurs whenever you use a power with the refrain keyword.
* Crescendo: The crescendo is an encounter power that can be used while a particular song is in effect. Regardless of how many songs you know, you can only use one crescendo power per encounter.
* Finale: The finale is a daily power that can be used while a particular song is in effect. Using a finale ends the song and any of its effect you are currently sustaining. Regardless of how many songs you know, you can only use one finale power per day.
Benefit: You gain two of the following powers of your choice.

Song of Triumph Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of bolstering song that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, allies gain temporary hit points equal to your Intelligence modifier when they hit with a melee attack power.
Refrain: One ally within the zone gains a power bonus to damage rolls equal to your Charisma modifier until the start of your next turn.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Glorious Strike Bard Attack
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Crescendo
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your song of triumph makes a successful attack.
Effect: The triggering attack deals +1[W] damage if it has the weapon keyword or +1d8 damage if it does not.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Impending Victory Bard Utility
Daily ✦ Arcane, Healing, Finale
Immediate Reaction Ranged 5
Trigger: An enemy non-minion within range is reduced to 0 hit points.
Effect: All allies affected by your song of triumph can spend a healing surge.
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.


Dirge of the Nameless Fallen Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of mournful song that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, all bloodied allies gain a +1 power bonus to all defenses.
Refrain: One ally within the zone can make a saving throw against one effect that a save can end.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Comrade’s Lament Bard Utility
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Healing, Crescendo
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your dirge of the nameless fallen becomes bloodied.
Effect: One ally affected by your dirge of the nameless fallen can spend a healing surge.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Cry of the Phoenix Bard Utility
Daily ✦ Arcane, Healing, Finale
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your dirge of the nameless fallen is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points.
Effect: The triggering ally stabilizes and can use his or her second wind as a free action.
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.

Fable of the Darting Hunter Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of inspiring verses that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, allies gain a +4 power bonus to defenses versus opportunity attacks and gain a +2 power bonus to damage rolls against targets granting them combat advantage.
Refrain: As a free action, one ally within the zone can shift a number of squares equal to your Intelligence modifier.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Mongoose Parable Bard Attack
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Crescendo
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your fable of the darting hunter is hit by an opportunity attack.
Effect: The triggering ally makes a basic attack against an adjacent enemy as a free action.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Skirmisher’s Rhyme Bard Attack
Daily ✦ Arcane, Finale
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your fable of the darting hunter hits with an attack power after moving on its turn.
Effect: The triggering ally's attack becomes a critical hit.
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.

Verse of the Final Clash Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of inspiring verses that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, allies can push enemies 1 square on a successful attack.
Refrain: One ally within the zone gains a power bonus to attack rolls equal to your Intelligence modifier until the start of your next turn.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Resounding Blow Bard Attack
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Crescendo
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your verse of the final clash makes a successful attack.
Effect: The target of the triggering attack is knocked prone.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Inevitable Coda Bard Attack
Daily ✦ Arcane, Finale
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your verse of the final clash bloodies an enemy.
Effect: The triggering enemy takes ongoing 10 damage (save ends).
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.

Limerick of the Underdog Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of cutting rhymes that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, allies gain combat advantage against targets they miss with an attack and a +1 power bonus to attack rolls against creatures larger than they are.
Refrain: You can reroll the attack roll of the triggering refrain. You must take the new result even if it is lower.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Recapitulated Attack Bard Attack
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Crescendo
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your limerick of the underdog misses every target with an attack.
Effect: The triggering ally makes a basic attack as a free action.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Encore of Battle Bard Utility
Daily ✦ Arcane, Finale
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your limerick of the underdog misses every target with a daily or encounter power.
Effect: The triggering power is not expended.
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.

Ballad of Perseverance Bard Utility
At-Will ✦ Arcane, Zone
Standard Action Close burst 5
Effect: The burst creates a zone of inspiring poetry that lasts until the end of your next turn. When you move, the zone moves with you, remaining centered on you. While within the zone, allies never grant combat advantage as long as they are adjacent to an ally. Enemy non-minions within the zone that hit an ally with an attack take psychic damage equal to your Intelligence modifier.
Refrain: One ally within the zone marks an enemy within 5 squares of it until the start of your next turn.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists.

Crescendo: Combative Ostinato Bard Attack
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Crescendo
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your ballad of perseverance misses with an attack.
Effect: The triggering ally gains a bonus to attack rolls against the target of the missed attack equal to your Charisma modifier until the end of your next turn.
Special: You can use only one crescendo power per encounter.

Finale: Harmonious Surge Bard Utility
Daily ✦ Arcane, Healing, Finale
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: An ally affected by your ballad of perseverance spends a healing surge.
Effect: All allies affected by your ballad of perseverance gain hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.
Special: You can use only one finale power per day.

Level 1: Skill Versatility
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to untrained skill checks.

Level 1: Inspiring Presence
Benefit: Whenever you or an ally within 5 squares of you spends a healing surge they regain extra hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.

Level 2: Utility Power
Benefit: You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Defensive Harmony Bard Utility 2
Daily ✦ Arcane
Minor Action Close burst 5
Target: You and each ally in burst
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, each target gains a +1 power bonus to AC.

Glissando Bard Utility 2
Encounter ✦ Arcane
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You immediately switch from one song to another song in your repertoire.

Inspire Competence Bard Utility 2
Encounter ✦ Arcane
Minor Action Close burst 5
Target: You and each ally in burst
Effect: Choose a skill. Until the end of the encounter, each target gains a +2 power bonus to his or her next check using that skill.

Tactical Homophony Bard Utility 2
Daily ✦ Arcane
Minor Action Close burst 5
Target: Each ally in burst
Effect: Each target that has not yet acted in this round moves to your current initiative and acts after your current turn.

Level 3: Leitmotif Encounter Power
Benefit: You gain an encounter attack power associated with your leitmotif.

Level 3: Leitmotif Encounter Power (Anger)
Irritating Screech Bard Attack 3
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 2d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and the target takes a penalty to attack rolls equal to your Intelligence modifier until the end of your next turn.

Level 3: Leitmotif Encounter Power (Joy)
Illuminating Chorus Bard Attack 3
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d10 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and each ally within 5 squares of you gains a bonus to damage rolls equal to your Intelligence modifier against the target until the end of your next turn.


Level 4: Ability Score Increase
Benefit: You increase two ability scores of your choice by 1.

Level 5: Expanded Repertoire
Benefit: You gain one additional song to add to your repertoire.

Level 6: Leitmotif Utility Power
Benefit: You gain a utility power associated with your leitmotif.

Level 6: Leitmotif Utility Power (Anger)
Focusing Fury Bard Utility 6
Encounter ✦ Arcane
Standard Action Area burst 3 within 10 squares
Target: One ally within 10 squares
Effect: The target marks all unmarked enemies in the burst.

Level 6: Leitmotif Utility Power (Joy)
Rapturous Outburst Bard Utility 6
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Healing
Immediate Reaction Close burst5
Trigger: An attack misses an ally within 5 squares of you
Target: Each ally in burst missed by the triggering attack
Effect: Each target regains hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.


Level 7: Improved Crescendo
Benefit: You can use a crescendo power twice per encounter.

Level 8: Ability Score Increase
Benefit: You increase two ability scores of your choice by 1.

Level 9: Leitmotif Daily Power
Benefit: You gain a daily attack power associated with your leitmotif.

Level 9: Leitmotif Daily Power (Anger)
Infuriating Shout Bard Attack 9
Daily ✦ Arcane, Charm, Implement, Thunder
Standard Action Area burst 2 within 10 squares
Target: Each creature in burst
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 2d10 + Charisma modifier thunder damage and the target makes a melee basic attack against any adjacent creature of your choice.
Miss: Half damage.

Level 9: Leitmotif Daily Power (Joy)
Hideous Laughter Bard Attack 9
Daily ✦ Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 3d8 + Charisma modifier psychic damage, and the target can’t take opportunity actions and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends both).
Aftereffect: The target can’t take opportunity actions (save ends).
Miss: Half damage, and the target can’t take opportunity actions until the end of your next turn.


Level 10: Utility Power
Benefit: You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Chord of Recovery Bard Utility 10
Encounter ✦ Arcane
Minor Action Close burst 5
Target: You and each ally in burst
Effect: Each target gains a +2 power bonus to saving throws until the end of your next turn.

Elusive Cadence Bard Utility 10
Encounter ✦ Arcane, Illusion
Minor Action Ranged 10
Target: One ally
Effect: The target becomes invisible until the end of your next turn, and you slide the target up to 2 squares.

Illusory Choir Bard Utility 10
Daily ✦ Arcane, Conjuration, Illusion
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You create an illusory group of singers or chanters that surround you. If you move, the choir moves with you. Until the end of the encounter, you cannot grant combat advantage and have concealment. While the choir is present, all songs in your repertoire can be sustained as a free action.

Therapeutic Reverberation Bard Utility 10
Daily ✦ Arcane, Healing
Standard Action Close burst 5
Target: You and each ally in burst
Effect: Each target regains hit points as if he or she had spent a healing surge. In addition, one target can make a saving throw against an effect that a save can end.

Drnathanpanke
2011-10-25, 07:41 AM
I like this! Does the balladeer still recieve skill versatility, healing word or word of friendship? If not, explain why not? Again, I DO LIKE THIS.

Sipex
2011-10-25, 11:57 AM
Wow, that looks pretty balanced and fun to play to boot. I'd play one.

Nu
2011-10-26, 12:33 AM
Quick commentary:

The preludes seem pretty powerful for effects that don't even require a hit. -2 to attacks and damage in a burst 5 is probably not on the level of an at-will effect, nor is a +2 bonus to speed. The powers they grant themselves seem fine, though ongoing damage is a little dull for the bard.

On the other side, the encounter 3 powers seem pretty weak, more like the effect you'd expect from an At-Will power. I think you should buff the attack penalty/damage buff to scale with your Intelligence modifier.

"Successful attack" is a bit wonky on the wording side, perhaps you should change it to "hits with an attack?"

On the at-will songs, Combative Ostinato seems a bit weak, it could probably trigger after the first missed attack and be fine. On the other hand, Ballad of Perseverance granting auto-damage as an at-will might be a bit strong. It makes all of your allies pretty much invulnerable to minions, anyway. I believe the intent for Comrade's Lament is to allow the "triggering ally" to spend a healing surge and not just any ally? Cry of the Phoenix seems weak for a daily power. Perhaps it could allow the ally to regain hit points equal to its surge value at the start of its next turn? Considering that Refrains are at-wills, I have a concern that the effect of Song of Triumph might be a bit powerful, especially since it's not a power bonus. Granting a scaling bonus to damage is usually an encounter-power level thing.

I might have more commentary later!

Forte
2011-10-31, 11:58 AM
Quick commentary:

The preludes seem pretty powerful for effects that don't even require a hit. -2 to attacks and damage in a burst 5 is probably not on the level of an at-will effect, nor is a +2 bonus to speed. The powers they grant themselves seem fine, though ongoing damage is a little dull for the bard.



The preludes only come into effect when you begin a song (which is a standard action). Unless you really think they're powerful enough to give up your standard action every round, I don't see them as overpowered.


On the other side, the encounter 3 powers seem pretty weak, more like the effect you'd expect from an At-Will power. I think you should buff the attack penalty/damage buff to scale with your Intelligence modifier.

"Successful attack" is a bit wonky on the wording side, perhaps you should change it to "hits with an attack?"



Sound good. Changes made.


On the at-will songs, Combative Ostinato seems a bit weak, it could probably trigger after the first missed attack and be fine. On the other hand, Ballad of Perseverance granting auto-damage as an at-will might be a bit strong. It makes all of your allies pretty much invulnerable to minions, anyway. I believe the intent for Comrade's Lament is to allow the "triggering ally" to spend a healing surge and not just any ally? Cry of the Phoenix seems weak for a daily power. Perhaps it could allow the ally to regain hit points equal to its surge value at the start of its next turn? Considering that Refrains are at-wills, I have a concern that the effect of Song of Triumph might be a bit powerful, especially since it's not a power bonus. Granting a scaling bonus to damage is usually an encounter-power level thing.

Combative Ostinato changed to trigger off of first miss; bonus to attack roll switched to untyped but specified to only affect the missed target.

Ballad of Perserverance auto damaged changed to non-minions.

Comrade's Lament is anyone under the effect as intended.

Cry of the Pheonix buffed somewhat. Was originally just stabilization because the same power plus a healing surge is already, like, a level 10 utility power.

Song of Triumph attack and damage bonus changed to a power bonus (that was sloppy proofreading on my part, thanks for the catch).

Thanks for all the comments. I'm still working on Paragon (and more tweaks to heroic) inbetween my other projects.

Forte
2011-10-31, 12:08 PM
I like this! Does the balladeer still recieve skill versatility, healing word or word of friendship? If not, explain why not? Again, I DO LIKE THIS.

When I wrote most of this, I actually didn't have the PHBII with me. I'll put Skill Versatility and Words of Friendship in there. I have to give Majestic Word some though. As it stands now, there are a lot of healing powers and effects written in already.

Nu
2011-11-01, 06:34 AM
I admit, it's somewhat difficult for me to figure out what I should compare at-will standard action utility power buffs against since such things do not exist in very large quantities in standard 4E.