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Kai-Palin
2008-02-01, 08:13 PM
I've been toying around with the idea of making a bard, but I wanted more emphasis on the fact that they can cast spells. The bard spell list is okay, but their absolutely horrendous spells/day turned me off to the class, especially as it didn't seem to offer too many other benefits. So I made this class, a variant on the Ultimate Magus PrC with a decidedly more bardic twist. (All pronouns will be female for no particular reason).
The names of the Harmonist Music effects in this PrC are taken from the bells of the same name in the Kingdom books by Garth Nix.

The Harmonic Magus

The harmonic magus is a spellcaster who, while dabbling in the bardic arts, became aware of a harmonic resonance between her spells and her bardic music. She rejected the safe and respectable tenets of the Starry Lyceum and Arcane Chord, though both offered her membership, because she regards herself as a spellcaster primarily and a bard secondarily. She develops songs that resonate with arcane power; however, they hold great risk should she fail in performing them correctly. These "singing sorcerors" are often known as harmonists.

Requirements
Spells: Able to cast 1st level bard spells
Able to cast 2nd level arcane spells of a non-bard class
Skills:
Concentration: 8 ranks
Knowledge- Arcana: 5 ranks
Knowledge- The Planes: 5 ranks
Perform (any two): 8 ranks
Spellcraft: 8 ranks
Feat: Melodic Casting
Special: Bardic Music 5/day

Class Table: Harmonic Magus
{table=head]Level|B.A.B.|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Bardic Knowledge; Harmonist's Music; The Sleeper|+1 level of bard spellcasting

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Expanded Spell Knowledge (1 or 0); The Thinker|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Bonus Spells; The Walker|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

4th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Expanded Spell Knowledge (2 or lower)|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|The Speaker, Combine Songs|+1 level of bard spellcasting

6th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Expanded Spell Knowledge (3rd or lower); Bonus Spells|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

7th|
+5|
+2|
+2|
+5|The Waker|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

8th|
+6|
+2|
+2|
+6|Expanded Spell Knowledge (4th or lower); The Binder|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class

9th|
+6|
+3|
+3|
+6|Bonus Spells, Subvocalize|+1 level of bard spellcasting

10th|
+7|
+3|
+3|
+7|Expanded Spell Knowledge (5th or lower); The Weeper|+1 level of bard spellcasting/ +1 level other arcane spellcasting class [/table]
Hit Die: d4
Skill Points: 4+Int. Modifier
Class Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Concentration, Craft (any), Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge: (All skills, taken separately), Perform: (All skills, taken separately), Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device

Class Abilities
Bardic Knowledge: This ability functions exactly like that of the bard class feature (PHB, pg 28), and the Harmonic Magus adds her level to her bard level to determine her total bard level when using her bardic knowledge.
Harmonist's Music: A harmonic magus can use music or poetics to produce magical effects. Harmonist's music follows the same rules as bardic music (PHB, pg 29). Each use of harmonist's music costs one or two (given in description) uses of bardic music to activate. Harmonic magus levels stack with bard levels for purposes of determining how many daily uses of bardic music and harmonist's music the character has. Each harmonist's music ability requires a Perform check to function, if the check fails, the harmonic functions against the performer in a detrimental manner. Each harmonic also has a more powerful version, which requires two uses of harmonist's or bardic music to activate, and a perform check with a DC increased by 5. Saving throws against Harmonics are equal to 10+1/2 harmonic magus level+1/2 bard level+Cha modifier
{table=head]Level Gained|Harmonic name|Perform Ranks|Perform DC|Ability|Boosted Ability|Failure Penalty

1st|
The Sleeper|
9 ranks|
DC 17|Deep Slumber|Endless Slumber|Fatigued 2rnd/lvl

2nd|
The Thinker|
10 ranks|
DC 18|Insp. Comp. Variant|Imp. Insp. Comp. Variant|-4 Int 2rnd/lvl

3rd|
The Walker|
11 ranks|
DC 20|Otto's Imperitive Amb.|Otto's Irres. Dance|Movement reduced to 5ft/rnd for 5rnd

5th|
The Speaker|
13 ranks|
DC 22|Reveille|Shout|Silenced 5rnds

7th|
The Waker|
15 ranks|
DC 24|Insp. Courage Variant|Insp. Greatness|-4 Cha 2rnd/lvl

8th|
The Binder|
17 ranks|
DC 27|Charm Monster|Dominate Person|-4 Will saves,-4 Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Intimidate

10th|
The Weeper|
18 ranks|
DC 31|none|Karmic Aura, Backlash, & Retribution|Curse of Impending Blades and Curse of Ill fortune[/table]
The Sleeper: (Su) The music of Ranna brings slumber and slothfulness. When using the music of Ranna, the harmonist affects enemies within thirty feet of her as the spell Deep Slumber with the normal duration (1 min/bard CL) except that it affects HD up to 5+2/harmonic magus level. Spending two uses of harmonics or bardic music instead functions like the Endless Slumber spell, except that it affects up to 1 creature/2 lvls (maximum 5). Failure to correctly sound the Sleeper makes the user tired, fatiguing them for 2rnd/Harmonist lvl. (Mind-affecting)
The Thinker: (Su) The music of Belgaer brings insight to those successful in its intonation. When using the music of Belgaer, the harmonist affects allies as though using Inspire Competence, with a few differences: the harmonist can add a bonus of +1/two levels (Harmonists with this as a bard ability gain an additional 2 points), and this bonus can be split among a number of allies within 30 feet equal to 1/2 lvls (Max 5). 2 uses of music may be expended to make the bonus up to +1/lvl, though the number of targets affected is still 5 maximum. Failure to correctly intone the Thinker reduces the user's mental faculties, reducing their intellect by 4 for 2rnd/lvl. (Mind-affecting)
The Walker: (Su) The music of Kibeth moves people, whether they are willing to be moved or not. The harmonist affects a number of people equal to 1/2 class level with Otto's Imperative Ambulation, which lasts while the harmonist makes music, up to 1 minute and 3 rounds after the bard stops maintaining it. Expending 2 uses of music instead affects one creature that can hear and see the harmonist as the spell Otto's Irresistable Dance, which lasts while the harmonist makes music, up to 4 rounds. Failure to correctly play the Walker results in the harmonist's ability to move being taken away, reducing her speed to 5 feet/round for 5 rounds. (Mind-affecting)
The Speaker: (Su) The music of Dyrim gives voice to those who have none, especially the dead. The harmonist can create an effect like Reveille, but must concentrate on the spell for the 5 rounds it lasts. Expending two uses of music creates an effect like Greater Shout, but with a maximum damage of 15d6. Incorrectly sounding the Speaker results in the harmonist's voice being taken away, silencing her for 5 rounds. (Mind-affecting)
The Waker: (Su) The music of Mosrael awakens courage and fortitude in those that hear it. The harmonist affects her allies within 30 feet as though using Inspire Courage, with a few differences: the bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and on attack and weapon damage rolls is equal to 1+ an additional 1 every three levels after 1 (max 4 at 10th level). The bonus granted from the bard version stacks with this use when Mosrael is used. Expending two uses of music allows the harmonist to affect all allies within 20 feet as though using Inspire Greatness, except it grants a +1 bonus on all saving throws and a +1/2 lvls bonus on attack rolls. Both of these abilities last for as long as the allies are within range, and for 5 rounds afterward. Incorrectly applying the Waker results in the harmonist losing confidence, taking a -4 penalty to her Charisma score for 2rnd/level. (Mind-affecting)
The Binder: (Su) The music of Saraneth binds those who hear it to the will of the harmonist. The harmonist can produce an effect identical to Charm Monster against a single target within Short range who can hear the harmonist. This ability lasts while the harmonist makes music, up to 1 minute/harmonist level and 5 rounds afterward. Expending two uses intensifies the effect, producing an effect identical to Dominate Person against a single targe within Short range who can hear the harmonist. This ability lasts while the harmonist concentrates, up to 1 round/harmonist lvl and 2 rounds afterward. Failure to intone the Binder correctly results in the harmonist becoming weak-willed, taking a -4 penalty on Will Saves, and Bluff, Sense Motive, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks for 2rnd/level. (Mind-affecting)
The Weeper: (Su) The music of Astarael causes intense regret and sorrow for actions committed against allies. The harmonist must expend two uses of music to produce an effect identical to a combined Karmic Aura,Karmic Backlash, and Karmic Retribution either on herself or one ally within 30 feet. The effect lasts while the harmonist concentrates, up to 2rnd/level, and 2 rounds afterward, and the ally affected must be able to hear the harmonist. Failure to correctly sing the Sorrow impacts the harmonist with shattering woe. The harmonist (and the target, if the harmonist did not target herself) is considered under the effects of a Curse of Impending Blades and a Curse of Ill fortune for 2rnd/lvl. (Sonic)

Expanded Spell Knowledge: (Ex) At 2nd level, you can select one 0- or 1st-level spell from your non-bard arcane spell list and add it to the list of arcane spells known for the bard class, even if you can't yet cast spells of that level. (In case of which, the harmonist would know the spell but wouldn't be able to cast it until she had spell slots of the appropriate level). You can add another spell from your non-bard arcane spell list to your list of bard spells known every two levels thereafter. At 4th level, this can be a 0-, 1st-, or 2nd-level spell. At 6th level, this can be any spell of 3rd level or lower. At 8th level, this spell can be of 4th level or lower, and at 10th level it can be of 5th level or lower.

Bonus Spells: (Ex) The harmonic magus's knowledge of magic grants her the ability to cast more spells per day than the average bard. At 3rd level, she gains one additional 1st-level and 2nd-level bard spell slot. At 6th level, she gains one additional 3rd-level and 4th-level bard spell slot. At 9th level, she gains one additional 5th-level and 6th-level bard spell slot.

Combine Songs: (Ex) As the Seeker of the Song ability of the same name.

Subvocalize: (Ex) As the Seeker of the Song ability of the same name.
_________________________________________________

So then, edit away. I want to know whether this is balanced or not, I always got the sense that bards could use whatever we could give them, but I've never actually played one.

Ascension
2008-02-01, 09:21 PM
Right off the bat I can say that the word "Theurge" doesn't really apply to this class at all. Theurge implies the involvement of a deity, but this class doesn't have any divine casting ability. The name just doesn't fit.

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll
2008-02-01, 09:25 PM
First off, bonus's for adding Garth Nix references.

For the name, I would suggest something on the lines of Harmonic Mage. But where's the love for the melody? The alliteration in Melodic Mage is awesome...

Crunch-wise, looks good. Probably geared towards Bard/Sorcerer's, Correct?

On a tangent, I remember seeing someone trying to stat out Nix's books...

Innis Cabal
2008-02-01, 10:13 PM
i love it, mult-casters are great, and this one does not dissapoint

Stycotl
2008-02-01, 10:48 PM
expanded spell knowledge and bonus spells are especially cool for the bard. nice do. kudos.

Kai-Palin
2008-02-03, 04:50 PM
Thanks for the replies. On the note of Theurge though, I am sorry, I didn't do my research properly. But if Theurge does indeed involve references to a divinity, why did Wizards call that warlock/wizard an eldritch theurge?

Any idea on how to expand this to maybe a 13 or 15 level PrC? I really want to get some sort of 'Combine Musics' ability and make some synergistic effects for combining the songs. After all, this is supposed to be about harmonies.

Even just ideas about what certain combinations could do would be great.

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll
2008-02-03, 05:50 PM
WotC called the Eldritch Theurge that because they didn't do their research properly. :smallbiggrin: