The Stratocaster [Prestige Class]

[Maerok]

The Stratocaster


Rock on!

Prerequisites:
Bardic Music class feature
Perform (String Instrument) 8 ranks
Extra Bardic Music feat

HD: d6
Class Skills: Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points: 6 + Int modifier

{table=head]Level|Base Attack<br>Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|

+0

|

+0

|

+2

|

+2

|Stratocasting; Behold my Axe|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

2nd|

+1

|

+0

|

+3

|

+3

|Power Stance; Repertoire|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

3rd|

+2

|

+1

|

+3

|

+3

|Iron Ears; Sonic Boom|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

4th|

+3

|

+1

|

+4

|

+4

|Riff; Repertoire|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

5th|

+3

|

+1

|

+4

|

+4

|Crowd Surf; Guitar Smash|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

6th|

+4

|

+2

|

+5

|

+5

|Cover Band; Repertoire|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

7th|

+5

|

+2

|

+5

|

+5

|Opening Act|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

8th|

+6

|

+2

|

+6

|

+6

|The Universal Language; Repertoire|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

9th|

+6

|

+3

|

+6

|

+6

|Enter the Freebird|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

10th|

+7

|

+3

|

+7

|

+7

|Guitar Hero; Repertoire|+1 level of existing spellcasting class [/table]

Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The stratocaster gains no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.

Stratocasting: Whenever you cast a bard spell, make a Perform (String Instrument) check against a DC of 10 + 4 x spell level. For every 5 points you succeed, the spell gains a +1 bonus to caster level. This spell gains verbal and somatic components and cannot be affected by Still Spell or Silent Spell metamagics. This cannot be used in areas of magical silence.

Behold my Axe: You may use a masterwork string instrument as a masterwork battle axe; you are proficient in using it as well. It may be enchanted, and any enchantment bonus to attack and damage it receives overlaps with the +2 bonus it grants to Perform (String Instrument) checks (a +3 version grants a +3 bonus; but a +1 version still grants a +2 bonus).

Power Stance: You gain a +4 bonus to Concentration checks and Intimidate.

Repertoire: Add a new spell to your spells known, from the Sorcerer/Wizard spell list, of the highest level you can cast. This choice is permanent. It must be from the school of evocation, enchantment, or have the sonic descriptor.

Iron Ears: You gain sonic resistance equal to 5 plus your class levels.

Sonic Boom: Any spell you cast with the sonic descriptor deals 1 damage per spell level to any enemy it affects.

Riff: You may cast a spell while using a bardic music effect without interrupting it once per day per class level.

Crowd Surf: While in a crowd (see 'City Streets' section of Urban Adventures), you gain a +4 bonus when trying to direct a crowd. You may also make a DC 30 Perform (String Instruments) check to crowd surf and move up to 20 feet within the crowd or to its nearest edge, whichever is a shorter distance, once per round as a free action as your first action that turn. It costs you nothing to enter a crowd (usually it takes two squares of movement).

Guitar Smash: Once per day, you may use your ranks in Perform (String Instrument) in place of your base attack bonus. Any damage dealt by the instrument is bludgeoning. If you threaten a critical hit on any of the attacks, you may choose to sacrifice the instrument in order to confirm all critical hits; doing so also increases the base damage by 2 plus its enhancement bonus. The instrument is irreversibly destroyed and you can only take a move action next round if this happens.

Cover Band: If affected by a spell of your highest spell level or lower, make a Perform (String Instruments) check opposed by the spell's caster level check. If you succeed, you gain that spell as if you had chosen it with Repertoire for a number of rounds equal to your class level.

Opening Act: The first bardic music effect your use in an encounter does not count against your uses per day and gains a +2 bonus to DC where applicable.

The Universal Language: Your spells and bardic music effects are no longer language dependent.

Enter the Freebird: Any spell you cast with the sonic descriptor or the Riff class ability gains the benefit of Extend Spell for free.

Guitar Hero: You gain a +2 bonus to all Perform checks, a +2 bonus to all saves, and a +2 bonus to Charisma. Your type becomes Outsider and you gain DR 10/magic and immunity to sonic energy damage.

[ErrantX]

I don't know about its game balance, but damn this is awesome! *throws up the horns*

Crowd surf is a little unwieldy as what defines a crowd in D&D? Outside of DM fiat, there is not a rule for it. You may want to rewrite the mechanic a little bit to clarify that or simply state when your square is surrounded on all 8 sides and at least two to four deep with obstacles and creatures, perhaps?

Cover Band is nifty, but the mechanic for when it is used is a little clunky. Change it perhaps to not being hit by it but just witnessing it and restrict its school usage, like in Repertoire, and say max level is 6? I dunno, I understand it as written, it's just a little clunky. Might just be me.

Love this though, rock :D

-X