Bardic Lore
It is well known that bards have the unique ability to perform magical abilities to influence and affect others (and themselves) with their talent.
Magical Bardic Abilities:
Once per day per Bardic level a bard can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). Each of these abilities requires both a minimum bard level and a minimum number of ranks in the perform skill to qualify. Starting a bardic effect is a standard action, and continuing a bardic effect is a standard action per round (unless otherwise stated). Even if concentration isn’t necessary, while in effect the bard cannot cast spells, activate magical items, or use other bardic abilities.
Take 10 allowed, take 20 not allowed.
Standard Abilities:
The PHB lists the Bardic Abilities all bards start with.
Countersong (ex)
Bard Level: 1st
Perform Rank: 3 (diff 13)
Concentration: No
Perform Time: 1 standard action per round
Maximum Duration: 10 consecutive rounds
Area of Effect: 30 feet
Saving Throw: no
Effect: Replace saving throw vrs. Sound based attacks with the bard’s perform check.
Fascinate (sp)
Bard Level: 1st
Perform Rank: 3 (diff 13)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action per round
Maximum Duration: 1 rnd/level
Area of Effect: 90 feet; 1 target at 1st level +1/3 levels thereafter (4th, 7th, 10th, etc…)
Saving Throw: Will
Effect: Target sits and focuses on bard, -4 to checks. Only an obvious threat will break the spell.
Inspire Courage (su)
Bard Level: 1st
Perform Rank: 3 (diff 13)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action per round
Maximum Duration: As long as performs +5 rnds
Area of Effect: All allies who can hear the bard
Saving Throw: no
Effect: +1 morale bonus to attacks, damage rolls, and saves vrs charm and fear affects. At 8th level and every 6 levels thereafter this increase by +1. (8th +2; 14th +3 ; 20th +4)
Inspire Competence (su)
Bard Level: 3rd
Perform Rank: 6 (diff 16)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action per round
Maximum Duration: 2 minutes
Area of Effect: 1 ally in 30 feet who can hear the bard and the bard can see
Saving Throw: no
Effect: +2 competence bonus on a particular skill.
Suggestion (sp)
Bard Level: 6th
Perform Rank: 9 (diff 19)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action, as part of fascinate
Maximum Duration: see spell description
Area of Effect: 1 creature under effect of fascinate ability
Saving Throw: Will (DC 10 +1/2 Bard level + Cha mod)
Effect: Suggestion as the spell. This doesn’t use up one of the bards use of Bardic Abilities per day.
Inspire Greatness (su)
Bard Level: 9th
Perform Rank: 12 (diff 22)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action per round
Maximum Duration: As long as performs + 5 rnds
Area of Effect: self or 1 ally in 30 feet who can hear the bard; plus one ally per 3 levels beyond 9th (12th 2; 15th 3, etc…)
Saving Throw: no
Effect: +2d10 hit dice (include con bonus), +2 competence bonus to attacks, +1 competence bonus to fortitude
Song of Freedom (su)
Bard Level: 12th
Perform Rank: 15 (diff 25)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 minute uninterrupted
Maximum Duration: none
Area of Effect: single target within 30 feet
Saving Throw: no
Effect: As Break Enchantment spell with caster level equal to Bard’s level.
Inspire Heroics (su)
Bard Level: 15th
Perform Rank: 18 (diff 28)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 full round action per round
Maximum Duration: As long as performs + 5 rnds
Area of Effect: self or 1 ally in 30 feet who can hear the bard; plus one ally per 3 levels beyond 15th (18th 2; 21st 3, etc…)
Saving Throw: no
Effect: +4 morale bonus to saves and +4 dodge bonus to AC.
Mass Suggestion (sp)
Bard Level: 18th
Perform Rank: 21 (diff 31)
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 standard action, as part of fascinate
Maximum Duration: see spell description
Area of Effect: any number already fascinated
Saving Throw: Will (DC 10 +1/2 Bard level + Cha mod)
Effect: Mass Suggestion as the spell. This doesn’t use up one of the bards use of Bardic Abilities per day.
Non-Standard Abilities:
The Bardic Abilities listed below must be learned by the bard through his travels. He must take the time to learn the stories and then must learn or create the inspiration music/story to use the ability. This requires a Peform check, and only one check may be made per round for each ability.
Rally (su)
Bard Level: 2nd
Perform Rank: 5 (diff 15)
Difficulty to learn: 20
Concentration: Yes
Perform Time: 1 hour
Maximum Duration: 1 day
Area of Effect: All allies who can hear the bard
Saving Throw: no
Effect: Morale bonus to attacks, damage rolls, and saves vrs charm and fear affects based on perform roll. The higher the Perform check the better the results:
Roll Morale bonus
15 +1
20 +2
25 +3
30 +4
35 +5
IDEAS:
Come up with specific stories, legends, tunes, songs, ballads, tales, themes, odes, hymns, etc… for these effects
Come up with more abilities:
Inspire (Perform time 1 hour, duration 1 day)
Heal
Endure
Empower (increased magical power)
War-Tunes
Encourage
Meta-Magic abilities
Character specific (Super Heroism)
Rules of thumb:
A skill roll must be made vrs a DC based on the intended effect.
The longer the perform time the longer the duration after done.
The Higher the rank required, the bigger benefit
New Feats:
Refrain
Combine Songs
Subvocalize
Refrain: In any round when a bard is performing musically and concentrating on a bardic ability she can expend another use of bardic abilities as a swift action to add a refrain to the song. A refrain can, in some cases, enhance the power of the effect.
Combine Songs:
Subvocalize: