Hey there everyone, we just started Rise of the Runelords and I am playing a multiclass Barbarian/Savage Bard (variant from Unearthed Arcana).
I am looking to make a prestige class to represent a Shoanti skald and could use some ideas or a point in the right direction if anyone has made a skald prestige class before.
My thoughts for a ten level prestige class are as follows:
Prereqs: ability to Rage, Bardic Music, BAB 4(This would make the prestige class available at 6th level)
Progression: full BAB, Good Will saves, Bad Fort & Reflex, levels stack with barbarian for purposes of determining rage/day, levels stack with bard for ALL bardic music effects, spellcasting improves at every even level
It would be cool if new bardic music effects replaced the standard inspire competence, suggestion and such. Something like a shared rage song, since this class if for a battle leader type.
The shared rage idea is a good one. Maybe start it at a 10 ft radius centered on you, bumping to 20 ft then 30 ft as the class advances.
Another suggestion would be to look at the Ironskin Chant feat from the Complete Adventurer. While not OGL, it's a nice little ability that lets you turn bardic music into DR, something a Shoanti skald would find very useful. I'm not suggesting "At level 3, you gain 'Ironskin Chant' as a bonus feat", but perhaps butchering the feat and taking the useful elements and applying a different name to them. Of course, if your're not concerned about OGL, simply grant it as a bonus feat.
Finally, how about a mass demoralize effect? A raging Shoanti singing the ways he'll break my bones with his earthbreaker? Yeah, me and my bandit buddies are more than a bit scared.
Thanks, I already plan to take intimidating strike so intimidating foes is a main part of this character's flavor. I don't know that most characters would have DR at all when reaching this prestige class, so I may have to look for something other than the ironskin chant.
My thoughts for a ten level prestige class are as follows:
Prereqs: ability to Rage, Bardic Music, BAB 4(This would make the prestige class available at 6th level)
Progression: full BAB, Good Will saves, Bad Fort & Reflex, levels stack with barbarian for purposes of determining rage/day, levels stack with bard for ALL bardic music effects, spellcasting improves at every even level
It would be cool if new bardic music effects replaced the standard inspire competence, suggestion and such. Something like a shared rage song, since this class if for a battle leader type.
I don't think there's a PrC that grants all of that. That's a very powerful combination of abilities!
You may want to look at the War Chanter PrC in Complete Warrior. It provides full BAB and Bardic Music progression (with some alternate effects). It does not grant additional rages or spell use, however.
Another option is to modify the Rage Mage PrC (also in Complete Warrior). It provides additional rage uses, spell progression, plus some special abilities to cast spells in a rage-like state. It does not provide Bardic Music progression, however, and the BAB is +3/4 levels.
You may also want to consider adapting the following PrC I developed (in combination with making the Savage Bard a Divine Bard, as well), substituting Gorum for Kord and changing the alignment prerequisite to CN:
Spellrager of Kord
A spellrager is a divine caster that channels the furious power of his deity to enhance his spellcasting with his rage ability. Most are barbarian/cleric worshipers of Kord, although barbarian/rangers are not unknown.
Requirements
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Concentration 8 ranks, Intimidate 5 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 5 ranks
Feat: Combat Casting
Spells: Able to cast 2nd level divine spells
Special: Rage or frenzy ability
Special: Must have Kord as a patron deity
Hit Dice: d10
Skills: Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Perform (Weapon Drill) (Cha), Spellcraft (Int), and Swim (Str). Skill Points per level-- 4 + Int modifier.
Advancement:
Base Attack Bonus: +1 per level
Saving Throws: Fortitude is a good save, Reflex and Will are poor saves
1st- Furious Casting
2nd- +1 level of divine spellcasting
3rd- Rage +1 use/day
4th- +1 level of divine spellcasting
5th- Fearsome Fury
6th- +1 level of divine spellcasting
7th- Rage +1 use/day
8th- +1 level of divine spellcasting
9th- Tireless Rage
10th- Spell Fury, +1 level of divine spellcasting
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Spellragers do not gain any proficiencies with weapons and armor, but can use any weapons or armor with which they are already proficient.
Furious Casting (Su): Drawing on the fury of their patron, spellragers gain the ability to cast divine spells while in a rage or frenzy. In addition, all spells cast while in a rage or frenzy use the spellrager's character level as the caster level for determining effects, spell penetration, etc.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: When an even-numbered level is gained, the spellrager gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had gained a level in whatever divine spellcasting class he had before gaining spellrager levels. He does not gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If the character had more than one divine spellcasting class in which he could cast 2nd level spells, he must decide at each even level which class to improve.
Rage (Ex): At 3rd level, and again at 7th, the spellrager gains one additional use of rage or frenzy per day.
Fearsome Fury (Su): At 5th level, the spellrager strikes fear in the hearts of his enemies. On entering a rage or frenzy, the spellrager makes an Intimidate check. All foes that enter a 30 ft. radius while the rage lasts must make a Will save with a DC equal to the result of the Intimidate check or become shaken for 1d4+1 rounds (or the duration of the rage, whichever is longer). If the spellrager has at least 5 ranks in Perform (Weapon Drill), he gains a +2 synergy bonus on the Intimidate check. This is a mind-affecting, fear-based effect.
Tireless Rage (Ex): At 9th level and higher, a spellrager no longer becomes fatigued at the end of his rage.
Spell Fury (Su): At 10th level, a spellrager can cast a spell of 4th level or below as a swift action when raging, as if he had used the Quicken Spell feat, but without adjusting the spell's level. He may use this ability once during each rage.
OK, so I did a full prestige class build and I have been told it is too strong, can someone tone this down for me?
I realize the term "Shoanti Thundercaller" may be the property of Paizo.
Shoanti Thundercaller
Hit Die: d8
Requirements: To qualify to become a Shoanti Thundercaller, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: any nonlawful
Base Attack Bonus: 7
Skills: Perform (oratory) - 12 ranks
Spells: Ability to cast arcane spells of 2nd level or higher
Special: Ability to Rage, Bardic Music
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex)
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier
Table: The Shoanti Thundercaller
Level BAB Fort Reflex Will Special,Spells per Day
1st 1 2 0 2 Bardic Music, Bardic Knowledge
2nd 2 3 0 3 +1 level of existing class
3rd 3 3 1 3 Rage 1/day
4th 4 4 1 4 +1 level of existing class
5th 5 4 1 4 Intimidating song
6th 6 5 2 5 +1 level of existing class
7th 7 5 2 5 Rage 2/day
8th 8 6 2 6 +1 level of existing class
9th 9 6 3 6 Battlecry
10th 10 7 3 7 Tireless Rage,+1 level of existing class
Class Features: All of the following are Class Features of the Shoanti Thundercaller Prestige class
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shoanti Thundercallers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day: When a new Shoanti Thundercaller level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained, except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an arcane trickster, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
Bardic Music: Levels of Shoanti Thundercaller stack with levels of bard for purposes of determining uses per day of Bardic Music.
Bardic Knowledge: Levels of Shoanti Thundercaller stack with levels of bard for purposes of determining class level for Bardic Knowledge checks.
Rage (Ex): A Shoanti Thundercaller can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. This is identical to the Barbarian’s Rage ability. Daily uses of Rage gained from levels of Shoanti Thundercaller stack with daily uses of Rage gained from previous classes.
Intimidating Song (Su): A Shoanti Thundercaller of 5th level with 18 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to intimidate a chosen foe. To use intimidating song, a Shoanti Thundercaller makes a perform check. The result of this roll is used as the DC for an intimidate check to demoralize all opponents within 30 feet. Anyone who fails is shaken for the duration of the encounter. Intimidating Song may be used only once per encounter and consumes one daily use of Bardic Music.
Battlecry (Su): A Shoanti Thundercaller of 9th level with 22 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to rally his allies (including himself). To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the Shoanti Thundercaller perform. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the Shoanti Thundercaller perform and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally gains 2 temporary hit points/per 1 rank in perform of the Shoanti Thundercaller and an extra attack per round at his highest base attack bonus. This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a weapon of speed or by the haste spell). Battlecry consumes one daily use of Bardic Music.
Tireless Rage (Ex): At 10th level and higher, a Shoanti Thundercaller no longer becomes fatigued at the end of his rage.