First, I want to appologize in advance if this is the wrong forum for a question like this, didnt know if it belonged here or in the advice section.
Now to the question, what do the sandman's lvl 9 ability dramatic subtext give that I can't get at lvl 1 with the new UM feat Spellsong ?
"Spellsong
You can blend the power of your performance and spellcasting.
Prerequisites: Cha 13, bardic performance class ability, able to cast 1st-level spells.
Benefit: You can combine your bardic performance and your spellcasting in two ways. First, you can conceal the activity of casting a bard spell by masking it in a performance. As a swift action, you may combine your casting time of a spell with a Perform check. Observers must make a Perception or Sense Motive check opposed by your Perform check to realize you are also casting a spell. This uses 1 round of your bardic performance ability, regardless of the spell's casting time."
and Dramatic Subtext:
"Dramatic Subtext (Su): At 9th level, a sandman can use bardic performance to cast spells without obvious visual or audible components while retaining the spell’s normal effects. Observers must succeed at a Perception check opposed by a sandman’s Sleight of Hand check to notice that the sandman is the source of the spellcasting (though spellcasting still provokes attacks of opportunity). The bard must use this performance for at least 2 rounds before casting a spell; otherwise he is automatically detected and the performance ends.This ability replaces inspire greatness."
My understanding of this is that if I use dramatic subtext, my bard will have to stand around singing for 2 rounds before geting his hidden spell, but if I use the feat I could cast the spell instantly ?
I'm reading this the same as you are. (Well, not "instantly", but with whatever the casting time of the spell is, plus a swift action to add the Perform check.)
It looks like the feat is strictly better than the Sandman class ability.
I'm also looking at the description of the class ability, and wondering what "obvious visual or audible components" actually means in game terms. There's somatic and verbal components, but if they meant these, why didn't the authors state them by the actual terms. There's visual and audible effects (like Shout - "You emit an ear-splitting yell that deafens and damages creatures in its path." which would seem to be very hard to conceal "WAS THAT LOUD NOISE A SPELL???" "NO, JUST INVENTING HEAVY METAL MUSIC!!!"), but those aren't components.
Based on what you quoted then yes. The difference is that the sandman does not need to spend a feat and gets to use that feat for some other purpose. The drawback is he has to spend two rounds.
This is a good distinction. I'm not sure which I would prefer to give up, the feat, or the class ability. (or all of the class abilities that come with being a straight bard, rather than a Sandman) Both have merits. The sandman, in giving up Inspire Courage, Suggestion, Inspire Greatness, Heroics, Bardic Knowledge, Versatile Performance, Inspire Competence and Loremaster is almost an entirely different class than what I think of as a bard. (not better or worse, simply different. From what I've read in APG, it might be one of the largest deviations from it's base class in the game.)
Great. Now I want to play one just to see how it goes...