This is a bard variant that relies on bringing paintings to life as opposed to aiding allies and hindering enemies with music.
The Master Painter
Artistic Expression: The Master Painter can bring his paintings to life. The Master Painter can use this ability for 4 rounds per day + his Intelligence modifier. Each level after first a Master Painter can use artisitic expression for 2 additional rounds per day. Each round, the Master Painter can produce any one of the types of artisitic expression that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.
Starting an artisitic expression is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. Changing an artisitic expression from one effect to another requires the Master Painter to stop the previous artisitic expression and start a new one as a standard action. An artisitic expression cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the Master Painter is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. A Master Painter cannot have more than one artisitic expression in effect at one time.
At 7th level, a Master Painter can start an artisitic expression as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a Master Painter can start an artisitic expression as a swift action.
Each artistic expression has a focus component that takes the form of a painting the Master Painter painted. This component costs 50 GP unless otherwise noted and must depict the object, area, or creature the Master Painter is creating and must be at least 1 square foot.
All artistic expression have a caster level equal to the master painters Craft (Paint) skill, when appropriate.
This replaces Bardic Performance.
Realism Painting (Sp): At first level, the Master Painter can replicate the effects of Summon Monster I or Summon Nature's Ally I with his artisitic expression. This effect lasts as long as he maintains the effect, as opposed to the spell's normal duration. This improves to Summon Monster II or Summon Nature's Ally II at 3rd level, Summon Monster III or Summon Nature's Ally III at 5th level, Summon Monster IV or Summon Nature's Ally IV at 7th level, Summon Monster V or Summon Nature's Ally V at 9th level, Summon Monster VI or Summon Nature's Ally VI at 11th level, Summon Monster VII or Summon Nature's Ally VII at 13th level, Summon Monster VIII or Summon Nature's Ally VIII at 15th level, and finally Summon Monster IX or Summon Nature's Ally IX at 17th level.
This replaces Counter Song, Distraction, Fascinate, Inspire Courage (all), Inspire Competence (all), and Inspire Greatness.
Still Life(Sp): At 8th level, the Master Painter can replicate the effects of the Minor Creation Spell with his artisitic expression. This effect lasts as long as he maintains the effect, as opposed to the spell's normal duration. At 12th level, this effect functions as Major Creation instead.
This replaces Dirge of Doom and Soothing Performance.
Landscape Painting(Sp): At 14th level, the Master Painter can paint a picture of a landscape (at least 15 square feet and worth 500gp) and use his artistic expression to bring it to life as per the lesser create demiplane spell. The painting itself functions as a portal to the demi-plane and the effect lasts as long as the master painter sustains the artisistic expression.
At 17th level, this can replicate the effects of the Create Demiplane spell instead, and you can activate it and sustain it multiple times to add features (as per the create demiplane spell). This requires a focus worth 500 gp per time you activate and sustain it simultaniously.
At 20thth level, this can replicate the effects of the Greater Create Demiplane spell instead, and you can activate it and sustain it multiple times to add features (as per the greater create demiplane spell). This requires a focus worth 500 gp per time you activate and sustain it simultaniously.
This replaces Suggestion, Mass Sugestion, Inspire Heroics, and Deadly Performance.
Spellcasting: The Master Painter can cast one less spell per day of each level he has access to. The Master Painter's primary spellcasting attribute is Intelligence instead of Charisma.
Please post comments/suggestions.
It seems a tad weak. The amount you gain for giving up all your usual performances is pretty low, and not even that good. Create Demiplane for at most 5 minutes? Pah.
Have you ever played Okami? Perhaps they can get something where "the world is their canvas", and they can draw things like giant force blades to attack enemies. Basically, they need more things to offset the loss of all those performances. I'd go so far as to say some non-performance things too.
Plus, does he have to carry an easel around with him everywhere? Maybe give him something like Marvelous Pigments.
I don't think that deserves diminished spellcasting.
It seems a tad weak.
...
I don't think that deserves diminished spellcasting.
I agree. I wouldn't alter the spellcasting.
The powers are pretty good, but I would add a few more. Scrying, Teleportation (stepping through the painting), Limited Wish (by painting the reality they wish), etc.
It wouldn't be a very good adventuring class, but I think this would be a fantastic villain. Sitting high up in his fortress remaking reality...
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This is a bard variant that relies on bringing paintings to life as opposed to aiding allies and hindering enemies with music.
The Master Painter
Artistic Expression: The Master Painter can bring his paintings to life. The Master Painter can use this ability for 4 rounds per day + his Intelligence modifier. Each level after first a Master Painter can use artisitic expression for 2 additional rounds per day. Each round, the Master Painter can produce any one of the types of artisitic expression that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.Starting an artisitic expression is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. Changing an artisitic expression from one effect to another requires the Master Painter to stop the previous artisitic expression and start a new one as a standard action. An artisitic expression cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the Master Painter is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. A Master Painter cannot have more than one artisitic expression in effect at one time.
At 7th level, a Master Painter can start an artisitic expression as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a Master Painter can start an artisitic expression as a swift action.
Each artistic expression has a focus component that takes the form of a painting the Master Painter painted. This component costs 50 GP unless otherwise noted and must depict the object, area, or creature the Master Painter is creating and must be at least 1 square foot.
All artistic expression have a caster level equal to the master painters Craft (Paint) skill, when appropriate.This replaces Bardic Performance.
Realism Painting (Sp): At first level, the Master Painter can replicate the effects of Summon Monster I or Summon Nature's Ally I with his artisitic expression. This effect lasts as long as he maintains the effect, as opposed to the spell's normal duration. This improves to...
I agree with a lot of what was said above. Some changes I would suggest:
-Leave the Bard's spell progression and spells per day alone, they get few enough as it is.-for the Summon effects, require a Swift Action each round to alter the painting of the creature, allowing him to control it. It would only require a quick swipe of his brush across the canvas, but it would also require the painter to stay within range of the painting (if, say, he had quickly painted the creature on a wall, he would have to stay within 5 feet of that wall). This ability also shouldn't replace Inspire Courage, because I have an idea for a replacement for that one next.
-Inspiring Portrait (Sp): At first level, the Master Painter can create a small drawing/painting of himself or an ally. These need only be a few square inches. As a standard action, he can begin altering the portrait, drawing a magical item on one of the magic item slots for that person. Only one item can be painted onto a single person's portrait at a given time. This ability then gives a bonus to that person based on the item slot used, as shown below:
--Shield: The painter grants himself or an ally a +2 shield bonus to AC by drawing a shield on that person's portrait. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this shield bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +6 at 20th level. The affected person does not need to actually wield the invisible shield to gain its effect.
--Headband: The painter grants himself or an ally a +2 bonus to all skill checks by drawing a headband of skillfulness on that person's portrait. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +6 at 20th level.
--Boots: The painter grants himself or an ally a bonus to his movement speed equal to +5ft by drawing boots of speed on that person's portrait. At 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, this speed bonus increases by +5 feet to a maximum of +25ft at 20th level.
--Cloak: The painter grants himself or an ally a +2 bonus to a single saving throw (chosen by the painter) by drawing a cloak of resistance on that person's portrait. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +6 at 20th level.
--Hat: The painter can replicate a disguise self spell on hismelf or an ally by painting a hat of disguise on that person's portrait. The affected creature may determine how they look, and for all other purposes is treated as the caster of the spell, though the Will save DC for recognizing the illusion is based on the painter's Craft(paint) skill as normal.
--Staff: The painter grants himself or an ally a +1 bonus on his or her caster level when using any spells or spell-like abilites, by drawing a wizard's staff on the person's portrait. At 10th level, this bonus increases to +2, and at 20th level it increases to +3. This bonus only affects caster level, and does not grant any extra spells per day.
This ability replaces Inspire courage, Inspire competence, and Inspire greatness.
Finally, adding the ability to paint a landscape that already exists and be able to effectively teleport your party there by walking through the painting would make Landscape Painting much more useful. I'd say you should just scrap the Create Demiplane idea from it and make it so that he can paint any area he has seen before and can remember, and then (as long as there is no magic effect barring teleportation into that place) he can move through the painting, which would create an identical painting on the other side that could be moved through freely. Instead of this being an Artistic Expression, you could just say that he can make one of these paintings per day and it lasts up to his level number of hours, and the connection between the two paintings can be ended as a free action on his part. At higher levels, he could paint in features that would become reality for as long as the portal is open. Here's how I would write it:
-Landscape Painting: At 14th level, the Master Painter can paint a picture of a known location on his home plane (at least 15 square feet and worth 500gp) and use his artistic expression to create a portal to that location (as long as no magic effects would prevent teleportation to that place). When the painter or an ally steps into his landscape painting, a mirrored painting appears in the designated location which that person steps out of, effectively teleporting to that location.
At 17th level, the Master Painter can begin to alter the location in his landscape painting. He may add any one of the following effects when he creates his landscape painting:
-Alter the ground or floor, effectively changing the terrain in a 50 foot radius around the created portal. (See ranger favored terrains for options)
-Alter a wall, floor or ceiling, creating a doorway or hole. This doorway or hole has no effect if there is no place to go on the other side of the wall (for example if there is no room through the wall, only stone or earth, this has no effect)
-Create a new wall of up to 10 square feet, for example to block a hallway or tunnel.
-Create other effects at the DM's discretion.
At 20th level, the painter may choose to make his painting/portal permanent, as if using a permanency spell. He may also create portals to other planes using his Landscape Painting ability.
What do you guys think?
I was afraid I was over powering it by giving him more direct combat abilities. I will take your suggestions and work up an updated archetype.
Updated!
The Master Painter
Artistic Expression: The Master Painter can bring his paintings to life or use them to alter reality. The Master Painter can use this ability for 2 rounds per day + his Intelligence modifier. Each level after first a Master Painter can use artisitic expression for 1 additional rounds per day. Each round, the Master Painter can produce any one of the types of artisitic expression that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.
Using an artisitic expression is a standard action. In order to use an artistic expression, the master painter must have artisians tools (painting supplies) and a surface to paint on. The spell book will sufice for the second requirement for most artistic expressions.
All artistic expression have a caster level equal to the master painter's ranks in the Craft (Painting) skill, when appropriate.
The master painter gains access to new artistic expressions based on their class level, as noted in the descriptions of the abilities.
Artistic expression and all of it's derivatives replace bardic performance and all of it's derivatives.
Level 1:
Painting Exercises (Sp): The master painter learns the most basic techniques of his craft. He can use summon monster 1 after using artisitic expression for 1 round. He can also adjust the light level in a 20 ft radious burst at any point that he has line of sight to within close range. He can adjust it up or down one step for each round of artisitic expression he uses, up to a maximum of normal light and down to a minimum of darkness.
Level 3:
Lesser Painting Alteration(Sp): The master painter can use wood shape after 2 rounds of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 5:
Greater Painting Alteration(Sp): The master painter can use Stone shape after 2 rounds of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 6:
Lesser Still Life(Sp): The master painter can use Minor creation after 2 rounds of continous use of artisitic expression. He must subsitute a Craft (Painting) skill check for any relavent craft checks to create the desired item or items.
Level 7:
Unreal Made Real I(Sp): The master painter can use shadow conjuration after 1 round of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 8:
Greater Still Life(Sp): The master painter can use Major creation after 2 rounds of continous use of artisitic expression. He must subsitute a Craft (Painting) skill check for any relavent craft checks to create the desired item or items.
Level 9:
Unreal Made Real II(Sp): The master painter can use shadow evocation after 1 round of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 11:
Lesser Paint Portal(Sp): The master painter can spend 3 rounds of continous artistic expression to paint a location (the painting must be at least 15 square feet). This painting then becomes a 1 way portal to the painted location (as per the teleport spell, including the chance to arrive off target). Unlike the teleport spell, the portal remains active for a number of rounds equal to the master painter's ranks in craft (painting), but he can dismiss it a free action on his turn from anywhere.
Level 12:
Unreal Made Real III(Sp): The master painter can use greater shadow conjuration after 1 round of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 14:
Landscape Painting(Sp): The master painter can paint any location he has line of sight to and alter it. This functions as the hallucinatory terrain spell except as follows. The effect lasts for only 1 minute per point of his craft (painting) check and is a transmutation (polymorphing) effect as opposed to an illusion. The master painter must decide what the new terrain will be when he starts painting and can specify terrain features. This ability can (and will) change what type of terrain it is for the purpose of effects and abilities, such as the ranger's favored terrain class feature. This ability requires 4 continous rounds of artistic expertise.
Level 15:
Unreal Made Real IV(Sp): The master painter can use greater shadow evocation after 1 round of continous use of artisitic expression.
Level 17:
Lesser Paint Portal(Sp): The master painter can spend 4 rounds of continous artistic expression to paint a location (the painting must be at least 15 square feet). This painting then becomes a 2 way portal to the painted location (as per the teleport without error spell). Unlike the teleport spell, the portal remains active for a number of rounds equal to the master painter's ranks in craft (painting), but he can dismiss it a free action on his turn from anywhere. Alternatively, the portal can replicate the effects of a gate spell, but only for planar travel and it uses the above duration.
Level 20:
Paint Reality: The master painter can spend 5 rounds of continous artistic expression to paint an ideal reality. This functions as per the limited wish or wish spell, and requires expensive paints equal to the material component cost of the replicated spell (which are consumed as material components).
Adaptive painting(Ex): 1/day at 2nd level, and 1 additional time per day every 4 levels thereafter, the master painter can subsitute any one skill check with a craft (painting) check. This represents a deeper understanding of the task at hand gained through his paintings.
This replaces Versatile Performance.
Spellcasting: The master painter uses Intelligence as his primary spell casting stat, instead of charisma.
i love the concept however i can see why you choose bard seems like your replaceing about everything at this point though
i love the concept however i can see why you choose bard seems like your replaceing about everything at this point though
I know what you mean...They still have spell list, spells per day, spells known and most things related to skills however.
Makes me want to make Relm...
Class seems pretty cool, I'll try to take a better look at it when I have a chance.
I love this idea. I guess Bard is the most obvious choice for it, although maybe more for NPCs. Not sure my party would stick around while the Bard whipped up a quick Rembrandt. And that's a point, what scope for a Master Forger?
