Hey all.
I know that this conversation has been done to death (possibly almost literally) but my favorite character of all time has always been a Bladesinger from the old 2e, and so I'm always looking to find new ways to bring out the best in this class (in as balanced a means as possible, of course).
I stumbled on a rendition that was done up in these forums by Gambit (http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinder RPG/conversions/pathfinderBladesingerPrestigeClass&page=1&source=se arch#0).
There was a couple things that I didn't quite agree with, so I went back to the versions they did for 3/3.5, and made some comparisons. A few tweaks here, a couple changes there, and this is what I've come up with, based on Gambit's model.
Let me know what you think. Friendly suggestions are always welcome. :)
Bladesinger
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
Race: Elf or Half-Elf.
Base Attack Bonus: +5.
Skills: Acrobatics 2 rank, Perform (dance) 2 rank
Feats: Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Weapon Focus (Any light or one-handed melee weapon), Still Spell.
Spells: Able to cast arcane spells of 1st level.
Class Skills
The Bladesinger's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perform (Cha), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Bladesinger prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Bladesingers gain no proficiency with any weapon. They gain proficiency with light armor but not with shields.
Spells per day: At every level except 1st, 5th, and 9th the Bladesinger gains additional spellcasting level, spells per day, and spells known (if he is a spontaneous caster) as if he had also gained a level in one arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding levels in bladesinger. He does not gain any other benefits a character of that class would have gained upon reaching a new level.
Bladesong Combat Style: Starting at 1st level the Bladesinger can initiate the graceful and deadly dance known as the bladesong. He gains the following benefits while bladesinging, a +1 to attack, damage, and CMB with any melee attack using his chosen weapon, a +1 bonus to concentration checks made to cast defensively, and a +1 bonus to AC and CMD. At each odd level he gains an additional +1 to his attack, damage, CMB, and concentration checks made to cast defensively (to a maximum of +5 at 9th level; AC and CMD bonuses may not exceed Intelligence bonus). To initiate the bladesong, which costs a free action, the Bladesinger must have his chosen weapon in one hand and and nothing in the other and be wearing light or no armor. Starting at 1st level the bladesong can be used for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + Dexterity modifier, each level after 1st he can use the bladesong for an additional 2 rounds per day. At the end of the bladesong he is fatigued for twice the number of rounds he spent bladesinging.
Weapon Mastery: A Bladesinger chooses to use one type of weapon (such as longsword, heavy mace, battle axe, etc) to the exclusion of all others. This must be a light or one-handed melee weapon in which he has the Weapon Focus feat (swords are most common, but any qualifying weapon type is allowed; see requirements above). A Bladesinger may treat this chosen weapon as if he had the Weapon Finesse feat, even if its weapon type wouldn't normally benefit from the feat. Once selected this cannot be changed, and from this point forward whenever he uses any other melee weapon than that of his chosen weapon type, he receives a -2 to attack rolls (spells are not affected).
Lesser Spellsong: Due to his intensive training with both sword and magic, the Bladesinger can wear light armor with no chance of arcane spell failure while using his Bladesong Combat Style.
Song of Channeling: While using his Bladsong Combat Style, a 2nd-level Bladesinger can use cast and deliver a touch spell spell through his chosen weapon as part of a standard attack action. Casting a spell in this manner does not provoke an attack of opportunity. At 5th-level he can cast a touch spell as part of a full attack action while bladesinging, the spell affects each target he hits in melee combat that round and is discharged at the end of the round.
Song of Celerity: At 3rd level, while in his bladesong and making an attack or full attack action, a Bladesinger may cast one spell of up to 2nd-level as a swift action, as if using the Quicken Spell feat, without increasing its effective level or casting time. At 7th-level he may use this ability to cast up to 4th-level spells, and at 10th-level he may use it on up to 6th-level spells. He can use this ability once per day at 3rd level and one additional time per day at levels 7 and 10, to a total of 3 times per day.
Bonus Feat: At 4th-level, and again at 8th, a Bladesinger gains a bonus feat that must be chosen from the list of Combat Feats.
Greater Spellsong: At 6th-level, the Bladesinger's ability to cast in light armor improves. He may do so at any time, not just while using the Bladesong Combat Style.
Song of Power: At 9th-level, the Bladesinger channel a touch spell through his weapon to more easily overcome the spell resistance of an opponent. When using the Song of Channeling ability, the Bladesinger may choose to recieve a +2 to attempt to overcome any spell resistance. If he succeeds, the spell cast does not have it's normal effect. Instead, any resistance of the creature's associated with the type of spell used (cold, fire, acid, etc) are temporarily disabled for as many rounds as half the level of the spell used, rounded down (minimum 1). Immunities to elements or magic in general are not effected in this way. This ability only works while using the Bladesong Combat Style.
Bladesong Mastery: A 10th-level Bladesinger becomes a master of his deadly artform. He is longer fatigued after his bladesong expires. Furthermore, while using the Bladesong Combat Style he may choose to make one additional attack each round at his highest base attack bonus, when using the full-attack action. This attack and all others are at a -2 to the attack roll, until the beginning of his next round.
Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 +1 +0 +1 +1 Bladesong Combat Style, Weapon Mastery, Lesser Spellsong
2 +2 +1 +1 +1 Song of Channeling (+1 arcane caster)
3 +3 +1 +2 +2 Song of Celerity (2nd) (+1 arcane caster)
4 +4 +1 +2 +2 Bonus Feat (+1 arcane caster)
5 +5 +2 +3 +3 Song of Channeling (Full Attack)
6 +6 +2 +3 +3 Greater Spellsong (+1 arcane caster)
7 +7 +2 +4 +4 Song of Celerity (4th) (+1 arcane caster)
8 +8 +3 +4 +4 Bonus Feat (+1 arcane caster)
9 +9 +3 +5 +5 Song of Power
10 +10 +3 +5 +5 Song of Celerity (6th), Bladesong Mastery (+1 arcane caster)
I was looking at doing a conversion, but found you can get a bladesinger like build out of the Magus, minus the bladesong style.
just an idea.
I've done that. Some parts of it just don't quite give the same flavor. With my old character, she's a traditional mage, which means she can use her Sword as her Bonded Arcane item (as per the Wizard class) and play around with combat styles with the fighter, if I so desire.
No other comments or suggestions?
I found you can do better with Magus (kensi archtype) from Ultimate Combat. It has Canny Defense at LEVEL 1! (so Int bonus to AC)
If a GM just let you take that substitution (and called it "bladesong" for flavor) you'd have a bladesinger at level 1.
Granted you would also lose magus Light Armor ability, you'd have Diminished Spellcasting, and Weapon Focus (longsword).
However, the original Bladesinger did have "0" in spell slots of some levels needing bonus slots to have spells of that level (just like Diminished Casting).
YIDM
You're welcome ;)
I've done that. Some parts of it just don't quite give the same flavor. With my old character, she's a traditional mage, which means she can use her Sword as her Bonded Arcane item (as per the Wizard class) and play around with combat styles with the fighter, if I so desire.
Have you looked at combining the original 3.0-3.5 Bladesinger with the Magus base class? Just turn the Magus into a 10 level class and sub-in a few Bladesinger abilities to make it a true Prestige Class?
The mechanics of Bladesong style you propose don't match what the original did and seem decidedly different.
I can sympathize with your dilemma for making a fighter / wizard into a bladesinger in Pathfinder. The old class takes too long to get into and too long before you get any good abilities.
YIDM
Just a thought, something like this...
(per the Bladesinger Requirements)
Class Features:
1st – Bladesong style (per 3.0-3.5), spell combat (per Magus ability); +1 caster level
2nd – lesser spellsong (per 3.0-3.5), spellstrike (per Magus ability)
3rd – bonus combat feat; +1 caster level
4th – song of celerity (2nd)(per 3.0-3.5)
5th – magus arcana (as Magus ability); +1 caster level
6th – greater spellsong (per 3.0-3.5)
7th – bonus combat feat; +1 caster level
8th – song of celerity (4th)(per 3.0-3.5)
9th – magus arcana (as Magus ability); +1 caster level
10th – song of fury (per 3.0-3.5)
Stays true to the original, but buffs it up a bit to be in line with Pathfinders level of power.
YIDM
The mechanics of Bladesong style you propose don't match what the original did and seem decidedly different.
Thats because when I originally designed the class I tried to base the Bladesong ability off of its 2nd Edition counterpart, with a few modifications, I think it fits thematically, stylistically, and mechanically. Also your suggestion for "improvement" gives the class 5/10 spellcasting instead of the 7/10 that mirrors the Arcane Archer.
The mechanics of Bladesong style you propose don't match what the original did and seem decidedly different.Thats because when I originally designed the class I tried to base the Bladesong ability off of its 2nd Edition counterpart, with a few modifications, I think it fits thematically, stylistically, and mechanically. Also your suggestion for "improvement" gives the class 5/10 spellcasting instead of the 7/10 that mirrors the Arcane Archer.
Ahhhh, 2nd edition, that makes much more sense now. I thought bladesingers of second edition where just taking the bladesong weapon proficiency slots (3-4 worth); from the Fighters Handbook. Which 2nd edition source were you going from? (just curious)
I can agree 7/10 casting progression would be better, wasn't sure it was balanced with the additional benefits I threw out there.
YIDM
Ahhhh, 2nd edition, that makes much more sense now. I thought bladesingers of second edition where just taking the bladesong weapon proficiency slots (3-4 worth); from the Fighters Handbook. Which 2nd edition source were you going from? (just curious)
It is a modification of the Bladesong ability from the Bladesinger Kit in the 2E Complete Book of Elves.