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The Rocker, an archetype to put the volume to eleven !
Smash orcs with your guitar, impale them on your flute or slash them with your violin, put everything on fire, walk on top of the dragon's treasure trove, drink your ennemies's blood (or wine, you sick monster), then grunt. Or hey, awake zombies and make them dance like there is no tomorrow.
Just sayin' : level 10, Discordant Voice feat, put your allies' weapons on fire, ???, profit.
IT'S TOTALLY METAL MAN.
Rocker
Some bards wish to be more than simple artists, aiming for a dream lifestyle of fame, party and easy money ; but while there are as much kinds of rockers than there are of domains of performance, they always know how to impress and make themselves unforgettable.
Toasty
At 1st level, a rocker is naturally impressive, either by fame or by allways improving it's iconic, emblematic personality ; some adopt heavy make-up, a recognizable piece of clothing, inimitable moves during performance, strange piercings, an unique voice, excentric looks and attitude... which helps them getting more and more famous and influence people.
The rocker adds half his class level to Intimidate and Perform checks.
This ability replaces Bardic Knowledge.
Metal is Heavy (Ex)
At 2nd level, a rocker's expertise allows him to use a music instrument as a weapon, or modify a weapon to be used as a music instrument. These are all one-handed weapons, considered as a heavy pick, a warhammer or a longsword, depending both on the weapon chosen and the kind of damage they deal, and the instrument the rocker wishes to use or simulate. This ability assumes a different shape depending on the instrument used and the way it is wielded : a rocker may use his violon's bow as a slashing weapon, a guitar as a bludgeoning weapon, a flute as a piercing weapon, etc. On the opposite, a rocker may use a longsword to play a violin, apply cords to a warhammer to get a luth...
A rocker is proficient with these weapon-instruments, and with instruments used as weapons. If the instrument is composed of several parts, like a drum with it's drumsticks, each part must be enhanced separately if the rocker wishes to use them as weapons. Thus, a rocker using a violin's bow as a weapon may enhance it, but this enhancement would not apply to the instrument itself used as a bludgeoning weapon. The rocker needs not to pay the masterwork quality for an instrument several times, it applies to every part of it.
This replaces versatile performance.
Burning Spotlights
At 4th level, the rocker gains the Fire Music feat. He doesn't need to meet the prerequisites of the feat. Also, whenever he inflicts or creates an effect inflicting sound damage, he may add 1 point of fire damage per sound damage dice rolled.
Shining Star (Su)
At 9th level, the rocker gains the ability to captivate even more those fascinated by his abilities. This is identical to the shining star ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This replaces inspire greatness.
Bardic Performance
A rocker gains the following type of bardic performance:
Gather Crowd (Ex): At 5th level, the rocker gains the ability to quickly gather a crowd. This is identical to the gather crowd ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This ability replaces lore master.
Performance Master : At 10th level, the rocker gains one kind of bardic performance from a bard archetype of his choice accessible at 10th level or lower. He may use this bardic performance as normal.
This ability replaces jack-of-all-trades.
Immortal Fame (Ex)
A rocker of 20th level or higher becomes matter for legends. The rocker's life expectancy becomes the higher for his race. Should he die, the rocker would come back as a ghost to keep performing, usually in a place of great importance to him, or as a trace in people's hearts ; even if no one is present or the place doesn't exist anymore as it was at that time. If slain, the ghost of a rocker comes back after 1d4 days, as long as at least one person in the world remembers him.
This ability replaces deadly performance.
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The weapon options seem a little... underwhelming. Where's my righteous ax Guitar of rock dude?
Edit: I'd also totally love the ability to treat an instrument as a shield too. Violin (Shield) and Bow (sword) being a perfect example.
I will correct this in the next post/edit, trading some proficiencies. The greataxe guitar was the first thing I thought about, but I wondered about the complexity of the system considering all the different shapes an instrument may assume.
You pretty much killed your entire premise when you linked the Michael Jackson video.
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You pretty much killed your entire premise when you linked the Michael Jackson video.
So you consider the "violin" and "flute" parts in the crunch and fluff as absolutely rock-and-roll, but Michael Jackson using the 10th level Dirge Bard ability is too much to handle ?
The archetype explicitely states there are a lot of different rockers. Heck, a badass opéra tenor or diva could be a rocker. If your fun is killed by a single link, and that suddenly the archetype isn't good anymore because there is more ways to play it than the caricatural hard-rocker one, I'm afraid I can't do more for you.
The rocker adds half his class level to Intimidate and Perform checks.
Huh. That's not too bad--
This replaces versatile performance.
Okay. So I guess they can make more gp per week than other people.
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The rocker adds half his class level to Intimidate and Perform checks.Huh. That's not too bad--
This replaces versatile performance.Okay. So I guess they can make more gp per week than other people.
Mmh... I don't see the point here. Do you feel it is too good ? Too bad ? You gain bonuses to look impressive and awesomely skilled, but you are already awesome at it, so I don't see the problem, unless I failed to spot something.
Gosh, couldn't edit my first post. Here it is for the revised version.
Rocker
Some bards wish to be more than simple artists, aiming for a dream lifestyle of fame, party and easy money ; but while there are as much kinds of rockers than there are of domains of performance, they always know how to impress and make themselves unforgettable.
Weapons and Armor Proficiencies
Rockers tend to favor heavy weapons with an impressive look, which allow them to shine and stand out in battle. They are not proficient in shortbows, but gain proficiency with greataxes.
Rocker
Some bards wish to be more than simple artists, aiming for a dream lifestyle of fame, party and easy money ; but while there are as much kinds of rockers than there are of domains of performance, they always know how to impress and make themselves unforgettable.
Toasty
At 1st level, a rocker is naturally impressive, either by fame or by allways improving it's iconic, emblematic personality ; some adopt heavy make-up, a recognizable piece of clothing, inimitable moves during performance, strange piercings, an unique voice, excentric looks and attitude... which helps them getting more and more famous and influence people.
The rocker adds half his class level to Intimidate and Perform checks.
This ability replaces Bardic Knowledge.
Metal is Heavy (Ex)
At 2nd level, a rocker's taste for action and thrill allows him to meld weapons and instruments as a single, deadly entity.
This ability may be used two different ways :
- A rocker may use any instrument as a weapon or a shield he is proficient with. This ability assumes a different shape depending on the instrument used and the way it is wielded : a rocker may use his violon's bow as a slashing weapon with the violon itself as a shield (or the opposite), a guitar as a bludgeoning weapon or slashing by crafting blades on it's side, a flute as a one-handed piercing weapon, etc.
- A rocker may use any weapon or shield he is proficient with as an instrument. This ability assumes a different shape depending on the weapon used and the instrument desired. Thus, a rocker may use a rapier as a bow to play a violin, apply cords to a greataxe to play a luth, hollow a shortspear to play a flute, etc.
If the weapon is considered light, one-handed or two-handed depends on the uncombrance of the instrument used. If the instrument is composed of several parts, like a drum with it's drumsticks or a violin with his bow, each part must be enhanced separately if the rocker wishes to use them as weapons or shields. Thus, a rocker using a violin's bow as a weapon and the violin as a shield may enhance the bow as a weapon and the violin as a shield, but these enhancements wouldn't apply if he used them the opposite way. The rocker needs not to pay several times the masterwork quality for an instrument made of several parts.
This replaces versatile performance.
Burning Spotlights
At 4th level, the rocker gains the Fire Music feat. He doesn't need to meet the prerequisites of the feat. Also, whenever he inflicts or creates an effect inflicting sound damage, he may add 1 point of fire damage per sound damage dice rolled.
Shining Star (Su)
At 9th level, the rocker gains the ability to captivate even more those fascinated by his abilities. This is identical to the shining star ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This replaces inspire greatness.
Bardic Performance
A rocker gains the following type of bardic performance:
Gather Crowd (Ex): At 5th level, the rocker gains the ability to quickly gather a crowd. This is identical to the gather crowd ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This ability replaces lore master.
Performance Master : At 10th level, the rocker gains one kind of bardic performance from a bard archetype of his choice accessible at 10th level or lower. He may use this bardic performance as normal.
This ability replaces jack-of-all-trades.
Immortal Fame (Ex)
A rocker of 20th level or higher becomes matter for legends. The rocker's life expectancy becomes the higher for his race. Should he die, the rocker would come back as a ghost to keep performing, usually in a place of great importance to him, or as a trace in people's hearts ; even if no one is present or the place doesn't exist anymore as it was at that time. If slain, the ghost of a rocker comes back after 1d4 days, as long as at least one person in the world remembers him.
This ability replaces deadly performance.
However... it's not a bad archetype. But it's not one I'd see myself using, simply because it just doesn't have enough... oomph. But then again, I'm a diehard lover of hard rock and heavy metal and I couldn't even begin to put together a rocker archetype of anything less than a 100 level progression bard.
My only suggestion... give something dependent on those mighty perform checks! As it is, your archetype has a somewhat higher distraction and countersong ability, and can make a little more money per week, which just isn't enough for that.
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However... it's not a bad archetype. But it's not one I'd see myself using, simply because it just doesn't have enough... oomph. But then again, I'm a diehard lover of hard rock and heavy metal and I couldn't even begin to put together a rocker archetype of anything less than a 100 level progression bard.
My only suggestion... give something dependent on those mighty perform checks! As it is, your archetype has a somewhat higher distraction and countersong ability, and can make a little more money per week, which just isn't enough for that.
It's the king of pop man, I couldn't find better to illustrate the whole "take a bardic representation from another archetype" concept !
Maybe I aimed for too low on the power level of the archetype, but I honestly can't see what to trade now. It's embarrassing that the archetype itself doesn't interest someone who is totally fan of the concept but not the execution. :/
If you get the soundstriker archetype, which has a good synergy, you are left with Dirge of Doom/Soothing performance/Frightening Tune/Inspire Heroics/Mass Suggestion, which I think are totally in the archetype's style and shouldn't be changed, at least those that inspire fear.
I could also keep on the fire concept, but someone will come and either say it is too powerful, or sucks a lot because of fire resistance/immunity being so common.
Dotted.
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The Rocker, an archetype to put the volume to eleven !
Smash orcs with your guitar, impale them on your flute or slash them with your violin, put everything on fire, walk on top of the dragon's treasure trove, drink your ennemies's blood (or wine, you sick monster), then grunt. Or hey, awake zombies and make them dance like there is no tomorrow.
Why would I want the game to reflect my real life?
It's just hard to take an archetype like this seriously when the second link you provide is to a very lame music video. How can I trust you to do metal justice after that? It's a very serious disconnect between your archetype premise and one of the examples you give.
That being said, I also think stacking the sound striker fits the concept really well for the Rocker. Ignore the people who moan about the fire resistances stuff, the fire is thematic for the Rocker, and I can dig it.
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Why would I want the game to reflect my real life?
Because your real life is awesome ? :D
That being said, I also think stacking the sound striker fits the concept really well for the Rocker. Ignore the people who moan about the fire resistances stuff, the fire is thematic for the Rocker, and I can dig it.
I adapted the rocker to actually include effects similar to a soundstriker, while keeping their own flavor and mechanics. They may look a bit better than a soudstriker's, but the rocker's abilities also need you to get closer in combat, while basing it's efficiency on the fire element or effects allowing a save. :)
Following your suggestions, and thanks to a good, hard day to think about what could be improved, here comes another revision of the rocker, hitting a bit higher in power and awesomeness.(As a quick optimizer trick, you may want to get Spellsong, Discordant Voice and Virtuoso Performance ASAP, btw... "Up To Eleven" + "Inspire Courage" while striking bad guys with a holy, flaming, +1d6 sound damage Guitar greataxe = Batman level awesome.)
Rocker
Some bards wish to be more than simple artists, aiming for a dream lifestyle of fame, party and easy money ; but while there are as much kinds of rockers than there are of domains of performance, they always know how to impress and make themselves unforgettable.
Weapons and Armor Proficiencies
Rockers tend to favor heavy weapons with an impressive look, which allow them to shine and stand out in battle. They are not proficient in shortbows, but gain proficiency with greataxes.
Toasty
At 1st level, a rocker is naturally impressive, either by fame or by allways improving it's iconic, emblematic personality ; some adopt heavy make-up, a recognizable piece of clothing, inimitable moves during performance, strange piercings, an unique voice, excentric looks and attitude... which helps them getting more and more famous and influence people.
The rocker adds half his class level to Intimidate and Perform checks.
This ability replaces Bardic Knowledge.
Metal is Heavy (Ex)
At 2nd level, a rocker's taste for action and thrill allows him to meld weapons and instruments as a single, deadly entity.
This ability may be used two different ways :
- A rocker may use any instrument as a weapon or a shield he is proficient with. This ability assumes a different shape depending on the instrument used and the way it is wielded : a rocker may use his violon's bow as a slashing weapon with the violon itself as a shield (or the opposite), a guitar as a bludgeoning weapon or slashing by crafting blades on it's side, a flute as a one-handed piercing weapon, etc.
- A rocker may use any weapon or shield he is proficient with as an instrument. This ability assumes a different shape depending on the weapon used and the instrument desired. Thus, a rocker may use a rapier as a bow to play a violin, apply cords to a greataxe to play a luth, hollow a shortspear to play a flute, etc.
If the weapon is considered light, one-handed or two-handed depends on the uncombrance of the instrument used. If the instrument is composed of several parts, like a drum with it's drumsticks or a violin with his bow, each part must be enhanced separately if the rocker wishes to use them as weapons or shields. Thus, a rocker using a violin's bow as a weapon and the violin as a shield may enhance the bow as a weapon and the violin as a shield, but these enhancements wouldn't apply if he used them the opposite way. The rocker needs not to pay several times the masterwork quality for an instrument made of several parts.
In addition, the rocker may have crowning moments of awesomeness during fights. A number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier, a rocker may add his Charisma modifier to a damage roll, up to 1 point per two rocker levels. This choice is made as a free action.
This replaces versatile performance.
Burning Spotlights (Ex)
At 4th level, the rocker gains the Fire Music feat. He doesn't need to meet the prerequisites of the feat.
Also, whenever he inflicts or creates an effect inflicting sound damage, he may add 1 point of fire damage per rocker level ; this bonus is reduced as normal if the effect allows a save, and is a supernatural effect.
Shining Star (Su)
At 9th level, the rocker gains the ability to captivate even more those fascinated by his abilities. This is identical to the shining star ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This replaces inspire greatness.
Bardic Performance
A rocker gains the following type of bardic performance:
Feuer Frei (Su): At 3rd level, the rocker bard can spend 1 round of bardic performance as a standard action to direct a burst of sonically charged words in a 15-feet cone. This performance deals 1d4 points of sound damage plus the rocker’s level, halved on a successful reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 the rocker level + the rocker's Charisma modifier).
This performance replaces inspire competence.
Gather Crowd (Ex): At 5th level, the rocker gains the ability to quickly gather a crowd. This is identical to the gather crowd ability of the celebrity bard archetype.
This ability replaces lore master.
Up To Eleven (Su): At 6th level, a rocker can start a performance as a standard action. This performance increases any sounds the rocker makes and seems to perfect the accoustics, creating an aura of loud music, symphonic and rythmic effects around the rocker. This aura deals 1d8 sound damage plus the rocker's Charisma modifier to all enemy creatures within 10 feet at the beginning of the rocker's round. At levels 12 and 18, the aura's size increases by 10 feet.
This performance replaces suggestion and mass suggestion.
Emblematic Performance: At 10th level, the rocker gains one kind of bardic performance from a bard archetype of his choice accessible at 10th level or lower. He may use this bardic performance as normal.
This ability replaces jack-of-all-trades.
Immortal Fame (Ex)
A rocker of 20th level or higher becomes matter for legends. The rocker's life expectancy becomes the higher for his race. Should he die, the rocker would come back as a ghost to keep performing, usually in a place of great importance to him, or as a trace in people's hearts ; even if no one is present or the place doesn't exist anymore as it was at that time. If slain, the ghost of a rocker comes back after 1d4 days, as long as at least one person in the world remembers him.
This ability replaces deadly performance.
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Stealth errata available here :
Burning Spotlights only gives a fire bonus to damage on bardic performances and spells dealing sound damage, otherwise, as written, Discordant Voice would give a damage bonus to each attack equal to 1d6 sound + your bard level fire.
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I like this archetype, but I have one question.
What if My bard isn't an instrumentalist, but it an epic wailing singer like Ronnie James Dio (Rest in peace), Rob Halford, Luca Turilli, or even Freddie Mercury?
Shouldn't there be at least some sort of thing that allows people to use face melting wails instead of focusing on just the instruments?
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Mmh... Feuer Frei ? Up To Eleven ? Performances dealing sound damage through wailing already exist. :)
The problem with a sound-damage weapon for free is that it would overcome every DR and almost all resistances... way too powerful, or way too weak to balance it out. I'll find up something for wailing rockers. ;)
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Ok, the most elegant answer I found is simply to stick and adapt Pathfinder content.
There is the Growler, who melts faces by shouting !
Because clearly, smashing guys with your axe-guitar or beheading them with a violin wasn't hardcore enough.
Growler
Some rockers don't use any instrument when fighting. For such vocalists, wailings, grunts, or high-octave sounds are true weapons, in that they can shatter glass and damage organs of their enemies alike.
Weapons Proficiencies
Growlers are only proficient with simple melee weapons.
Bardic Performance
A growler gains the following type of bardic performance:
Death Growl (Su): At 2nd level, the growler bard can spend 1 round of bardic performance as a free action to gain a Growl attack during one round ; this Growl is treated as a light melee weapon the growler bard is proficient with. This attack directs a deafening shout at a creature or object, dealing 1d4 points of sound damage plus the bard’s level, -1 effective bard level per 5 feet increments between the bard and the target (minimum 0). Any effect reducing the growler's attack rolls instead reduces his effective bard level for this performance by a number of levels equal to the attack penalty ; but effects increasing attack rolls don't increase the growler's effective bard level. If using this performance on a grappled target (as part of an attack action, full-round attack, or as part of the action needed to maintain a grapple), the growler treats it's bard level as +2 higher for the purposes of damage, and the target must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Charisma modifier) or be deafened for 1d4 rounds.
This performance replaces metal is heavy.
EDIT: Also, I'm totally listening at this and this right now, so it's awesome. Also, this.