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The Pathfinder Chronicler prestige class grants Bardic Performance, which stacks with any other Similar ability to determine effective Bardic level.
The Archaeologist wields Archaeologist's Luck, as a replacement to Bardic Performance. In addition, it gains none of the class abilities that use Bardic performance. All this is instead replaced by the Luck ability.
Does the Pathfinder Chronicler's Bardic Performance instead add to the Archaeologist's effective bard level, for the purpose of Archaeologist's Luck?
Archaeologist's Luck *should* work with Epic Tales... And the rest of Pathfinder Chronicler's abilities don't seem to conflict at all. It's only this one class ability. To know if it works or not by RAW is rather important.
If by Bardic Music, the book means Bardic Performance, then it seems you would gain Archaeologist's Luck normally with the Chronicler levels. With Epic Tales, it seems that you would be able to give others your luck bonus as described by both abilities. It's a good way to stretch out your limited use of this luck ability (unless you also have the Extra Performance feat). It's not as useful for an Archaeologist as it is for a normal Bard, but I don't see a RAW issue here since the luck ability is (for all intents and purposes) the same as the performance ability.
If by Bardic Music, the book means Bardic Performance, then it seems you would gain Archaeologist's Luck normally with the Chronicler levels. With Epic Tales, it seems that you would be able to give others your luck bonus as described by both abilities. It's a good way to stretch out your limited use of this luck ability (unless you also have the Extra Performance feat). It's not as useful for an Archaeologist as it is for a normal Bard, but I don't see a RAW issue here since the luck ability is (for all intents and purposes) the same as the performance ability.
For Almost all intents in purposes. Namely, when it comes to feats, abilities, etc. that Affect "Bardic Performance". That's pretty much what makes this a slightly more tricky situation, worthy of clarifying. Almost All of "Pathfinder Chronicler" prestige class is written and worded for Bardic Music in general, rather than the Bardic Performance class ability; Probably because P.C. actually grants Bardic Performance itself.
So, the way I see it, it would have one of two outcomes:
1) The character gains Bardic Performance in addition to Archaeologist's Luck
2) The character's Archaeologist's Luck ability is augmented, counting P.C. class levels (-2) towards their effective Bard level.
I was hoping it was the latter case, as it would seem to be.
This seems complicated... This is the 3.5 PrC, right?, or is there a PRPG version?
That actually makes it more likely that if/when they make a PRPG version, they could revise it to amke this clearer!!!
Basically it comes down to a conflict between these two aspects...
Bardic Music (Su): ...Levels in this class stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability to determine her effective bard level.
Bardic Performance: Archaeologists do not gain the bardic performance ability or any of its performance types.
Archaeologist's Luck (Ex): Archaeologist's luck is treated as bardic performance for the purposes of feats, abilities, effects, and the like that affect bardic performance.
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ESPECIALLY since the PrC says it stacks for SIMILAR abilities, I would err on the side of saying it stacks for Archaelogist's Luck. The PrC DOES grant an ability which affects bardic performance, which is another reason to allow it.
ESPECIALLY since the PrC says it stacks for SIMILAR abilities, I would err on the side of saying it stacks for Archaelogist's Luck. The PrC DOES grant an ability which affects bardic performance, which is another reason to allow it.
I would agree with you. Thankfully, nothing in the PrC claims Bardic Performance as a Prerequisite, and several Other class abilities may easily be interpreted as "Affecting" the Bardic Performance ability. One could read the mentions of 'bardic music' to be (more or less) Fluff, and still have the PrC work out find. So, there are no other conflicts Except for this one case.
Keep in mind, Nothing in the Archaeologist archetype claims the bard Cannot learn Bardic Performance from an alternate source; the character doesn't have too many Uses for it though, because they never developed the class abilities dependent on Bardic Performance. Put bluntly, it can be interpreted by the RAW to go either way... or even Both ways.
The Bardic Performance skill gained through "Pathfinder Chronicler" both states that the character Gains this class ability, and that "Levels in this class stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability to determine her effective bard level."
I'm sorry, I'm only reading the PRPG version of Pathfinder Chronicler, and the Archaeologist archetype from Ultimate Combat.
Yeah, I'm not sure about the two way stacking thing... At one level that isn't kosher because a given level/ability should only count once... Ranger/Druids don't get two separate Companions whose strength is counted from the combined level.
On the other hand, the PrC itself does grant Bardic Performance which Archaelogist normally don't have.
I guess I follow the example of Animal Companions, even though that is more specifically worded...
So even though the different abilities (Luck/Performance) have separate powers split across 2 separate abilities, their power and rounds/day is stacked (although I would say that Archaeologist doesnt' give you new applications of Performance). That's very wierd, so probably a FAQ would be nice.
But basically, unless there are specific restrictions, you have the greatest of all benefits gained...
I.e. a Ranger/Paladin applies the extra bonuses of Paladin Mounts counting the Ranger levels for the creature.
The Ranger doesn't actually have rules against certain companions, they just can't normally choose from the full list,
but if some other class DOES allow full choice, that is still legit unless a SPECIFIC restriction says they CAN'T choose that (such as the Falconer archetype or Horselord saying they MUST choose X companion type). As to how incompatable restrictions resolve... I don't really know per RAW... In that case, perhaps the Classes SHOULDN'T stack... Which seems FAQ worthy to me....
That's very wierd, so probably a FAQ would be nice.
Alright. So, how can that be accomplished?
I made a few posts about this a month or two earlier; not sure awareness about the issue can be raised more than it already has. And common sense tells me it's probably not the best idea to Call an expert out, outright.
The question:
How does a "Pathfinder Chronicler"(PrC)'s "Bardic Performance" class ability interact with an "Archaeologist"(Bard Archetype)'s "Archaeologist's Luck" class ability?
It would be nice to have a concise answer that would explain whether or not Bardic Performance is gained, whether effective bard levels for the Luck ability increase, and possibly if there are any other conflicts with the Pathfinder Chronicler's other class abilities.
I hit the FAQ button on the top post. You and anybody else can do so as well.
I think Paizo have an automatic list or something to that effect to tell them what posts/threads have the highest number of FAQs, they can check that to see new issues they haven't dealt with, and can choose to address issues they deem worthy.
Specifically calling out for Paizo help is kind of pointless, they either read the thread or they don't, and if they find it a worthy issue they will probably address it whether or not you call out for Paizo help... If they don't find it worthy, specifically calling out for Paizo help won't change much. I don't know if they will make a FAQ for this or not, but that's about all you can do.... I think we came to a decent conclusion here in the end, it's just a corner case that will be messy no matter what.
I hit the FAQ button on the top post. You and anybody else can do so as well.
I'm pretending to respond to you for one last shameless bump, in the hope this question is actually answered. Else, it goes on the growing list for me...