So, being the nerdy history grad student, I came up with the idea for this archetype while reading about Enlightenment philosophes during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A lot of the changes I implemented were heavily borrowed from other archetypes, because if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Please tell me what you think!
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Philosophes are proficient in all simple weapons, plus one martial weapon. Philosophes are not proficient in any armor or shield; unlike bards, philosophes are subject to arcane spell failure even when casting in light armor or when using a shield.
This replaces the normal bard armor and weapon proficiencies.
Higher Learning (Ex)
A philosophe gains a bonus equal to half his bard level on Diplomacy, Knowledge (history), Perform (oratory), Knowledge (nobility), and Profession (scribe) checks (minimum +1). Once per day, the philosophe can also re-roll a check against one of these skills, though he must take the result of the second roll even if it is worse. He can re-roll one additional time per day at 5th level and every five levels thereafter.
This ability replaces bardic knowledge.
Scribe Scroll
A philosophe gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat.
Bardic Performance
A philosophe gains the following types of bardic performance:
Satire (Su): A philosophe can use performance to undermine the confidence of enemies who hear him, causing them to take a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls (minimum 1) and a –1 penalty on saves against fear and charm effects as long as the bard continues performing. This penalty increases by –1 at 5th level and every six levels thereafter. Satire is a language-dependent, mind-affecting ability that uses audible components.
This ability replaces inspire courage.
Advise (Su): At 3rd level, a philosophe can use his wisdom to teach an ally civility or grace, as well as information, albeit the knowledge is fleeting and not retained. This ability functions as inspire competence, but only affects Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Knowledge (chosen individually), Linguistics (cannot be used to learn a language), Profession (chosen individually), Sense Motive, and Spellcraft checks. This ability takes 1 hour to use, and uses 4 performance rounds, but the recipient receives the benefits for an hour after that. To gain the benefits of this ability, the philosophe must have at least a rank in the respective skill.
This ability modifies inspire competence.
Gather Crowd (Ex): At 5th level, the philosophe is skilled at drawing an audience to his performances. If he is in a settlement or populated area, he can shout, sing, or otherwise make himself noticed in order to attract an audience to his impromptu stage. The size of the crowd depends on the local population, but typically is a number of people equal to 1/2 the bard’s class level × the result of the bard’s Perform check. The crowd gathers over the next 1d10 rounds. If the bard fails to engage the crowd (such as by performing, kissing babies, trying to use fascinate, and so on), it disperses over the next 1d10 rounds.
This ability replaces lore master.
Righteous Cause (Ex): At 18th level, the philosophe can lift a crowd’s emotions and turn them toward a common purpose. First, he must fascinate the crowd, at which point he can use righteous cause. At this point, he fills them with purpose. Fascinated creatures must make Will saves (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Charisma modifier) to resist. Those who fail are affected by mass suggestion of a plausible idea that lingers with them for one day. Typical uses of this ability are to spark rebellion, overthrow a king, build a beneficial structure such as an orphanage, or donate money to a cause.
This ability replaces mass suggestion and is modified from the demagogue archetype.
Magical Influence
In addition, a philosophe’s class spell list includes the following:
1st—comprehend languages, cultural adaptation (Humans of Golarion), delusional pride
2nd—hideous laughter, oppressive boredom, whispering wind
3rd—heroism, tongues, unadulterated loathing
4th—crushing despair, overwhelming grief
5th—smug narcissism, telepathic bond
6th—legend lore, true seeing, unconscious agenda (Rise of the Runelords), utter contempt
A philosophe may add one of these spells or any enchantment spell on the bard spell list to his list of spells known at 2nd level and every four levels thereafter.
This ability replaces versatile performance.
I like it. Though may I ask why you get Scribe Scroll free with no loss for it? That doesn't seem quite right to me.
Also I'd like it if you could review my Spartan Class it's on this first page. Please, thank you.
I like it. Though may I ask why you get Scribe Scroll free with no loss for it? That doesn't seem quite right to me.
Also I'd like it if you could review my Spartan Class it's on this first page. Please, thank you.
Like the geisha archetype, they also get the Scribe Scroll feat for free, due, I believe, to their loss of armor proficiency and having only weapon from monk. As well as this, philsophes wrote quite a bit during the Enlightenment, and I believed it appropriate (in a magical setting) to give them Scribe Scroll to reflect their writing prowess, blended with the magical prowess of a bard.
Now I see what you mean. I believe Scribe Scroll is appropriate. Works well. I have no further issues with this. I like it.