Oookie dokie. I've been staring at the Dervish Dancer archtype for a good long time now. I've spent hours seeking out some small bit of text to clarify my confusion over the subject, but here is my question:
Is Battle Dance a limited ability? Or is it supposed to be infinite, akin to switching specific stances?
It seems clear to me, focused on the wording, that the ability to Battle Dance does NOT replace Bardic Performance. The Dervish Dancer DOES give up several of the better types of performances in the process (frightening tune, suggestion, ect), but still maintains a number of basic Bardic Performances, such as Inspire Competence.
Its worded as if these two are separate abilities. So my question (and the source of all my confusion) is, do these abilities draw from the same pool?
There is no indication on eaither page that says "You have a pool of 'song magic' that you use up to perform". It says you can use Bardic Performance a number of rounds per day equal to 2x Bard Level + Cha mod, (similar to many spell-like abilities, such as 'disguise self'), save for an irritatingly vauge statement that "This ability functions like Bardic Performance".
The Dervish Dancer page also lists all of the other restrictions and specifics about what a Battle Dance does, (stops being effective if the Bard is prevented from moving, starts as a move action, but must be ended in order to begin a new Battle Dance) but NEVER mentions a limited amount of Battle Dance uses.
With all this stated, I've personally read the archtype as follows:
The Dervish Dancer is a specific breed of Bard that focuses less on party support, and more on melee combat.
In exchange for much of the versatility and party-support that comes with the standard suite of Bardic Performance abilities, it gains the ability to "Battle Dance", which amounts to the ability to provide bonuses to themselves, and ONLY themselves, but to do so infinitely.
The Dervish Dancer obtains a number of Battle Dances, of which only one can be active at any given time. (Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Inspire Heroics, Rain of Blows, Razor's Kiss, Leaf on the Wind). Leaf on the Wind is special in this regard. While most performances take a Free Action each round to maintain, Leaf on the Wind takes a standard action, preventing the Bard from actively fighting while its active.
While Battle Dancing, a number of additional effects activate. Fleet (Movement speed up), Dance of Fury (ability to move and attack in the same turn) and Battle Fury.
Of these, only Battle Fury seems really overpowered, and you don't get it till 20th level, so its kind of supposed to be. :P
The Dervish Dancer is still only capable of wearing light armor, and is proficient with a variety of relatively small weapons, the greatest of which is the Schimtar.
All in all, you wind up with an insanely mobile melee class. While not as tanky as a Fighter or a Paladin, (who both get better BAB, armor, HP, weapons, and the like), the Dervish has alot more versitility, able to switch between offensive and defensive fighting on the fly, in addition to maintaining bardic spells.
Its a neat class, but I personally don't believe its overpowered or anything.
But...I'm still kinda new to this game. And I'm open to oppinions. What do y'all think
