The Bladesinger PRC

[Tantive]

*snip*
If we are homebrewing now I do have a good idea for the class, if its worth posting.

Go ahead, we need ideas on this, but I did base the Song of Celerity on Races of Faerun Bladesinger version.

Song of Celerity (Su): Starting at 6th level, when wielding a
longsword or rapier in one hand (and nothing in the other) and
using the full attack action, the bladesinger can cast one bladesinger spell (or arcane spell with a casting time of 1 action or less) each round as a free action

[BigJ]

Go ahead, we need ideas on this, but I did base the Song of Celerity on Races of Faerun Bladesinger version.

Races of Faerun is the 3e version, the one with the assassin like spell book with max lvl 4 spells.

Comparing the following with the existing PrC's we have on the server, I thought it might make a powerful, but not OP, little addition to existing build combo's -

Requirements:

Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Weapon Focus (Longsword or Rapier)
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Race: Elf
Spellcasting: Able to cast arcane spells of 1st level.
Skills: Concentration 4, Perform 3, Tumble 2

Class Features:

- Hit Die: d8
- Base Attack Bonus: High.
- High Saves: Reflex, Will.
- Weapon Proficiencies: None
- Armor Proficiencies: Light.
- Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier.
- Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft Weapon, Craft Armor, Lore: Arcana, Lore: History, Lore: Local, Lore: Nobility & Royalty, Lore: Religion, Parry, Perform, Spellcraft, Tumble.


Class Abilities:

Level 1: Still Spell, Bladesong Style +1
Level 2: Spellcasting Progression,
Level 3: Spellcasting Progression, Bladesong Style +2
Level 4: Spellcasting Progression, Song of Celerity (1d4 Sonic damage)
Level 5: Spellcasting Progression, Bladesong Style +3


- Spellcasting: At every except first you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Bladesinger, you must decide which class gains the increased casting ability. (so 4/5 progression).

- Bladesong Style: When wielding a longsword or rapier in one hand (and nothing in the other), a bladesinger gains a dodge bonus to Armor Class. If the bladesinger wears medium or heavy armor, she loses all benefits of the bladesong style.

- Song of Celerity (Ex): A bladesinger can imbue his sword with 1d4 sonic for 2 hours per level.

A little 5 lvl PrC that compared to other PrC's has the following: High bab, D8hp, free metamagic feat, +3 dodge ac you keep in armour and of course a signature sonic damage boost.

I lowered the feat req's and at five levels it allows for some nice combo's (Ie bard/wiz or sorc/stormsinger/BS. Or Wiz or sorc/EK/BS/3 or 5 dip in something else.)

Crucially all the feats already exist, if QC signs off then it wont take a builder long to just edit some existing class feats.

Its much better than taking 5 wiz levels, much better than EK. But not so much better that I'd be jealous with my Drow if it was restricted (Sun elf etc, no evil). No other PrC gets +3 dodge ac (I think), the only others with higher AC bonuses lose it in armour.

The sonic damage gives is its unique signature though. It takes WoD or AK 10 levels to get that extra damage.

BigJ

[chad878262]

W10/EK10/SB5/BS5 would be a CL 27 w/ BAB 25 and bonus AC/damage. W10/EK10/BS5/DS5 would be CL30 w/ BAB 25 and all the bonuses...I'm thinking this is essentially giving more power with no real downside, other than you would need to drop CL to 29 in order to hit BAB26. The requirements are too low for the increased power.

I'm really not trying to be negative nancy folks, I agree big time that Arcane gishes were hit much harder than divine in relation to the dispel fix and could absolutely use a boost. We have had multiple discussions in QC with regards to Arcane gishes. However, I also think it is important not to go too far in introducing a PRC that becomes 'MUST HAVE' which so far most of the examples of bladesinger fall in to. I just think there needs to be a middle ground where BS is an option that has some good things and bad things about it, vs. either being too low CL and not worth it or so good that not taking it is purposefully gimping the character.

[The Whistler]

The 0% ASF in light armor needs to stay. INT to AC can disappear for all I care.

This would promote a healthy investment in DEX to take full advantage of armors like the mithral breastplate. To build more durable gishes with MFP&Tower Shield you'd still have to purchase all 3 autostill feats.

Maybe you should take a look at bringing up DSlayer to BSinger standards instead of trying to gimp the latter. *cough* 9/10 *cough* CL

[mrm3ntalist]

Maybe you should take a look at bringing up DSlayer to BSinger standards instead of trying to gimp the latter. *cough* 9/10 *cough* CL

Its very unlikely to have any High BAB arcane PRC, other than EK with more than 6/10 progression.

QC is very close to a final suggestion of the Bladesinger. Some minor tweaks are needed.

[Tantive]

I'm dreading the results, as I don't know whats going on behind the scenes.

[The Whistler]

Its very unlikely to have any High BAB arcane PRC, other than EK with more than 6/10 progression.

Why ?

[mrm3ntalist]

Its very unlikely to have any High BAB arcane PRC, other than EK with more than 6/10 progression.

Why ?

Because if High BAB is that important, you should play a Fighter/Ranger/SB/MaA. If you like casters and 30CL, you should settle with medium/low BAB.

Do casters have an issue on the server?

[The Whistler]

If you like casters and 30CL, you should settle with medium/low BAB.

Do casters have an issue on the server?

Or I could, y'know, roll a FvS/cleric. Gishes can't reliably boost their AB for extended periods of time like these two classes can. Because extended tenser's competes with energy immunity and extended GH, they can fit in 2-3 at best. Not to mention that EW or EDM is out of the question when building a gish. If tenser's is moved to tier 4, or the dispel cap is reverted then I could see gishes becoming viable again.

Casters in general don't, but gishes in particular have a glaring one. Dispelability.

[mrm3ntalist]

Casters in general don't, but gishes in particular have a glaring one. Dispelability.

There can be CL28+ gish builds. However it is true that arcane gishes suffer more with dispel than the divine ones. Breaches especially.

However, a typical W10/EK10/DS10 build will have 16AC, 33AB with no items.
So the AC is: 16 + 8MFP +2Dex bonus + 6HeavyShield(+4) + 16 (Dodge,deflection,natural, armor) = 48AC - 50with tower

The AB is 33 +5GMW +1STR(+2) = 39

I wouldnt say those are bad number( expect from the AB ). Its what a typical melee build gets.

[Sun Wukong]

- Song of Celerity (Ex): A bladesinger can imbue his sword with spells he memorized, only one spell at a time can be imbued within the weapon. It is cast at the target on a successful melee attack. (not sure it's doable but I'll try to do it)

Perhaps you could have special 'Elven Rune' - a consumable, that stores the spell like scars/runes do, and when used, produce a copy of the user like Ranger's Reserve Arrow Spell/Feats to cast the spell and follow it with rest of the attack flurry.

[Valefort]

That's ofc doable but using the item would interrupt the attack schedule which is why I opted for the discharge on hit. Class is done, needs to be tested further and tweaked before being opened to everyone.

[thids]

Can we see the proposed content? So that we may start shouting in outrage?

[Valefort]

Okay, clear your throats and prepare honey and tea. Also bear in mind that everything is still very much subject to changes.
[table][th][/th][th][/th][tr][td]Bladesinger[/td][td]

Bladesinger

Bladesingers are elves who have blended art, swordplay, and arcane magic into a
harmonious whole. In battle, a bladesinger’s lithe movements and subtle tactics seem beautiful, belying their deadly martial efficiency. Bladesingers have a treasured place in elf society, balancing the joys of art and magic with the skill of masterful fighting, and so bladesingers are well-respected by other elves. They usually serve as itinerant guardians and champions of the elf community at large rather than tying themselves to one particular settlement. Multiclass fighter/wizards can become bladesingers most easily, though any elf who can wield a martial weapon and cast arcane spells can become a bladesinger.

Bladesinging ranger/wizards or rogue/wizards are not unknown.

Most bladesingers work alone, sufficient unto themselves, but in larger communities they sometimes have the opportunity to fight together in the same combat. Bladesingers are normally trained singly by another bladesinger, and the concept of anything as formalized as a bladesinger school is an absurd notion to them.

Requirements:

Feats: Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Weapon Focus (Longsword or Rapier)
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Race: Elf
Spellcasting: Able to cast arcane spells of 1st level (Wizard or Sorc only).
Skills: Concentration 4, Perform 3, Tumble 2

Class Features:

- Hit Die: d8
- Base Attack Bonus: High.
- High Saves: Reflex, Will.
- Weapon Proficiencies: None
- Armor Proficiencies: Light.
- Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier.
- Class Skills: Concentration, Lore: Arcana, Lore: History, Lore: Local, Lore: Nobility & Royalty, Perform, Spellcraft, Tumble.

Class Abilities:

Level 1: Bladesong Style, Spellcasting Progression
Level 2: Skill focus Lore : Local
Level 3:
Level 4: Bonus Feat
Level 5:
Level 6: Song of Celerity
Level 7:
Level 8: Freezing field
Level 9:
Level 10: Greater Spellsong

- Spellcasting: At every odd level and 10th level you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane or divine spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Bladesinger, you must decide which class gains the increased casting ability.

- Bladesong Style: When wielding a longsword or rapier in one hand (and nothing in the other), a bladesinger gains a dodge bonus to Armor Class equal to half her class level, up to a maximum of half her Intelligence bonus. If the bladesinger wears medium or heavy armor, she loses all benefits of the bladesong style. This bonus will not stack with the AC bonus granted by Invisible Blade or Duelist.

- Skill focus Lore : Local: A bladesinger is immersed in the traditions and the ways of his people as part of his training.

- Song of Celerity (Ex): A bladesinger can imbue his sword with any hostile spell he memorized, only one spell at a time can be imbued within the weapon. It is cast at the target on a successful melee attack.

- Freezing field: A bladesinger of 8th level is taught the spell Freezing field. Created ages ago to freeze the area around dragon wings to block and slow them so that they can't fly away this spell greatly reduces the movement speed of everyone in the area of effect and hampers both their offense and defense.

Specifics : Speed decrease : 80, AC penalty 2, AB penalty -2. Fortitude save for halving the effects (cold immunity cancels the effect completely).
DC is 10 + Bladesinger levels + spellcasting ability modifier.
Duration : 1 round per bladesinger level.

This ability can be used two times per day.

- Greater Spellsong (Ex): A bladesinger of 10th level ignores arcane spell failure chances when wearing light armor.

- Bonus Feat: At 4th level, the bladesinger gets a bonus feat. These feats must be drawn from the following list: any metamagic feat, Disarm, Improved Critical (Weapon), Improved Disarm, Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack.

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[thids]