"bard for fage"
By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu)

URL: https://pastebin.com/WuuiUmGP
Created on: Wednesday 25th of November 2015 04:05:08 PM CDT
Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:42:24 AM UTC


Bard Archetype for Mages
I originally posted this on my blog but probably should have posted it here for input. The way archetypes work is a lot like in Pathfinder, wherein a number of the standard class's abilities are swapped out in order to play something closer to what you want, in this case a bard.

BARD (Mage Archetype)

Primary Abilities: Accuracy, Communication, Dexterity, and Intelligence

Secondary Abilities: Constitution, Fighting, Perception, Strength, and Willpower

Starting Health: 25 + Constitution + 1d6

Weapon Groups: Bows, Brawling, Light Blades, and Staves.

LEVEL 1
Bard Song: You are able to work your magic through your music. You use the Activate action to begin your Bard Song mode. You reduce the magic point cost of spells by 1 and are treated as having an arcane device for the purposes of casting spells. Ending Bard Song is a free action.

Lastly you can use your Communication ability to calculate your Spellpower instead of your Willpower, whichever is greater.

This replaces Arcane Device.

Class Cross-Training: You are also treated as a Rogue for taking talents. However, you are unable to take a specialization. Instead, you become a Novice in a new talent or gain a degree in one you already have.

Magic Training: Same as a Mage, but you are limited to choosing between Air, Divination, Fate, Healing, Heroic, Power, or Shadow Arcana.

Magic Points: You start with a number of magic points equal to 5 + Communication + 1d6. You spend magic points when you cast spells. You regain them through rest and meditation. You gain more magic points as you rise in level. From levels 2 to 10, you gain Communication + 1d6 magic points whenever you gain a new level. From levels 11 to 20, you gain only your Communication in MPs because increasing your power at higher levels is not as easy.

Performer’s Tumble: You can prepare yourself to dodge an attack. You use a Ready action and can select one attack roll against you until your next turn that must succeed an opposed test vs. your Dexterity (Acrobatics) in order to hit.

This replaces Arcane Blast.

Starting Talents: You start as a Novice in Music.

This replaces Starting Talents.

LEVEL 4
Song of Valor: Allies with 12 yards of you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls while Bard Song is active.

LEVEL 6
Song of Friendship: You and your allies gain a +1 bonus to Communication (Etiquette, Investigation, Persuasion, and Seduction) tests while Bard Song is active.

This replaces Spell Blast.

LEVEL 8
Song of Captivation: Once per round while Bard Song is active, you can attempt to captivate one enemy within 16 yards that can see and hear you. This is an opposed test of your Communication (Performance) vs. the target’s Willpower (Self-Discipline). If you win, the target can take no actions on his or her next turn.

This replaces Big Blast.

LEVEL 10

Song of Returned Heroes: Once per day while Bard Song is active, you can make a TN 17 Communication (Performance) ability test for every unconscious ally within 10 yards. If you succeed, your ally gains health equal to the Stunt Die + your Communication. 

This replaces Power Blast.

LEVEL 13
Stunt Bonus: Casting spells becomes natural to you and expends less of your magical energy. When casting a spell, you can perform the Skillful Casting stunt for 1 SP instead of the usual 2.

This replaces Stunt Bonus.






Bard
mage specialization
Some mages are better versed in communication than others, those on the far end of the spectrum become bards. They use their power of communication to write songs and tales. Their songs are used to inspire their allies, the best bards even manage to captivate their opponents in with their songs. Most Bards use an instrument as their Arcane Device.

Bard talent
Classes: Mage
Requirements: You must have communication 2 or higher and one of the following talents: Divination, Fate, Healing, Heroic.

Novice: To calculate your Spellpower and when you gain Magic Points as you rise in level, You may use your Communication ability instead of your Willpower, whichever is greater. You use your Bard Songs to inspire your team. First you must use the Activate action to start your Bard Song. Allies within 12 yards of you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls while Bard Song is active.

Journeyman: Your Bard Song has become more potent. You and your allies gain a +1 bonus to Communication (Etiquette, Investigation, Persuasion, and Seduction) tests while Bard Song is active. In addition once per encounter you may prepare to use Cutting Words. Choose a target if that target attacks you, you may use your Cutting Words to try and distract him from the attack using your communication(deception) versus their Willpower(Self-Discipline), if you succeed their attack misses.

Master: Your Bard Song is so powerful it even captivates your opponents! Once per round while Bard Song is active, you can attempt to captivate one enemy within 16 yards that can see and hear you. This is an opposed test of your Communication (Performance) vs. the target’s Willpower (Self-Discipline). If you win, the target can take no actions on his or her next turn.