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====Versatile Performance (Ex)====
At 2nd level, a bard can use any one of his Perform skills as a substitute for all checks made against one of the skills listed below. Any time a check is required for that skill, the bard makes a check against his Perform skill instead.  Note that the Bard isn't actually using the Perform skill (e.g. playing an instrument) to make the skill check.  Instead, he is using various epiphanies he has achieved in his music to inspire his ability with the chosen skill.  Only one of the skills listed below may be selected at 2nd level, but any of the Bard's Perform skills may be used in place of that skill.


The skills that may be selected for substitution by your Perform skill are:
===Bard Instruments===


* Disguise,  
In order to use their Performance skill and enter a Performance Stance, a bard must wield an Instrument with both hands.  This may be a traditional instrument such as a lute, violin, or flute, or it may be any other Instrument which the Bard uses to focus his Performance.  It can be an item of clothing such as a signature hat which is manipulated about the body, as used by Fred Astaire, it can be an artifact such as Yorick's Skull to which he declaims dramatically, it can be a scarf which is held and manipulated to emphasize the performance, or anything else the player wishes.
* Bluff,  
* Intimidate,  
* Acrobatics,  
* Fly,
* Diplomacy,
* Sense Motive,
* Handle Animal


Every 2 levels after 2nd level (e.g. 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th), the bard can select one additional skill from the list below to substitute with his any of his Perform skills.
Note that you can, if you wish, declare you are a martially-oriented Bard and use a Sword and Shield (for example) as your instrument, and this is perfectly legitimate!  However, this has the major caveat that when you are using your sword and shield as your Bardic instrument to maintain a Stance, you CANNOT also use it as a weapon and shield, with the single exception of the "Song of Steel" Bardic Performance.


In addition to allowing the use of their Performance skill to enter a Performance Stance, a Bard's Instrument can, optionally, be enchanted to act as a light shield. This has the advantage that they can gain a shield bonus without having to put their Instrument away, and vice versa.  In such cases, the Instrument can only be used for one function at a time, much as a Shield with Shield Spikes: IE, if you are using it with one hand defensively as a shield, you may not wield it with both hands as an Instrument to Perform in that same round.


====Well-Versed (Ex)====
Magic bard instruments are a subset of magical shields which follow modified rules for their construction.  Like normal shields, Bard instruments may have one or more magic properties in addition to an enhancement bonus. Bardic Instruments may also be made with any dweomermetal, with the caveat that the properties of the dweomermetal only apply in rounds when the Instrument is being used as a shield.  
At 2nd level, the bard becomes resistant to the bardic performance of others, and to sonic effects in general. The bard gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made against bardic performance, sonic, and language-dependent effects.


 
The magic properties for a Bard Instrument being used as a shield may be chosen as for any other shield, following the same rules as magic shield properties for the number of properties which may be added (i.e. campaign limits must be followed as to the maximum amount of properties which are allowed).  The cost to create a magic instrument is the same as the cost for a comparably enchanted magic shield (i.e. 300 gp for masterwork, plus the cost of the instrument itself, plus the cost for the absolute bonus of the total number of magic weapon properties being applied).
====Staccato (Su)====
Starting at 3rd level, in or out of their Bardic Stance, the Bard may attempt to strike at his enemies with sound as a standard action.  This is a supernatural ability, does not provoke, and affects one target in a fifteen foot cone.  (Select an area for a 15-foot cone, following the rules for cones.  Select one creature in the designated area, and that creature is affected.  The rest of the area is unaffected.)  This sound may be a loud shout, a piercing scream, a shattering clap of the hands, a snap of the fingers, or anything else the Bard desires.  
 
Staccato inflicts 2d6 + CHA modifier points of sonic damage at Level 3, and this damage increases by 1d6 at each odd level. Victims of Staccato are allowed a Fort save, DC 10 + half the Bard's level + CHA mod, for half damage.  Staccato is treated as though it belongs to the conjuration school of spells, even though it is not a spell, for purposes of feats like [[Spell Focus]].  Staccato is not subject to Spell Resistance.
 
Staccato can also be used to damage unattended objects such as windows, etc.  This means it can be used to deal damage to mindless creatures, or the Bard may elect to instead make a CMB-based [[Combat_Maneuvers#Sunder|Sunder check]] against a worn, wielded or unattended object in range, instead of a creature.  This check is resolved in all ways as a normal Sunder check, following the rules thereof.
 
Beginning at 8th level Staccato may affect 2 creatures in the fifteen foot cone, and at 15th level it may affect up to three creatures in the fifteen foot cone.
 
Staccato may never be used in the same round as Harmony (or any of the Symphony abilities) unless an action point is used.
 
 
====Lore Master (Ex)====
At 5th level, the bard becomes a master of lore and can take 10 on any Knowledge skill check that he has ranks in. A bard can choose not to take 10 and can instead roll normally. In addition, once per day, the bard can take 20 on any Knowledge skill check he has ranks in as a standard action. He can use this ability one additional time per day for every six levels he possesses beyond 5th, to a maximum of three times per day at 17th level.  This ability may also be used on the Spellcraft and Spycraft skills when they are used for knowledge checks, assuming the bard has ranks in these skills.
 
 
====Bonus Metamagic Feat====
At 7th level, Bards may choose one bonus feat from the list of non-epic metamagic feats.  The bard must meet any prerequisites that the feat requires.
 
 
====Jack of All Trades (Ex)====
At 10th level, the bard can use any skill, even if the skill normally requires him to be trained. At 16th level, the bard considers all skills to be class skills. At 19th level, the bard can take 10 on any skill check, even if it is not normally allowed.




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=====Finales (Su)=====  
=====Finales (Su)=====  
During combat, as an Immediate action, the bard may end her performance and gain a Finale effect. Note that 'ending a performance' is not the same as having the stance disrupted, and disrupted stances do not allow the bard to gain a Finale effect. The Finale may not be used in same round that the performance starts. A new performance may begin the same round a Finale is used, but it must be a different performance than the one just ended.  The bard is never obligated to use the finale when ending a performance, though voluntarily ending a performance always costs an immediate/swift action. Finales may only be used during combat (while there is an initiative order).
During combat, as an Immediate action, the bard may end her performance and gain a Finale effect. Note that 'ending a performance' is not the same as having the stance disrupted, and disrupted stances do not allow the bard to gain a Finale effect. The Finale may not be used in same round that the performance starts. A new performance may begin the same round a Finale is used, but it must be a different performance than the one just ended.  The bard is never obligated to use the finale when ending a performance, though voluntarily ending a performance always costs an immediate/swift action. Finales may only be used during combat (while there is an initiative order).


===Types of Bardic Performance===
===Types of Bardic Performance===
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===Magic Bard Instruments===


In order to use their Performance skill and enter a Performance Stance, a bard must wield an Instrument with both hands.  This may be a traditional instrument such as a lute, violin, or flute, or it may be any other Instrument which the Bard uses to focus his Performance.  It can be an item of clothing such as a signature hat which is manipulated about the body, as used by Fred Astaire, it can be an artifact such as Yorick's Skull to which he declaims dramatically, it can be a scarf which is held and manipulated to emphasize the performance, or anything else the player wishes.
====Versatile Performance (Ex)====
At 2nd level, a bard can use any one of his Perform skills as a substitute for all checks made against one of the skills listed below. Any time a check is required for that skill, the bard makes a check against his Perform skill instead.  Note that the Bard isn't actually using the Perform skill (e.g. playing an instrument) to make the skill check.  Instead, he is using various epiphanies he has achieved in his music to inspire his ability with the chosen skill.  Only one of the skills listed below may be selected at 2nd level, but any of the Bard's Perform skills may be used in place of that skill.
 
The skills that may be selected for substitution by your Perform skill are:
 
* Disguise,
* Bluff,
* Intimidate,
* Acrobatics,
* Fly,
* Diplomacy,
* Sense Motive,
* Handle Animal
 
Every 2 levels after 2nd level (e.g. 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th), the bard can select one additional skill from the list below to substitute with his any of his Perform skills.
 
 
====Well-Versed (Ex)====
At 2nd level, the bard becomes resistant to the bardic performance of others, and to sonic effects in general. The bard gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made against bardic performance, sonic, and language-dependent effects.
 
 
====Staccato (Su)====
Starting at 3rd level, in or out of their Bardic Stance, the Bard may attempt to strike at his enemies with sound as a standard action.  This is a supernatural ability, does not provoke, and affects one target in a fifteen foot cone.  (Select an area for a 15-foot cone, following the rules for cones.  Select one creature in the designated area, and that creature is affected.  The rest of the area is unaffected.) This sound may be a loud shout, a piercing scream, a shattering clap of the hands, a snap of the fingers, or anything else the Bard desires.
 
Staccato inflicts 2d6 + CHA modifier points of sonic damage at Level 3, and this damage increases by 1d6 at each odd level.  Victims of Staccato are allowed a Fort save, DC 10 + half the Bard's level + CHA mod, for half damage.  Staccato is treated as though it belongs to the conjuration school of spells, even though it is not a spell, for purposes of feats like [[Spell Focus]].  Staccato is not subject to Spell Resistance.
 
Staccato can also be used to damage unattended objects such as windows, etc.  This means it can be used to deal damage to mindless creatures, or the Bard may elect to instead make a CMB-based [[Combat_Maneuvers#Sunder|Sunder check]] against a worn, wielded or unattended object in range, instead of a creature.  This check is resolved in all ways as a normal Sunder check, following the rules thereof.
 
Beginning at 8th level Staccato may affect 2 creatures in the fifteen foot cone, and at 15th level it may affect up to three creatures in the fifteen foot cone.
 
Staccato may never be used in the same round as Harmony (or any of the Symphony abilities) unless an action point is used.
 
 
====Lore Master (Ex)====
At 5th level, the bard becomes a master of lore and can take 10 on any Knowledge skill check that he has ranks in. A bard can choose not to take 10 and can instead roll normally. In addition, once per day, the bard can take 20 on any Knowledge skill check he has ranks in as a standard action. He can use this ability one additional time per day for every six levels he possesses beyond 5th, to a maximum of three times per day at 17th level.  This ability may also be used on the Spellcraft and Spycraft skills when they are used for knowledge checks, assuming the bard has ranks in these skills.
 
 
====Bonus Metamagic Feat====
At 7th level, Bards may choose one bonus feat from the list of non-epic metamagic feats.  The bard must meet any prerequisites that the feat requires.
 


Note that you can, if you wish, declare you are a martially-oriented Bard and use a Sword and Shield (for example) as your instrument, and this is perfectly legitimate!  However, this has the major caveat that when you are using your sword and shield as your Bardic instrument to maintain a Stance, you CANNOT also use it as a weapon and shield, with the single exception of the "Song of Steel" Bardic Performance.
====Jack of All Trades (Ex)====
At 10th level, the bard can use any skill, even if the skill normally requires him to be trained. At 16th level, the bard considers all skills to be class skills. At 19th level, the bard can take 10 on any skill check, even if it is not normally allowed.


In addition to allowing the use of their Performance skill to enter a Performance Stance, a Bard's Instrument can, optionally, be enchanted to act as a light shield. This has the advantage that they can gain a shield bonus without having to put their Instrument away, and vice versa.  In such cases, the Instrument can only be used for one function at a time, much as a Shield with Shield Spikes: IE, if you are using it with one hand defensively as a shield, you may not wield it with both hands as an Instrument to Perform in that same round.


Magic bard instruments are a subset of magical shields which follow modified rules for their construction.  Like normal shields, Bard instruments may have one or more magic properties in addition to an enhancement bonus. Bardic Instruments may also be made with any dweomermetal, with the caveat that the properties of the dweomermetal only apply in rounds when the Instrument is being used as a shield.


The magic properties for a Bard Instrument being used as a shield may be chosen as for any other shield, following the same rules as magic shield properties for the number of properties which may be added (i.e. campaign limits must be followed as to the maximum amount of properties which are allowed).  The cost to create a magic instrument is the same as the cost for a comparably enchanted magic shield (i.e. 300 gp for masterwork, plus the cost of the instrument itself, plus the cost for the absolute bonus of the total number of magic weapon properties being applied).


===Bard Example Build===
===Bard Example Build===

Revision as of 23:24, 18 January 2016

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