Bardbarian (3.5e Prestige Class)

Bardbarian

“	Raaaaaawr la la la!	”
—Gargnashkur, Orc Bardbarian, Tales of Simur

Bardbarians are fierce, feared fighters who love battle above all else. The sounds of sword crashing against steel is the perfect percussion and music to their ears. They live to fight and their music drives them and all around them into a blind rage.

Becoming a Bardbarian

Some people cannot resist the infinite energy that comes from angry music. Bardbarians feel the immense pull of this core energy and transmit it in such a tangible for that others are compelled to rage. The typical Bardbarian comes from savage bard/barbarian because, both rage and bardic music are requirements of this prestige class. Charisma is important for the Bardbarian as it determines the number of spells they can cast each day. Strength is important also because it is the main ability score used for the special qualities of a Bardbarian. And, of course, constitution an dexterity are also useful to stay alive.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any nonlawful. Bardbarians usually hold leadership positions which doesn't work very well with a chaotic personality. A Bardbarian who becomes lawful loses his rage-related abilities but he retains all the other benefits of this class.
Skills:	Perform (Any) 8 ranks.
Special:	Bardic Music 4/day, and rage 1/day.

Table: The Bardbarian

Hit Die: d12

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will		1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Ragesong, Warsong	0	—	—	—
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Canticle of Caution	1	—	—	—
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Cantata of Cacophany	2	0	—	—
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Symphony of Destruction	3	1	—	—
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Ragesong Mind	3	2	0	—
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+5	Greater Cantata of Cacophany	3	3	1	—
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+5	Axe	4	3	2	0
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+6	Powerballad of Power	4	3	3	1
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+6	Great Axe	4	4	3	2
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+7	Greater Ragesong	4	4	3	3
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Balance(Dex), Climb(Str), Concentration(Con), Heal(Wis), Intimidate(Cha), Jump(Str), Knowledge All skills taken individually(Int), Listen(Wis), Perform(Cha), Sleight of Hand(Dex), Spot(Wis), Survival(Wis), Swim(Str), Tumble(Dex), Use Magic Device(Cha), and Use Rope(Dex).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Bardbarian.

Spells: To cast a particular spell, you must have a Cha score of at least 10 + the spell's level. Your bonus spells are based on your Charisma. Saves to avoid the effects of your spells have a DC of 10 + the spell's level + your Str bonus + your Cha bonus (if any). Bardbarian spells may be cast while in a rage.

You cast spells as a Bard does. All the following spells are the bardbarian's spells known list:

1st—Hold Portal, Endure Elements, Summon Monster II, True Strike, Sleep, Burning Hands, Shocking Grasp, Cause Fear, Cure Moderate Wounds, Jump, Magic Weapon.

2nd—Acid arrow, Summon Monster III, Hideous Laughter, Scorching Ray, Shatter, Command Undead, Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Pyrotechnics, Spider Climb.

3rd—Cure Serious Wounds, Explosive Runes, Summon Monster IV, Heroism, Rage, Hold Person, Suggestion, Magic Weapon, Greater, Charm Monster, Geas, Lesser

4th—Heal, Enlarge Person, Telepathic Bond, Dream, False Vision, Summon Monster V, Greater Heroism, Bear's Endurance, Mass, Bull's Strength, Mass.

Ragesong (Su): Your sense of battle music grants you the ability to use bardic music to enter a rage. You can expend one use of bardic music to enter a rage, and as you enter the rage, you can expend another use of bardic music to force another creature, with Int 3 or greater, withing hearing distance of you to also enter a rage. This rage grants a +4 competence bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls and will saves, and a -5 penalty to armor class. Anyone under the effect of your Ragesong cannot cast spells or make concentration checks. This is a swift action that does not invoke attacks of opportunity. Someone targeted by this ability can attempt a Will save to not rage with a DC of 10+Bardbarian level + (your Str modifier OR your Cha modifier). The rage lasts until the end of combat or you dismiss it.

Warsong (Ex): Your levels of Bardbarian stack with levels of Bard for determining Bardic Music uses per day. In addition you can expend two uses of bardic music to enter a rage as a barbarian of level equal to your bardbarian levels. (this includes greater rage... etc)

Canticle of Caution (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, you can expend one use of bardic music to give damage reduction or armor class to any number of creatures within 30ft. of you. As a full round action each round you perform, you grant DR2/- or a +1 competence bonus to AC, for every 5 ranks in Perform for as long as you continue performing. The effect extends for 3 rounds after you cease performing.

Cantata of Cacophony (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, you can expend one of your bardic music uses to cause one creature in a rage to attack whoever is closest to them, ally or not. Make a perform check, then the target creature that is Raging, within 30 ft. of you, must make a Will save, with a DC of your perform check, if they fail they attack whatever creature is closest to them, and continue until either there is no one in sight to attack or you stop performing. Each round, you must make an additional perform check followed by the creature making an additional Will save. If you stop performing the effect ends.

Symphony of Destruction (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you can expend one use of your bardic music, and make a perform check to force people to approach you. Anyone within 60 ft. of you must make a Will save, DC equal to your perform check, or be compelled to approach you. Their attitude towards you is not changed, and enemies can still attack you, but cannot attack anyone else as they approach. Creatures immune to enchantment effects and mental compulsion are also immune to this effect. If you stop performing, anything affected is no longer required to approach.

Ragesong Mind (Ex): Beginning at 5th level, you are immune to mind affecting spells and effects while in rage or ragesong.

Greater Cantata of Cacophony (Su): Beginning at 6th level, you can expend one of your bardic music uses to cause others in a rage to attack whoever is closest to them, ally or not. Make a perform check, then each enemy creature that is Raging within 60 ft. must make a Will save, with a DC of your perform check, or immediately attack whatever creature is closest to them, and continue until either there is no one in sight to attack or you stop performing.

Axe (Ex): The bardbarians instrument draws on the powers of rage and become similar to a weapon. From 8th level onwards, you may make one attack at your full base attack bonus with a one handed weapon even if you are using both hands for your perform check. The attack is actually made with the instrument, but the instrument obtains the damage and properties of a weapon on the bardbarian's person.

Powerballad of Power (Sp): At 8th level you may choose a spell from the wizard/sorcerer spell list of 6th level or lower. You may cast that spell as a caster of your HD once per day.

Great Axe (Ex): The bardbarian becomes more in tune with the music. His instrument becomes stronger. From 9th level onwards, you may take a full attack action while performing and are not denied attacks of opportunity even when performing with both hands.

Greater Ragesong (Ex): Beginning at 10th level, your Ragesong ability grants a +8 competence bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls and will saves. All other aspects remain the same.

Ex-Bardbarians

Playing a Bardbarian

Combat: Bardbarians have a unique ability of forcing other creatures to rage. This can be useful in several situations. A spellcaster can't cast spells while raging, so this can be used to stop an enemy spellcaster, and it also increases the physical potential of party members.

Advancement: Most of the features of this class advance by uses of Bardic Music, so advancing as a bard afterwards increases that power, but there is a loss in HD, so a barbarian or fighter is also a good option.

Resources: Bardbarians hold no special affiliation with each other. They are simply bards that find music in the sounds of battle.

Bardbarians in the World

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NPC Reactions:

Bardbarian Lore

Characters with ranks in can research to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

DC	Result
11	.
16	.
21	.
26	.

Bardbarians in the Game

Adaptation:

Sample Encounter:

EL whatever:

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