Improvisateur (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

We are used to seeing beauty in the eternal and unchanging, in the everlasting rules of geometry and poetry. But this is not the only kind of beauty. There is beauty in the sudden, transitional, and spontane. This is my kind of beauty.
—Gil Kish, improvisateur bard

Class Information

This is a bard archetype with brawler and skald abilities.

Publisher: Trailseeker Magazine.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Features

The improvisateur has all the standard bard class features, except as noted below.

Inspire Flexibility (Ex)

An improvisateur can use bardic performance to gain the use of a combat feat neither she nor her audience posses. The improvisateur must meet all feat prerequisites. Allies (other than the improvisateur) need not fulfill prerequisites to gain and use these feats. All allies gain the same feat. This affects a number of allies equal to the improvisateur's Charisma modifier, all within 30 ft. Inspire flexibility can use audible or visual components. The improvisateur must choose which component to use when starting her performance.

If a combat feat has a daily use limitation (such as Stunning Fist), any uses of that combat feat while using this ability count toward that feat's daily limit for the creature that used it.

At 5th level, an improvisateur can use this ability to give the benefit of two combat feats at the same time. She may use feats gained from inspire flexibility to to meet prerequisites of other feats gained from inspire flexibility.

At 11th level, an improvisateur gains the ability to inspire the use of tactical feats. She can use this ability to give the benefit of three feats at the same time, with any combination of combat feats and tactical feats.

At 17th level, the improvisateur can select a total of four feats of the combat or tactical type.

Inspire flexibility replaces inspire courage.

Unchain Skills (Ex)

At 3rd level, the improvisateur can inspire skill unlocks (see Pathfinder Unchained). This affects a number of allies equal to the improvisateur's Charisma modifier, all within 30 ft. Each ally unlocks the same skill(s), as if they had a number of skill ranks in the skill equal to the improvisateur's class level +3.

Unchain skills can use audible or visual components. The improvisateur must choose which component to use when starting her performance.

At 3rd level, the improvisateur can unchain a single skill. At 7th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, increase the number of skills unchained with each use of the ability by one. This replaces inspire competence.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

At 4th level, an improvisateur gains the ability to react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She cannot be caught flat-footed, nor does she lose her Dex bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. She still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if she is immobilized. An improvisateur with this ability can still lose her Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint action against her. Uncanny dodge replaces well-versed.

Spell Kenning (Su)

At 5th level, an improvisateur is learned in the magic of other spellcasters, and can use her own magic to duplicate those classes' spells. Once per day, an improvisateur can cast any spell on the bard, cleric, or sorcerer/wizard spell list as if it were on her spell list and list of spells known, expending a bard spell slot of the same spell level to cast the desired spell. Casting a spell with spell kenning always has a minimum casting time of 1 full round, regardless of the casting time of the spell.

At 11th level, an improvisateur can use this ability twice per day. At 17th level, she can use this ability three times per day. Spell kenning replaces lore master.

Table: Improvisateur

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
						1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Bardic knowledge, bardic performance, cantrips, countersong, distraction, fascinate, inspire flexibility	1	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Versatile performance	2	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3	Unchain skill (level 5)	3	—	—	—	—	—
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Uncanny dodge	3	1	—	—	—	—
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Inspire flexibility (2 feats), spell kenning (1/day)	4	2	—	—	—	—
6th	+4	+2	+5	+5	Suggestion, versatile performance	4	3	—	—	—	—
7th	+5	+2	+5	+5	Unchain skills (2 at level 10)	4	3	1	—	—	—
8th	+6/+1	+2	+6	+6	Dirge of doom	4	4	2	—	—	—
9th	+6/+1	+3	+6	+6	Inspire greatness	5	4	3	—	—	—
10th	+7/+2	+3	+7	+7	Jack-of-all-trades (unskilled use), versatile performance	5	4	3	1	—	—
11th	+8/+3	+3	+7	+7	Unchain skills (3 at level 15), inspire flexibility (3 feats, tactical feats), spell kenning (2/day)	5	4	4	2	—	—
12th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8	Soothing performance	5	5	4	3	—	—
13th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8	—	5	5	4	3	1	—
14th	+10/+5	+4	+9	+9	Frightening tune, versatile performance	5	5	4	4	2	—
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+9	Unchain skills (4 at level 20), inspire heroics	5	5	5	4	3	—
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	Jack-of-all-trades (class skills)	5	5	5	4	3	1
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	Inspire flexibility (4 feats), spell kenning (3/day)	5	5	5	4	4	2
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+11	+11	Mass suggestion, versatile performance	5	5	5	5	4	3
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+11	Unchain skills (5), jack-of-all-trades (take 10)	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+12	Deadly performance	5	5	5	5	5	5

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Inspire flexibility
• Unchain skills
• Well-versed
• Spell kenning

External Links

• The Wombo Combo - Martial Flexibility Combinations Thread @ Giant in the Playground

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