Lettered Bard (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

This is a work in progress.

The lettered bard is an educated songsmith and spellcaster, composing and using songs and magic much like a wizard does.

Class Abilities

Spells

Lettered bards have Intelligence as their spellcasting attribute. To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the lettered bard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a lettered bard's spell is 10 + the spell level + the lettered bard's Intelligence modifier.

A lettered bard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The bard. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).

A lettered bard prepares spells from a spellbook, much like a wizard does. He does not use the Spells Known table for bards, and may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the lettered bard decides which spells to prepare.

A first-level lettered bard knows four level zero spells and two level 1 spells. In addition, he has learned a number of additional level zero and level one spells each equal to his Intelligence bonus (if positive). For each level gained, the lettered bard adds two spells of any level she can cast to her spellbook for free; this represents personal research on the part of the lettered bard. Further spells are acquired the same way wizards do, by scribing.

The spellbook of a lettered bard is more of a collection of notes and lyrics than the arcane notations in a wizard's spellbook, but as far as they share spell lists, wizards and lettered bards can still copy each others' spellbooks. A lettered bard can also copy a spell from an arcane scroll or be tutored by another spellcaster, most commonly a normal bard.

Fascination

The DC of the lettered bard's fascination ability is + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Intelligence modifier.

Versatile Performance

The lettered bard can only use the following kinds of versatile performance: Comedy (Bluff, Intimidate), Keyboard Instruments (Diplomacy, Intimidate), Oratory (Diplomacy, Sense Motive), Percussion (Handle Animal, Intimidate), String (Bluff, Diplomacy), and Wind (Diplomacy, Handle Animal).

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

• Spells